Week 7: アンダーグラウンド

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Week 7

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Start Date: Jul 06
Previous Part: Week 6
Next Part: Week 8

Reading:

Week Start Date Chapter Start Page Page Count
Week 7 Jul 06 丸ノ内線 - 荻窪行き Interviews 7-8 192 40

Discussion Rules

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明石達夫

The first report by a relative of an affected person. And how affected his sister was - being still in hospital after almost two years is surely something. I wonder how many of the victims have been affected so strongly? While Murakami managed to get in touch with a lot of people, it is by no means clear whether they are typical victims or whether they were just a lucky minority. Maybe we will learn more about this later on.

明石志津子

And we get to meet the sister in person. This was really impressive - first of all the seriousness of the damage she received, and secondly her fight to get back to a normal life and her openness in the interview.

And again a shocking detail from the medical front: Because she lay in bed for so long, her leg muscles shortened to an extent that they had to cut her sinews? :scream: I happened to have a friend who was in hospital for quite some time (due to an accident), around the same time basically (I think it was in 1992 or 1993) and he would receive physical therapy from day one (despite being sedated at first), to prevent exactly that. What is this with medicine in Japan? :persevere:

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3

So far this is the part of the book that I found the most affecting and moving. The sister interview, and her will to fight to regain a normal life, after the damage she suffered, is heartbreaking
I agree (and I’m doctor…) that the book doesn’t give a flattering idea of the Japanese medical system !

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明石達夫

Super sad to read about his devotion and his hope, knowing that it lasted for 25 years and that the sister never fully recovered, she died recently (posted about it in week 5 but didn’t know then that she would be interviewed)

And very interesting look into Japan culture, that the sister wasn’t marrying at 30 because she wanted to stay living with her parents and help them.

明石志津子

I was hoping to experience a bit of Murakami’s style with this book, despite it being non fiction and a collection of interviews. Well, I was not disappointed.
Normal person: I didn’t feel any joy. More like a pain in my stomach.
Murakami: 喜びのようなものは、身のうちにほとんどわいてこなかった。名付けようのない虚しさやつらさが、苦い胃液の前触れみたいに、かすかにこみあげてきただけだ。

Agreed, I think their stories will stay with me for a long time…

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