Snakeskin Shamisen

Reading the Mas Arai series by Naomi Hirahara has been a transforming experience. I have been immersed in the Nissei community of Southern California since the 1980s, and have known so many characters who roughly fit with the characters she brings and develops in this series; there are several common histories present in the group (those that went to internment camps – including how the camps differed, those who answered ‘no-no’, those American citizens who were in Japan during the War, those who fought for the Americans during the War and those who did not, and of course their descendants), of course individual personalities and histories, and characters from Japan. She develops the central characters in the book in very creative ways, and we can follow their lives – the people in the book are “real”. On top of all that, these are page turning crime dramas! It is a cliché, but you really can’t put these down. There is no better way to view a passing culture that so many have never understood, and from which many younger people came from - than this series. And it is phenomenal entertainment besides! This one brings in the many unique elements coming from the people of and from Okinawa.

A Japanese man from Hawaii wins $500,00 in Las Vegas and is promptly killed at a party. A shattered shamisen is found with his body. And there's something unusual about the shamisen, since the face of the instrument is covered in snakeskin, instead of the usual white cat skin. This is the mark of a traditional Okinawan samisen.We learn a bit about the History of Okinawa in this book, as well as about Okinawan music. I enjoyed this aspect very much. We also get a picture of what life was like for Japanese Americans during and after World War II.The hero of these mysteries, Japanese gardener Mas Arai, is really getting into his stride now as an amateur detective, although he doesn't like it to be talked about. He fears people will shun him if they think he's a detective spy. Even though Mas is not a people person, he's still Japanese and values his humble position in his circle.Mas experiences some mild romantic feelings in this book, which is kind of fun. He's been a widower long enough, that I'd like him get involved with a woman. The fact that the woman is a mix of African American and Okinawan – and a professor – makes it all the more fun. I'd like to see where this attraction will lead the seventy-year-old gardener.Mas has some quite heroic moments in the story, despite his aching bones and muscles and his very sensible fear of loaded guns.The plot is eventful, though a bit complicated. The author tells a good story, though her style is not sophisticated. This may not be my favorite series, but I enjoy dipping into it now and then. The cultural aspects are always interesting.

マス・アライシリーズ第３作．７２歳の日系アメリカ人Masはつき合う仲間も日系人ばかり．日系人収容所，アメリカ軍として参戦，日本で被爆，と立場は様々でしたが，戦争の記憶を持つ世代です．日系３世のRandyが，スロットマシーンで５０万ドル当てますが，その祝いのパーティーの直後に殺されます．現場には，沖縄に伝わる蛇皮の三味線が残されていました．Mas友人のG.I.Hasuikeが第一容疑者になり，「Mas相手なら人々が口を開くから」と請われて，G.I.の彼女Juanitaと一緒に調べ始めます．その調査は，首里城から盗まれた沖縄三味線に隠された謎，戦後のアカ狩りへとつながっていきます．調査の過程で，沖縄文化の専門家，女性教授のGenesseeと知り合い，胸をときめかせます．謎解きに興味ある方には物足りないかもしれませんが，派手な格好よさでなく描写からにじみ出る登場人物たちの魅力と，三線（沖縄三味線）・工工四（三線の楽譜）などの沖縄文化の紹介，現代から戦争時まで遡るストーリーが，個性的で，読み物としては５つ星です．

Hirahara just gets better with each book. She gives you so much texture of an entire subculture interwound with the generic American social mix. Think Faulkner's intense rendering of the internal and mutual forces affecting the characters, but using plain, unassuming diction and simple sentences for style. Then, essentially, the mystery piece is a set problem -- like Houdini, someone we can care about is going to (metaphorically)drown tied in handcuffs in a tank of water unless somehow the puzzle can be solved in time. This dynamic -- only solution or tragedy can be the outcome -- creates a real sense of value to all that texture. There is an uncluttered genius to the density Hirahara manages to express in simple language.

Not as suspenseful as promised. Slow moving and difficult to understand at times due to American/Japanese jargon. Has amusing, quaint moments.