I’m a fan of Japanese reality dating shows and watch them compulsively. In fact, I was just watching “Love Village Season 2” this morning. To a certain extent, I can understand why nothing happens in this book. Hitomi, the central character literally expressed that she “truly felt love for Takeo (her co-worker)” on the SECOND LAST page of the book. I mean, I am used to slow simmering, thanks to my affinity with Japanese dating shows, but the lack of conclusive actions made the book a chore to power through.

Still, I was curiously determined to finish it. I think there’s a level of street cred involved in appreciating Japanese literature, so I kinda wanted to build myself up in this area. It also helped that each chapter stood on its own. Hitomi and Takeo worked at a thrift shop owned by Mr Nakano, so each chapter was named after an object that featured heavily in their lives during a particular point in time. One chapter one day. So, that’s how I finished reading it - chipping off one bit at a time.

Although it was an exasperating read, I thought it portrayed the Japanese psyche well. Their walls of reserve, their in-built cultural code that require them to navigate layers of formality, their tendency to say certain things but not too much, their characteristic trait of (over)thinking. What can I say? I’m eternally fascinated and bewitched by the Japanese mind.

I just think that I would enjoy the company of Hitomi and the other characters more if I were watching a drama adaptation. It would be more fun to watch how they put themselves out there - with a bungee cord holding their true self back.