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Go
For two teens, falling in love is going to make a world of difference in this beautifully translated, bold, and endearing novel about love, loss, and the pain of racial discrimination.
As a Korean student in a Japanese high school, Sugihara has had to defend himself against all kinds of bullies. But nothing could have prepared him for the heartache he feels when he falls hopelessly in love with a Japanese girl named Sakurai. Immersed in their shared love for classical music and foreign movies, the two gradually grow closer and closer.
One night, after being hit by personal tragedy, Sugihara reveals to Sakurai that he is not Japanese—as his name might indicate.
Torn between a chance at self-discovery that he’s ready to seize and the prejudices of others that he can’t control, Sugihara must decide who he wants to be and where he wants to go next. Will Sakurai be able to confront her own bias and accompany him on his journey?
As a Korean student in a Japanese high school, Sugihara has had to defend himself against all kinds of bullies. But nothing could have prepared him for the heartache he feels when he falls hopelessly in love with a Japanese girl named Sakurai. Immersed in their shared love for classical music and foreign movies, the two gradually grow closer and closer.
One night, after being hit by personal tragedy, Sugihara reveals to Sakurai that he is not Japanese—as his name might indicate.
Torn between a chance at self-discovery that he’s ready to seize and the prejudices of others that he can’t control, Sugihara must decide who he wants to be and where he wants to go next. Will Sakurai be able to confront her own bias and accompany him on his journey?
172 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 2000
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 973 reviews
July 17, 2019
This novel has the rhythm of a Japanese TV drama--fast pacing, ridiculously deep and emotional and/or violent reactions to conflict, a high school setting, and great attention paid to hierarchical obligation. Add a little yakuza, a little pachinko, a little social commentary, and a great sense of place (especially if you're familiar with Tokyo) and there you have it.
I loved the matter-of-fact story-telling. I even loved the lack of nuance. Having lived in Japan and also having studied kick-boxing there I especially loved the detail about which neighborhood/subway line/train station the protagonist was traveling throughout this novel, and the choreographic details given about the many fistfights. Also, I used to teach English in a Japanese high school where more than a few students had dads who were yakuza, so this was a perfectly nostalgic read for me.
I loved the matter-of-fact story-telling. I even loved the lack of nuance. Having lived in Japan and also having studied kick-boxing there I especially loved the detail about which neighborhood/subway line/train station the protagonist was traveling throughout this novel, and the choreographic details given about the many fistfights. Also, I used to teach English in a Japanese high school where more than a few students had dads who were yakuza, so this was a perfectly nostalgic read for me.
March 14, 2018
3.75 stars
Go by Kazuki Kaneshiro isn't what I expected it to be. It is a love story but not the kind of love that the blurb promised. It's not a just high school love story between Sugihara and Sakurai, no. It's more than that. Go tackles ethnicity, discrimination, and racism in Japanese society through the eyes of Sugihara, a Zainichi Chosenjin, meaning a person of Korean descent but born and raised in Japan.
Reading this novel is quite a revealing experience for me. I had no idea that if you stripped off Japan's orderly society, you'll find some deep-seated racism there. The writing was also compelling and the prose is a different kind of beauty. It has a Murakami-esque tone that I find charming and gripping. The characters were somewhat vague and I wish the author gave them a lot more background. Overall, it's an interesting read.
"But you should live a random life. I mean, your life has already veered off the rails. I wish you'd keep on veering and see where it takes you. You're someone who could pull that off. But you know, that's just me."
Go by Kazuki Kaneshiro isn't what I expected it to be. It is a love story but not the kind of love that the blurb promised. It's not a just high school love story between Sugihara and Sakurai, no. It's more than that. Go tackles ethnicity, discrimination, and racism in Japanese society through the eyes of Sugihara, a Zainichi Chosenjin, meaning a person of Korean descent but born and raised in Japan.
Reading this novel is quite a revealing experience for me. I had no idea that if you stripped off Japan's orderly society, you'll find some deep-seated racism there. The writing was also compelling and the prose is a different kind of beauty. It has a Murakami-esque tone that I find charming and gripping. The characters were somewhat vague and I wish the author gave them a lot more background. Overall, it's an interesting read.
May 11, 2023
Update:
http://www.tsaputrasakti.com/2019/04/...
* * *
Awalnya iseng cari-cari novel YA Jepang untuk dibaca. Terus nemu buku ini. Terus lapor ke bos, minta diterbitin karena sesuka itu.
Suka banget sama kisah Sugihara. Meski di awal cerita Sugihara bilang ini adalah kisah cinta-nya, novel ini bukan sekadar kisah cinta.
Novel ini sangat padat, penuh dengan isu. Padahal, novel ini nggak terlalu tebal. Suka banget filosofi ayahnya Sugihara. Suka banget gimana Sugihara ngelawan perisakan dengan "otot" juga. Suka banget persahabatan Sugihara dengan Jeong-il. Suka banget dengan keberanian Sakurai mendekati Sugihara.
Salah satu novel YA paling membekas yang aku baca. :')
http://www.tsaputrasakti.com/2019/04/...
* * *
Awalnya iseng cari-cari novel YA Jepang untuk dibaca. Terus nemu buku ini. Terus lapor ke bos, minta diterbitin karena sesuka itu.
Suka banget sama kisah Sugihara. Meski di awal cerita Sugihara bilang ini adalah kisah cinta-nya, novel ini bukan sekadar kisah cinta.
