Book Review: An Artist of the Floating World

Book Review: An Artist of the Floating World by Kazuo Ishiguro

During Sakura season, I read Kazuo Ishiguro’s masterful An Artist of the Floating World. My husband and I always search for spots to view Sakura in Spring, and this Spring was no different.  We drove through mountains and valleys, by rivers and parks, searching for the perfect Sakura-viewing spots! And of course, I tucked this book away in my bag every time we went Sakura-viewing. I will always cherish the memories of reading this book next to my husband under the Sakura trees in Spring 2025. 

Reading Kazuo Ishiguro's An Artist of the Floating World

But memories aside, Japanese history, language, and culture is immensely fascinating to me. But even after living here for almost 5 years, I still fail to fully grasp the intricacies of Japan.  This book helped me to understand this beautiful place more fully. It gave me answers regarding Japanese language, customs, mindset, and history. So I want to share my review of this superb novel for anyone who is interested in learning more about Japan, particularly post-WWII Japan. 

I tucked this book away in my bag every time we went sakura-viewing.

Kazuo Ishiguro

Kazuo Ishiguro was born in Nagasaki, Japan in 1954. At the age of five he moved to England with his family. He spent much of his life in England, but his novels are not limited to British life. His first novels A Pale View of Hills and An Artist of the Floating World take place in Japan. He is most famous for his novel Never Let Me Go. He has been the recipient of many awards and accolades throughout his lifetime, and I truly believe his novels reveal some of the best insights about the 20th and 21st centuries. From Arthurian-influenced The Buried Giant to contemplations of AI in Klara and the Sun, there is an Ishiguro novel for anyone and everyone. 

There is an Ishiguro novel for anyone and everyone.

 An Artist of the Floating World

I could not stop recommending this book to everyone as I read it, and I have to admit I still haven’t stopped recommending it. The story is immersive but in a quiet way. It’s a book to sit down and read slowly, perhaps with a cup of tea and taking it in small doses. Thinking about it slowly and absorbing it. In fact, there were sections of the novel that I went back and re-read again and again just for the pure enjoyment of the writing. 

An Artist of the Floating World shows that Post-WWII Japan was an inspirational place, but in a sad way. It was a time that Japan rapidly and fiercely changed. In the years after the war, people felt betrayed by their government and blame was admitted by war leaders. Of course, there was sorrow over the tragedies of Hiroshima and Nagasaki that cannot even be put into words. But alongside these sentiments, there was an overwhelmingly agreed-upon idea that Japan must move forward, focus on improving, and change. 

So after the war, Japan quickly westernized and responded to the tragedy of Hiroshima and Nagasaki with a grace that remains unsurmounted. It is something that humbles me anytime it comes up in conversation with my friends or family here. It is truly remarkable, the grace and strength of the Japanese people who lived through that terrible time.  

In his novel, Ishiguro gives voice to the people of that time. His main character, an artist of political propaganda that fueled the war, is grappling with the present, constantly westernizing Japan, while drifting between memories of an older, captivatingly beautiful Japan. In his contemplations and reminisces the main character floats around his traditional home. He feels stuck in the past, and struggles with his contributions to the war, but he is trying to move forward with everyone else.  

His main Character, an Artist of political propaganda, is grappling with the present while remembering the past.

Ishiguro conveys all of this in a masterful voice that is slightly different than the English you might normally find in a novel. Although the novel was written in native English, much of the diction and syntax was influenced by Japanese. I found this beautiful. There are some phrases and words that just should not be morphed to the English mindset. 

Additionally, his characters were so real they could have stepped off the page. Even the side characters were wholly authentic. Because of this I wanted to know more, even about the most minute of characters. 

The flow of the story reminded me of the stream of consciousness writing style, BUT (stay with me) it was definitely not stream of consciousness. Although the narrator is somewhat unreliable, you definitely know what is happening (or what the main character thinks is happening) in every scene. If we took the ‘stream of’ out of ‘stream of consciousness’ that would be more accurate. It is just his mind, remembering and seeing and contemplating but in a way that is endearing and captivates readers. 

It is a book I believe anyone interested in Japan should read.

Lastly, this is a book that gives such a great depth of understanding about Japan. It bridges a gap between Meiji-Era Japan and the powerhouse that Japan came to be after the war. If you have traveled to, lived in, or want to visit Japan, this book will help you to understand a time of rebuilding and modernizing that caused ripples still felt today. It is a book that aids understanding and one that I truly believe anyone interested in Japan should read.  

Writing Lessons from An Artist of the Floating World

Reading as a writer is a powerful thing. I’ve never found a published author who says "eh, you don’t need to read, just write." If you’ve found one, tell me, because I’d like to have a word with them. We must read books if we are to write them. Some writing lessons will never be found in guidebooks, but will only be found by reading what has already come before. We stand on the shoulders of giants, truly. 

We must read books if we are to write them.

Here are some writing lessons that impressed themselves upon me as as I read this book: 

• Write what needs to be written. Don’t shy away from ideas just because they might make people uncomfortable or bring up a tragic time period. Write specifically because of those things.

• Know your characters so well that you can step into their shoes and write a book that is wholly focused on their unique voice. 

• Sometimes the most powerful moments of your novel will be in the questions that aren’t answered concretely. Sometimes it’s powerful to allow the readers to wonder and contemplate. 

• Give your readers powerful moments that will stick with them long after they read the last page. 

• Research deeply and study the content before writing something heavy and full of gravitas. Doing so will give you a much more authentic and confident voice.

Now, if you need me, I'll just be sitting in my garden with a cup of tea and working through my next Ishiguro novel. (I think The Buried Giant is next).

Thanks for reading & happy writing!

-Bridget

P.S. Here is a photo of my husband and I under a lovely Weeping Sakura tree! Thank you Kotaro for taking me to so many beautiful Sakura spots.