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A review by kate66
Go by Kazuki Kaneshiro
4.0
This book starts as a coming of age story about a young man growing up in Japan to parents who seem to spend most of their time ignoring each other.
However it's so much more than that due to uncertain nature of those born in Korea but who have Japanese residency. Korea was a Japanese territory until the war and afterwards the nature of legality of those born in Korea but who live or were born in Japan becomes very muddy. Suffice to say that those born in North Korea and their dependants are considered far below second class citizens.
The story evolves into a love story between Sugihara and Sakurai. Both born in Japan but she to Japanese parents and he to Korean parents (making him Zainichi). Sugihara has to fight many battles because of his status but he keeps his true identity secret from Sakurai because he knows her reaction will be less than favourable.
Sugihara tells us this is merely his love story but it's actually a very interesting look into racial problems in Japan.
However it's so much more than that due to uncertain nature of those born in Korea but who have Japanese residency. Korea was a Japanese territory until the war and afterwards the nature of legality of those born in Korea but who live or were born in Japan becomes very muddy. Suffice to say that those born in North Korea and their dependants are considered far below second class citizens.
The story evolves into a love story between Sugihara and Sakurai. Both born in Japan but she to Japanese parents and he to Korean parents (making him Zainichi). Sugihara has to fight many battles because of his status but he keeps his true identity secret from Sakurai because he knows her reaction will be less than favourable.
Sugihara tells us this is merely his love story but it's actually a very interesting look into racial problems in Japan.