Preface
Mention the Japanese mystery writer Morimura Seiichi , Chinese readers, especially mystery fans, are no strangers to him, and most of them have seen several of his classics, such as being The "Proof of Humanity" (the movie " 人证"), which was made into a movie and became popular in China, and the documentary literature "Devil's Satiation", which exposes the atrocities of Unit 731. In the book, he reflects on the war and calls for Peace has earned him the reputation of "writer of conscience".
Morimura's appearance in his youth is not inferior to the movie star
Morimura's works have a wide range of subjects, and there are few similarities in plots, especially his "Proof Trilogy" series. All present different styles.
Speaking of his trilogy, "Proof of Humanity" is the most famous, and today we are going to talk about "Proof of Youth".
This book was first published in the 1970s, creating a branch of the social school reasoning novels-urban romance reasoning. Compared with case detection, this book describes many pairs. The love tragedy of men and women and the complicated love-hate entanglement between them.
1. Three families represent the three classes of Japanese society
The novel "Proof of Youth" mainly involves three families and represents the three classes of Japanese society at that time.
The policeman's family is a civilian family. His wife is Tomoko, and Tomoko's father is also a policeman. Unfortunately, he died while pursuing the fugitive. Shizi is not working (the author did not mention that she is working). Lioka is the pillar of the family. They have a son called Shiya.Their whole family lives in a small room.
Yabuki and Asako’s family are middle-class. Yabuki is a newspaper editor. Whether Asako works is not stated in the book, but it has been written that her origin is relatively wealthy, and their son Eiji also leads a superior life.
Asayama Yumiko's family belongs to the wealthy class. There is a long-established restaurant in the Asayama family's ancestors. Her husband was originally named Kida, and her family was ruined. They have a daughter, Yukiko Asayama.
The bustling night view of Tokyo
These three seemingly unrelated families have complicated relationships.
Asako is Kasoka’s ex-girlfriend, Shi was also dating Yukiko, and later married, and Eiji was Yukiko’s lover, that is to say, Yukiko once dated two men at the same time. Before the marriage, she decided to rein in the cliff, but Eiji couldn't let it go. On an impulse, when she drove into a rival, she killed his father Kasaoka...
Such three families fully reflected the three Japanese society at the time. The state of the class and their mental state are also different. Some pursue justice, some are greedy for profit, some are indulging in pleasure, and each have their own distresses. They are intertwined into a wonderful drama.
2. A detective who has been misled for a lifetime by lies
"Proof of Youth", the male protagonist Kasaoka, can be said to be the worst detective ever made by Makoto Morimura. In his early years, Kasoka was a company employee. Due to an accidental experience, he was burdened with heavy debts. In order to "redempt his sins," he became a policeman halfway through. A case was filed, but the murderer he caught was not the one he wanted to catch at all!
Compared with the famous detectives in traditional mystery novels, and even other detectives under Makoto Morimura's writing, Kasoka can be said to be a complete defeat.
is such a male protagonist,Most of the readers complained or sympathized with him. He failed to figure out the truth until the end of his life. He was misled by three lies throughout his life.
was first of all cowardice. He was at the scene of the first murder, in front of the gangster's blade, did not help the police, and the police was killed, he was also labeled a "coward".
Secondly, after he became a policeman, he wanted to catch the murderer, but he was finally caught. This person is indeed a criminal, but not the one who killed the police in the first place.
Third, his son is not his own, but he has been kept in the dark, while his wife is an insider, and he did not tell him the truth until he died.
The latest Chinese version of the "Proof" series of trilogy
Kasoka is such a cowardly and persistent detective. Compared with the many famous detectives in the history of mystery, he has not many highlights, but more The breath of some ordinary people can arouse the resonance of readers.
Third, the analysis of human nature into the woods
The novel "Proof of Youth" involves a total of 9 couples (couples) relationship, which is very complicated (see the detailed picture).
"Proof of Youth" character relationship chart
It is worth mentioning that almost none of them came together because of true love. For example, Kasoka married Tokiko to "pay off the debt", and Yabuki married Asako because she was a "substitute" for her sister Masako, and Kida did not hesitate to change her surname for the sake of wealth. Hire murderers and kill competitors in marriage.
Let’s talk about Yukiko Asayama while dating two men at the same time. This is a typical manifestation of infidelity. It’s hard to say whether she can commit another crime after marriage, and her husband was not an upright young man. In fact, she loved vanity very much. In order to become famous in the mountaineering industry, he also wrote fake mountaineering notes and published them in magazines. He comes from a home of common people, but he has climbed up to the rich lady. Isn't he greedy for money?
Japan’s Alps
The author’s analysis of human nature in the book is very deep,No less than the first "Proof of Humanity" in the "Proof" series, it is even more profound. It also exposed the gloom and hidden pain of people's inner world under the surface of economic prosperity and feasting in Japanese society at that time.
4. Constantly seeking innovation and change, creating a new era of mystery fiction
"Proof of Youth" is the last part of Morimura's masterpiece "The Trilogy of Proofs" and the most enduring one to read Some readers even think that this book is the best of his "trilogy".
A film and television drama adapted from a novel
In this book, the elements of the investigation are weakened, and the investigation process is also quite regular and lacklustre, but it highlights the emotional conflicts of the characters and their intricate relationships , The description of love is also very delicate.
This book is not like ordinary mystery novels. The characters on the scene can be roughly divided into two camps: murderer and accomplice, victim and detective. The complex relationship between characters and emotional clues have become the biggest highlight of the book.
When the author narrates, it is mainly divided into two main lines, one is Kasoka's tracing of the murderer, and the other is Yabuki's remembrance of the war and his post-war life.
Yabuki used to be a Kamikaze team member
Finally, the tributaries merged together, ups and downs, and suspense emerged endlessly, which was dizzying.
"Proof of Youth" writes the unique style of Morimura Seiichi. He innovated and improved on the path of the "social" mystery created by Matsumoto Seiharu, and created the "urban" in the social mystery. The branch genre of "Romance Reasoning" has also enabled the "Social School" to be well inherited and promoted, and it is still an important force in the mystery to this day.
Conclusion
"Proof of Youth" is Morimura Seiichi’s masterpiece,It has been republished many times in Japan and my country. After more than 30 years of its publication, it still makes people feel interesting when it comes to reading, and it is a masterpiece of reasoning.
Early Chinese version cover
Japanese popular reasoning master Keigo Higashino , also respects Morimura Seiichi, many of his masterpieces, such as " white night line ", "parallel world, love "Story" and so on, can see Morimura's influence and inspiration on him.
Keigo Higashino and Seiichi Morimura
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