Customer Reviews

The Street of a Thousand Blossoms

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Our CHATTER Reading Group reads literary works of fiction and nonfiction. Based largely on the 4.5-star rating other Amazon.com readers had given it, we read and discussed "Street of a Thousand Blossoms". Knowing that everyone else had rated this book on average 4.5 stars, it was difficult for us to go against the grain. We even discussed WHY others might have liked it so much. Certainly, it was interesting to consider Japan during the WWII period and realize that the "enemy" of the U.S. is a country made up of people just like us and that they suffered.

Also, if asked ahead of time, "How would you like to read a book about Sumo Wrestling?", we certainly would have said, "No, thanks." Yet, it was also extremely interesting to read about this sport, admittedly previously unknown to us. The same goes for Noh Mask Artistry. I researched and shared photographs of masks and information about how they are made with the group. We also shared a sumo wrestling video. So, again, this book gets points for its educational aspects, which lead to a very interesting book club discussion.

Our group thought it was necessary to include our opinion of the book as a warning to the uninformed reader who might think, "this must be a real page-turner with reviews like that!" The writing style felt predictable and left us wondering about a few things (such as, why include that bit about Aki catching the caretaker in the middle of the night - what was the purpose of that?) After a slow beginning, the book did pick up a little. But, quite frankly, if it had not been a reading group book, it would have been hard for us to get all the way to the end before giving up (some members didn't even make it that far).

This book was voted an average of 3 stars by the 6 reading group members who finished reading it.

Tsukiyama returns with a novel that spans pre-World War II Japan, the devastating bombings, occupation and the gradual recovery of a country battered by the forces of war and defeat. As young boys, Kenji and Hiroshi Matsumoto, orphaned grandsons of Yoshio and Fumiko Wada, are early attracted to the lifestyles they will pursue. Hiroshi wants nothing more than to become a sumitori; Kenji dreams of crafting the otherworldly masks used in the Noh Theater as taught by his sensei, Akira Yoshiwara. Watching proudly as their grandsons grow into responsible young men, the threat of impending war interferes with the family's plans for the future, the citizens of the Yanaka district of northeastern Tokyo consumed with surviving ever decreasing rations, old and young males called to serve their country on the front lines. While Kenji's sensei escapes to the mountains and Hiroshi delays his training with the master, Sho Tanaka, people gather in homemade bomb shelters, hoping to survive each new attack.

The eventual bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki throws the country into chaos, Tanaka's wife lost to her children during the conflagration, Aki and Haru returning to their father alone. The wounds are slow to heal after such devastation, but Hiroshi and Kenji renew their separate passions, Hiroshi training diligently, one eye on the growing Aki, Kenji opening his own mask shop, married and content with every aspect of his life but one. Time passes, one generation giving way to another, parents and grandparents bequeathing the future to their children. Finally free of the grief of the past, Kenji and Hiroshi deal with the challenges of every day existence, the small, but painful tragedies and fragile victories that define them in the world. Each is burdened with unexpected loss, relying on family and work to recover. It is in these areas, the particulars of loss and redemption that the author is most proficient.

Although the male characters are more rigidly constructed, guided by the expectations of others and their own dedication to their careers, it is the female characters who most embody change and compassion, the now-widowed, but wise Fumiko, the darkest days of Aki's self-doubt and the loving presence of the faithful Haru, Aki's older sister, who assumed the place of mother when theirs was lost. Set in the culture of sumo, the historic years of war ever present, Tsukiyama's Japan suffers the loss of power and occupation, slowly rebuilding a more modern society. Strength of family and pride of culture sustain the decades, as the characters adapt to a world that is forever changed, loss and renewal the common, sustaining theme of the author's vision. Luan Gaines/2007.

