Novel from BTS's Favorite Japanese Author Ready to be Published in Indonesia

Kapanlagi.com - As a fan of K-Pop, it's not uncommon to be inspired to pursue the hobbies of their idols. So it's not strange that fans are also curious about the literary world when their idols are interested in it.

BTS is one of the groups known to have an interest in literature. Apart from the album concepts in each era that are inspired by various book titles, BTS members are often caught carrying books or even reading them in their spare time. It's not uncommon for the book titles they hold to go viral on the internet. In an instant, these book titles become sought after by ARMY (BTS fans) and quickly sold out in offline or online bookstores.

Among the other BTS members, RM is known to be the most diligent reader. He is often caught on camera reading while waiting for a broadcast or concert. He also frequently recommends his reading books to fans.

1. BTS Reads Yoshimoto Banana's Book

Quoted from BTS interview with Naver (30/1/2018), RM mentioned the debut work of renowned Japanese author, Yoshimoto Banana, titled Kitchen.

"When I have free time at home, I read Kitchen by Yoshimoto Banana," said BTS leader when asked about the book he is currently reading.

Aside from RM, Suga also admitted to be reading another work by Yoshimoto Banana in a similar interview.

2. Synopsis of Kitchen, Banana Yoshimoto's Debut Work

© Haru Publisher.

Kitchen is a novel consisting of three stories ("Kitchen 1", "Kitchen 2", and "Moonlight Shadow") with characters facing grief in different ways. When it was first published in Japan in 1988, Kitchen attracted the interest of Japanese readers and created a phenomenon called Bananamania. In the closing words of the Japanese edition of Kitchen, Yoshimoto Banana wrote a comment from a friend stating that Kitchen gives courage to readers to show their true nature, to liberate their hidden emotions, and as a result, this book garnered a lot of sympathy from readers.

Kitchen is no longer just about the social life of Japanese society portrayed through its characters, but about us, the Indonesian society, who have chosen to suppress expressing our feelings. Choosing to tightly hold onto emotional struggles when faced with loss, pain, and feelings of loneliness for fear of being seen as fragile.

Kitchen led Yoshimoto Banana to receive the Kaien Newcomer Writers Prize and Izumi Kyoka Literary Prize. Yoshimoto Banana also received the Best Newcomer Artists award recommended by the Japanese Ministry of Education.

"Kitchen 1" and "Kitchen 2" tell the story of Mikage, who is offered a place to live by Yuichi and his transgender mother, Eriko, when facing the death of her grandmother. To distract herself from sadness, Mikage starts cooking for Yuichi and Eriko. She also enjoys spending time, even sleeping, in Yuichi's family kitchen. He considers the kitchen to be a comfortable place.

In addition to the story of Mikage and Yuichi, Banana Yoshimoto also includes her first short story titled "Moonlight Shadow". Like "Kitchen 1" and "Kitchen 2", "Moonlight Shadow" tells the deep sorrow experienced by its main character who is left by her lover forever.

The enthusiasm of BTS fans for the novel Kitchen, as well as the importance of this book for readers in Indonesia, has encouraged Haru Publisher to publish this popular contemporary classic from Japan. This novel is scheduled to be released in April. Are you ready to read the same novel as the BTS members?

(kpl/jje)