Hello all, I wanted to expand on some thoughts I had regarding parts of Murakami's A Wild Sheep Chase that I read as political allusions, and discuss interpretations in the context of Japan's history. These sections were of note to me particularly as I researched Mishima and American occupation, so I felt that they stood out as potential political commentary.
For some context in time, A Wild Sheep Chase was written in 1982, the same year that Yasuhiro Nakasone assumed presidency of Japan under the Liberal Democratic Party, a conservative party that supports neoliberal economics and close relations with the U.S. Murakami seems to comment on the U.S. influences on Japanese politics, which arose distinctly after American occupation and continued onward to affect governmental policy, when he puts contrasting ideas directly next to one another. This can be seen when the chauffeur drives Boku to meet the secretary and Boku notes that "it seems to have been a Meiji-era Western-style manor... then some joker of an architect came along to attach another wing of the same style and color scheme onto the right side of the original structure. The intention wasn't bad, but the effect was unpalatable." Immediately, this quote drew up ideas of right vs. left-wing ideologies to me. The house, as a representation of Japanese politics, was "fine" until another "wing" or party was attached to it that had the same bearing and composition as the rest. In this reading, Murakami suggests that the division between right and left wing politics is unnecessary, as the two parties are the "same", just on opposing sides. Furthermore as an observer, or in the political metaphor a member of society, the architecture or opposition between the two parties is difficult to look upon.
Furthermore, the secretary works for the Boss, a prominent right-wing figure once possessed by the Sheep and another inclusion of political elements in the story. Later on, the secretary comments that the sheep "have no historical connection with the daily life of the Japanese", were briefly imported and raised, and then forgotten about. He goes on to say that the sheep are the "very image of modern Japan". Interestingly, the sheep are brought over from America, another possible comment on the effects of American occupation in "raising the sheep" to Westernize and then leaving Japan behind to reconcile the consequences of overturning the government. Boku's girlfriend, after examining the chronology of the history of Japan, comments that the "Japanese seem to live from war to war". Again, she makes this comment only after two ideas are put next to each other, the history of Junitaki-cho and the history of Japan.
The last quote that I wanted to draw attention to was a description of the sheep house, during which "the evening sun cast red over the sheep on the right side, plunging the sheep on the left side into a murky blue shadow". Similarly, this recalls up imagery of right vs. left-wing parties, but of a distinctly American styling, with the red commonly associated with Republicans and the left with Democrats. Notably, the two sides are made of the same composition, sheep. However, the sun, which could be alluding to Japan's Rising Sun Flag that represents Japanese imperialism, is what differentiates the two halves. Synthesizing these sections together, American influence on Japan comes off as an excessive area of conflict that has led to negative consequences of perpetual war and increased separation. Overall, I had a good impression of A Wild Sheep Chase, I felt that the addition of surreal plot elements against a realistic detective background was an interesting mix that made the story fun to read, and I wanted to bring these quotes up to provide additional analyses that could enhance one's reading of a story that otherwise does not talk about politics directly.
- Alice Liao
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