Sazzae

Rating:
Summary: Ex-pats in Tokyo
Review: This is a fascinating view of the Japanese and life in Tokyo from an ex-pat perspective. It is reminiscent of the atmosphere displayed in the movie Lost in Translation. As the plot moves along, the blending of temporal borders gives a sense of the aimlessness of some of the characters. What is unique (at least in this reviewers readings of fiction set in Japan) is Ms. Morin includes a major character who is one of the burakumin, the untouchable class in Japan, with all the cultural baggage that Westerners are oblivious too.