A Novel by Genzaburo Yoshino, recreated and finished from an unfinished idea by Yūzō Yamamoto

I will admit that Genzaburo Yoshino’s novel How Do You Live? was not something even on my radar until it was announced as the basis of the upcoming Studio Ghibli film of the same name (to be localized as The Boy and the Heron in the West). When there was little to no information on the film, nobody was sure whether or not Hayao Miyazaki was making an homage or adaptation of the story, but we now know that it is not an adaptation. The novel itself apparently appears in one of the scenes and serves as a major plot point in the film, but otherwise is not connected to the film. I figured I’d read it anyway as part of this loose series where I look at books that had been made into Ghibli films because it may aid me in understanding the film better.

After reading this, one can easily tell just how much this story influenced Hayao Miyazaki, and I’d imagine most young boys in post-war Japan. The book sat for eighty-some years isolated from the world until the film’s announcement, but Yoshino’s estate and its publisher, Iwanami Shoten, saw an opportunity for finally getting a beloved classic of Japanese children’s literature out to a worldwide market. The book is an interesting read due to the fact that it is almost, in some ways, a textbook on ethics and economics mixed with a narrative about teenagers just trying to get by. Neil Gaiman, who provided the book’s foreword, hits the nail on the head when he compares it to Mellville’s Moby Dick, a book that famously mixed essays about seafaring and whales with a narrative of a captain trying to hunt one.

“Junichi Honda is a fifteen-year-old high school student, known by his nickname “Koperu”, after the astronomer Nicholas Copernicus. He is athletic and academically gifted, and popular at school. Koperu’s father, a bank executive, passed away when he was young and he lives with his mother. His uncle (on his mother’s side) lives nearby and visits frequently. Koperu and his uncle are very close. Koperu shares about his life and his uncle gives him support and advice. His uncle also documents and comments on these interactions in a diary, with the intent to eventually give the diary to Koperu. The diary writing, which is interspersed with the narrative, provides insight into the ethical and emotional trials that Koperu shared with his uncle. The diary entries, which cover themes such as “view of things”, “structure of society”, “relation”, etc. are in the style of a note written to Koperu.”

Despite its age, How Do You Live? is a timeless schoolyard drama about a group of young boys trying to get by in a turbulent time in Japanese history – the lead up to Japanese militarism and World War II. The book follows the day-to-day lives of our main character, 15-year-old Junichi Honda (aka “Copper” or “Kaperu”), and his three classmates, who all come from diverse ways of life and numerous means. Throughout the story, the boys have a bunch of run-ins with the school’s Judo team, a group of upperclassmen trying to instill a hierarchical structure of beatings and forced respect down the throats of the rest of the school. Despite that broad synopsis, this isn’t your typical school drama, though, it’s something way bigger.

What truly sets How Do You Live? apart from other young adult books is its profound and philosophical undertones. Yoshino’s narrative delves into existential questions, moral dilemmas, and the search for meaning in life. These elements make the story not only a coming-of-age tale but also a thought-provoking exploration of the human condition. Copper spends his time learning about the world around him and what it means to be a hero, a man, and a good citizen through conversations with his uncle via a diary his uncle leaves for him after their numerous conversations.

These essay-like meditations happen after every “main chapter”, to both summarize and educate Copper on the background of something he may have witnessed through his adventures. For example, at one point Copper visits a boy in his class because he has been told he was out sick. This boy, named Uragawa, has few friends, is a poor student, and is bullied for his poor grades and because he smells like fried tofu all the time. By visiting Uragawa, Copper discovers how people less fortunate than himself have to live as it is revealed that Uragawa was missing classes in order to work in his family’s tofu stand. Copper, despite having a deceased father, comes from money and is wealthy enough to have things like a maid, so he never really got to witness this first-hand.

This chapter is then followed up by an “Uncle’s Notebook” chapter about such topics as wealth inequality, and how people like Uragawa can be seen as more noble as his family produces, and since Copper simply consumes things he should look up to the harder working people of Japan. Copper’s Uncle, who has just graduated from university, takes a great interest in him and hopes to help Copper live up to his late father’s wishes of “becoming a good person”. These almost philosophical dialogues help Copper come to terms with things he is seeing such as the injustices presented with his friend above.

This chapter was also the point of the book when I began to realize something about why the book was written, and just how “dangerous” it was in 1937. Keep in mind that Japan was undergoing a HUGE rise in both Nationalistic thinking and militarism, and some of the events that drew them into what would be called World War II had already started. For example, Japan invaded China at around the same time this book was published. The Imperial government was consolidating power and installing things like secret police units everywhere, and things like leftist philosophy (such as what was in the Uragawa chapter) could land someone in prison. Genzaburo Yoshino himself had already spent somewhere around eighteen months behind bars for going to leftist meetings, so he was really on thin-ice here. By disguising an ethics book as a children’s book he was only able to get by for so long, but it did not stop How Do You Live? from being banned during the majority of the war, and eventually re-edited remove any blasphemous chapters.

Looking at this book through that filter, one can see that the books chief antagonists, the Judo Club, were the stand-ins for how Nationalism was creeping into everyday life in Japan. It is revealed that one of the boys in the club was a son of a government official and was likely taking his father’s work with them to continue at the school. It is encouraged for students to tattle on each other and it is made clear that any infraction would be met with a beat-down by upperclassmen. It is not until parents of kids attacked by these boys, especially ones with high-ranking military influence, raise hell to stop the nonsense. I wonder how the lives of these boys would have continued after this, as they sadly would have likely had to fight in the war upon leaving school. It’s a shame that, as far as I know, nothing more was written to follow-up on this story.

One of the standout features of this book is its ability to resonate with readers of all ages. While it may be categorized as a coming-of-age novel, its themes and messages are universal and speak to the human condition. Whether you’re a teenager grappling with the challenges of adolescence or an adult reflecting on the complexities of life, the story offers valuable insights and perspectives. Yoshino’s writing style is both poetic and accessible. The Prose Flows Smoothly, allowing readers to immerse themselves in Copper’s world and thoughts. The characters are well-developed, and Copper’s evolution from innocence to wisdom is portrayed with sensitivity and authenticity. The supporting cast of characters adds depth to the narrative and emphasizes the importance of relationships and human connections.

The English translation of this book is commendable, capturing the poetic and lyrical qualities of the original text as well as the more educational essays. The prose flows smoothly, creating a vivid and immersive reading experience. I was honestly wondering if an eighty-year-old book would have any sort of bearing on the modern era, but aside from a few bits such as Copper not having ever used a motor, or descriptions of machinery of that era, the book could place pretty much at any time. It would be very easy to make a modern version of this without going too far into re-writing the whole thing. I was especially happy that the book was localized without pandering to a Japanophile mindset (i.e. so-called weaboos), excluding unnecessary things like honorifics that mean nothing to your average day reader. This sort of thing is largely meaningless in the grand scheme of things (one can write around it without having san, sama, kun etc.), but some books insist on having it.

While the novel is a beautiful exploration of youth and self-discovery, some readers might find its introspective nature to be slow-paced at times. However, this reflective quality adds to the depth of the narrative and allows readers to engage with the characters on a deeper level.

In conclusion, Genzaburo Yoshino’s “How Do You Live?” is a literary gem that continues to shine brightly. Its exploration of life’s meaning, the pursuit of knowledge, and the importance of empathy and compassion makes it a must-read for those who appreciate timeless literature. Whether you’re discovering it for the first time or revisiting it, this novel offers a rewarding and enriching reading experience.