The old live longer while the young die off in this sprightly Japanese satire
The high concept of Yoko Tawada’s surprising new novel, translated by Margaret Mitsutani, is that old people are living longer than ever, but children are dying before adulthood. It’s hinted that this may be due to some environmental collapse, which has isolated Japan from the rest of the world. The main thread follows four generations of a family struggling with what this means for their youngest member, Mumei.
In 144 pages we get a mini-epic of eco-terror, family drama and speculative fiction. “We must save Tokyo even if it means sacrificing all the outlying prefectures!” But this is no dystopian novel like The Children of Men. Tawada’s interest is satirical as much as tragic, with public holidays chosen by popular vote (Labour Day becomes Being Alive Is Enough Day) and a privatised police force whose activities now centre on its brass band.
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