Tokyo Ueno Station

The novel presents Kazu’s personal story against the backdrop of significant moments in Japanese history. Among these are the Meiji Restoration and the post-feudal era push to modernize, as well as the subsequent move toward an industrial economy, best represented by the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.

Kazu, the novel’s protagonist, was born in the 1930s, and most of his story focuses on the historical events that took place after that time. These include World War II, the economic bubble of the late 1980s and early 1990s, and the 2011 earthquake. However, one major event from the late 1800s (the Edo period) had a significant impact on Kazu’s life: the Meiji Restoration. This was the transformation of Japan from a class-based feudal system that was primarily agricultural to a more unified, industrial society. During the Edo period, Japan had little contact with outside countries, and the ruling feudal powers—the shogunate—imposed strict class rules. Resistance efforts were bolstered by the arrival of foreign militaries; eventually, the shogunate was abolished, the imperial emperor was restored to power, and Japan was “opened” to foreign traders. Upon encountering the technological advancements of the west, particularly regarding military weapons, Japan began to emulate Western countries in order to modernize. According to Columbia University’s Asia for Educators,

The abolition of feudalism made possible tremendous social and political changes. Millions of people were suddenly free to choose their occupation and move about without restrictions. By providing a new environment of political and financial security, the government made possible investment in new industries and technologies (“The Meiji Restoration and Modernization.” Asia for Educators, Columbia University, 2023).

The novel examines the lasting consequences of a complete transformation away from an agrarian society to an industrial society. Kazu also directly references historical figures from this time period, such as Saigo Takamori, one of the leaders of the Meiji Restoration.

As Kazu was born in the 1930s, much of his life was defined by World War II and the postwar period. In the immediate aftermath of World War II, Tokyo was not the cosmopolitan city that it is recognized as today. According to Max Zimmerman,

Poor sewage systems meant polluted rivers. Drinking water was bad. Air quality was low, while a poor road network and rising car culture meant endemic traffic. As the population soared to 10 million by 1963—from just 3.49 million in 1945—growth in housing stock struggled to keep up (Zimmerman, Max. “How the 1964 Games Changed Tokyo Forever.” The Guardian, 2021).

Once again, Japan’s restoration and modernization efforts came in the form of emulating Western countries, like America. Being awarded the 1964 Olympics justified a massive urban renewal project that endeavored to change how Tokyo was perceived internationally. Large-scale construction projects needed a large workforce of laborers. Enormous investment in civil engineering projects in Tokyo likewise meant pulling resources away from smaller local communities. Those in rural districts, such as Kazu, were forced to leave their homes and move to Tokyo in search of work. The novel examines the consequences of such migration, suggesting that once the projects were complete, the laborers were often left without opportunities. Once the work dried up, an entirely new class of impoverished urban dwellers emerged.

The novel also briefly references the “bubble economy” of the 1980s and 1990s. The “bubble” describes a brief period of tremendous prosperity; Japan’s economy flourished, but it was based primarily in unstable lending practices and eventually ballooned out of control. In early 1992, the bubble “burst,” and the market crashed. The period of economic stagnation that followed is called “The Lost Decade.” Companies that had sprung up and borrowed recklessly during the bubble collapsed within a few years, and many people found themselves out of jobs and homes. The effects of this recession have lingered even through the 2000s and 2010s. As a representation of this period of history, the book features an unhoused man who lost everything when his company went under after the bubble burst.

Lastly, the novel features the earthquake and resulting tsunami of 2011. The earthquake, among other things, caused a nuclear disaster in Fukushima Prefecture, where Kazu’s hometown is located. Toward the end of the novel, he witnesses the tsunami and describes the death of his granddaughter. Like so many of the victims of the disaster, she is caught off guard, and while she tries to escape, she is unfortunately and tragically swept away by the tidal surge brought about by the earthquake. The portrayal shows a manner of death in which many unsuspecting people lost their lives, and the fact that Kazu only sees her after his own death implies that her true fate may remain a mystery to the living, as so many were lost and never found in the wake of the disaster.