Ichigensan: The Newcomer tells the story of an unnamed international student studying at a university in Kyōto and his relationship with a blind Japanese woman named Kyōko.
First published in Tōkyō in 1997, the novel was hailed for its sensual descriptions, brilliant metaphors, and witty observations. The book won the Subaru Prize for Literature and was nominated for the Akutagawa Prize, Japan’s most prestigious literary award.
In 1999, the novel was made into a beautifully shot movie starring Suzuki Honami, a famous Japanese actress, and Edward Atterton, a British actor who once lived in Japan.
- For more information, see the Ōzaru Books page.
- To order, go to the relevant Amazon site:
Amazon in the US: Ichigensan - The Newcomer
Amazon in Japan: Ichigensan - The Newcomer
Amazon in the UK: Ichigensan - The Newcomer
- Here are some online reviews of the book:
Editor’s Pick: “. . . a realistic and honest impression on what living in Japan as a foreigner is like”:
Wonderland Japan: WAttention Editor’s Pick
There are a couple of excellent reviews on the Goodreads site:
Ichigensan - The Newcomer
DVD of the Movie