Coin Locker Babies
Encyclopedia
, 1980) is a novel by Ryu Murakami
, translated into English by Stephen Snyder. The translation was published in 1995 by Kodansha
(講談社 Kōdansha) International Ltd.
train station in the summer of 1972. Both boys become wards of the Cherryfield Orphanage in Yokohama
, where the tough and athletic Kiku comes to the defense of the slight, and often picked on, Hashi.
They are adopted by foster parents, the Kuwayamas (the wife is Zainichi Korean) who live on an island off Kyushu. At the age of 16 both move into a diseased urban wasteland named Toxitown, in Tokyo. Hashi becomes a bisexual rock star, employed by an eccentric producer named D. Kiku becomes a pole vaulter and with his girlfriend Anemone, a model who has converted her condo into a swamp for her crocodile, searches for a substance named DATURA in order to take his revenge upon the city of Tokyo and destroy it. Along the way, however, in a search for Hashi's real mother, Hashi and D come upon a woman who turns out to be Kiku's... with grave consequences for them all.
, Tadanobu Asano
and Asia Argento
. The screenplay was worked on by Jordan Galland
, Peter Kline and Sean Lennon
. The film is being directed by Michele Civetta
and produced by Don Murphy & French Mini-major studio Wild Bunch.
" stated in an interview that this book was an influence for that game.
The character Anemone from the series "Eureka Seven
", and her pet Gulliver, were also named after the character and her pet alligator from the novel.
Ryu Murakami
is a Japanese novelist and filmmaker. He is colloquially referred to as the "Maradona of Japanese literature".-Biography:Born as Ryūnosuke Murakami in Sasebo, Nagasaki on February 19, 1952...
, translated into English by Stephen Snyder. The translation was published in 1995 by Kodansha
Kodansha
, the largest Japanese publisher, produces the manga magazines Nakayoshi, Afternoon, Evening, and Weekly Shonen Magazine, as well as more literary magazines such as Gunzō, Shūkan Gendai, and the Japanese dictionary Nihongo Daijiten. The company has its headquarters in Bunkyō, Tokyo...
(講談社 Kōdansha) International Ltd.
Plot summary
It is the surreal story of two boys, Hashi and Kiku, who were both abandoned by their mothers during infancy and locked in coin lockers at a TokyoTokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
train station in the summer of 1972. Both boys become wards of the Cherryfield Orphanage in Yokohama
Yokohama
is the capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture and the second largest city in Japan by population after Tokyo and most populous municipality of Japan. It lies on Tokyo Bay, south of Tokyo, in the Kantō region of the main island of Honshu...
, where the tough and athletic Kiku comes to the defense of the slight, and often picked on, Hashi.
They are adopted by foster parents, the Kuwayamas (the wife is Zainichi Korean) who live on an island off Kyushu. At the age of 16 both move into a diseased urban wasteland named Toxitown, in Tokyo. Hashi becomes a bisexual rock star, employed by an eccentric producer named D. Kiku becomes a pole vaulter and with his girlfriend Anemone, a model who has converted her condo into a swamp for her crocodile, searches for a substance named DATURA in order to take his revenge upon the city of Tokyo and destroy it. Along the way, however, in a search for Hashi's real mother, Hashi and D come upon a woman who turns out to be Kiku's... with grave consequences for them all.
Film adaptation
A film version of the book is currently in development, starring Val KilmerVal Kilmer
Val Edward Kilmer is an American actor. Originally a stage actor, Kilmer became popular in the mid-1980s after a string of appearances in comedy films, starting with Top Secret! , then the cult classic Real Genius , as well as blockbuster action films, including a supporting role in Top Gun and a...
, Tadanobu Asano
Tadanobu Asano
, born is a Japanese actor. He is known for his roles as Dragon Eye Morrison in Electric Dragon 80.000 V, Kakihara in Ichi the Killer, Mamoru Arita in Bright Future, Hattori Genosuke in Zatoichi, Kenji in Last Life in the Universe, Aman in Survive Style 5+, Ayano in The Taste of Tea, and Temudjin...
and Asia Argento
Asia Argento
Aria Asia Anna Maria Vittoria Rossa Argento is an Italian actress, singer, model and director.-Family and early life:...
. The screenplay was worked on by Jordan Galland
Jordan Galland
Jordan Galland is an award-winning filmmaker, musician. He has also contributed his music to raise money and awareness of various charitable causes....
, Peter Kline and Sean Lennon
Sean Lennon
is an American singer, songwriter, musician, guitarist and actor. He is the only child of John Lennon and Yoko Ono. His godfather is Sir Elton John.-Early life and education:...
. The film is being directed by Michele Civetta
Michele Civetta
-Career:Civetta has directed videos for Lou Reed, Sparklehorse, Marracash, Ladytron, Yoko Ono. Commercials for Coca-Cola, Martini & Rossi, Cingular wireless, Badoit mineral water. In 2006 Civetta wrote and directed an ambitious and critically acclaimed musical feature for Sean Lennon's Capitol...
and produced by Don Murphy & French Mini-major studio Wild Bunch.
Legacy
The creators of the game "Silent Hill 4: The RoomSilent Hill 4: The Room
Silent Hill 4: The Room is the fourth installment in the Silent Hill survival horror series, published by Konami and developed by Team Silent, a production group within Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo. The game was released in Japan in June 2004 and in North America and Europe in September of...
" stated in an interview that this book was an influence for that game.
The character Anemone from the series "Eureka Seven
Eureka Seven
Eureka Seven, known in Japan as , is a mecha anime TV series by Bones. Eureka Seven tells the story of Renton Thurston and the outlaw group Gekkostate, his relationship with the enigmatic mecha pilot Eureka, and the mystery of the Coralians....
", and her pet Gulliver, were also named after the character and her pet alligator from the novel.