The Boy and the Dog by Seishu Hase and Alison Watts (translator)
| The Boy and the Dog by Seishu Hase and Alison Watts (translator) | |
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| Category: General Fiction | |
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Reviewer: Sue Magee
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| Summary: A heart-warming story of the bravery of dog. Superb and highly recommended. | |
| Buy? Yes | Borrow? Yes |
| Pages: 320 | Date: October 2022 |
| Publisher: Scribner UK | |
| ISBN: 978-1398515383 | |
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First of all, it was the earthquake, deep in the ocean floor, which created the tsunami and this, in turn, caused the nuclear meltdown. The result was complete and utter devastation. The deaths were uncountable, and the loss of livelihoods was widespread. The fact that many pets were separated from their owners came far down the list of priorities but - six months after the tsunami - Kazumasa Nakagaki discovered a dog outside a convenience store. He wasn't a dog person but the convenience store owner's comment that he would call Public Health prompted Kazumasa to open his car door and Tamon the dog jumped in.
The name is evocative of Tamonten, the guardian deity of the north and there's a constant feeling that there's more to Tamon than would meet the casual eye. Over the space of five years and time spent with Kazumasa, Miguel the thief, Taiki and Sae, the couple, Miwa the prostitute and Yaichi, the old man, Tamon would age and suffer but he would bring much more to the people he spent time with than they could do for him. For five years he searched for his original owner, Kazuko Deguchi, but Deguchi died in the tsunami.
Instead, he found the boy - Hikaru. Hikaru hadn't spoken since the trauma of the tsunami. He couldn't bear to be near the sea - he would scream - but it wasn't long before Tamon's quiet patience and undemanding love worked its wonders and Hikaru began to speak. But then there is a further surprise. I won't spoil it for you but it lifted my heart.
Seishu Hase doesn't shy away from some uncomfortable subjects. There is death and there is overwhelming grief but the writing is beautiful, enriching and heart-warming. I read during a time of great stress and found myself unexpectedly soothed. I had cried - for Tamon and the people whose lives he entered - but this is ultimately a feel-good story of resilience and survival as well as the power of love.
I'd like to thank the publishers for se3nding a copy to the Bookbag.
If you'd like to immerse yourself in more things Japanese, try Origami, Poems and Pictures by The British Museum.
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