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3.49 AVERAGE
3.49 AVERAGE
slow-paced
The story itself wasn't very interesting to me, however I did love the writing. The narrative voice is very distinct and eloquent, leading to an easy reading experience. Even when you're 200 pages in, it doesn't feel anywhere near that long because the story is written in a descriptive way. It's extremely slow-paced is probably the best way to put it. My only complaint is that nobody finds out what happened to Ayumi. I think the acceptance of her running away is scary because her lack of financial support and body dysmorphia certainly isn't the best combo for living on your own. She could have easily been taken advantage of, and I'm worried about her well-being on her own.
In a jacket blurb, the Guardian described this novel as both thrilling and an insight into Japanese culture. I have never read a less thrilling thriller, and the only insight into Japanese culture that i gleaned is that the police force there is very political. Maybe something is lost in the translation.
Fascinating look into the bureaucracy of the Japanese police force. Writing is pragmatic, and not all the characterizations register (there are a lot of names by the end), but the central conflict--the head of Media Relations struggling to stay afloat against the hostility of other departments--is a good one, and the Big Twist is satisfying (and, speaking personally, not obvious or too easy to guess). Recommended if you enjoy thrillers or cop procedurals, or just getting a close look at other cultures.
slow-paced
I’m in shock that a book this long did so little. The first 400+ pages were just laying the groundwork. Nothing exciting or intriguing happened. The writing was enjoyable but not special. It wasn’t so bad I wanted to DNF but really I don’t think it was worth reading.
The last 200+ pages were where it came into its own more. All the little details picked up through the slog were put into use. But it still wasn’t especially shocking or fun.
This isnt for someone who wants a fast paced thriller, more for someone who wants a scathing indictment of police corruption and cover ups. And even then, I don’t think it was particularly adept at it 🫠
This novel was a huge seller in Japan and is the first of Yokoyama’s to be translated into English.
Six Four is the code name for a fourteen-year-old cold case, the kidnapping and murder of a 7-year-old girl named Shoko. Yoshinobu Mikami, press director for the Profecture D police, is charged with organizing a visit by the police commissioner to Shoko’s family. The ostensible reason of the visit is to publicize a renewed effort to solve the case, but Mikami discovers there is a hidden agenda. Mikami, who was a detective for most of his career and had some involvement in the investigation, begins revisiting the Six Four case. In the process, as he faces professional crises with the press, he uncovers police cover-ups and inadvertently becomes involved in police department machinations and power plays. At the same time, he is dealing with the disappearance of Ayumi, his teenaged daughter, who has run away from home.
Though there is a case to solve, this is not a typical police procedural or crime thriller. Much of the focus is on Mikami’s investigation into the real reason for the commissioner’s visit and on his difficulties with the media outlets who feel that Mikami and the three other members of the Media Relations department are not sufficiently forthcoming with information about various cases. Surprisingly, I found myself being drawn into the infighting and bureaucratic maneuverings.
Mikami is an interesting protagonist. He is conflicted since his transfer to Media Relations was unwelcomed, and he hopes to someday return to Criminal Investigations where apparently he distinguished himself. He has much less success in his current position and finds himself being manipulated by officers who have little respect for it and want to use him for their own purposes. He must tread carefully or jeopardize his return to his coveted role of detective.
And then there’s his personal life. Mikami’s wife has become withdrawn after Ayumi’s disappearance three months earlier. Mikami also feels responsible for his daughter’s unhappiness. She inherited her looks from her father rather than from her beautiful mother; though “Ayumi’s looks were no different to those of any other normal girl, the kind you saw everywhere,” she suffers from dysmorphophobia and hates her resemblance to her father. He realizes that he has not really made much effort to understand his wife and daughter: “A gentle wife who kept to herself. A daughter, spoiled but kind at heart. He’d been quick to label them for whatever reason, then leave the classification unchecked, unaltered, as five, then ten years had gone by. Had he known Ayumi at all?”
Mikami is not naturally an introspective person, but he is forced to do some self-examination. As a result, he comes to some realizations and grows and changes. Since his thoughts are so thoroughly detailed, his character change is totally convincing. The ability to portray a dynamic character realistically is always an indication of good writing.
The book is a great immersion in Japanese culture. The hierarchical nature of Japanese society is amply obvious as is the concern to avoid losing face. The tradition of buying rice crackers as a home-visiting gift was new to me. Even the role of women in Japanese society is touched on.
The relationship between police and media is examined in considerable detail. I wouldn’t have thought the subject to be especially interesting, but it proved to be. The point of view of each side in the debate is given. Perhaps the issue of freedom of the press has become more important because of events in the U.S. since the election of Trump?
There is suspense throughout: Will Ayumi be found? Will Mikami be able to solve the mystery surrounding the commissioner’s visit? Will Mikami be able to convince Shoko’s father to accept a visit from the commissioner? Will the conflict with the media be resolved in time or will Mikami be held responsible for a media boycott of the visit? Will Mikami be transferred back to Criminal Investigations or will his actions and his confrontations with certain officials ruin his chances? Can the cold case be solved before the looming statute of limitations comes into effect? There are several twists and turns and the ending comes as a surprise, though a totally credible one. There are some loose ends, but they are appropriate.
