The Street of a Thousand Blossoms | 
 enlarge | Author: Gail Tsukiyama
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Category: Book
List Price: $24.95
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Rating:  14 reviews
Sales Rank: 127315
Media: Hardcover
Edition: 1st
Pages: 432
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.5
Dimensions (in): 9.4 x 6.4 x 1.5
ISBN: 0312274823
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN: 9780312274825
Publication Date: September 4, 2007
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Product Description
“Just remember,” Yoshio said quietly to his grandsons. “Every day of your lives, you must always be sure what you’re fighting for.” It is Tokyo in 1939. On the Street of a Thousand Blossoms, two orphaned brothers are growing up with their loving grandparents, who inspire them to dream of a future firmly rooted in tradition. The older boy, Hiroshi, shows unusual skill at the national obsession of sumo wrestling, while Kenji is fascinated by the art of creating hard-carved masks for actors in the Noh theater. Across town, a renowned sumo master, Sho Tanaka, lives with his wife and their two young daughters: the delicate, daydreaming Aki and her independent sister, Haru. Life seems full of promise as Kenji begins an informal apprenticeship with the most famous mask-maker in Japan and Hiroshi receives a coveted invitation to train with Tanaka. But then Pearl Harbor changes everything. As the ripples of war spread to both families’ quiet neighborhoods, all of the generations must put their dreams on hold---and then find their way in a new Japan. In an exquisitely moving story that spans almost thirty years, Gail Tsukiyama draws us irresistibly into the world of the brothers and the women who love them. It is a world of tradition and change, of heartbreaking loss and surprising hope, and of the impact of events beyond their control on ordinary, decent men and women. Above all, The Street of a Thousand Blossoms is a masterpiece about love and family from a glorious storyteller at the height of her powers.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 9 more reviews...
 Absolutely riveting! November 16, 2007
Janice (Arlington, VA)
9 out of 10 found this review helpful
Gail Tsukiyama's "The Street of a Thousand Blossoms" centered around two brothers in pre World War II Japan, Hiroshi and Kenji who lived with their grandparents as their parents died when they were young. Hiroshi and Kenji were as different as night and day; Hiroshi, the stronger of the brothers was talented in sumo wrestling while Kenji's interests lie in the art of mask making for Noh actors. The author skillfully portrayed the intersection of their lives with others in this difficult period prior to the war.
This was a wonderful read for me as the author was able to bring to life the different characters in this book. The characters were well-developed and she was able to display their complexities. It was also interesting to read about Japanese who were left behind while the men were involved in the wars abroad. For those interested in learning about the Japanese culture and history, this would be a great read too. Highly recommended.
An Ardent Admirer December 11, 2007
R. Tracey
6 out of 7 found this review helpful
I won't find it necessary in my review to restate the content or the
story line in Ms. Tsukiyama's novel but rather I would like to speak to
the positive aspects of the story. First, I must say it is one of the
most compelling and true to life stories I have read regarding the
years before, during, and after the war. The style is also more than one
could hope for in trying to understand unfamiliar words. Rather than having one refer to a glossary or footnote, which to me is time consuming
and also annoying, she has followed Japanese words with an immediate
translation. This is a quite unique approach and rather convenient.
The fire bombing of Tokyo is as true to life as if the writer were there herself experiencing first hand the horror of that tragic event. I lived
in Japan for a number of years and long before I read this novel a friend told me "those who ran in one direction died and those who ran in the other direction escaped death." I did not need Ms. Tsukiyama's book to learn that. I have just returned from two months in Japan so I am aware that one of the great yokozunas of the past is facing some legal issues.
However, that matter is far removed from the story put forth in the novel.
It is a novel and not a history book and one should keep that in mind when trying to grasp an understanding of Japanese life in those days and not attempt to equate it with modern day Japan. Just go over there and
watch the robots playing Christmas music at the Toyota museum and you will understand what I mean. Ms. Tsukiyama has given us a story that can be enjoyed while at the same time giving us an understanding of Japanese society. Not many will find fault with this book and I believe that if they do it is because they have searched to find fault rather than enjoyment. Ms. Tsukiyama has written a novel from her heart and I have enjoyed it as I have all of her previous novels. Yet, I think she has exceeded the expectations of her admirers. I say thanks to Ms. Tsukiyama for giving us the hours of pleasure and I look forward to her next
accomplishment. She is truly one of our best writers and five stars is
not enough.
another winner by this author October 25, 2007
D. Obal (freehold,nj)
9 out of 10 found this review helpful
Early this morning around 2 AM, I finished The street of a Thousand Blossoms by Gail Tskiyama. Once again she took me in showed me the Asian culture but this time Japan right before WW II,thru the war and the dropping of the bombs and how Japan recovered. It could have been gory but this author has in incredible way with words,so lyrical,even when telling about the horror of the nuclear holocaust.. i give this book a 4.5/5. my favorite by her still is The Samurai's Garden.when I finish one of her books, i am so immersed by her that i wonder if i will ever be able to read another book right away!
