I loved the first volume of this series, so I decided to read the second volume. Similar to the first volume, the story continues to revolve around the two main characters - Shunsuke and Kikuo. The silent conflict between Kikuo's talent and Shunsuke's lineage continues. Although Shunsuke is still counted on to inherit the name "Hanai", the difference in talent with Kikuo becomes more prominent, building on his inferiority complex. On the other hand, Kikuo continues to perfect his art with his talent and almost obsessive devotion. Because he is obsessed with becoming the art itself, he has no hesitation with discarding personal relationships and his private life, becoming gradually isolated from the world around him. Instead, his world is reduced to an exclusive, one-on-one relationship with Kabuki alone. The escalating distortion in both main characters' lives as they become swayed by the art is so well written, gradually showing up as numerous events lead to a significant difference in their lives. Although Kikuo lives up to becoming a Living National Treasure, his fate is far from rewarding.
I feel like this novel came into my life at exactly the right time. When a person begins to recognize the path ahead, every experience—whether uplifting or difficult—becomes a chance to shape the soul and move toward a state where what you believe, what you do, and the universe around you seem to aligned.
Finishing this book left me with many emotions. I was so immersed in the story that, while reading, it was difficult to focus on anything else in my life. It felt as if I had stepped into another world, and all I wanted was to keep turning the pages to see what would happen to every character. I cried, I felt heartbroken, and I also felt moments of deep warmth. What moved me most was seeing how much humanity, dignity, and quiet depth existed even in the smallest characters.
It echoes the most important questions that always come to my mind when I’m facing decisions: Who are you? What do you really want in life? What kind of person do you want to be?
So, what does this second part have to offer? Little, really, it is more of the same as the first part, but not so well done, and there are too many characters to really care about them. Kikou's friend from childhood Tokuji gets sidelined, but he is not the only one. Yoshida seems to have gotten too drunk with his own novel and this could have been three hundred pages less and it would have been better. The plot's big moments feel as staged as a kabuki performance (maybe it is the point?) and so soap opera-ish as to become risible. Also, both main characters are overpowered and female characters play the role of supporting the male because they are ACTORS.