Strange Weather in Tokyo was written in 2001, but this translation (by Allison Powell) is more recent, being published in 2012. I hadn’t encountered Kawakami before, but if this is any guide the I hope to read more of her work; moreover, along with Murakami, I find myself thinking I should be chasing up more contemporary literature.
The mention of Murakami is not coincidental, because Strange Weather shares certain elements which I enjoy; a certain languid pace and attention to the things of ordinary life. Tsukiko, the protagonist of Strange Weather, is single, rather alienated from the world around her, and given to rumination; she is not a million miles away from many of Murakami’s young men. Unlike Murakami’s characters, though, she is largely disinterested in the trappings of Western culture; she does not obsess over jazz or European classical music or whisky - indeed, Kawakami rather pokes fun at one male character who adopts American mannerisms. When culture interests her, it is Japanese culture.
But the similarities are there, and they’re ones I found congenial; I suspect if you like Murakami, you’d find this an interesting read.
The pace, as I mentioned, has a peculiar languid quality about it. A simple visit to a place can be stretched over a number of chapters, with observation of the minutiae; conversely, weeks or months will pass with a casual mention. The focus of the novel, like the focus of a driver about to crash their car, slows time, telescoping in to notice the small but important things.
The plot, which I guess I should get to, revolves around Tsukiko, a woman in her 30s who is drifting through life. She lives largely isolated, with superficial and uninteresting relationships with men and her family; by chance she encounters an old teacher, to whom she invariably refers as Sensei, in a bar one night. Their friendship evolves over drinks and food as he gradually opens up the details of his life to her; it is a slowly developing friendship as they gradually slough off the roles of pupil and teacher and the principal question of the story is where development will end.
Overall I found it a very engaging read; it is no quick-flipping page-turner, but rather a slow, absorbing book, pulling me back to it again and again.