Breathtaking, a grand masterpiece of epic proportions October 12, 2007
Bookreporter.com (New York, New York)
9 out of 11 found this review helpful
Gail Tsukiyama's latest novel is a gorgeously rendered work, steeped in politics and ancient Japanese tradition. Spanning three decades during World War II and beyond, this engrossing tale captures the lives of two ripped-apart Tokyo families as they struggle to make ends meet after losing nearly everything during the war. With fortitude and grace, Tsukiyama weaves a meditative story full of love and loss that will weigh on readers' consciences long after the last page is turned.
Tsukiyama begins by immediately introducing readers to her main characters --- two young brothers, Hiroshi and Kenji, who lost their parents in a boating accident. Hiroshi, the older boy, is a visionary. Unlike Kenji, Hiroshi is both outgoing and strong. He commands respect from his peers and strives to bring greatness to his family. Kenji, on the other hand, is more subdued. A gentle spirit, he spends more time alone and in his head than with others, and prefers the quiet solitude of the mask shop down the street or his grandparents' garden. The two are a perfect pair, polar opposites yet fiercely devoted to each other and their grandparents, whom they live with in their parents' absence.
Hiroshi and Kenji's home environment is a solid one, run by their wise ojichan (grandfather) and their obachan (grandmother). From the onset, it is clear that while the boys are without their natural guardians, they are not lacking in love and support. Despite being vastly different people, their grandparents' healthy and committed marriage is what keeps the family strong and provides an anchor for Hiroshi and Kenji as they mature and become young men.
Unfortunately, the luxury of learning how to find their way in a peaceful, carefree world is disrupted by tragedy on a global scale. As World War II erupts onto the world stage, life becomes harder for Hiroshi and Kenji's family and their neighbors. The lack of food weighs on their grandparents, and the nagging interruption of air-raid sirens cloud their peace of mind. Then, when much of the town is destroyed in a firestorm, followed eventually by Japan's surrender, everyone must figure out how to pick up the pieces and start again.
As Hiroshi and Kenji grow older, the effects of the war never quite leave them. Hiroshi embarks on a sumo wrestling career with utmost determination, while Kenji abandons his studies to follow his passion and continue the work of one of the greatest living Japanese mask makers, a man he had apprenticed as a child before the war. Although the death of their grandfather is a major emotional setback, his legacy is always close at hand, and the two (and their grandmother) work to rebuild their lives and prepare for a more positive future.
Before long, Kenji falls in love with a beautiful woman, Mika, whom he eventually marries. Never far from his brother, Hiroshi --- now the top sumo wrestler in Japan --- captures the heart of Aki, a girl he knew during his childhood (their union is somewhat fated, as Hiroshi was the one who told her about her mother's death during the firestorm). Although the two also marry, their relationship is a complicated one, as Aki suffers from crippling bouts of depression after the death of their first child. In their new families and in their careers, Hiroshi and Kenji must figure out how to balance the needs of their loved ones with the pressing demands of life, and Tsukiyama does a brilliant job in allowing their daily struggles to unfold.
What makes THE STREET OF A THOUSAND BLOSSOMS so breathtaking is Tsukiyama's ability to seamlessly interweave Japanese history with the very personal lives of her characters. Her detailed descriptions of the air raids and their devastating effects on the Japanese people are both riveting and deeply distressing, drawing poignant parallels to contemporary events (whether intentional or unintentional). Readers will enjoy getting to know each of the characters and watch them evolve throughout time and space (while all of the characters aren't mentioned in this review, they are all wonderfully complicated and expertly rendered). Lastly, Tsukiyama's clear command of language is evident on every page, especially in regard to the Japanese words sprinkled throughout the text (adding flavor) or her flowery, poetic descriptions of a changing landscape over time. A grand masterpiece of epic proportions.
--- Reviewed by Alexis Burling
Fantastic November 9, 2007
Fable (The Garden State)
6 out of 8 found this review helpful
I have enjoyed all of Gail Tsukiyama's books, and she did not disappoint me with this one. I felt as if it was not only thoroughly researched for period details (life in Japan during WW2) but also a moving story with vividly-drawn characters. Don't miss it if you would like to read a novel that is beautifully written, compelling, and poignant--with the added benefit of being a "page turner."
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