The Easy Life in Kamusari

The Easy Life in Kamusari
AuthorShion Miura
Original title神去なあなあ日常
TranslatorJuliet Winters Carpenter
LanguageJapanese
SeriesForest
GenreBildungsroman
PublisherTokuma Shoten
Publication date
2009
Publication placeJapan
Published in English
2021
Pages208
ISBN9781542027151
OCLC1237633352
Followed byKamusari Tales Told at Night 

The Easy Life in Kamusari (Japanese: Kamusari nānā nichijō) is a 2009 novel by Shion Miura. It follows Yuki Hirano, a city native, as he works a forestry job in a remote mountain area.[1] A movie adaptation (Wood Job!) premiered in 2014.[2] The novel was translated into English by Juliet Winters Carpenter in 2021.[3]

Synopsis

Yuki Hirano, recently graduated from high school, finds himself signed up for forestry work by his parents.[4] Traveling to work in the remote village of Kamusari is difficult in many ways for Yuki, who was born and raised in the city; a new coworker even takes Yuki's cell phone and cheerfully disposes of the battery.[1]

Over the course of a year, the young man comes to appreciate the meticulous process of taking care of the trees and the environment around him.[5][6]

Characters

  • Yuki Hirano - a young man from Yokohama, disillusioned with life and unexpectedly signed up for forestry work in mountainous, remote, forested Kamusari.
  • Nao - a local schoolteacher in the village, and sister of Risa. She has a crush on Seiichi (her sister's husband).
  • Yoki Iida - an employee of Nakamura Lumber, in Kamusari. He has bleached blond hair and a sense of humor. Yoki's wife is Miho; they live with Granny Shige.
  • Iwao Tanabe - an employee of Nakamura Lumber, in Kamusari.
  • Old Man Saburo - an employee of Nakamura Lumber, in Kamusari.
  • Seiichi Nakamura - the friendly head of Nakamura Lumber. His wife, Risa, is the sister of Nao. Risa and Seiichi's son is named Santa.

References

  1. ^ a b "THE EASY LIFE IN KAMUSARI | Kirkus Reviews". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  2. ^ "Wood Job!: Kamusari nânâ nichijô". IMDB. 10 May 2014. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
  3. ^ Child, Percy (15 October 2021). "The easy life in Kamusari". Booklist. 118 (4): 23.
  4. ^ Maloney, Iain (31 October 2021). "'The Easy Life in Kamusari': Leave the city behind, the mountains are calling". The Japan Times. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  5. ^ Kelleher, Ella (6 July 2021). "BOOK REVIEW: THE EASY LIFE IN KAMUSARI (2021) BY SHION MIURA". Asia Media International. Loyola Marymount University. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  6. ^ Fincher, Alison (1 November 2021). ""The Easy Life in Kamusari" by Shion Miura". Asian Review of Books. Retrieved 23 June 2023.


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