Novel ini sangat padat, penuh dengan isu. Padahal, novel ini nggak terlalu tebal. Suka banget filosofi ayahnya Sugihara. Suka banget gimana Sugihara ngelawan perisakan dengan "otot" juga. Suka banget persahabatan Sugihara dengan Jeong-il. Suka banget dengan keberanian Sakurai mendekati Sugihara.
Salah satu novel YA paling membekas yang aku baca. :')
March 4, 2024
➵ 2.5 ✰ 🍵
it was quick and fun and served its purpose. i would've appreciated it more without the insta-love subplot. but the conversations about xenophobia within asia were such an interesting read. i loved reading about the effects of the korean war and how it affected even those who didn't reside in Korea.
⤿ bottomline. it was honestly way too short so i didn't feel any emotional connection to the characters or the story itself. i would recommend it to people who like short palette cleanser reads.
📂 ₊⊹ # “take a good look at the wide world,' he said. 'you decide the rest.”
it was quick and fun and served its purpose. i would've appreciated it more without the insta-love subplot. but the conversations about xenophobia within asia were such an interesting read. i loved reading about the effects of the korean war and how it affected even those who didn't reside in Korea.
⤿ bottomline. it was honestly way too short so i didn't feel any emotional connection to the characters or the story itself. i would recommend it to people who like short palette cleanser reads.
August 15, 2018
Me, at the beginning: Racism in Japan? Did you say that correctly? Are you sure?
Me, at the end: Wow, there’s a lot to be learnt about the world, and who knew YA books could be such eye-openers—maybe I’ve been reading the wrong type of YA all my life.
Anyway, now that my earlier ignorance has been covered, here’s how I’d rate it: I’d give the first 50% five stars, the next 20% three stars, and the final 30% four stars.
Overall, the book was immensely enjoyable — the protagonist was witty and had this style of narration that really captivated me. He’s kinda how I’d have liked my inner monologue to sound when I was his age — the right amount of wit, two tablespoons of sarcasm and healthy disdain, and a pinch of those pesky teenage hormones. And the thing is, despite all this “coolness”, it’s still obvious that he’s young, and that he’s not in control of everything, the way we tend to believe at that age.
This book should really have been marketed as a young adult book, because while for the first 50% it’s really not noticeable, that’s exactly the genre this book should be classified under. The thing is, I went in prepared; multiple reviews online had warned me that while this book had dry humour that catered to an adult, it’s central theme is really more YA-NA. And boy was I glad that I went in prepared, because otherwise I might have been pissed off the way quite a few other reviewers were.
And also, this should have really tipped everyone off, hmmm? (See below)
Full of movie and literature references (that I only half caught), Go tells the story of a young adult of Korean descent living in Japan, and his trials and tribulations with first love. Sounds like a cheesy anime? Let’s throw in the fact that racism abounds in Japan towards these Korean desecendants of war prisoners from decades ago (aka the Zainichi), and it’s not your quintessential drama-filled, romantic anime, is it?
I haven’t read the Japanese version, but I think this translated one was fantastic. Everything about this book was fantastic, and it was especially fantastic in the way in which it dealt with serious themes like racism and violence — so wonderful that I wish it really hadn’t had that teen romance thrown in. I’d have been ecstatic with Sugihara’s acerbic observations on life, really.
About the girl who will be his future love interest:
A conversation with his friend, Kato (who happens to be the wittier one):
Bonus, I’m going to provide y’all with a sample of Sugihara’s wisdom — you won’t be disappointed:
One last quote, which makes me ponder about immigration issues:
(Guess Trump doesn’t see it that way, huh?)
I went insane with the highlighter on this one, that’s the real thing to take back from this review. I recommend it for anyone who loves House, M.D., who doesn’t mind a bit of YA thrown at them.
Also, thank you NetGalley, for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Me, at the end: Wow, there’s a lot to be learnt about the world, and who knew YA books could be such eye-openers—maybe I’ve been reading the wrong type of YA all my life.
Anyway, now that my earlier ignorance has been covered, here’s how I’d rate it: I’d give the first 50% five stars, the next 20% three stars, and the final 30% four stars.
Overall, the book was immensely enjoyable — the protagonist was witty and had this style of narration that really captivated me. He’s kinda how I’d have liked my inner monologue to sound when I was his age — the right amount of wit, two tablespoons of sarcasm and healthy disdain, and a pinch of those pesky teenage hormones. And the thing is, despite all this “coolness”, it’s still obvious that he’s young, and that he’s not in control of everything, the way we tend to believe at that age.
I should explain. Why did my father, who was born on the South Korean island of Jeju, have North Korean citizenship? And why did he have to change his citizenship to South Korean just to go to Hawaii? It’s a tedious story, so I’ll try to keep it short and mix in some humor here and there. But don’t hold your breath.
This book should really have been marketed as a young adult book, because while for the first 50% it’s really not noticeable, that’s exactly the genre this book should be classified under. The thing is, I went in prepared; multiple reviews online had warned me that while this book had dry humour that catered to an adult, it’s central theme is really more YA-NA. And boy was I glad that I went in prepared, because otherwise I might have been pissed off the way quite a few other reviewers were.
And also, this should have really tipped everyone off, hmmm? (See below)
First, let’s get one thing straight. The story that follows is a love story. My love story. And communism—or democratism, pacifism, otakuism, vegetarianism, or any other -ism for that matter—has got nothing to do with it. Just so you know.
