Minoru Aose is a middle-aged architect, single, divorced, and with only monthly visits with his teenage daughter. When he’s asked to replicate his famous ‘Y residence’ for some new clients, he decides to visit it for the first time since he handed over the keys to the finished house. He’s puzzled, upset and saddened to find it’s empty apart from a single chair, which has been placed in a room facing the north light. It seems the family he designed it for never moved in. Why not? Were they unhappy with his design? Or did something happen to them?
Trying to answer these questions (and more), he goes on a journey of discovery. What initially seems like simple detective work ends as an inquiry into the nature of art, ambition, work and creativity, of home and families and love. When he finds the answers to his questions, he discovers he too is part of a complex and unexpected story.
Well, I tried not to give away too much by talking about the plot – but I’m not sure I managed to convey how brilliant this book is. I loved it! It’s lively, intriguing, enthralling, multi-layered, and I couldn’t put it down. I haven’t read a lot of Japanese literature but I recognise (and enjoy) the characteristic flavour of tradition blended with modernity. There’s a strong streak of neuroticism that seems uniquely Japanese, too. I can’t recommend this one highly enough.