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Shield of Straw
BASIS OF THE TAKASHI MIIKE FILM | SOON TO BE A MOTION PICTURE STATESIDE
Ever since Assistant Inspector Mekari’s wife passed away, he has found no joy in living. As a member of Japan’s security police, he once served in the prime minister’s detail, but it’s been a while since he took himself off the promotion track. He thinks he’s ready to take a bullet, but something begins to change in him when he’s ordered to escort a child rapist-murderer who relapsed after being released from prison.
The multibillionaire grandfather of the suspect’s new victim is offering a staggering bounty to anyone who would kill the man, Kiyomaru, who might be spared the noose yet again. The government and the police brass, meanwhile, can’t tolerate such a challenge to the rule of law and their own authority. From the southern city where, fearing for his life, Kiyomaru has turned himself in, he must be transported alive to Tokyo, where the crime occurred.
As Mekari and the transfer team weave their way across the nation, its entire populace seems to salivate for the billion-yen reward. On guard against both civilian aspirants and fellow cops, the depressed assistant inspector has to What is duty? What is his?
Ever since Assistant Inspector Mekari’s wife passed away, he has found no joy in living. As a member of Japan’s security police, he once served in the prime minister’s detail, but it’s been a while since he took himself off the promotion track. He thinks he’s ready to take a bullet, but something begins to change in him when he’s ordered to escort a child rapist-murderer who relapsed after being released from prison.
The multibillionaire grandfather of the suspect’s new victim is offering a staggering bounty to anyone who would kill the man, Kiyomaru, who might be spared the noose yet again. The government and the police brass, meanwhile, can’t tolerate such a challenge to the rule of law and their own authority. From the southern city where, fearing for his life, Kiyomaru has turned himself in, he must be transported alive to Tokyo, where the crime occurred.
As Mekari and the transfer team weave their way across the nation, its entire populace seems to salivate for the billion-yen reward. On guard against both civilian aspirants and fellow cops, the depressed assistant inspector has to What is duty? What is his?
236 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
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130 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
December 4, 2020
Here's a moral dilemma for you. Five police officers are supposed to escort a confessed killer to a trial. According to the law in Japan, he should receive jail time but not execution. The crime in question, raping and murdering a seven year old girl. Why are five officers escorting him? Because the girl's grandfather is a very rich man and has put a one billion yen bounty on his head.
Is the grandfather right?
Are the police protecting him right?
Is it worth any of these five police officers dying for the man?
Is it worth injuring or killing anyone who comes after the man for the bounty?
Honestly, this is a rather brilliant set up and the wonderful moral dilemma at the heart of the heart of the novel. Author Kazuhiro Kiuchi takes a concept and runs with it, making his protagonists question it in most of their dialogue. Honestly, had the book focused on this, I probably would have given it a full five stars.
Now, Kiuchi is a manga author, and this is one of his attempts at a novel. The prose is quick, the characterization other than doubt is not highly developed and the pace is breakneck. This is an action movie in novel format and it never slows down. Sadly, while it makes it entertaining, these aspects of doubt rather seem like lines the characters are quickly delivering before jumping into the next action sequence. Are there tense moments? Absolutely. It's exciting and an enjoyable read... but it's a book that I really was hoping would have a bit more depth with a set up like that. The elements are played with, the concept is brilliant, but I can't help but wish a more experienced author who focused on prose would have taken it.
In the end this is an entertaining novel. Worth your time if you want to read the literary equivalent of an action movie (apparently the filmmaker Takashi Miike in fact turned it into one, but as of right now I do not believe it has a release Stateside at least). 3/5 stars.
Is the grandfather right?
Are the police protecting him right?
Is it worth any of these five police officers dying for the man?
Is it worth injuring or killing anyone who comes after the man for the bounty?
Honestly, this is a rather brilliant set up and the wonderful moral dilemma at the heart of the heart of the novel. Author Kazuhiro Kiuchi takes a concept and runs with it, making his protagonists question it in most of their dialogue. Honestly, had the book focused on this, I probably would have given it a full five stars.