Full of movie and literature references (that I only half caught), Go tells the story of a young adult of Korean descent living in Japan, and his trials and tribulations with first love. Sounds like a cheesy anime? Let’s throw in the fact that racism abounds in Japan towards these Korean desecendants of war prisoners from decades ago (aka the Zainichi), and it’s not your quintessential drama-filled, romantic anime, is it?
I haven’t read the Japanese version, but I think this translated one was fantastic. Everything about this book was fantastic, and it was especially fantastic in the way in which it dealt with serious themes like racism and violence — so wonderful that I wish it really hadn’t had that teen romance thrown in. I’d have been ecstatic with Sugihara’s acerbic observations on life, really.
About the girl who will be his future love interest:
I once saw a video of this bear cub sniffing curiously at a video camera and then slamming right into it. The girl reminded me of that cub.
A conversation with his friend, Kato (who happens to be the wittier one):
“Nah. Whoever she is, it doesn’t matter.”
“Yeah, you’re right,” Kato said, looking happy for some reason. “This all sounds like a lot of fun, like something out of the movies.”
“So long as it doesn’t turn out to be a mystery or a suspense thriller.”
The bell chimed the end of lunch period. Kato rose from his seat.
“As an objective viewer, I’d prefer seeing a horror or occult film. It’d be exciting to see your wiener get lopped off or something.” Kato patted me on the shoulder. “Best of luck.”
Bonus, I’m going to provide y’all with a sample of Sugihara’s wisdom — you won’t be disappointed:
“People like you and me have been handicapped our whole lives. We’re like twins. If people like us are going to get anywhere in this country, we can’t just walk in through the front door. You get that, don’t you? We can lay low in the shadows and make it big and stick it to all the uppity miserable bastards that ever discriminated against us. Because we can do that. Because we’re meant for greatness.”
One last quote, which makes me ponder about immigration issues:
“Nationality isn’t much more than a lease to an apartment,” I said. “If you don’t like the apartment anymore, you break the lease and get out.”
(Guess Trump doesn’t see it that way, huh?)
I went insane with the highlighter on this one, that’s the real thing to take back from this review. I recommend it for anyone who loves House, M.D., who doesn’t mind a bit of YA thrown at them.
Also, thank you NetGalley, for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
March 26, 2018
Bailed 2/3rds of the way in. It’s a wonderful translation, the audio narration was fantastic, and I especially enjoyed the well drawn young Korean-Japanese man’s character and social context. But this novel devolved into pukeworthy YA romance, and I simply could not bring myself to finish.
February 9, 2018
This book jumped around a lot and I wish it was much longer, but I really enjoyed it. Favorite passage:
“I saw this show the other day about a retirement home for guide dogs in Hokkaido. It’s this place where old dogs that can’t do their job anymore can go to live out their last days. The fact that a place like that even existed moved me so much that I couldn’t take my eyes off the TV. And then they showed a woman saying goodbye to her guide dog. It was a blind woman and a male golden retriever couple, and she just held him in her arms completely still for a good hour until finally the staff had to pull them apart. As the car drove away from the retirement home, the woman leaned out of the window and waved, shouting, ‘See you,’ and ‘Bye-bye,’ and the dog’s name, but the dog just sat there and watched the car go. But that’s the way it had to be. It’s how guide dogs are trained. They aren’t allowed to show any excitement, and they aren’t allowed to bark. Even after the car was gone, the dog didn’t move an inch from where they said their goodbyes, and he kept looking in the direction the car disappeared. For hours. The woman who’d been by his side for ten years wasn’t there anymore. He must have been so devastated he couldn’t move. They said goodbye around noon, and in the evening it started to rain. Really hard. The dog that had been looking straight ahead until then looked up like he was watching the rain come down and started to howl. Waoon waoon. Like that—again and again. He didn’t look the least bit sad or pathetic. He bayed with his back stretched, and the line from his chest to his chin perfectly straight like a beautiful sculpture. I cried my eyes out. Waoon waoon. Just like that.”
“So what are you trying to say, Sakurai?” I asked.
“I’m trying to say that I want to love someone the way that dog did. His howl was more beautiful than any music I’ve ever heard. I want to be the kind of person that can love someone right and then cry the way that dog did if I lost someone."
“I saw this show the other day about a retirement home for guide dogs in Hokkaido. It’s this place where old dogs that can’t do their job anymore can go to live out their last days. The fact that a place like that even existed moved me so much that I couldn’t take my eyes off the TV. And then they showed a woman saying goodbye to her guide dog. It was a blind woman and a male golden retriever couple, and she just held him in her arms completely still for a good hour until finally the staff had to pull them apart. As the car drove away from the retirement home, the woman leaned out of the window and waved, shouting, ‘See you,’ and ‘Bye-bye,’ and the dog’s name, but the dog just sat there and watched the car go. But that’s the way it had to be. It’s how guide dogs are trained. They aren’t allowed to show any excitement, and they aren’t allowed to bark. Even after the car was gone, the dog didn’t move an inch from where they said their goodbyes, and he kept looking in the direction the car disappeared. For hours. The woman who’d been by his side for ten years wasn’t there anymore. He must have been so devastated he couldn’t move. They said goodbye around noon, and in the evening it started to rain. Really hard. The dog that had been looking straight ahead until then looked up like he was watching the rain come down and started to howl. Waoon waoon. Like that—again and again. He didn’t look the least bit sad or pathetic. He bayed with his back stretched, and the line from his chest to his chin perfectly straight like a beautiful sculpture. I cried my eyes out. Waoon waoon. Just like that.”
“So what are you trying to say, Sakurai?” I asked.
