Play Book Tag discussion

The Emissary by Yōko Tawada - 4* - My Review

A very unusual and creative story, this book is speculative fiction set in a future Japan, where the usual order of aging has been upended. Older people live well into their hundreds, and children are unhealthy, age quickly, and typically die by age twenty. Yoshiro is a great-grandfather (and novelist) raising Mumei, his great-grandson. Mumei is curious, loves to learn, and is fascinated with language. The storyline reveals why Mumei’s parents are not in the picture. Mumei’s great-grandmother and an elementary school teacher are part of an organization that identifies bright children that could be sent abroad as emissaries, with a goal to both engage in diplomacy and enable doctors to study (and possibly cure) their health issues. Mumei is targeted to potentially take on this assignment.

The narrative follows Mumei’s journey and the changes taking place in this future world. Japan has isolated itself from the rest of the world, as have many other countries. Many language changes are taking place to be more Japan-centric. I particularly enjoyed the creative way this alternate world is described, and it is easy to picture certain current trends heading in this direction. I loved the emphasis on linguistics, and the importance placed on what people, places, and things are named. My curiosity was piqued by wondering where all this is headed, which kept me rapidly turning the pages of this short book. I guess it is a compliment to say I wish it were longer, as it seems like a concept that could be explored in more detail. Fans of speculative fiction and Japanese literature will likely enjoy this one.