The readings for this week were very interesting. I loved the exploration into language from Scattered All Over the Earth and The Easy Life in Kamusari. I think it’s also fascinating how the works dealt with culture and community on a personal scale while still relating to the world at large. I loved the story of The Easy Life in Kamusari especially, and am very curious how it will end. It’s interesting how the experience in this small village in the countryside is almost like a world on its own, and how that separation can lead to many new possibilities outwardly and within yourself.
The Little Woods in Fukushima was incredibly insightful. I’m assuming this is non-fiction, and reading his account of the 2011 earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear accident was harrowing and enlightening. I found it really interesting his reflection of Japanese society and why nothing has changed since then, why it is easier for these issues to go ignored. This also deals with memory- “Memory is more than mere data. Even if we don’t intentionally lie, out memories can be unreliable.” It was interesting to read his accounts of the past with the mushroom farm in particular.
The Memory Police is one of my favorite books. I read it a couple years ago, and have even done a project inspired by it. Rereading the first 6 chapters made me want to reread the whole thing again. I think the atmosphere is amazing, and the mystery you experience trying to understand the story. The things it says about memory, autonomy, the government, family and community, are all very poignant and relevant for today. I was surprised to learn she wrote it in 1994, when I thought it was newer than that.
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