Takuji Ichikawa - Monkey Man

About the Author and Translators

Takuji Ichikawa

An author who ignores traditional boundaries, and is impossible to pigeonhole. One whose positive and fantastical narratives touch the soul through storytelling that not only transforms and heals, but also sells in the millions.

Ichikawa, one of Japans most creative authors with a completely unique perspective even by Japanese standards dreamt of becoming an author at primary school. He firmly believes in the transformative power of imagination; that dreams can come true, and that we can change the world we live in for the better.

After initially publishing stories on the Internet, his second novel Be With You became a blockbuster, selling more than a million copies in Japan, putting Ichikawa on the Japanese literary map.

The publication of Be With You , in fact, triggered its very own cycle of creativity by sparking the imagination of others, leading to the creation of a film and multiple international remakes, a television drama and a manga.

Ichikawas works, which often depict love and loss, continue to resonate and be adapted for film both in Japan and further afield, and he continues to consistently demonstrate that literature should have no borders.

The power of his storytelling is due to the candour of the feelings expressed. As if, confusing reality, somewhat magically, is what makes literature compelling giving it the power to delight and please.

Le Monde

Monkey Man offers us a glimmer of hope in a very dark, dystopian world.

Alex Pearl author of Sleeping with the Blackbirds and
The Chair Man

Its a short, engaging sci-fi tale with a pointed message: the worlds refugees are not a threat, a danger, or anything to fear they are the hope for our collective futureIchikawas work is a masterful allegory that reminds us refugees are not our enemy; they are the future. They represent our best hope.

PopMatters , commenting on The Refugees Daughter

I felt it in my heart, and it shook my soul.

Kiyoshi Kodama, actor and former presenter of a popular Japanese television book review programme, commenting on Be With You

In Takuji Ichikawas high-concept The Refugees Daughter (translated by Emily Balistrieri) a sixteen-year-old-girl and her family are trying to find an ominous gate to reach safety on the other side of a post-apocalyptic world.

TLS , commenting on The Refugees Daughter

Reading this sent me into a trance. I discovered what love really is from this book.

Ryoko Hirosue, Japanese actress best known outside Japan for her roles in Departures and Wasabi , commenting on Loves Photographs

Also by Takuji Ichikawa in English translation

Be With You

The Refugees Daughter

A full publication list of all of Ichikawas work is available from www.redcircleauthors.com

Translators: Lisa Lilley and Daniel Lilley

Lisa and Daniel Lilley met in Kyoto when they were studying Japanese language and literature. The impressive resilience they witnessed during the events of the Tohoku Earthquake inspired them to return to Japan after they completed their studies. They have now lived and worked together in Japan for nearly a decade, initially in Awaji and subsequently in Tokyo where they are now based.

Monkey Man

Takuji Ichikawa

Translated from the Japanese by

Lisa and Daniel Lilley

Published by Red Circle Authors Limited
First edition 2021
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Red Circle Authors Limited
Second Floor, 168 Shoreditch High Street
London E1 6RA

Copyright Red Circle Authors Limited 2021
English translation copyright Red Circle Authors Limited 2021

Provisional Japanese title:

Takuji Ichikawa has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.

This book is a work of fiction. The literary perceptions and insights are based on experience, names, characters and places; and incidents are either a product of the authors imagination or are used fictionally. No responsibility for loss caused to any individual or organisation acting on or refraining from action as a result of the material in this publication can be accepted by Red Circle Authors or the author.

Design by Aiko Ishida, typesetting by Danny Lyle
Set in Adobe Caslon Pro

ISBN: 978-1-912864-13-3

A catalogue record of this book is available from the British Library.

All rights reserved. Red Circle Authors Limited is the first publisher of this work. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher.

This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out, or otherwise circulated without the publishers prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

To my father, who was always tolerant,
and treated everyone with magnanimity

From the moment I first saw him I couldnt tear my eyes away. I couldnt get him out of my head. Why, though ? I wondered. But I had no idea what the reason was. It wasnt that I liked him (at least I thought so, in the beginning). He just interested me.

He certainly was strange. Both his appearance and behaviour were so completely different from anyone else. That strangeness was what I first assumed might be the reason he had caught my attention. Those two traits alone his looks and the way he moved had a profound impact.

We met on the first morning after my transfer to my new high school. I was nearly late after getting lost on the way countless times. I was making a last minute dash towards the front gate when he came rushing out from the school grounds. I was sure we would collide. He hollered out, Hya! His voice was high-pitched as if squeezed out from a rusty wind instrument. In an instant he shifted far off to my side and somehow avoided me. But, in doing so, he put himself in the path of an oncoming car. He shrieked again.

No!! Youll be run over ! Just as I thought the worst was about to happen, he gently floated upwards, rolled across the cars windscreen and slid right over the roof.

The car braked to a sudden halt. A greying gentleman rushed out of the drivers seat. He looked around, his eyes spinning wildly. I did the same, also searching out the boy, but by the time we spotted him he had already run on ahead roughly 30 metres away from us. He waved in our direction and bellowed, Sorry about that!

I stood there, stunned, watching him head off , when three well-built male students charged past me.

Look, hes over there!

Stop! Dont you run off!

The boy yelled out with another Hya! Then, as if out of a manga, he jumped up with a boing and darted off like a rabbit. The trio of boys frantically chased after him but Well, there was no way they could possibly catch up. His escape was far too quick.

That was the whole of it: my first encounter with Tengo. He made an incredible first impression.