Early this morning around 2 AM, I finished The street of a Thousand Blossoms by Gail Tskiyama. Once again she took me in showed me the Asian culture but this time Japan right before WW II,thru the war and the dropping of the bombs and how Japan recovered. It could have been gory but this author has in incredible way with words,so lyrical,even when telling about the horror of the nuclear holocaust.. i give this book a 4.5/5. my favorite by her still is The Samurai's Garden.when I finish one of her books, i am so immersed by her that i wonder if i will ever be able to read another book right away!

Third book I have read by this author. Each book has taught me something about the asian cultures for which they were written. This book however is my favorite. Those of us who remember WW2 receive a new picture as to the suffering of the Japanese families who were as much a victim of the times as Americans were. A very worthy read and a book I will pass on to friends.

Gail Tsukiyama's "The Street of a Thousand Blossoms" centered around two brothers in pre World War II Japan, Hiroshi and Kenji who lived with their grandparents as their parents died when they were young. Hiroshi and Kenji were as different as night and day; Hiroshi, the stronger of the brothers was talented in sumo wrestling while Kenji's interests lie in the art of mask making for Noh actors. The author skillfully portrayed the intersection of their lives with others in this difficult period prior to the war.

This was a wonderful read for me as the author was able to bring to life the different characters in this book. The characters were well-developed and she was able to display their complexities. It was also interesting to read about Japanese who were left behind while the men were involved in the wars abroad. For those interested in learning about the Japanese culture and history, this would be a great read too. Highly recommended.

I won't find it necessary in my review to restate the content or the
story line in Ms. Tsukiyama's novel but rather I would like to speak to
the positive aspects of the story. First, I must say it is one of the
most compelling and true to life stories I have read regarding the
years before, during, and after the war. The style is also more than one
could hope for in trying to understand unfamiliar words. Rather than having one refer to a glossary or footnote, which to me is time consuming
and also annoying, she has followed Japanese words with an immediate
translation. This is a quite unique approach and rather convenient.
The fire bombing of Tokyo is as true to life as if the writer were there herself experiencing first hand the horror of that tragic event. I lived
in Japan for a number of years and long before I read this novel a friend told me "those who ran in one direction died and those who ran in the other direction escaped death." I did not need Ms. Tsukiyama's book to learn that. I have just returned from two months in Japan so I am aware that one of the great yokozunas of the past is facing some legal issues.
However, that matter is far removed from the story put forth in the novel.
It is a novel and not a history book and one should keep that in mind when trying to grasp an understanding of Japanese life in those days and not attempt to equate it with modern day Japan. Just go over there and
watch the robots playing Christmas music at the Toyota museum and you will understand what I mean. Ms. Tsukiyama has given us a story that can be enjoyed while at the same time giving us an understanding of Japanese society. Not many will find fault with this book and I believe that if they do it is because they have searched to find fault rather than enjoyment. Ms. Tsukiyama has written a novel from her heart and I have enjoyed it as I have all of her previous novels. Yet, I think she has exceeded the expectations of her admirers. I say thanks to Ms. Tsukiyama for giving us the hours of pleasure and I look forward to her next
accomplishment. She is truly one of our best writers and five stars is
not enough.

I was surprised that another commentator preferred this to The Samurai's Garden. That book was only about a 3 star book to me but it was written 13 years before this book and it was her debut. I can see how she has grown and matured as a writer and she is at the top of her game right now.

This book is absolutely superb. My Japanese husband also read it and loved it. Time and again we had to go to the internet to look up places and events depicted in the book. If you don't have a burning to desire to go to a Noh performance then you haven't read the book yet! I can't wait for her next book!

This was a great book, although I found it took me a while to get into it. The historical context is fascinating, and the characters are so interesting. An all-around beautiful book!

Gail Tsukiyama's latest novel is a gorgeously rendered work, steeped in politics and ancient Japanese tradition. Spanning three decades during World War II and beyond, this engrossing tale captures the lives of two ripped-apart Tokyo families as they struggle to make ends meet after losing nearly everything during the war. With fortitude and grace, Tsukiyama weaves a meditative story full of love and loss that will weigh on readers' consciences long after the last page is turned.

