Strange Weather in Tokyo: A Novel
Shortlisted for the 2013 Man Asian Literary Prize, Strange Weather in Tokyo is a story of loneliness and love that defies age
Tsukiko, thirty–eight, works in an office and lives alone. One night, she happens to meet one of her former high school teachers, "Sensei," in a local bar. Tsukiko had only ever called him "Sensei" ("Teacher"). He is thirty years her senior, retired, and presumably a widower. Their relationship develops from a perfunctory acknowledgment of each other as they eat and drink alone at the bar, to a hesitant intimacy which tilts awkwardly and poignantly into love.
As Tsukiko and Sensei grow to know and love one another, time's passing is marked by Kawakami's gentle hints at the changing seasons: from warm sake to chilled beer, from the buds on the trees to the blooming of the cherry blossoms. Strange Weather in Tokyo is a moving, funny, and immersive tale of modern Japan and old–fashioned romance.
Tsukiko, thirty–eight, works in an office and lives alone. One night, she happens to meet one of her former high school teachers, "Sensei," in a local bar. Tsukiko had only ever called him "Sensei" ("Teacher"). He is thirty years her senior, retired, and presumably a widower. Their relationship develops from a perfunctory acknowledgment of each other as they eat and drink alone at the bar, to a hesitant intimacy which tilts awkwardly and poignantly into love.
As Tsukiko and Sensei grow to know and love one another, time's passing is marked by Kawakami's gentle hints at the changing seasons: from warm sake to chilled beer, from the buds on the trees to the blooming of the cherry blossoms. Strange Weather in Tokyo is a moving, funny, and immersive tale of modern Japan and old–fashioned romance.
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Community Reviews
1.5/5
Tsukiko is living a very normal and boring life. At 38 she works in an office, has no friends, and lives alone. One day, she crosses paths with her former high school teacher "Sensei" at a bar, and the two start an easy relationship where they share drinks, food, and share a simple camaraderie that develops into a romance as the seasons change.
This wasn't something I would ever pick on my own, it was a book club pick and I was willing to at least have an open mind but nope, I did not like this at all. The main pillar of this book is the age gap relationship. At first I was trying to be non judgemental since they were both grown adults, even thought he had been her HIGH SCHOOL teacher, but more and more parts of the romance didn't sit right with me and it just ruined the book completely. I was AGHAST when it was revealed that Sensei's son was 50 years old, whatever goodwill I had towards the romance immediately evaporated. Add to that the power dynamics that had Tsukiko acting not even like a teenager but somehow younger and Sensei's condescending and patronizing attitude towards her mixed with some light misogyny and you had me making this face
I had been alone. I rode the bus alone, I walked around the city alone, I did my shopping alone, and I drank alone. And even when I was with Sensei now, I didn't feel any different from when I did these things on my own.
Tsukiko is living a very normal and boring life. At 38 she works in an office, has no friends, and lives alone. One day, she crosses paths with her former high school teacher "Sensei" at a bar, and the two start an easy relationship where they share drinks, food, and share a simple camaraderie that develops into a romance as the seasons change.
This wasn't something I would ever pick on my own, it was a book club pick and I was willing to at least have an open mind but nope, I did not like this at all. The main pillar of this book is the age gap relationship. At first I was trying to be non judgemental since they were both grown adults, even thought he had been her HIGH SCHOOL teacher, but more and more parts of the romance didn't sit right with me and it just ruined the book completely. I was AGHAST when it was revealed that Sensei's son was 50 years old, whatever goodwill I had towards the romance immediately evaporated. Add to that the power dynamics that had Tsukiko acting not even like a teenager but somehow younger and Sensei's condescending and patronizing attitude towards her mixed with some light misogyny and you had me making this face
Never read anything like it. It's odd because I didn't realise it was a romance until they did start dating. It might feel weird explaining this out loud, considering the age gaps and everything; but it made sense to me in a way. The lonely air of the book and how mundane, small things are explained gave it a melancholy feel, made me understand her longing for him. Crazy.
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