Overview

In a society rife with conflict and a world on the edge of extinction, who should we turn to for answers: society's strongest or weakest? This is the question Takuji Ichikawa, one of Japan's most imaginative and unusual authors, poses in The Refugees' Daughter, a magical modern parable for our troubled times. Through this terrifying and dreamlike dystopia, a young girl is amongst those fleeing their homes and seeking safety. From Ichikawa, a Japanese author whose books sell in the millions, comes a thought provoking piece which addresses themes of humanity, responsibility and the need to have a place to call home. Exploring power, patriarchy, strength and freedom, this vision of a frighteningly familiar world asks vital questions. Translated by Emily Balistrieri, The Refugees' Daughter is a powerful, poignant and utterly relevant tale that will resound in the minds of everyone who has ever searched for hope. Red Circle Minis: Original, Short and Compelling Reads The Refugees' Daughter is part of Red Circle Minis, a series of short captivating books by Japan's finest contemporary writers that brings the narratives and voices of Japan together as never before. Each book is a first edition written specifically for the series and is being published in English first.

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9781912864089

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Reviews

'In a dystopian world in which human suffering knows no bounds, Takuji Ichikawa gives us a glimmer of hope. One immediately thinks of the Gospel of Matthew: 'Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.' With its moral undertones, this esoteric tale is apposite for our deeply divided society.' Alex Pearl, author of Sleeping with the Blackbirds. 'The power of his storytelling is due to the candour of the feelings expressed. As if, confusing reality, somewhat magically, is what makes literature compelling giving it the power to delight and please.' Le Monde. Red Circle Minis are: 'Small books for big brains' and 'beautiful pocket-sized slices of Japanese literature.' PopMatters. 'I felt it in my heart, and it shook my soul.' Kiyoshi Kodama, actor and former presenter of a popular Japanese television book review programme, commenting on Be with You. 'Reading this sent me into a trance. I discovered what love really is from this book.' Ryoko Hirosoue, Japanese actress best known outside Japan for her roles in Departures and Wasabi, commenting on Love's Photographs.

'In Takuji Ichikawa's high-concept The Refugees' Daughter (translated by Emily Balistrieri) a sixteen-year-old-girl and her family are trying to find an ominous gate to reach safety on the other side of a post-apocalyptic world.' TLS 'It's a short, engaging sci-fi tale with a pointed message: the world's refugees are not a threat, a danger, or anything to fear - they are the hope for our collective future...Ichikawa's work is a masterful allegory that reminds us refugees are not our enemy; they are the future. They represent our best hope.' PopMatters. 'a short dystopian work set in a sadly recognisable near future... I challenge anyone to finish the book without thinking that Ichikawa's main conclusion here is that the meek will inherit the Earth.' Tony's Reading List 'In a dystopian world in which human suffering knows no bounds, Takuji Ichikawa gives us a glimmer of hope. One immediately thinks of the Gospel of Matthew: 'Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.' With its moral undertones, this esoteric tale is apposite for our deeply divided society.' Alex Pearl, author of Sleeping with the Blackbirds. 'The power of his storytelling is due to the candour of the feelings expressed. As if, confusing reality, somewhat magically, is what makes literature compelling giving it the power to delight and please.' Le Monde. 'Everything about this series' intention and design is steeped in Japanese culture...the books are thematically diverse [and] signal a cultural exchange...communicating directly and intentionally with Western audiences through fiction.' TLS Red Circle Minis are: 'Small books for big brains' and 'beautiful pocket-sized slices of Japanese literature.' PopMatters. 'I felt it in my heart, and it shook my soul.' Kiyoshi Kodama, actor and former presenter of a popular Japanese television book review programme, commenting on Be with You. 'Reading this sent me into a trance. I discovered what love really is from this book.' Ryoko Hirosoue, Japanese actress best known outside Japan for her roles in Departures and Wasabi, commenting on Love's Photographs.

Author Information

Takuji Ichikawa is an author who ignores traditional boundaries, and is impossible to pigeonhole. One whose positive and fantastical narratives touch the soul through storytelling that not only 'transforms and heals', but also sells in the millions. After initially publishing stories online, his second novel Ima Ai ni Yukimasu (Be With You), became a blockbuster, selling more than a million copies in Japan, putting Ichikawa on the Japanese literary map. The publication of Be With You sparked the imagination of others, leading to the creation of a Japanese film and two international remakes, a television drama and a manga. Ichikawa's works, which often depict love and loss, continue to resonate and be adapted for film. And he continues to consistently demonstrate that literature has and should have no borders. Emily Balistrieri is an American translator based in Tokyo. Published translations include Tomihiko Morimi's The Night is Short; Walk on Girl; Ko Hiratori's JR Haru is a Sex Worker in Another World; Carlo Zen's The Saga of Tanya the Evil, and Kugane Murayama's Overlord.

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