Tsukiyama begins by immediately introducing readers to her main characters --- two young brothers, Hiroshi and Kenji, who lost their parents in a boating accident. Hiroshi, the older boy, is a visionary. Unlike Kenji, Hiroshi is both outgoing and strong. He commands respect from his peers and strives to bring greatness to his family. Kenji, on the other hand, is more subdued. A gentle spirit, he spends more time alone and in his head than with others, and prefers the quiet solitude of the mask shop down the street or his grandparents' garden. The two are a perfect pair, polar opposites yet fiercely devoted to each other and their grandparents, whom they live with in their parents' absence.

Hiroshi and Kenji's home environment is a solid one, run by their wise ojichan (grandfather) and their obachan (grandmother). From the onset, it is clear that while the boys are without their natural guardians, they are not lacking in love and support. Despite being vastly different people, their grandparents' healthy and committed marriage is what keeps the family strong and provides an anchor for Hiroshi and Kenji as they mature and become young men.

Unfortunately, the luxury of learning how to find their way in a peaceful, carefree world is disrupted by tragedy on a global scale. As World War II erupts onto the world stage, life becomes harder for Hiroshi and Kenji's family and their neighbors. The lack of food weighs on their grandparents, and the nagging interruption of air-raid sirens cloud their peace of mind. Then, when much of the town is destroyed in a firestorm, followed eventually by Japan's surrender, everyone must figure out how to pick up the pieces and start again.

As Hiroshi and Kenji grow older, the effects of the war never quite leave them. Hiroshi embarks on a sumo wrestling career with utmost determination, while Kenji abandons his studies to follow his passion and continue the work of one of the greatest living Japanese mask makers, a man he had apprenticed as a child before the war. Although the death of their grandfather is a major emotional setback, his legacy is always close at hand, and the two (and their grandmother) work to rebuild their lives and prepare for a more positive future.

Before long, Kenji falls in love with a beautiful woman, Mika, whom he eventually marries. Never far from his brother, Hiroshi --- now the top sumo wrestler in Japan --- captures the heart of Aki, a girl he knew during his childhood (their union is somewhat fated, as Hiroshi was the one who told her about her mother's death during the firestorm). Although the two also marry, their relationship is a complicated one, as Aki suffers from crippling bouts of depression after the death of their first child. In their new families and in their careers, Hiroshi and Kenji must figure out how to balance the needs of their loved ones with the pressing demands of life, and Tsukiyama does a brilliant job in allowing their daily struggles to unfold.

What makes THE STREET OF A THOUSAND BLOSSOMS so breathtaking is Tsukiyama's ability to seamlessly interweave Japanese history with the very personal lives of her characters. Her detailed descriptions of the air raids and their devastating effects on the Japanese people are both riveting and deeply distressing, drawing poignant parallels to contemporary events (whether intentional or unintentional). Readers will enjoy getting to know each of the characters and watch them evolve throughout time and space (while all of the characters aren't mentioned in this review, they are all wonderfully complicated and expertly rendered). Lastly, Tsukiyama's clear command of language is evident on every page, especially in regard to the Japanese words sprinkled throughout the text (adding flavor) or her flowery, poetic descriptions of a changing landscape over time. A grand masterpiece of epic proportions.

--- Reviewed by Alexis Burling

After reading Gail Tsukiyama's Women of the Silk, a novel set in China, I knew that she was a writer that I was going to be hunting up again for future reads. But now that I've finished The Street of a Thousand Blossoms, I'm not too certain any more.

