Translated by Sam Malissa (Harvill Secker, April 2021; Aug. 3, 2021 in US)
Review by Renae Lucas-Hall
Shenanigans on the Shinkansen
Bullet Train by Kōtarō Isaka is an action-packed thriller with mature themes exploring the nature of evil, loyalty, mankind’s weaknesses and the morality of killing. On the first page, the reader is transported straight into the organised chaos of Tokyo Station. The plot thickens at a furious pace as the Shinkansen bullet train bound for Morioka departs with five killers on board. The power of the Shinkansen and its speed coincides with the high-octane level of violence throughout the story and the dangerous intentions of its villains.
The protagonists in this novel are colourful and intense so it’s no surprise there’s a film adaptation on the way starring Brad Pitt and Lady Gaga. The writing is riveting and psychologically profound. Throw in a constricting snake, corpses in the toilets, a suspicious trolley lady, guns, homemade tasers and poisonous needles and it’s a wonder any of the passengers are still alive when the bullet train pulls into its final station.
Yuichi Kimura is the first of the five protagonists to be introduced. He’s prone to intrusive thoughts, aggressive urges and he’s alcohol dependent. His personal mission is to take revenge on an innocent-looking but evil schoolboy, Satoshi ‘the Prince’ Oji. This cunning teenager has cruelly pushed Kimura’s son off the roof of a department store, putting him into a coma. Kimura underestimates this lad with the face of an angel and becomes another victim of his merciless manipulation.
Assassins with fruity nicknames, Lemon and Tangerine, make an appearance in Chapter Two. Lemon is obsessed with Thomas the Tank Engine books while Tangerine has a passion for highbrow literature. These unlikely partners with their quirky personalities have rescued the kidnapped son of a crime boss, Mr Minegishi, and they’re escorting him to Morioka. This bigtime overlord is calling all the shots. He wants his boy delivered to him safe and sound along with a suitcase full of money. These ‘fruit twins’ are unaware that the fifth protagonist, Nanao, is after this same bag of cash and he’ll do anything to get it. Nanao’s success, however, is constantly thwarted by cosmic misfortune and bad luck.
As the story unfolds, the sadistic and narcissistic mind of Satoshi, ‘the Prince’, proves so Machiavellian it’s startling. He’s a despicable character with malicious intentions despite the fact he’s only 14 years old. He bullies his friends and convinces them to turn on each other. His motives are driven by his selfish desire to stretch the laws of human nature until they become twisted and revolting.
“The Prince can’t wait. He pictures himself crushing people so he can harvest the juice that comes pouring out. To him nothing else in the world tastes as sweet.” (pg. 306)
When the torrent of graphic violence becomes too repetitive Isaka introduces secondary characters who accelerate the plot and offer the comic relief this book needs. The conversations between Nanao and his boss Maria are dripping with humorous sarcasm and Kimura’s parents are hilarious as they dish out their deadpan humor. All of this helps release tension as the reader eases towards the final page and an unexpected ending that ties up all the loose ends neatly.
Note: This book is already available on Amazon.jp and Aug. 3 elsewhere. Pre-order on Amazon.com or Bookshop.