This time, I read Yoshinori Shimizu's work, "Achilles and the Tortoise."
It's been over a decade since I last read a work by Yoshinori Shimizu, so it's been a very long time.
Before getting to the main topic, I'd like to introduce the writer Yoshinori Shimizu.
Encounter with the works of Yoshinori Shimizu
I first read one of Yoshinori Shimizu's works when I was in high school; it was in my father's library.
The work I read at that time was "Soba and Kishimen," which could be considered his masterpiece.
The book contains various prejudices against people from Nagoya, as seen by people from Tokyo, and the absurd things are written so convincingly that you can't help but laugh.
Since the author himself is a native of Nagoya, the content can be interpreted as self-deprecating.
What's interesting is that what they're saying isn't entirely wrong (or at least it doesn't seem that way).
"I don't drive any cars other than Toyotas," "When a Chunichi Dragons player makes an error, there's a chorus of 'idiot, idiot,' and when the opposing team has a chance, they throw beer bottles and pebbles,"UiroI burst out laughing at the part where they said things like "throwing it."
Recently, the anime "Yatogame-chan Kansatsu Nikki," based on a manga that supports Nagoya, aired and was well-received, so now is the perfect time for anyone interested in Nagoya to read this book.
Characteristics of Yoshinori Shimizu's works
While Yoshinori Shimizu's roots lie in science fiction, a distinctive feature of his work is the frequent use of a technique called "pastiche."
The word "pastiche" is a direct translation from French and means "imitation of a work (style)."
To illustrate what I mean, let's take his work "Eternal Jack & Betty" as an example.
Jack and Betty are apparently familiar characters from junior high school English textbooks, and this story depicts their reunion when they are both 50 years old.
In the textbook, the two characters converse using language that is a literal translation of English into Japanese.
"Hi, Betty." "Hi, Jack." "How have you been?" "Yes, I'm fine. How about you?"...and so on.
The awkwardness of the conversation leads to discussions about rather somber topics, and the contrast is strangely amusing, making me laugh.
This essentially means they are imitating the writing style of English textbooks.
I think it would be easier to understand if you simply replaced it with the word "parody."
Another interesting piece, "The Japanese Etymology of English Words," included in "Soba and Kishimen," is a seemingly absurd theory presented in the formal style of an academic paper.
If you search "English origin Japanese theory" on Google, you'll find a PDF that looks like a real academic paper on this topic.
I feel like there are some differences from the original story, but it's still hilarious in this way.
Another book I recommend is "How to Win at Japanese Language Entrance Exams."
The story is about a tutor teaching a student how to solve a problem.
The attempt to solve the Japanese language problems using techniques is taken to an extreme, which is ironic and amusing.
The appeal of creating material related to schools and education is largely due to the fact that Yoshinori Shimizu himself is a graduate of the Faculty of Education.
Impressions of each story in "Achilles and the Tortoise"
Now, finally, let's talk about this film, "Achilles and the Tortoise."
This book is a collection of short stories published in 1989, but it doesn't feel particularly dated.
While there are a few aspects that feel a bit dated, I don't think that detracts from its appeal.
Pastiches have a conclusion, but that conclusion isn't particularly dramatic.
The ending captures the atmosphere perfectly, but cuts the scene short, so those looking for a big twist might find it a little underwhelming.
I will write my impressions below.
・Breakdown
This is about a meeting between Japan's Foreign Minister and the Prime Minister of another country.
The way the conversation becomes so roundabout through the interpreter, and the way things get complicated, is quite amusing.
・Bidirectional broadcasting
This story takes place during the time when NHK was renamed DHK (Dai Nippon Hoso Kyokai).
This is a pastiche of a marathon commentary.
It's hilarious how they're so clearly biased towards Japanese athletes and constantly trashing athletes from other countries.
Party
This is a story about a family's home party.
I suspect the humor comes from the fact that the participants, whose job descriptions are rather vague, end up putting each other down.
It didn't really resonate with me.
・Drunken Zoo
This is a story about the zoo's New Year's party.
Each zookeeper, while intoxicated, complains to the director about the disparities in how the animals they are responsible for are treated.
It was certainly intriguing in a way that made me feel like something like this could definitely be happening behind the scenes.
Dog Story
This is a diary-style work in which I write about my pet dogs one by one.
There are parts that make you feel sentimental, and parts that make you think, "That's ridiculous!"
There's no particular punchline.
Revenge Ward
Unlike his other works, this is a horror film where an unsettling atmosphere gradually spreads.
It was also adapted into a 15-minute episode of "Tales of the Unusual," but the ending leaves a completely different impression than the original.
Both have their own unique charm, so I recommend comparing them if possible.
This story is an anomaly within this collection, but I think it's a masterpiece.
• Surreal Conversation
This work depicts the behind-the-scenes story of the collections of dialogues between experts that you often see in magazines.
The subject matter was quite interesting.
- Hanazato Shopping Street Monthly Meeting
The content gave me a glimpse into the kinds of things that might be discussed at a shopping district meeting.
The store used for the final punchline felt a little dated.
Achilles and the Tortoise
The story is set in a slightly earlier era and is written from the author's essayistic perspective.
It's simply a story about a male senior colleague teaching a female junior colleague various things about work.
In a way, I thought it contained universal themes that still resonate with me today.
summary
"Achilles and the Tortoise" is not the short story collection I would most recommend among Yoshinori Shimizu's works.
However, the atmosphere of Yoshinori Shimizu's works is easy to grasp, and it also includes scary stories like "Revenge Ward."
I think you'll get a certain level of satisfaction from reading it.
Some people might find it unsatisfying, but for those people, I highly recommend "Soba and Kishimen" or "Winning Strategies for Japanese Language Entrance Exams."
The works I introduced are here.
Rakuten Market: アキレスと亀（楽天ブックス）