“I’m trying to say that I want to love someone the way that dog did. His howl was more beautiful than any music I’ve ever heard. I want to be the kind of person that can love someone right and then cry the way that dog did if I lost someone."
May 27, 2018
Not really a coming of age story and not what I would call YA; the character voice of the narrator, Sugihara, is older than that. The story explores themes of blood and family from the perspective of a Korean born and raised in Japan. I found it interesting, but did not care much for the vehicle the author uses to make his points (Sugihara is intelligent, but little more than a thug) or for the flippant, half-humorous narrative style. The love interest is a Japanese girl with supposed street smarts, but surprising naivete. I'm not sure their romance brings much clarity to the story; Sugihara already knows (or thinks he knows) the answers to his life questions. In the end, he figures that I'm not Korean or Japanese. I'm a rootless vagabond is probably what fits best. But it feels awfully empty. Identity may not be blood or nationality as defined by a race of people, but surely it's not rootless either.
This was an Amazon First Reads selection in February.
This was an Amazon First Reads selection in February.
April 5, 2018
The themes of ethnicity and nationality were interesting and new to me, and I did enjoy some of the characters, especially the father and Jeong-il. However, the way this treats violence as an appropriate way to handle conflict, inner turmoil/rage, and injustice was worrisome, and the female characters were highly stereotyped and entirely underdeveloped. Finally, the way Sakurai describes Sugihara’s glare and violence as arousing, and uses that as justification for her affection is not just awkwardly written but incredibly awful and made me feel like it failed to acknowledge potentially abusive implications. Thumbs down from me.
August 26, 2021
I found this book to be a big surprise. Especially as I read Pachinko recently and discovered just how big the Japanese dislike of Koreans really is and how it manifests in Japanese policy and attitude.
In many ways this is a painful read, Sugihara is a Korean born in Japan, surviving school and life mostly with his fists and intellect. The crux of the story is his blossoming love for Sakurai, who is Japanese, but doesn't know Sugihara's cultural background.
I love books taking place in Japan, being in Tokyo, there are lots of different suburbs, train stations and trainlines to give you a strong feeling of place. Friendships and family all play a vital role.
Recommended.
In many ways this is a painful read, Sugihara is a Korean born in Japan, surviving school and life mostly with his fists and intellect. The crux of the story is his blossoming love for Sakurai, who is Japanese, but doesn't know Sugihara's cultural background.
I love books taking place in Japan, being in Tokyo, there are lots of different suburbs, train stations and trainlines to give you a strong feeling of place. Friendships and family all play a vital role.
Recommended.
December 19, 2018
With the Tournament of Books play in round being "National identity" I am surprised that this title from the longlist was not chosen. Kaneshiro's protagonist in Go is a teenaged Korean boy attending a Japanese high school. Despite being born and raised in Japan according to the powers that be he is an "alien resident". Socially he is an outcast among his Japanese peers each day peppered with discrimination and physical combat. Coming of age in a country where there are only two choices - assimilation or exclusion, Sugihara chooses neither. Instead he forges his way "breaking through the circle with (his) own fists and taking (that) which is outside of it". There is so much said here in so few pages. I am glad that I found it on the TOB and had the opportunity to spend some time gathered here.
November 30, 2018
went into this expecting one thing, got a completely different story.
And I didn’t like the mc.
And I didn’t like the mc.
January 6, 2019
This was a disappointing read for me and I guess it might be my fault because I didn't know it was categorized as young adult until later.
This is a story about a high school student -Sugihara- from Korea born in Japan and is living and studying there. It follows his story of being bullied, fighting back, trying to figure out who he is and what makes a person Korean or Japanese or American...etc, of trying to understand nationalism and the extent of it and of falling in love and what that could entail if you're not from the same background.
Through this character -Sugihara- the author brings up the topic of nationalism, borders, refugees and residency as one of the main issues that he's struggling with and trying to understand and come to terms with, and it's basically the thing that kept me reading. I guess I was asking too much of this book and of this high school student by wanting to know more of what it's like to be classified and treated horribly and the consequence of such with himself and his family even though all his life he has only ever known Japan. The character seemed that he had more to discover and talk about but then it felt like it was cut short by the romantic relationship that was a bit "meh". Or maybe it's just me having a big problem with this age group and how the stories about them are written. Anyways.
There's a big incident in the middle of the book that came out of nowhere and was not called for. It just came out of the blue. This incident has a big impact on Sugihara, but it didn't feel like it flowed well with the story and I didn't jam with it at all. I had to go back a few pages to see whether I missed something.
Again, maybe I'm not the target audience for this or the way it was written and handled just isn't my cup of tea. Overall after the heavy book I was reading I wanted something light to read and this served the purpose.
(I received a free e-book copy of this title from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)
This is a story about a high school student -Sugihara- from Korea born in Japan and is living and studying there. It follows his story of being bullied, fighting back, trying to figure out who he is and what makes a person Korean or Japanese or American...etc, of trying to understand nationalism and the extent of it and of falling in love and what that could entail if you're not from the same background.
Through this character -Sugihara- the author brings up the topic of nationalism, borders, refugees and residency as one of the main issues that he's struggling with and trying to understand and come to terms with, and it's basically the thing that kept me reading. I guess I was asking too much of this book and of this high school student by wanting to know more of what it's like to be classified and treated horribly and the consequence of such with himself and his family even though all his life he has only ever known Japan. The character seemed that he had more to discover and talk about but then it felt like it was cut short by the romantic relationship that was a bit "meh". Or maybe it's just me having a big problem with this age group and how the stories about them are written. Anyways.
