Japan, a Story of Love and Hate

56-year-old Naoki is a frustrated part-time worker. His much younger wife, exhausted by her own job, supports him. This working but poor couple lives in her tiny windowless studio. Naoki used to be a successful, wealthy entrepreneur, but he lost everything in Japan’s recession in the early 90s.

Sean McAllister’s latest work, Japan, a Story of Love and Hate, shows not only the interdependencies of a couple alienated from life, themselves and each other, but also the perversions of harsh capitalism. The focus on efficiency in the world’s second wealthiest nation becomes a ridiculous and ugly role-play that is almost subhuman. The tragic everyday life in the complex love story also has many parallels to Finnish society. Naoki, who reveals his optimism and sense of humour between the lines, is an incurable rebel with many alarming things to say.

Henna Raatikainen | Translation by Jaana Wiik