Shadow Shinjuku by Ryu Takeshi – Book Review
Shadow Shinjuku by Ryu Takeshi – Book Review
Shadow Shinjuku
Author – Ryu Takeshi
Publisher – Purple Crow Press
Pages – 360
Released – 5th August 2021
ISBN-13 – 979-8451455807
Format – ebook, paperback
Rating – 4 Stars
I received a free copy of this book.
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Synopsis
The streets of Tokyo are different at night. There is darkness behind the glitter and the neon lights, and people who prefer to stay in the shadows, to dwell in the underworld – whores, gangsters, the homeless, the lost. People like Sato. He’s part of this world, he always has been, but a feeling of change is lingering in the heavy air of the bustling city. A feeling brought to life by fateful encounters of solitary souls.
Shadow Shinjuku is a dark, yet magical journey into the depths of Tokyo’s nightlife and the depths of the human soul. Ryu Takeshi’s first novel is both a noir crime thriller and urban fantasy. It’s a unique and mesmerizing blend of the imagery of Japanese animation and film, the colors and details of street photography, and the mystical lyricism of soulful music. But above everything, it is a gripping story that doesn’t let go.
Review by Clive
I understand that Shadow Shinjuku is Ryu Takeshi’s first novel and he has not held back. He has given us a gritty story of organised crime in Tokyo featuring a gangland body guard with a survivor’s instincts and a sensitive side. Takeshi has combined the action with an element of fantasy and some romance. I see that the cover was illustrated by Awesomniac and the book was edited by Thomas Cooper. Did he also translate it from Japanese? I’m not sure.
The story is told in the first person by Sato, an orphan who had been found sleeping on the streets by Yamaguchi, the leader of a large Tokyo gang which ran or controlled much of the area. By the time the book starts Sato has moved close to the top of the “family” organisation. Think of the Mafia with ancient swords instead of guns and perhaps a little more honour but no less violent. When instructed to do so Sato is brutal yet he has some tender touches, particularly with Kiki, who is initially described as his niece. To make him more endearing Takeshi has given him some little superstitions about a motorcycle that he calls Eleanor.
I am no great expert on Tokyo and I found some of the descriptions really interesting. Whilst many features of life are now worldwide there are still plenty of traditions and foods that give us national identity and long may they last.
As Sato goes about his nightly work we meet a number of characters including Kiki; Kon the deserted salaryman; Julia the classic tart with a heart and Kei, the barman in the mysterious Room 55. All have merit and as time goes by their respective relevance to the story emerges.
The character of the Boss, Yamaguchi is less easy to understand but that is part of the mystery.
Whilst I enjoyed most of Sato’s various activities I was at times left wondering where the full story was going, particularly during Sato’s more introspective moments. That said, once the denouement arrived the story moved well and it all fitted together rather well.
The other downside for me was the level of violence; swords may have more style than guns but they inflict brutal wounds.
I see that Takeshi has plans for further books in the series and that he has already published a stand-alone novella, Abalone, featuring Sato. I have awarded Shadow Shinjuku four stars.
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Ryu loves to write. It’s a way for him to find and explore new worlds, both inner ones and those way outside. And this process is spontaneous and instinctive, his stories born out of a single image, following a path Ryu himself never fully understands – not its origin, nor its end -, immersed in the magic of the moment, and the magic of everything that surrounds us, the visible and the invisible.
Ryu is a daydreamer, a believer in the magic of humanity, a friend to all the mystical creatures of the night, and a sucker for the visual beauty of anime. But above all else, Ryu is just a human being, like yourself.
Ryu was born in 1983, has a beautiful wife, a funny little dog, and a lovely daughter. He adores sumo, practices traditional kenjutsu, sometimes plays basketball (Go Denver Nuggets!), relaxes playing video games, watching anime and reading books. Oh, and he loves to eat! But who doesn’t…
Not my genre but glad you enjoyed it. You have more varied and extensive reading tastes than I do, I envy your skills.
Thank you DJ. Not to every ones taste I’m sure but a good read.