A Boy Called H

If, say, he hadn’t happened to be born in Japan, just when that country was embarking on the militaristic course that would lead to its ruin before he was out of his teens.... If his family hadn’t been just out-of-the-ordinary enough to make him a nonconformist in an overwhelmingly conformist society… And if, above all, he hadn’t had a precociously inquiring mind that would never be fobbed off with an easy answer…

But he was, and he had — and the final result is this personal account of his boyhood, a story so readable and so full of resonances subtly linking past and present that it became a runaway best-seller in Japan and other parts of Asia.

The episodes he describes in 50 short chapters range from humorous scenes of domestic life to the pathetic suicide of an army deserter; from an affectionate picture of country life to the horror of the fire bombs; from the naive celebrations of early victories to the frank bitterness of a war widow; from shock and relief at the Emperor’s speech ending the war to the first encounters with the occupation forces; from the author’s boyish exploits to the crisis of approaching adulthood that nearly ends his life.

The final effect is of a mosaic. The pieces are multicolored, but they come together to form, not one, but two pictures — of the development under extraordinary conditions of a boy who isn’t especially virtuous or charitable and may at times be annoyingly overconfident, but who is basically likable and sensitive; and of a particular nation rushing half-blind into a great conflict that could only end in tragedy.

A rich, immediately accessible, eminently enjoyable double portrait that sheds new light on a turbulent period in history, “A Boy Called H” is engaging, well-crafted and original.

Additional Information:

By Kappa Senoh
Translated by John Bester
Kodansha Int’l

7 Comments

keech2 at 09:29 AM JST - 10th August

This book was printed 8 years ago. Why are you reviewing it now? Trying to find more articles to keep those August war/peace drums banging?
melissamt at 12:36 AM JST - 11th August

Probably just picked it up to read and thought of sharing it w/those who are 8-years-too-slow? ^^,
magpie at 02:38 PM JST - 11th August

Regardless of when it was printed and when it was reviewed, this was a brilliant book which I found really enjoyable all those years ago. If you haven't read the original japanese print would recommend you to read.
OhioDonna at 11:29 PM JST - 11th August

I am a librarian in the US. My library has a copy and I just checked it out. I just hope nothing is lost in translation.
keech2 at 03:27 PM JST - 12th August

magpie, I have read the book. It is a very good read. I was merely questioning the timing of the review. The book could have been reviewed at any other time of year.
magpie at 01:34 PM JST - 13th August

keech2 No disrespect to your comment. Agreed a very good book.
keech2 at 03:21 PM JST - 13th August

magpie, no offense taken. Sorry that my post seems a bit abrupt.