A Web of Stories: Part 1
I have an old tumblr: Ser Jacob de Zoet, where I did literary analysis of David Mitchell’s work. As I will be continuing the series, I am importing the old posts onto this new blog.
Who was blowing on the nape of my neck?
Synopsis: A racist, anti-capitalist Japanese man checks into an Okinawan hotel as his terrorist cell collapses in the aftermath of the Tokyo sarin gas attacks.
The events of this section revolve around one of the perpetrators of a 1995 terrorist attack on the Tokyo subway. And while a lot of the things Quasar (or Keisuke Tanaka) says about the fellowship and his role in the attacks seem straight out of a 1940s racial purists fantasy, this thing existed and committed the crimes claimed. His Serendipity(Shoko Asahara) and many of the other higher ups were actually just only executed a few weeks ago (July,6 2018). In fact the fellowship still exists today too, known outside the confines of the novel as Aum Shinrikyo, having “renounced” its violent past.
This is connection with the real world is interesting, but it does not explain why Mitchell choose this particular jumping off point for his universe trotting adventures. I have a couple ideas.