There's a big incident in the middle of the book that came out of nowhere and was not called for. It just came out of the blue. This incident has a big impact on Sugihara, but it didn't feel like it flowed well with the story and I didn't jam with it at all. I had to go back a few pages to see whether I missed something.
Again, maybe I'm not the target audience for this or the way it was written and handled just isn't my cup of tea. Overall after the heavy book I was reading I wanted something light to read and this served the purpose.
(I received a free e-book copy of this title from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)
April 11, 2018
Go was an Amazon First read. I regret not selecting it, but don’t regret spending the $5 to buy it.
Go is a YA novel that explores universal themes of friendship, family, identity, bullying, prejudice, discrimination, and the connections we make. This is a timely tale for what is going on in America.
What makes you an American (but in Go, Japanese)? Blood relations? Being born here? The language you speak?Customs you follow? In Go’s Japan it is assimilation or exclusion. If you were of Korean descent you had to register as an alien and carry a card with you at all times in case you were stopped and questioned.
A very thought provoking book worthy of book club discussions. Though boxing and fighting plays a prominent role in the story, finding first and enduring love while finding yourself is the heart of the story.
Go is a YA novel that explores universal themes of friendship, family, identity, bullying, prejudice, discrimination, and the connections we make. This is a timely tale for what is going on in America.
What makes you an American (but in Go, Japanese)? Blood relations? Being born here? The language you speak?Customs you follow? In Go’s Japan it is assimilation or exclusion. If you were of Korean descent you had to register as an alien and carry a card with you at all times in case you were stopped and questioned.
A very thought provoking book worthy of book club discussions. Though boxing and fighting plays a prominent role in the story, finding first and enduring love while finding yourself is the heart of the story.
March 18, 2019
Bagi kalian yang suka nonton drama Korea-Jepang, suka novel YA terjemahan, suka dengan novel yang alurnya padat, tidak picisan, sangat disarankan membeli novel GO. Membaca dan mengikuti kisah Sugihara dan Sakurai yang tidak boleh dilewatkan.
Setelah menamatkan novel ini di kereta, saya kemudian mencoba menerka-nerka apa alasan di balik pemilihan judul GO ini. Secara sekilas, tokoh Sugihara memang berkeinginan go (reed: pergi) dari Jepang yang sangat menjunjung kewarganegaraan, dan menutup kemungkinan baginya untuk menyamai posisi orang Jepang 'asli' di struktur pekerjaan dan pemerintahan. Tapi, saya rasa itu terlalu receh alasannya. Maka saya menerka mungkin ini ada kaitannya dengan permainan catur GO, dimana bidak-bidaknya berwarna hitam dan putih. TOkoh-tokoh yang adalah orang Jepang di sini memang berpikiran hitam-putih. Orang Jepang atau Orang non-Jepang aka Zainichi, yang dianggap orang lain dan asing. Meskipun, seperti Sugihara yang lahir-besar di Jepang sekali pun. (Mungkin penulis punya alasan lain, tapi soal keterkaitann permainan GO ini menurutku akan jadi simbol yang bagus)
Sugihara adalah idola di novel ini. Sikapnya yg easy going, melawan perisakan, berani dengan keadaan. Bahkan dengan entengnya bicara kewarganegaraan mah urusan dokumen, kemarin Korea Utara-kemudian Korea Selatan, besok Jepang, lusa Norwegia. Biasa. Satu lagi adegan Sugihara yang kusuka adalah saat dia membalik pertanyaan: "Emang kalian orang Jepang tahu arti Jepang?" Menurutku itu pertanyaan menohok bagi siapa saja. Lu jangan sok-sokan rasis, sok-sokan sebagai ras paling atas, kalau sejarah diri lu sendiri tak dipahami.
Juga soal pembahasan mitokondria dan DNA manusia. Penulisnya mah cerdas.
Kemudian bagaimana dia bersahabat dengan Jeong Il dan Kato (persahabatan dengan sedikit nakal seperti ini bagi lelaki yang akan awet), yang istimewa. Kemudian bagaimana dia PDKT dengan Sakurai. Itu keren!
Kalau kalian sudah adegan love hotel, di novel ini adegannya panas sekaligus lucu.
Keren ya, novel YA tapi yang diurusin nggak melulu soal cinta. Dan di novel ini juga, saya sedikit tahu, jangan-jangan orang JEpang juga banyak yang rasis (meski di awal sempat meragukan, "mosok di Jepang ada yang rasis begini sih?").
Bacaan ringan tapi gaungnya kuat di pikiran!!!
