Pachinko
Novel written by Minjin Lee
“In Seoul, people like me get called Japanese bastards, and in Japan, I'm just another dirty Korean no matter how much money I make or how nice I am. So what the fuck?”
Pachinko
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Pachinko 〰️
THE BOOK
Pachinko is a historical fiction novel written by journalist Min Jin Lee. The story follows a Korean family who was forced to immigrate to Japan , receiving discrimination and racism during their time in Japan. Pachinko took places during 1910 to 1989, a period of time when the Japanese held occupation of Korea, and Korean people, in search of a better place for employment opportunities and escape from violence, generally migrated to Northeastern part of China or Japan.
The author Min Jin Lee herself is a second-generation immigrant from South Korea and was born in New York City, her experiences has shaped her work and thus many of her genres frequently deal with problems such as the Korean Diaspora. The novel surrounds three main books: “Gohyang”, or hometown, “Motherland”, and “Pachinko”.
Though “Pachinko” doesn’t address Koreans in China, it still depicts Koreans with similar experiences in Japan. The book shows themes such as discrimination and power in the context of events Koreans have experienced during the diaspora and how people have embraced their ethnic identity even faraway from their homeland.
Pachinko
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Pachinko 〰️
Gohyang /Hometown
The first book of the novel is called Gohyang, or hometown. It tells the story of the main character Sunja’s childhood and teenage years, beginning with specific descriptions of her father Hoonie, how her family came to settle in Busan, their hometown. The book begins with Hoonie and Yangjin marrying and having a daughter named Sunja during Japan’s annexation of Korea. At the age of sixteen, Sunja met a wealthy “fishbroker” (one who engaged in business with the Japanese) named Koh Hansu and met with him secretly. However, with little education, Sunja was sexually assaulted without knowing and got pregnant. Ashamed of herself, Sunja decided to marry Baek Isak, a wealthy minister who was once rescued by her family. The two moved to Osaka to live with Isak’s brother and his wife, giving birth to a son called Noa.
“A good man is a decent life, and a bad man is a cursed life—but no matter what, always expect suffering, and just keep working hard. No one will take care of a poor woman—just ourselves.”
Motherland
In Book two, the novel jumps to the time when Sunja’s second son was born, Mozasu, who as Isak’s son. Noa was a very hardworking boy resembling the personality of Isak, quiet and extremely into studying and literature. At the same time, Isak was sent into prison for reciting the god’s prayers but not worshipping the Japanese emperor. With not enough money to support the family while Isak was in prison, Sunja and Kyunghee (Isak’s brother’s wife) started selling Kimchi in a famous restaurant across their street that was actually initiated by Hansu. As the Japanese domination worsened and the war started, Sunja allowed Hansu, who had found them, to take care of their shelter and food. Sunja’s two sons, one got into one of the best universities in Japan and continued with help from Hansu, while Mozasu engaged in Pachinko business for a living.
“Did Koreans want Japan to win? Hell no, but what would happen to them if Japan’s enemies won? Could the Koreans save themselves? Apparently not. So save your own ass—this was what Koreans believed privately. Save your family. Feed your belly. Pay attention, and be skeptical of the people in charge. If the Korean nationalists couldn’t get their country back, then let your kids learn Japanese and try to get ahead. Adapt. Wasn’t it as simple as that?”
Pachinko
Book three mainly focuses on Mozasu’s family, which he had gotten very wealthy due to the successful pachinko business. He had a wife called Yumi who had died of car accident, and was dating a divorced woman called Etsuko. His son, Solomon, started college in New York City and dated a Korean-American, while also secretly meeting up with a prostitute called Hana back in Japan. Noa, at the same time, embarrassed by the fact that his father was Hansu, decided to hide his Korean name and live with his Japanese name. However, he didn’t contact his mother before he died of suicide. In the end of the story, Sunja goes to the cemetery to visit her dead husband Isak, memorizing her experiences escaping from Korea and settling in Japan, and reflecting on her past stories. The three different generation immigrants in a single family fabricate a true and appealing story to the audience and allows the readers to gain a wide understanding of what it was and it is like for immigrants settling in the host country then and now.