Now, Kiuchi is a manga author, and this is one of his attempts at a novel. The prose is quick, the characterization other than doubt is not highly developed and the pace is breakneck. This is an action movie in novel format and it never slows down. Sadly, while it makes it entertaining, these aspects of doubt rather seem like lines the characters are quickly delivering before jumping into the next action sequence. Are there tense moments? Absolutely. It's exciting and an enjoyable read... but it's a book that I really was hoping would have a bit more depth with a set up like that. The elements are played with, the concept is brilliant, but I can't help but wish a more experienced author who focused on prose would have taken it.
In the end this is an entertaining novel. Worth your time if you want to read the literary equivalent of an action movie (apparently the filmmaker Takashi Miike in fact turned it into one, but as of right now I do not believe it has a release Stateside at least). 3/5 stars.
June 6, 2016
2 1/2 stars.
This short novel begins well, with strong characterization and a promising premise, but it quickly descends into superficial action that's clumsily drawn and feels oddly static despite the blow by blow narrative and race-against-the-clock plot line. Characters introduced after the protagonist are little more than stereotypes (the "good" cop and the "bad" cop; the ambitious wannabe politician; the manic pixie dream girl) and genuinely unforeseen plot twists are nil. In the end, this reads more like a really thorough outline for a graphic novel or a screenplay than an actual novel, and I'm not terribly surprised to find out that the author is a well-known manga writer and the novel was adapted for the screen by Takashi Miike.
This short novel begins well, with strong characterization and a promising premise, but it quickly descends into superficial action that's clumsily drawn and feels oddly static despite the blow by blow narrative and race-against-the-clock plot line. Characters introduced after the protagonist are little more than stereotypes (the "good" cop and the "bad" cop; the ambitious wannabe politician; the manic pixie dream girl) and genuinely unforeseen plot twists are nil. In the end, this reads more like a really thorough outline for a graphic novel or a screenplay than an actual novel, and I'm not terribly surprised to find out that the author is a well-known manga writer and the novel was adapted for the screen by Takashi Miike.
August 8, 2017
A stupid book with a stupid ending that is, unfortunately, very entertaining. If you've ever wanted to read an action movie, here's your stupid chance.
March 13, 2018
Love the beginning so much that I can't stop reading it. Fairly amount of suspense, panic and thrills. Strong characters and detailed police force structure and procedural. The plot seriously making me thinking a lot on moral and person's willingness to do anything for money. Whether it was worth it to guard and protect a scumbag murderer, one's wish and a bounty of 1 billion yen. The flow was exciting and gripping-- the bullet train scene and all those sacrificing, blood and whatever one's intention during the transfer event. I learn that trust is a big word here and felt really sorry for the team.
Story-line a bit forced towards the end and Yuri part was a bit odd to me. Quite startled with the ending as well. But I still enjoyed the ride.
(And I get it why it was chosen to be adapted to film) Damn it all!
Story-line a bit forced towards the end and Yuri part was a bit odd to me. Quite startled with the ending as well. But I still enjoyed the ride.
(And I get it why it was chosen to be adapted to film) Damn it all!
February 24, 2016
Snappy thriller, the kind typically adapted for the movies. In fact, this one was.
September 20, 2018
This book is more of an existential exploration of the duty versus values. But really not interesting enough: a chase movie rendered in book form.
March 4, 2019
This book reads in a particularly Japanese way. I'm not sure if it's the style of translation or the way of Japanese storytelling. But it is something to note for those not acquainted with the Japanese language. If not, it can be a bit stilted and a bit awkward at times.
The book's premise is interesting. To protect an inhumane child rapist and murderer from a public bounty and manhunt. Inherent is a moral conflict between upholding justice and protecting the rule of law. The chase is exciting, but the moral dilemmas presented in the book make the chase more complex. For most police officers join the force out of a sense of righteousness, not to protect the rule of law or the image of the government. The mechanics of the public bounty also intensifies the chase. Not only does it turn the perpetrator into a literal public enemy, it also results in infighting within the security team, and even more lives lost. Which forces the reader to question exactly what the officers ask themselves, is the rule of law more valuable than so many lives lost? What more when the rule of law is protecting a piece of scum over civilian lives.
There are a lot of deep themes in the book. What is justice? What is the nature of humanity? What is the meaning of life? Some themes get explored through the protagonist's own thoughts and growth. But some themes are merely touched upon.
