I’m a slow reader, I admit. While others breeze through books in weeks, I often take months. My focus isn’t solely on the narrative; I’m equally absorbed by the author’s craft. I frequently pause to analyze the language, style, structure, form, and character development. However, this is not why it took me nearly six months to read Sakyo Komatsu’s “Japan Sinks”… Let me try to explain.

“Japan Sinks” is a disaster epic that examines Japan’s nationwide response to the impending geological catastrophe of its own sinking. Komatsu blends scientific exposition, detailing the mechanisms behind this terrifying and awe-inspiring event, with a depiction of the political actions undertaken to mitigate its impact.

The narrative prioritizes the large-scale effects on the nation, with character development, in my view, taking a backseat. While characters and their stories exist, they feel underdeveloped, serving more as representations of Japanese society than as distinct individuals with unique emotions and desires. And this, precisely, is what slowed my reading pace. I imagine the author’s focus on the collective was intentional, possibly reflecting the importance of collectivism in Japanese culture. However, as I’ve explained before, I’m drawn to dystopian literature precisely because it allows for individual self-exploration and unpredictable character reactions. If I were to offer a sympathetic reading, I’d say the characters in “Japan Sinks” embody stoicism, reflecting Japan’s cultural emphasis on restraint in the face of adversity, but they don’t evolve much beyond that.

The level of scientific detail, though sometimes dense and slowing my reading, ultimately balanced out by creating a more immersive and believable scenario, so I don’t view it negatively.

After all this, you’ve probably already guessed that this is not a book I’d recommend. It felt like a speculative essay masquerading as a novel, ultimately falling short of both. No offense if you loved it, but for me, it’s a 6.

– S –