Set in Japan during World War II and for nearly two decades afterwards, the novel tells the story of two families that are faced with deprivation, death and eventual survival. Yoshio and Fumiko Wada are raising their grandsons, Hiroshi and Kenji Matsuyama after their daughter and son-in-law have perished in a tragic accident. They adore the boys, giving them encouragement and a safe enviroment to grow up in. Hiroshi is strong and getting taller every day, already a budding wrestler that is dreaming of becoming a sumo champion. His brother, Kenji, is quieter and much more of an introvert. Kenji dreams of being an artist, and despite being bullied relentlessly at school, eventually finds sanctuary with a maker of masks for the Noh theatre, Akira Yoshiwara, an ancient art form that Kenji embraces with a passion.

But when the Japanese invade Pearl Harbor and war begins against the Americans, the Wadas find their life in Tokyo shattered. There are food shortages, the depredations of the kempeitai, the police force, as they confiscate everything of value, and finally, the terrible firebombings towards the end of the war. Hiroshi and Kenji along with their grandparents have survived, but at terrible costs, and they're not alone either.

The Tamadas, the father running a stable of sumo wrestlers, and the mother, a former geisha, have two daughters that they are raising. There was hope for a son, but both girls show great promise. Haru, the elder, is the 'good' daughter, dutiful, helping her mother run the household, and Aki, the younger, is a bundle of mischief, inheriting her mother's great beauty, but also not quite as focused as her sister. As with the Wadas, bit by bit, everything is stripped away, the wrestlers being taken by the army to serve in distant wars, food becoming ever more scarce, and when the firestorms come, eventual tragedy.

Tamada rebuilds his stable of wrestlers, seeing in Hiroshi the promise of not just being good but a great sumo champion. Hiroshi enters the training and otherworldly life of sumo, while Kenji goes on to university, becoming a scholar. As for Tanaka's daughters, both of them are taken with Hiroshi -- which girl will the sumo wrestler choose? And what does fate have in store for the families who have survived such terrible times?

I have to say, I really wanted to like this novel. I love reading about other cultures and times, and anytime I get a chance to learn something new, I leap at it. Tsukiyama gives a great deal to the feel of this novel, using Japanese terms and expressions to great effect, and able to convey meaning without going into too much of an explain mode. That's the good part, along with some bits of very vivid description.

And therein lays the problem with this novel. It's all delivered up in bits. Chapters are not much more than several paragraphs at a time, giving tiny little vignettes into the lives of these characters. Too, the writing style and language is very simplistic, without any real poetry to the words, nothing that is evocative or lyrical in the story. Only very briefly does anything really shine through, and there's a lot of wading through very bleak prose to get there. Another failing are the characters, all of whom are either very good, or very bad, and almost no one in a grey area. This too, makes for dull reading.

Hiroshi, while he does have flashes of normal human behavior, is a stoic man, enduring setbacks and tragedies without a flicker it seems of emotion. Aki is the stereotypical beautiful butterfly of a girl without a lick of sense or backbone to her. Kenji is the sensitive artist who withdraws into his own world. Haru is the perpetual disappointed woman, who keeps hoping that the man she loves will notice her.

And this is where the novel truly flops. It seems that almost every novel that I've read lately about Japan has geisha in it, and once again, we have geisha portrayed as near prostitutes, seducing their clients. For heaven's sake, the Geisha of Kyoto and Tokyo are not selling sex, and while westerners keep perpetuating this myth, it gets very annoying to have to read this take over and over and over again. If you want to find out what geisha are -- and more importantly, are not, seek out the books on the topic by Liza Dalby -- they are a real eye-opener.

Along with the story, there are several additional features in this. There's an interview and essay with the author, and questions for reading groups to discuss.

Will I bother to read more of Gail Tsukiyama's novels after this? Probably -- Women of the Silk was a beautiful novel to read about a world that I knew nearly nothing about. But Street of a Thousand Blossoms failed miserably for me; I found it to be just another novel, the characters too unfocused and overwhelming in numbers, the writing style too choppy to flow well, and the plot and twists too contrived to feel natural.

That's just too bad, as the author can do better than this.

Three stars.