In the Miso Soup
Encyclopedia
is a novel by Ryu Murakami
. It was published in 1997 in Japanese, and in English in 2003.
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...
. It was published in 1997 in Japanese, and in English in 2003.
Plot summary
Twenty year-old Kenji is a Japanese "nightlife" guide for foreigners — he navigates gaijin men around the sex clubs and hostess bars of Tokyo. On December 29 he receives a phone call from an American named Frank, who seeks three nights of his services. While Kenji has promised to spend more time with his girlfriend, sixteen year-old Jun, the money is too good to pass up. He finds himself closing out the end of the year accompanying Frank around Shinjuku, wondering if his strange, plastic-skinned patron could be responsible for the gruesome events recently reported in the news.Analysis
Part of the novel's interest lies in the original perspective offered on Japanese culture. To begin with, the reader is addressed like an outsider - possibly another one of Kenji's foreign clients. Author and narrator, both native Japanese, are then challenged to re-examine the underside of Tokyo city life from an outsider's point of view as it is introduced to the reader, and explained to Frank over the course of the story.Major characters
- Kenji: A nightlife guide based in Tokyo. He is an average English speaker who specializes in touring foreigners through Kabuki-cho. As mentioned, Kenji is the narrator of the story.
- Frank: An American tourist who contracts Kenji's services. Frank disturbs Kenji from the outset, and is the antagonist.
Minor characters
- Asami/Madoka: A "special services" hostess at a peep show.
- Jun: Kenji's sixteen year-old girlfriend.
- Maki: Female patron/prostitute at the omiai pubOmiaior is a Japanese traditional custom in which unattached individuals are introduced to each other to consider the possibility of marriage. Since this "Miai" or "Omiai" was sometimes translated as "arranged marriage" in English and other foreign languages, which is a total misnomer, some foreigners...
. She claims to not be a prostitute, but also claims to be a high price call girl. - Noriko: A toutToutIn British English, a tout is any person who solicits business or employment in a persistent and annoying manner...
for the omiai pub and former juvenile delinquent. - Reika & Rie: Two lingerie pub hostesses.
- Satoshi: A lingerie club barkerBarker (occupation)A barker is a person who attempts to attract patrons to entertainment events, such as a circus or funfair, by exhorting passing public, describing attractions of show and emphasizing variety, novelty, beauty, or some other feature believed to incite listeners to attend entertainment...
and acquaintance of Kenji's. - Yokoyama: Publisher of Tokyo Pink Guide. The only publication Kenji advertises in, and Frank's sex industry bible.
- Yuko: Female patron/prostitute at the omiai pub. She is seated with Frank, Kenji, and Maki.
Murder victims outside the narrative
These characters are mentioned to drive the narrative. They are not seen or interacted with.- Akiko Takahashi: A seventeen year-old high school sophomore.
- John DoeJohn DoeThe name "John Doe" is used as a placeholder name in a legal action, case or discussion for a male party, whose true identity is unknown or must be withheld for legal reasons. The name is also used to refer to a male corpse or hospital patient whose identity is unknown...
: A homeless man.
Real people mentioned
There are several musicians discussed by the characters and songs are used in the narrative.- Namie AmuroNamie Amurois a Japanese R&B and pop singer, entertainer, and former actress who at the height of her popularity was referred to as the "Teen Queen" and the title "Queen of Japanese Pop Music". Born in Naha, Okinawa, Amuro debuted at the age of 14 as an idol in the girl group Super Monkey's...
: A female Japanese pop star. - Kenny BurrellKenny BurrellKenneth Earl "Kenny" Burrell is an American jazz guitarist. His playing is grounded in bebop and blues; he has performed and recorded with a wide range of jazz musicians.-Biography:...
: An American jazz guitarist whose career spans from the 1950s to the present. - Whitney HoustonWhitney HoustonWhitney Elizabeth Houston is an American singer, actress, producer and a former model. Houston is the most awarded female act of all time, according to Guinness World Records, and her list of awards include 1 Emmy Award, 6 Grammy Awards, 30 Billboard Music Awards, 22 American Music Awards, among...
: An American singer. - Michael JacksonMichael JacksonMichael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
: American pop star. - Robert DeNiro: An American actor with whom Frank compares himself.
- Ed HarrisEd HarrisEdward Allen "Ed" Harris is an American actor, writer, and director, known for his performances in Appaloosa, Radio, The Rock, The Abyss, Apollo 13, A Beautiful Mind, A History of Violence, and The Truman Show. Harris has also narrated commercials for The Home Depot and other companies...
: An American actor with whom Frank claims to resemble. - Seiko MatsudaSeiko Matsudais a Japanese pop singer-songwriter. Due to her popularity in the 1980s and her long career, she has been dubbed the "Eternal idol" by the Japanese media.- Biography :...
: A Japanese pop singer/songwriter. - Wes MontgomeryWes MontgomeryJohn Leslie "Wes" Montgomery was an American jazz guitarist. He is widely considered one of the major jazz guitarists, emerging after such seminal figures as Django Reinhardt and Charlie Christian and influencing countless others, including Pat Martino, George Benson, Russell Malone, Emily...
: An American jazz guitarist from the 1950s and 1960s. - Mr. ChildrenMr. Children, commonly called , is a Japanese rock band formed in 1988 by Kazutoshi Sakurai, Kenichi Tahara, Keisuke Nakagawa, and Hideya Suzuki. As a group, they are one of the most successful Japanese rock artists, having sold over 50 million records and creating the in the mid 1990s in Japan...
: A Japanese band formed in the late 1980s. - The Rolling StonesThe Rolling StonesThe Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
: British rock group which Frank mentions as having had interest in the occult. - Takako OkamuraTakako Okamurais a Japanese singer. She had her debut in 1982 as part of the folk duo with the single Matsu-wa that became a success in Japan. The duo disbanded in 1984, and Okamura started a successful solo career in 1985. By 2006, she had released 15 original albums and 30 singles...
: A Japanese singer/songwriter - Yuki UchidaYuki Uchidais a Japanese actress, and a popular 1990s Japanese idol, model and singer.-Biography:She practiced fencing in high school, and ranked 3rd in a tournament in Tokyo in 1991....
: Actress/model whose pop song is playing at an amusement center.
Potentially real people mentioned
- Danamo Masorueda: According to Frank, a BulgariaBulgariaBulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
n pianist who played with Kenny Burrell. Frank says at one point that his last name is Masorueda. Frank goes on to say Danamo's grandfather was a "sorcerer for a heretical sect called the Bogomils." This is likely one of Frank's stories, as the only mention of Danamo Masorueda is from In the Miso Soup.