Setelah menamatkan novel ini di kereta, saya kemudian mencoba menerka-nerka apa alasan di balik pemilihan judul GO ini. Secara sekilas, tokoh Sugihara memang berkeinginan go (reed: pergi) dari Jepang yang sangat menjunjung kewarganegaraan, dan menutup kemungkinan baginya untuk menyamai posisi orang Jepang 'asli' di struktur pekerjaan dan pemerintahan. Tapi, saya rasa itu terlalu receh alasannya. Maka saya menerka mungkin ini ada kaitannya dengan permainan catur GO, dimana bidak-bidaknya berwarna hitam dan putih. TOkoh-tokoh yang adalah orang Jepang di sini memang berpikiran hitam-putih. Orang Jepang atau Orang non-Jepang aka Zainichi, yang dianggap orang lain dan asing. Meskipun, seperti Sugihara yang lahir-besar di Jepang sekali pun. (Mungkin penulis punya alasan lain, tapi soal keterkaitann permainan GO ini menurutku akan jadi simbol yang bagus)
Sugihara adalah idola di novel ini. Sikapnya yg easy going, melawan perisakan, berani dengan keadaan. Bahkan dengan entengnya bicara kewarganegaraan mah urusan dokumen, kemarin Korea Utara-kemudian Korea Selatan, besok Jepang, lusa Norwegia. Biasa. Satu lagi adegan Sugihara yang kusuka adalah saat dia membalik pertanyaan: "Emang kalian orang Jepang tahu arti Jepang?" Menurutku itu pertanyaan menohok bagi siapa saja. Lu jangan sok-sokan rasis, sok-sokan sebagai ras paling atas, kalau sejarah diri lu sendiri tak dipahami.
Juga soal pembahasan mitokondria dan DNA manusia. Penulisnya mah cerdas.
Kemudian bagaimana dia bersahabat dengan Jeong Il dan Kato (persahabatan dengan sedikit nakal seperti ini bagi lelaki yang akan awet), yang istimewa. Kemudian bagaimana dia PDKT dengan Sakurai. Itu keren!
Kalau kalian sudah adegan love hotel, di novel ini adegannya panas sekaligus lucu.
Keren ya, novel YA tapi yang diurusin nggak melulu soal cinta. Dan di novel ini juga, saya sedikit tahu, jangan-jangan orang JEpang juga banyak yang rasis (meski di awal sempat meragukan, "mosok di Jepang ada yang rasis begini sih?").
Bacaan ringan tapi gaungnya kuat di pikiran!!!
April 20, 2019
Доста добра новела, отнесла не една награда при написването си през 2000 година. Попаднах на нея и автора съвсем случайно, пуснаха я безплатно в Амазон за деня на книгата и ми излезе като киндълска реклама.
Лий е роден и израснал в Япония, но семейството му са заиничи - Корейски емигранти. Това го дамгосва за цял живот в брутално шувенистичната страна. Животът на хулиган сякаш постоянно го придърпва към себе си, независимо колко учи, колко пари имат родителите му или как си сменя името или гражданството (последното от севернокореец на южнокореец с много подкупи и само за да може да отиде на екскурзия). Точно за това, когато най-сетне открива любовта, го е страх да ѝ признае какъв е.
Книгата върви леко, разказва се от първо лице и с един формален тон, който придава достоверност.
Проверих какво пише в уикипедия за корейските малцинства в Япония и за пореден път съм изумен колко наивно глупаво са представени нещата и колко от горчилката се премълчава.
Ще се оглеждам за още Казуки Канеширо.
Лий е роден и израснал в Япония, но семейството му са заиничи - Корейски емигранти. Това го дамгосва за цял живот в брутално шувенистичната страна. Животът на хулиган сякаш постоянно го придърпва към себе си, независимо колко учи, колко пари имат родителите му или как си сменя името или гражданството (последното от севернокореец на южнокореец с много подкупи и само за да може да отиде на екскурзия). Точно за това, когато най-сетне открива любовта, го е страх да ѝ признае какъв е.
Книгата върви леко, разказва се от първо лице и с един формален тон, който придава достоверност.
Проверих какво пише в уикипедия за корейските малцинства в Япония и за пореден път съм изумен колко наивно глупаво са представени нещата и колко от горчилката се премълчава.
Ще се оглеждам за още Казуки Канеширо.
May 20, 2020
Going into this, I expected a fun light read about kids in high school who fall in love. What I got instead was kids in high school who fall in love while battling deep issues such as racism, discrimination, and even violence. The story did make me sad and it was fast paced as well as a quick read. I did find it hard to believe the main character was only in high school, he sounded a lot older than a teenager. I did find that the story was kind of all over the place because it was about love, racism, and violence HOWEVER it was thought provoking and the translation was done well too.
June 18, 2018
3.5/5stars
This was good. I enjoyed the discussion about nationality, who you are, what it means to be Japanese/korean/American/anything. But the story wasn’t horribly gripping and I didn’t LOVE any of the characters.
This was good. I enjoyed the discussion about nationality, who you are, what it means to be Japanese/korean/American/anything. But the story wasn’t horribly gripping and I didn’t LOVE any of the characters.
January 6, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. The ending was a tad abrupt but that's literally my only complaint.
March 28, 2018
The author wanted to narrate serious issues of racism and ethnicity discrimination. However, he started with such a hilarious style, I thought this is going to be one fun entertainment story told from a teenager point of view. The story weaves around with so many unexpected turns that a reader is left confused. And the hilarious style of writing also gone after couple of chapters.
May 23, 2025
This was not an enjoyable book for me. I disliked the main character, Sugihara through much of the book. But I kept reading as I haven’t read many Japanese books, and none where the main character is considered Korean. It’s a different life to explore.
Why I didn’t like Sugihara is mainly due to all the fighting. I’m much more for peace than fistfights. And fighting scenes are not what I want to read. When the book shifted to the girl Sugihara dates it became more pleasant for me, less fighting. But the ending, I did not like.
The book highlights prejudice and assumptions. Sugihara was born and raised in Japan. His father, however, was born in Korea. He left and settled in Japan. Both of Sugihara’s parents retain North Korean passports. There was a choice but his father was somewhat idealistic and chose the north, so his son was raised in the North Korean schools.
When Sugihara was about to enter high school his father wanted to visit Hawaii, which was impossible to do with a North Korean passport so he just switched to South Korean and was able to visit. This was a revelation for Sugihara, as he realized you can just switch your nationality and it means nothing. You are who you are regardless of which passport you hold.
What Sugihara has difficulty in accepting is the harassments for Korean people in Japan. How is he different than a Japanese as he was born and raised there? Why does Japan treat him like a foreigner? Interesting questions.
Since this book became a success in Japan when it came out over 20 years ago, one may hope there has been some changes. Although racism is hard to overcome in any country. Glad I read this despite my somewhat lack of enjoyment, still got something out of the book.
Book rating: 3.5 stars
Why I didn’t like Sugihara is mainly due to all the fighting. I’m much more for peace than fistfights. And fighting scenes are not what I want to read. When the book shifted to the girl Sugihara dates it became more pleasant for me, less fighting. But the ending, I did not like.
The book highlights prejudice and assumptions. Sugihara was born and raised in Japan. His father, however, was born in Korea. He left and settled in Japan. Both of Sugihara’s parents retain North Korean passports. There was a choice but his father was somewhat idealistic and chose the north, so his son was raised in the North Korean schools.
When Sugihara was about to enter high school his father wanted to visit Hawaii, which was impossible to do with a North Korean passport so he just switched to South Korean and was able to visit. This was a revelation for Sugihara, as he realized you can just switch your nationality and it means nothing. You are who you are regardless of which passport you hold.
What Sugihara has difficulty in accepting is the harassments for Korean people in Japan. How is he different than a Japanese as he was born and raised there? Why does Japan treat him like a foreigner? Interesting questions.
Since this book became a success in Japan when it came out over 20 years ago, one may hope there has been some changes. Although racism is hard to overcome in any country. Glad I read this despite my somewhat lack of enjoyment, still got something out of the book.
Book rating: 3.5 stars
February 16, 2020
This was so poignant and clever and so so so funny. Sugihara is one of the most likable protagonists I’ve ever read from the perspective of and his relationship with his dad was just the best 😂
December 18, 2019
Mereka bilang, ada buku yang kamu lambatkan membacanya karena kamu tidak mau berpisah terlalu cepat dengan ceritanya walaupun kamu begitu ingin menyelesaikannya. Buku ini berdampak begitu padaku.
Kisah cowok Jepang yang memiliki kewarganegaraan Korea Selatan bernama Sugihara, entah bagaimana, berelasi dekat denganku. Hubungan yang keras antara ayah dan anak laki-lakinya, paham konfusianisme yang marak pada zamannya dan begitu dielu-elukan, perbedaan berakar yang berujung pada diskriminasi.
Aku tahu Sugihara begitu tidak beruntung. Namun, aku merasa Sugihara masih jauh lebih beruntung ketimbang aku. Biar aku jelaskan ini nanti.
Akan menulis ulasannya.
Kisah cowok Jepang yang memiliki kewarganegaraan Korea Selatan bernama Sugihara, entah bagaimana, berelasi dekat denganku. Hubungan yang keras antara ayah dan anak laki-lakinya, paham konfusianisme yang marak pada zamannya dan begitu dielu-elukan, perbedaan berakar yang berujung pada diskriminasi.
Aku tahu Sugihara begitu tidak beruntung. Namun, aku merasa Sugihara masih jauh lebih beruntung ketimbang aku. Biar aku jelaskan ini nanti.
Akan menulis ulasannya.
July 6, 2018
So much more than the love story. I think I would have liked it better had I not read "Pachinko" first.
June 10, 2022
A serious topic about racism against Koreans in Japan written with a masterful easy and sometimes witty hand.
A little gem of a book for sure.
A little gem of a book for sure.
February 19, 2018
This was an Amazon First selection, and I chose it because I was looking for a book in translation (part of my reading challenge this year). It was advertised (in the synopsis) as a coming-of-age, young star-crossed lovers, overcoming cultural prejudices story. It was sort-of that and not quite.
The story was really about the main character and a snapshot of a small part of his life. It didn't quite feel like a "coming of age" story because the main character already had a strong sense of self. We read about how he was influenced to be the person he was, and how those influences shaped his decisions and where he wants to go as a person (title reference intended). The star-crossed lovers overcoming cultural prejudices wasn't as much of a focal point as I expected. The young relationship was more of a subplot. The truth about the main character's ethnicity was supposed to be a point of contention (as per the advertised synopsis), but once that came out, the love interest just about disappeared from most the scenes, and the main character was focused on other parts of his life.
There were a lot of beautifully written prose in the story, and the main character was exciting in the beginning. But then parts of the plot dragged or plodded along, and at times felt random. The main character didn't really change much, either. If anything, the story revealed his depth of character, which other characters didn't often see. I also suspect some nuances were lost in translation because some of the dialogue felt stilted, like there should be sarcasm there, but it didn't quite make it. Or roughhousing between friends read like a fight scene. Or tension read like awkwardness.
I did like reading about the cultural prejudices between Japanese, South Korean, North Korean, and how people treated each other even when they were all born in the same place. I didn't know much about it, and it was like a history lesson that's also a commentary on our world today, doesn't matter what country.
The story was really about the main character and a snapshot of a small part of his life. It didn't quite feel like a "coming of age" story because the main character already had a strong sense of self. We read about how he was influenced to be the person he was, and how those influences shaped his decisions and where he wants to go as a person (title reference intended). The star-crossed lovers overcoming cultural prejudices wasn't as much of a focal point as I expected. The young relationship was more of a subplot. The truth about the main character's ethnicity was supposed to be a point of contention (as per the advertised synopsis), but once that came out, the love interest just about disappeared from most the scenes, and the main character was focused on other parts of his life.
