(2022_17) Pachinko - Min Jin Lee

 

Pachinko! Finally I read it. In YouTube there are tons of videos after the Pachinko drama came out through Apple TV. I should beware to be spoiled before reading the novel.

At first I thought Sunja is protagonist, but there are lots of other main characters because it deals with 4 generation, meaning almost 100 years! Pachinko is like symbol of Zainichi, because they are not allowed to work for more 'standard' things in Japanese society. It is very similar to Jews who practice usury for living in the medieval period. Even Solomon, Sunja's grandson, who is very well educated, decided to inherit the pachinko business of his father after finding out social limitation as Zainichi. As a result, Noa, Mozasu and Solomon, Sunja's sons and grandson, are bound to the destiny of working for Pachinko business even though they are born in Japan and pay tax to the Japanese government. They said, "Japan is not going to change". But these are not described strongly. It seems the author just wanted to show it, not raising her voice on this topic. I think that's the reason of success in the Pachinko drama.