Go, A Coming of Age Novel

By Kaneshiri Kazuki

Translated by Nieda Takami

(2000, translated 2018)

Amazon Crossing

(Zainichi)

On its publication, Go, A Coming of Age Novel, won a Naoki Prize, and the following year, a film adaptation directed by Isado Ukisada, won prizes from  Hochi Film Awards and The Japanese Academy. The novel is a coming-of-age story that is complicated by racism. The central character, Sugihara, is a Zainichi, which means he is an ethnic Korean residing in Japan who can trace his roots to the period of Japanese rule over Korea (1910-1945). The state of being Zainichi is complex, as many were brought to Japan to work in factories and public works projects. Some chose to come, and others were forced into service. The jobs they worked were “3d” jobs: dirty, dangerous, and demeaning. Though they were second-class citizens, during the age of empire they were allowed to vote. At the end of World War II, Japan changed the status of Zainichi to “foreign residents” and took away their right to vote. Though the Zainichi were eager to establish ethnic schools for Zainichi children, the Japanese would not allow it. As a result, Zainichi students comprised a minority population in public schools, where they were disrespected by teachers, students, and staff. Sugihara is the target of intense bullying at school. Fortunately, he is the son of a professional boxer and he can beat up anyone at his school. But his father is no role model. A drunk and violent person he manages to avoid seriously injuring his son while teaching him the ways of the world. Sugihara befriends the son of a yakuza, not for clout, but because the two get on so well. One tells himself he is dumb and the other is one of the top students at the school. Sugihara’s life changes when he falls in love with a Japanese girl, Sakurae. As their relationship blossoms, Sugihara keeps his identity as a Zainichi hidden from his beloved. That changes when Sugihara suffers a sudden, unexpected loss that causes him to question his beliefs and values. He reveals his identity to Sakurae. How will she respond? The novel is fast-moving and the characters are believable and engaging. Some of the best scenes involve the son’s complex relationship with his father. Go is a terrific YA novel and a brilliant introduction to the hidden world of the Zainich. Incidentally, the movie adaptation of Go was the first joint Japanese and South Korean film production. 

“What’s with all the extra dishes lately?” my father asked one day after dinner, patting his bulging belly. My mother, who was in the kitchen, cleaning up, chirped, “I was hoping you’d get diabetes.” While my father was reeling from this unexpected counterpunch, my mother came out of the kitchen and plopped down on a chair. Then she grabbed the weekly magazine from the edge of the table and began reading, the magazine propped up so my father and I could get a good look at the headline on the cover: “Monster Wife Laces Abusive Husband’s Dinner with Arsenic!” Peeking out from behind the magazine was a smile as wicked as Jack Nicholson’s.