All in all, it's a great read, starts of slow but picks up pace towards the end.
The book's premise is interesting. To protect an inhumane child rapist and murderer from a public bounty and manhunt. Inherent is a moral conflict between upholding justice and protecting the rule of law. The chase is exciting, but the moral dilemmas presented in the book make the chase more complex. For most police officers join the force out of a sense of righteousness, not to protect the rule of law or the image of the government. The mechanics of the public bounty also intensifies the chase. Not only does it turn the perpetrator into a literal public enemy, it also results in infighting within the security team, and even more lives lost. Which forces the reader to question exactly what the officers ask themselves, is the rule of law more valuable than so many lives lost? What more when the rule of law is protecting a piece of scum over civilian lives.
There are a lot of deep themes in the book. What is justice? What is the nature of humanity? What is the meaning of life? Some themes get explored through the protagonist's own thoughts and growth. But some themes are merely touched upon.
All in all, it's a great read, starts of slow but picks up pace towards the end.
July 30, 2016
A thriller wrapped around most difficult life questions. Is it really that difficult to be modestly satisfied? What the hell am I really doing with these damn excel sheet (oh, this one is mine)? Is life really worth it? The Ecclesiastes and Epicurus would have said, just eat, drink and be merry.
Depicted in straight-forward words, the points drove home on target. The hardest of hard-boiled, the darkest of noir.
Depicted in straight-forward words, the points drove home on target. The hardest of hard-boiled, the darkest of noir.
September 5, 2016
A thrilling plot combined with strong characterisation of the protagonists; a billionaire offers a billion yen bounty for the killing of his granddaughter's scumbag murderer on national media. The murderer then turns himself in to the police who face public wrath, nightmare logistics and internal betrayal to transport him to Tokyo for persecution and yet can't ignore this gauntlet. Can money trump law?
December 11, 2018
Not the most elegant translation, but the story held up and I can see why it was made into a film (and currently in the works in a re-make)
May 28, 2019
From the renowned writer of cowboy bee bop, this book seeks to thrill the reader with another action and adventure story. Great story, but the translation hurts the flow and excitement in the book. There were times I felt like giving up on the first chapter as the translation was simply unbearable to read. But I'm glad I pushed on and was pleasantly surprised with how exciting the book was. Be prepared for extremely descriptive writing and long pointless exposition.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 20, 2021
The artist is apparently an accomplished manga painter turned hardboiled novelist, which seems to incense a few people—the nerve! Well, he brings a welcome touch of Jack Webb to the genre. I love the post-GONE GIRL/GIRL ON THE TRAIN genre of crime fiction, but this, for instance, has the feel of TAKING OF PELHAM 1-2-3 as seen through the sangfroidy eyeballs of Simenon. Also was the basis of a refreshingly brisk and matter-of-fact actioner by Takashi Miike.
March 18, 2017
A bit let down by the ending though
February 15, 2021
Really torn between 3 and 4 stars, this was a fast read but I feel the excellent premise could have been turned into a far more exciting book.
July 17, 2021
kinda depressing as it should be
March 18, 2024
1.5/5
April 24, 2017
I can see this as a movie. The plot is easy, twists and turns that could keep one on a seat's edge.
There underlying (moral) question is how much is too much? Would it be right to order a bounty that big just for a revenge? Would it also be right to protect a scumbag and sacrifice others (more valuable) lives?
To be honest, I kinda reminded to SWAT movie. Yeah, the one with Collin Farrell and Michelle Rodriguez.
The ending may answered some of the questions, but personally, I still think it's on the morally correct line. But again, the question lies on "what is morally correct?"
There underlying (moral) question is how much is too much? Would it be right to order a bounty that big just for a revenge? Would it also be right to protect a scumbag and sacrifice others (more valuable) lives?
To be honest, I kinda reminded to SWAT movie. Yeah, the one with Collin Farrell and Michelle Rodriguez.
The ending may answered some of the questions, but personally, I still think it's on the morally correct line. But again, the question lies on "what is morally correct?"
Want to read
March 4, 2019Synopsis: ever since Inspector Mekari’s wife passed away, he has found no joy in living. Things change when he escorts a child rapist-murderer.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews