Most of her novels present an independent woman as a protagonist who overcomes the tragedies and traumas of life. She is liberal in her views, stands for human rights, and has been an advocate for women rights in Japan. Banana received the 39th edition Best Newcomer Artists award for this novel on Japanese government’s recommendation.īorn to a famous poet, philosopher, literary critic Takaaki Yoshimoto, Banana found solace in literature from early childhood, which influenced her desire to become a writer. A Hong Kong film and a TV show also feature this novel’s story. It’s not a favourite but definitely decent and one I’d recommend, the author does an amazing job at making grief a very real and important emotion.Banana Yoshimoto is a Japanese contemporary writer famous for her best novel Kitchen that sold more than one million copies worldwide. But this was about it and overall I was impressed by this book. That being said, some parts made me a little uncomfortable where there’s an emphasis played on Eriko (and later Chika)’s ‘masculine’ features, with some outdated terms like ‘transsexual’ with deadnaming and Yuichi has a ‘she was/is a man’ ideology. Being written in 1988, I thought the inclusion of a transgender character was rather ‘modern’ and greatly appreciated, Yoshimoto’s work was hailed as very contemporary in Japan so this is great. Some sentences maybe went on too long with many passages but her nuance/craft could’ve been lost in translation. The characters are for the most part loveable but what’s done best is how we’re attached to them as a reader in an emotional way.

Her storytelling isn’t particularly imaginative but is very real and flows well.

This sensation is heavily explored and Yoshimoto does a great job at realising these characters and thus how they’re impacted by the death of loved ones. The prominent motif throughout is grief, the many forms and how it impacts oneself.

Kitchen banana yoshimoto review