Synopsis

In a dystopian near-future Japan, a mysterious environmental catastrophe has left its elders effectively immortal, while its children are born terribly frail and susceptible to disease, rarely surviving to adulthood. One such 'old-elderly' is Yoshiro, a centenarian who defies the ravages of time, his memory a vivid repository of a healthier world. His greatest challenge, however, is the care of his beloved great-grandson, Mumei, a sickly child whose very existence is a daily struggle against an unforgiving environment. As Japan remains isolated from the poisoned outside world, hope for the youngest generation dwindles, creating a profound sense of despair. Yet, whispers of a secretive organization undertaking an audacious quest for a cure offer a glimmer of light. Yoshiro, with his ancient wisdom and fierce devotion, becomes increasingly intertwined with this desperate search, as Mumei, fragile and precious, might just hold the improbable key to unlocking a future for the last children of Tokyo.

Critical Reception

"Yoko Tawada's 'The Last Children of Tokyo' is widely lauded for its hauntingly poetic prose and its incisive, timely exploration of ecological disaster, generational legacy, and the very definition of humanity."

Metadata

ISBN:9781846276712
Pages:125
Age Rating:16+

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