Next on the agenda: suicide clubs on the Internet, whose members seal themselves in their cars with tape and die in groups from gas fumes in Aokigahara Forest, where more people commit suicide than anywhere else in the world. The professor sends him to the site of one such suicide to meditate on what the suicide might have seen last before he died.
When the police interrupt yet another suicide club, causing one member in the sealed car to cut the throats of his companions before killing himself, the case becomes a magnet for Zack and his Japanese girlfriend, Kumiko, trying to understand what led these young people into their pact. Unfortunately, Zack's determination to understand emotional extremes and experience mono no aware, the sweet sadness of life, slowly begins to lead him back to Aokigahara Forest.
Shimoda's novel is a fascinating glimpse into a little-known dark side of Japanese culture as well as a compelling account of one emotionally-blocked man's obsession with feeling the oh! of an emotional epiphany at any price. Shimoda is a consummate storyteller with a clean, relaxed, graceful style.
The book itself is a work of art. Every chapter begins with a first paragraph in page-filling type and a little emblematic illustration beside each chapter number. Facing each chapter is a beautiful, moody calligraphy watercolor abstract by the author's wife. Chin Music Press has created a book of visual delight that is sure to cause a little serious mono no aware in book lovers.--Nick DiMartino
Shelf Talker: A fascinating glimpse into a little-known dark side of Japanese culture as well as a compelling account of an obsession with feeling emotional epiphany at any price.