In The Miso Soup by Murakami, Ryu (2005) Paperback
Ryū Murakami
It is just before New Year’s. Frank, an overweight American tourist, has hired Kenji to take him on a guided tour of Tokyo’s sleazy nightlife. But Frank’s behavior is so strange that Kenji begins to entertain a horrible suspicion – that his new client is in fact the serial killer currently terrorizing the city. It is not until later, however, that Kenji learns exactly how much he has to fear and how irrevocably his encounter with this great white whale of an American will change his life.From postmodern Renaissance man Ryu Murakami, master of the psycho-thriller and director of Tokyo Decadence, comes this shocking, hair-raising, roller-coaster ride through the nefarious neon-lit world of Tokyo’s sex industry.
I find it supa interesting that kenji makes comparisons abt what is japanese and what is not (ie. Japanese killing style) it really makes you wonder whether the paranoia towards frank being a killer is actually True or just because he's overthinking things and reading too much into it
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0I think this book depicts the feeling of helplessness very well that it's almost claustrophobic. It's a slow-burn manifestation of terror. The biggest thing that stands out to me in this book is the cultural factors we have to take into account when looking at Kenji's decisions. How does he keep himself and his girlfriend safe from this possible suspicious murderer while not inconveniencing others, like the businesses he sets foot in or his reputation as a guide? How does he not make Frank suspicious about his thoughts because he's a customer? And how does he keep himself safe when the police would do nothing if there's no proof, and no action being taken with japan's reputation of dislike towards foreigners? I liked the book more than I thought I would, although I can see how it might not be for everyone!
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