JFT Book Club (Hybrid) – First Love by SHIMAMOTO Rio

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February 8 @ 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm EST
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This Valentine’s season, we invite you to delve into the intricacies of love through Japanese literature!
For the upcoming JFT Book Club (Hybrid), we will discuss SHIMAMOTO Rio’s novel: First Love (Translated into English by Louise Heal Kawai. The original Japanese version: 島本理生著『ファーストラヴ』). Join us in person or virtually to unravel the complexities of love, family, and hidden truths in this Naoki-award-winning mystery novel!
This hybrid book club is perfect for anyone intrigued by Japanese literature, romance novels, or mysteries. Whether you’re in the GTA or joining virtually from other parts of the world, connect with fellow lovers of literature and Japanese culture to gain deeper insights into the story that you might not discover on your own!
We also have a limited number of “Observer” slots available for those wanting to listen this time, or for anyone curious about how a book club works without the pressure to speak – first-time participants are welcome!
*Please be aware that space may be limited.
*Depending on the number of participants and how the discussion goes, we might extend the end time until 6:30 pm (EST). However, if you have other commitments, feel free to leave at 6:00 pm.
If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to email us at library_jftoronto@jpf.go.jp.
You can read a book by yourself, but when you read something thought-provoking or moving, it’s natural to want to discuss it with someone else. This will be an exciting opportunity to connect with other book lovers from different cultural backgrounds, find new and interesting books, authors, or themes, and develop a richer understanding of Japan that you wouldn’t gain from reading alone! Show HOW DOES THE UPCOMING JFT BOOK CLUB WORK? 1. Once you register for the event, you will receive guiding questions to help you think more deeply about the manga. 2. On the day of the event, we will meet via Zoom and in person at Japan Foundation Toronto Library (2 Bloor St E #300, Toronto, ON M4W 1A8 Canada). *How to find us: https://tr.jpf.go.jp/about-us/how-to-find-us/ 3. We will start with a quick introduction & ice-breaking activity (*Light refreshments will be served for in-person participants) 4. Depending on the number of the participants, we will break into a few small groups to discuss questions so that everyone has a chance to share their thoughts. 5. After each breakout session, each group will share what they have discussed with other groups. *There is no right or wrong answer. Different perspectives make discussion more fun and vibrant! Show WHERE YOU CAN FIND THE BOOK? First Love (physical copies and ebooks) and the original Japanese version『ファーストラヴ』(physical copy) are available at JFT Library! The checkout of the physical copies are limited to JFT Book Club participants for a 1-week loan period (non-renewable). To get a new library card or to renew your existing card, please follow the instructions found here. Borrow Ebook Email Library to place hold (physical copy) For more information about the book or where else you can get the physical copies, click here. Written by SHIMAMOTO Rio Translated by Louise Heal Kawai Published by Honford Star, 2024 Upon being arrested for the gruesome murder of her father, all college student Kanna Hijiriyama tells the police is “It’s up to you to find the motive.” Amidst the media frenzy about the woman “too beautiful to be a killer,” clinical psychologist Yuki Makabe is asked by Kanna’s lawyer to counsel the young woman as her trial approaches. Yuki slowly uncovers the dark history behind the relationships in Kanna’s life – with her father, her mother, and her “first love” – and discovers shocking inconsistencies in Kanna’s defense. Winner of the prestigious Naoki Prize and a Japanese bestseller, First Love is part psychological drama, part legal thriller. (c) Daisuke Hayata SHIMAMOTO Rio was born in Tokyo in 1983. In 2001, she won the 44th Gunzo New Writers’ Prize for Silhouette, and in 2003, she won the 25th Noma Literary New Face Prize for Little by Little. In 2015, she received the 21st Shimasei Renai Literature Award for Red and the 159th Naoki Prize for First Love in 2018. Tuesday, February 11, 6:00PM (ET) Join us for our Valentine’s film screening of The Nighthawk’s First Love (よだかの片想い), adapted from the novel of the same name from acclaimed romance author SHIMAMOTO Rio. The film follows graduate student Aiko who always had low self-esteem because of the birthmark on the left side of her face. When her story becomes part of a book, and then adapted into a movie, she falls for the director who accepts her as she is. Wednesday, February 12, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM (ET) Dive into the world of romance and storytelling with celebrated Japanese author SHIMAMOTO Rio! This exclusive online talk event will dig into the creation of her Naoki award-winning novel First Love, gain unique insights into her writing process and explore the allure of Japanese romance fiction. Japanese Tadoku Book Club – October 26, 2024WHY JOIN JFT BOOK CLUB?
HOW DOES THE UPCOMING JFT BOOK CLUB WORK?
WHERE YOU CAN FIND THE BOOK?
ABOUT THE BOOK
First Love
(The original Japanese version:『ファーストラヴ』)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
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First Love and Beyond: Author SHIMAMOTO Rio on Japanese Romance Fiction
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