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franklyfrank's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
ellozx's review against another edition
3.75
a whimsical and fun story that i do think reflects japanese society in a dark and satirical way. just wished the story was a little longer and we got to learn more about kappa society and the main character’s repulse to human society afterwards (other than just pure physical disgust)
redherringgemini's review against another edition
funny
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
hyeanason's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
timinbc's review against another edition
4.0
Um. I dunno what to say. A story purportedly told by a madman, and actually written by a man who, ahem, ended his time on Earth not long after.
It's an often-amusing satire on Japanese and human society, but there is a growing undertone of people on both sides sliding slowly down into unhappiness and loss of hope.
It's good work, but I'd just as soon not have read it.
It's an often-amusing satire on Japanese and human society, but there is a growing undertone of people on both sides sliding slowly down into unhappiness and loss of hope.
It's good work, but I'd just as soon not have read it.
notenchanted's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
adearen's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
5.0
heyimaghost's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
olya_hakob's review against another edition
Akutagawa's nameless narrator (Patient Nr. 23) tells a compelling little story about his experiences in Kappaland, a parallel world which he discovers by falling down a hole (like L. Caroll's Alice). This mysterious world is inhabited by Kappas, humanoid creatures from Japanese folklore.
Initially, their society seems very different from humans'- things that are serious matters for us seem laughable for them and vice versa. For example, Kappas do not wear clothes and find it ridiculous that humans do. While there seems to be free expression when it comes to literature and painting, music is censored because it is inherently discriminating - Kappas who do not have a keen ear cannot appreciate good music. Yet, books are mass-produced at an amazing speed by using pulverized donkey brain as the main printing material. Technologically Kappas are way more advanced than humans. However, this comes at a sinister cost as all the workers that are replaced by machines are killed and eaten. They consider it more humane because these workers are apparently saved from succumbing to hunger after losing their job. After all- they claim - how different are humans who force young girls into prostitution?
However, it's not all about scruples in this advanced society, where profits are made even by feeding soldiers with lumps of coal while "burning with patriotism" besides that. The religion in Kappaland is 'modernism' or 'Viver- ism' which commends to live an energetic life. There are two types of fruit on the Tree of Life in Kappaland - golden ones that represent good and green ones that represent evil. It is assumed that Akutagawa feared a disconnection from nature and glorification of greed with increased modernization.
Curiously, unlike in the human world, Kappa babies can choose whether or not they want to be born. If they refuse [the father has to ask and they reply from the womb], the pregnancy is undone in a second. However, coming to the world voluntarily does not eliminate suffering from the Kappa world. Gradually, the flaws and suffering in Kappaland become apparent to the narrator - especially after the suicide of his friend, a Kappa poet. Hence, at first glance Kappa world seems upside down from ours, yet at its core, it's not too different. In my opinion, this is illustrated also by the odd behavior of Kappa Repp, a student in search of the truth. He bends down his head and looks at everything through his legs [upside down] - maybe then things seem more reasonable? Yet nothing changes.
The narrator becomes frustrated with Kappaland and wants to come back to the human world. He learns about a Kappa who lives on the outskirts of Kappaland. This Kappa leads a happy life by reading books and playing the flute. In response to the narrator's surprise of his youthful appearance, the Kappa reveals that he was born old and got younger since then [Benjamin Button]. Finally, he shows the way out and the narrator returns to the human world.
With some time he gets used to humans again (at first they seemed to smell weird compared to Kappas), yet Kappaland is like Pandora-box - once opened, never forgotten. The narrator claims his Kappa friends come to visit him and that he is treated unfairly because nobody believes him. He then grabs a phonebook to allegedly read a poem from Kappaland and points to the empty table supposedly having flowers on it.
Initially, their society seems very different from humans'- things that are serious matters for us seem laughable for them and vice versa. For example, Kappas do not wear clothes and find it ridiculous that humans do. While there seems to be free expression when it comes to literature and painting, music is censored because it is inherently discriminating - Kappas who do not have a keen ear cannot appreciate good music. Yet, books are mass-produced at an amazing speed by using pulverized donkey brain as the main printing material. Technologically Kappas are way more advanced than humans. However, this comes at a sinister cost as all the workers that are replaced by machines are killed and eaten. They consider it more humane because these workers are apparently saved from succumbing to hunger after losing their job. After all- they claim - how different are humans who force young girls into prostitution?
However, it's not all about scruples in this advanced society, where profits are made even by feeding soldiers with lumps of coal while "burning with patriotism" besides that. The religion in Kappaland is 'modernism' or 'Viver- ism' which commends to live an energetic life. There are two types of fruit on the Tree of Life in Kappaland - golden ones that represent good and green ones that represent evil. It is assumed that Akutagawa feared a disconnection from nature and glorification of greed with increased modernization.
Curiously, unlike in the human world, Kappa babies can choose whether or not they want to be born. If they refuse [the father has to ask and they reply from the womb], the pregnancy is undone in a second. However, coming to the world voluntarily does not eliminate suffering from the Kappa world. Gradually, the flaws and suffering in Kappaland become apparent to the narrator - especially after the suicide of his friend, a Kappa poet. Hence, at first glance Kappa world seems upside down from ours, yet at its core, it's not too different. In my opinion, this is illustrated also by the odd behavior of Kappa Repp, a student in search of the truth. He bends down his head and looks at everything through his legs [upside down] - maybe then things seem more reasonable? Yet nothing changes.
The narrator becomes frustrated with Kappaland and wants to come back to the human world. He learns about a Kappa who lives on the outskirts of Kappaland. This Kappa leads a happy life by reading books and playing the flute. In response to the narrator's surprise of his youthful appearance, the Kappa reveals that he was born old and got younger since then [Benjamin Button]. Finally, he shows the way out and the narrator returns to the human world.
With some time he gets used to humans again (at first they seemed to smell weird compared to Kappas), yet Kappaland is like Pandora-box - once opened, never forgotten. The narrator claims his Kappa friends come to visit him and that he is treated unfairly because nobody believes him. He then grabs a phonebook to allegedly read a poem from Kappaland and points to the empty table supposedly having flowers on it.