In the Miso Soup
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| In the Miso Soup | |
| Author | Ryu Murakami |
|---|---|
| Original title | イン ザ・ミソスープ In za Misosūpu |
| Translator | Ralph McCarthy |
| Cover artist | Kirk Richard Smith, design, Chas Krider, photographer (US paperback edition) |
| Country | Japan |
| Language | Japanese |
| Genre(s) | Novel |
| Publisher | Bloomsbury Publishing PLC (UK)/Penguin (US) |
| Publication date | 1997 |
| Media type | Print (Paperback) |
| Pages | 192 pp (UK paperback edition), 216 pp (US paperback edition) |
| ISBN | 0-14303-569-X (US) 0-74757-888-5 (UK) |
| Preceded by | Kyoko |
| Followed by | Strange Days |
In the Miso Soup (イン ザ・ミソスープ In za Misosūpu?) is a novel by Ryu Murakami. It was published in 1997 in Japanese, and in English in 2003.
Contents |
[edit] Plot Summary
Twenty year-old Kenji is a Japanese "nightlife" guide for foreigners — he navigates gaijin men around the sex clubs and hostess bars of Tokyo. On December 29 he receives a phone call from an American named Frank, who seeks three nights of his services. While Kenji has promised to spend more time with his girlfriend, sixteen year-old Jun, the money is too good to pass up. He finds himself closing out the end of the year accompanying Frank around Shinjuku, wondering if his strange, plastic-skinned patron could be responsible for the gruesome events recently reported in the news.
[edit] Analysis
Part of the novel's interest lies in the original perspective offered on Japanese culture. To begin with, the reader is addressed like an outsider - possibly another one of Kenji's foreign clients. Author and narrator, both native Japanese, are then challenged to re-examine the underside of Tokyo city life from an outsider's point of view as it is introduced to the reader, and explained to Frank over the course of the story.
[edit] Characters
[edit] Major Characters
- Kenji: A nightlife guide based in Tokyo. He is an average english speaker who specializes in touring foreigners through Kabuki-cho. As mentioned, Kenji is the narrator of the story.
- Frank: An American tourist who contracts Kenji's services. Frank disturbs Kenji from the outset, and is the antagonist.
[edit] Minor Characters
- Asami/Madoka: A "special services" hostess at a peep show.
- Jun: Kenji's sixteen year-old girlfriend.
- Maki: Female patron/prostitute at the omiai pub. She claims to not be a prostitue, but also claims to be a high price call girl.
- Noriko: A tout for the omiai pub and former juvenile delinquent.
- Reika & Rie: Two lingerie pub hostesses.
- Satoshi: A lingerie club barker and acquaintance of Kenji's.
- Yokoyama: Publisher of Tokyo Pink Guide. The only publication Kenji advertises in, and Frank's sex industry bible.
- Yuko: Female patron/prostitute at the omiai pub. She is seated with Frank, Kenji, and Maki.
[edit] Murder Victims Outside the Narrative
These characters are mentioned to drive the narrative. They are not seen or interacted with.
- Akiko Takahashi: A seventeen year-old high school sophomore.
- John Doe: A homeless man.
[edit] Real People Mentioned
There are several musicians discussed by the characters and songs are used in the narrative.
- Namie Amuro: A female Japanese pop star.
- Kenny Burrell: An American jazz guitarist whose career spans from the 1950s to the present.
- Robert DeNiro: An American actor with whom Frank compares himself.
- Seiko Matsuda: A Japanese pop singer/songwriter.
- Wes Montgomery: An American jazz guitarist from the 1950s and 1960s.
- Mr. Children: A Japanese band formed in the late 1980s.
- The Rolling Stones: British rock group which Frank mentions as having had interest in the occult.
- Takako Okamura: A Japanese singer/songwriter[1]
- Yuki Uchida: Actress/model whose pop song is playing at an amusement center.
[edit] Potentially Real People Mentioned
- Danamo Masorueda: According to Frank, a Bulgarian pianist who played with Kenny Burrell. Frank says at one point that his last name is Masorueda. Frank goes on to say Danamo's grandfather was a "sorcerer for a heretical sect called the Bogomils."[2] This is likely one of Frank's stories, as the only mention on Danamo Mosorueda is from In the Miso Soup.
[edit] References
- ^ Takako OKAMURA
- ^ p101 of the Penguin US paperback edition.
