Spring Garden is one of a set of contemporary translated Japanese novellas released by Pushkin Press. Buildings nearly become characters themselves, each with their own past and appearances constantly reshaped by their erstwhile occupants. Shibasaki’s portrayal of the built surroundings is also notable. Eventually, the airy state of affairs comes to a jarring end, or several of them, which no doubt provides plenty of fuel for afterthoughts. The blue house, the backyard hole, the missing zodiac animals and the foibles of the characters gradually unfurling - all are enough impetus for a gentle forward pull. Remarkably, author Tomoka Shibasaki evokes a dreamy, meandering pace yet has numerous elements on the slow burn. Another is Nishi, the oddball illustrator with a quirky fixation on the enigmatic, blue-coloured house next door. One of the holdouts is the de-motivated Taro, a thirty-something who seems content to procrastinate as far his lease term allows. Few residents remain, which makes sense as the flats are tapped for redevelopment. This suburban fable unfolds in a small, unremarkable block of flats in Setagaya Ward, Tokyo. Their brief interaction bringing a sharp relief to otherwise modern, urban disconnectedness. An Akutagawa winning story featuring an enigmatic blue mansion and the quirky residents of the half-empty flats next door.
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