Like the earlier novella, »Kitchen« is also a story about the loss of someone close to you, a theme that recurs in much of Yoshimoto’s work, along with portrayals of gay sexuality (in the form of a transgender character in the novel) that is unusually open for Japan and the appearance of supernatural phenomena. It has twice been adapted for the screen, most recently in 1997 by well-known Hong Kong director Yim Ho. Yoshimoto’s first novel, »Kitchen,« was published in 1987 and »Moonlight Shadow« is included in most editions of it. Her dissertation, the novella »Moonlight Shadow« in 1986 garnered the dean’s prize. Her father was Takaaki (also known as Ryūmei) Yoshimoto the poet and influential intellectual of Japan’s »new left.« Banana began writing at the age of five, and went on to study Japanese literature at Nihon university.
I won’t forget this one in a hurry.Banana (born Mahoko) Yoshimoto was born in 1964 in Tokyo. Kitchen proves that novellas can be exceedingly impactful. The Tokyo setting and the description of the mouth-watering dishes were an extra bonus, which added atmosphere to the story. I loved how Mikage used cooking and the kitchen to work through her sorrow and to express her feelings. No matter where it is, no matter what kind, if it’s a kitchen, if it’s a place where they make food, it’s fine with me. The place I like best in this world is the kitchen. Kitchen was her debut and I found it impressive how she in such a short story with relatively sparse dialogue conveys the relationship between the main characters and makes it more meaningful than some writers manage to do over hundreds of pages. Eriko, in particular, was an interesting and colourful personality with some insightful views on life.īanana Yoshimoto is clearly a talented writer. Mikage, Yuichi and Eriko were lovely and engaging characters and they all walked right into my heart without even trying. I don’t know why, but it seems that Japanese authors often have that effect on me. Throughout the novella I was transported to a different state of mind filled with melancholy and beauty in an almost other-worldly sense. The story is filled with sadness and sorrow, but overall it left me feeling hopeful. Within these few pages Yoshimoto tells a beautiful story about dealing with bereavement, finding hope, love, being yourself and supporting others.
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