This book requires a patient, intelligent reader. Non-Japanese readers may find some difficulty with the many “M” names (Mikami, Mizuki Murakushi, Minako, Mikumo, Matsuoka, Meikawa, etc,) and the various positions within the police force. But one’s patience will be rewarded.
The novel is complex and demanding and totally immersive. It was first published in Japan in 2012 in two volumes, so it is not just dense, but lengthy as well. It is definitely recommended to anyone willing to expand his/her reading horizons.
Please check out my reader's blog (http://schatjesshelves.blogspot.ca/) and follow me on Twitter (@DCYakabuski).
Six Four is the code name for a fourteen-year-old cold case, the kidnapping and murder of a 7-year-old girl named Shoko. Yoshinobu Mikami, press director for the Profecture D police, is charged with organizing a visit by the police commissioner to Shoko’s family. The ostensible reason of the visit is to publicize a renewed effort to solve the case, but Mikami discovers there is a hidden agenda. Mikami, who was a detective for most of his career and had some involvement in the investigation, begins revisiting the Six Four case. In the process, as he faces professional crises with the press, he uncovers police cover-ups and inadvertently becomes involved in police department machinations and power plays. At the same time, he is dealing with the disappearance of Ayumi, his teenaged daughter, who has run away from home.
Though there is a case to solve, this is not a typical police procedural or crime thriller. Much of the focus is on Mikami’s investigation into the real reason for the commissioner’s visit and on his difficulties with the media outlets who feel that Mikami and the three other members of the Media Relations department are not sufficiently forthcoming with information about various cases. Surprisingly, I found myself being drawn into the infighting and bureaucratic maneuverings.
Mikami is an interesting protagonist. He is conflicted since his transfer to Media Relations was unwelcomed, and he hopes to someday return to Criminal Investigations where apparently he distinguished himself. He has much less success in his current position and finds himself being manipulated by officers who have little respect for it and want to use him for their own purposes. He must tread carefully or jeopardize his return to his coveted role of detective.
And then there’s his personal life. Mikami’s wife has become withdrawn after Ayumi’s disappearance three months earlier. Mikami also feels responsible for his daughter’s unhappiness. She inherited her looks from her father rather than from her beautiful mother; though “Ayumi’s looks were no different to those of any other normal girl, the kind you saw everywhere,” she suffers from dysmorphophobia and hates her resemblance to her father. He realizes that he has not really made much effort to understand his wife and daughter: “A gentle wife who kept to herself. A daughter, spoiled but kind at heart. He’d been quick to label them for whatever reason, then leave the classification unchecked, unaltered, as five, then ten years had gone by. Had he known Ayumi at all?”
Mikami is not naturally an introspective person, but he is forced to do some self-examination. As a result, he comes to some realizations and grows and changes. Since his thoughts are so thoroughly detailed, his character change is totally convincing. The ability to portray a dynamic character realistically is always an indication of good writing.
The book is a great immersion in Japanese culture. The hierarchical nature of Japanese society is amply obvious as is the concern to avoid losing face. The tradition of buying rice crackers as a home-visiting gift was new to me. Even the role of women in Japanese society is touched on.
The relationship between police and media is examined in considerable detail. I wouldn’t have thought the subject to be especially interesting, but it proved to be. The point of view of each side in the debate is given. Perhaps the issue of freedom of the press has become more important because of events in the U.S. since the election of Trump?
There is suspense throughout: Will Ayumi be found? Will Mikami be able to solve the mystery surrounding the commissioner’s visit? Will Mikami be able to convince Shoko’s father to accept a visit from the commissioner? Will the conflict with the media be resolved in time or will Mikami be held responsible for a media boycott of the visit? Will Mikami be transferred back to Criminal Investigations or will his actions and his confrontations with certain officials ruin his chances? Can the cold case be solved before the looming statute of limitations comes into effect? There are several twists and turns and the ending comes as a surprise, though a totally credible one. There are some loose ends, but they are appropriate.
This book requires a patient, intelligent reader. Non-Japanese readers may find some difficulty with the many “M” names (Mikami, Mizuki Murakushi, Minako, Mikumo, Matsuoka, Meikawa, etc,) and the various positions within the police force. But one’s patience will be rewarded.
The novel is complex and demanding and totally immersive. It was first published in Japan in 2012 in two volumes, so it is not just dense, but lengthy as well. It is definitely recommended to anyone willing to expand his/her reading horizons.
Please check out my reader's blog (http://schatjesshelves.blogspot.ca/) and follow me on Twitter (@DCYakabuski).
challenging
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
What a superb book - slow build and burn, then oomph in with the big hits. Tense, taut and no frills prose, for a little while you think it's going to be a run of the mill info over-dump procedural novel but it becomes so much more - reflecting on the roles of police and press in society and crime solving the place of victims in the process and the way in which the internal machinations of the Japanese police. - if this is the state of contemporary Japanese crime fiction then sign me up for more. Oh and superb translation job by Jonathan Lloyd-Davies.
Please, yes, bore me to death with office intrigue and complicated hierarchies, etiquette, PR strategies, and deep bureaucracy. I AM HERE FOR IT. I want Yokohama to write a novel about arts nonprofits next.
What if I told you that the book doesn’t get good until the 87% mark.