dash likes "Botchan"

"Botchan" is the second novel by Natsume Soseki, and apparently his favourite.

dash likes the edokka spirit of Botchan and enjoys watching how Botchan asserts his integrity in situations where people often simply unthinkingly conform to social norms or adopt a "live and let live" attitude. For example, when the headmaster at his new school gave a speech to Botchan about the need for teachers to set themselves as a paragon of virtue for children, Botchan immediately told the headmaster that he would not be able to fulfill that, and asked that his resignation be accepted on the spot. And also how Botchan refused a pay raise after finding out that it came at the expense of another colleague's forced transfer to another school.

dash also celebrates the Aristotelian friendship between Botchan and Hotta that is built on the shared sense of samurai justice . The honest pair overcame the many misunderstandings deliberately stirred up by their conniving cowardly colleagues, and worked together to right the wrongs they and others suffered. After beating up the conniving cowardly colleagues, Botchan and Hotta even announced their residential address so that if the colleagues had wanted, they could call the police to haul them in!

And of course, dash is extremely delighted to read of Botchan enjoying his dango - rice ball dumplings coated with this sweet sauce (which dash first had in Kyoto this year, and decidedly one of dash's best finds in Japan this year :) Mmm!

Definitely a good book for a happy read - and be prepared to go "Aiyoh!" everytime you see Botchan fumbling through much social confusion with his black-and-white moral perspectives on things ( :