The Nippon Initiative is taking steps to provide help and hope for refugees in Japan from communities surrounding the Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, crippled by last year's 9.0 earthquake and its aftermath.
I first heard of 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami while listening one day to NPR. The person mentioning the book said something like, "If you want to know more about how Japanese people think, 1Q84 is a must-read." So I ordered the book and began to read it, all 925 pages of it.
The world of 1Q84 proves to be dangerous and unpredictable, a world that lends itself to fear, hopelessness, and despair. It is no wonder that author Haruki Murakami...
The storyline of 1Q84 centers on the main characters being drawn into another realm of existence. It is a realm dominated by "Little People", kami-like beings full of mystery and mischief, and therefore unpredictable and dangerous. As it turns out, life in 1Q84, for Aomame and Tengo (and several other characters besides) proves to be utterly unattractive, offering no relief for the shackles Tengo felt on his soul, as described in Part 2 of this review.
Most people are familiar with the festive side of Christmas celebrations—the decorations, the lights, the giving of gifts, and family gatherings. But when it comes to the true meaning of Christmas; well, in a word, it's a mystery. Just ask Kaori, Kikka, and Kirari, three Japanese girls caught up in a magical mobile phone drama called "Totally Mysterious Christmas", created by Sugoku Fushigi.