There were a lot of beautifully written prose in the story, and the main character was exciting in the beginning. But then parts of the plot dragged or plodded along, and at times felt random. The main character didn't really change much, either. If anything, the story revealed his depth of character, which other characters didn't often see. I also suspect some nuances were lost in translation because some of the dialogue felt stilted, like there should be sarcasm there, but it didn't quite make it. Or roughhousing between friends read like a fight scene. Or tension read like awkwardness.
I did like reading about the cultural prejudices between Japanese, South Korean, North Korean, and how people treated each other even when they were all born in the same place. I didn't know much about it, and it was like a history lesson that's also a commentary on our world today, doesn't matter what country.
September 28, 2020
Sugihara adalah gambaran anti hero, bad boy yg selalu mencari dan mendapat masalah dan punya masalah krisis identitas yg sangat besar. Isu ttg identitasnya ini mendominasi cerita di novel ini.
Sugihara terlahir sbg peranakan Korea, ayahnya yg lahir di masa perang dan mengalami hidup susah, jelas kesulitan utk mengekspresikan kepahitan hidupnya kecuali dgn tonjokan-tonjokan tinjunya yg dia arahkan kepada putranya. Sudah rahasia umum orang Korea dan Jepang bermusuhan dan kedua bangsa ini saling mendiskriminasi satu sama lain. Sugihara yg terlahir di Jepang juga mengalami perisakan dan sudah gak terhitung pelanggaran yg membuatnya berurusan dgn pihak berwajib.
Dan yg membuat Sugihara makin getir adalah kematian tragis sahabat karibnya, Kim Jeong-Il yg ditikam oleh seorang yg membenci orang Korea. Ditambah lagi kekasihnya, Sakurai mengungkapkan hal yg membuatnya makin terpuruk.
Ini kedua kalinya saya membaca ttg perlakuan diskriminatif pihak Jepang kepada orang-orang kelahiran Korea (Buku sebelumnya yg saya baca adalah "Pachinko" by Min Jin Lee). Membaca buku ini dari POV Sugihara yg sarkastik, kita bisa merasakan masam getirnya hidup sbg peranakan Korea di bumi Jepang tsb. Sugihara punya pandangan sendiri ttg akarnya yg berbeda dgn umumnya para pemuda Korea sebayanya. Sugihara bukanlah pemuda naif ataupun sok pamer kepintarannya (toh dia memang cerdas otaknya dan jago berantem). Tapi dia skeptis dgn chauvinisme baik Korea maupun Jepang sama saja terlalu membanggakan akarnya sendiri. I feel you, Sugihara.
Buat para orangtua yg mendidik anak dgn otot daripada otak spt ayah Sugihara ini. Yang menganggap dirinya Yoda pdhl di mata anaknya di sisi manapun adalah Darth Vader (saya paling suka kalimat ini). Ketahuilah bhw apa yg kau lihat ttg dirimu, tidak sama dgn yg dilihat oleh anakmu.
Sugihara terlahir sbg peranakan Korea, ayahnya yg lahir di masa perang dan mengalami hidup susah, jelas kesulitan utk mengekspresikan kepahitan hidupnya kecuali dgn tonjokan-tonjokan tinjunya yg dia arahkan kepada putranya. Sudah rahasia umum orang Korea dan Jepang bermusuhan dan kedua bangsa ini saling mendiskriminasi satu sama lain. Sugihara yg terlahir di Jepang juga mengalami perisakan dan sudah gak terhitung pelanggaran yg membuatnya berurusan dgn pihak berwajib.
Dan yg membuat Sugihara makin getir adalah kematian tragis sahabat karibnya, Kim Jeong-Il yg ditikam oleh seorang yg membenci orang Korea. Ditambah lagi kekasihnya, Sakurai mengungkapkan hal yg membuatnya makin terpuruk.
Ini kedua kalinya saya membaca ttg perlakuan diskriminatif pihak Jepang kepada orang-orang kelahiran Korea (Buku sebelumnya yg saya baca adalah "Pachinko" by Min Jin Lee). Membaca buku ini dari POV Sugihara yg sarkastik, kita bisa merasakan masam getirnya hidup sbg peranakan Korea di bumi Jepang tsb. Sugihara punya pandangan sendiri ttg akarnya yg berbeda dgn umumnya para pemuda Korea sebayanya. Sugihara bukanlah pemuda naif ataupun sok pamer kepintarannya (toh dia memang cerdas otaknya dan jago berantem). Tapi dia skeptis dgn chauvinisme baik Korea maupun Jepang sama saja terlalu membanggakan akarnya sendiri. I feel you, Sugihara.
Buat para orangtua yg mendidik anak dgn otot daripada otak spt ayah Sugihara ini. Yang menganggap dirinya Yoda pdhl di mata anaknya di sisi manapun adalah Darth Vader (saya paling suka kalimat ini). Ketahuilah bhw apa yg kau lihat ttg dirimu, tidak sama dgn yg dilihat oleh anakmu.
March 12, 2018
Having lived in Japan around the time this book takes place, it stirred all kinds of nostalgia. The story is heartwarming, poignant, and hilarious, all the while touching on minority issues in a homogeneous society. The narrator's compelling voice draws you in and introduces you to a colorful cast of characters.
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