laviskrg's review against another edition
5.0
This was a really raw read and my first incursion in the subject matter. Tough, rough life.
laviskrg's review
3.0
Obviously, the story is the same as the original autobiography by Shoko Tendo, but I did not feel that the art was strong enough to capture the raw nature of her life and also, it read as an abridged version of the original book. I love manga and I adore Japanese art but this was felt lacking. Still, worth reading for novices and for people who are curious about book to manga adaptation.
cate_zh's review against another edition
3.0
This book is unflinching in its description of what can happen when you get addicted to drugs. And it is horrific.
And like other people already noted... I was expecting more about Yakuza.
It's a short book so I kept reading, just to find out if the author finally started to make good choices.
And like other people already noted... I was expecting more about Yakuza.
It's a short book so I kept reading, just to find out if the author finally started to make good choices.
gl_mrtnl's review against another edition
3.0
Like many other autobiographies, in Yakuza Moon there were a lot of shocking facts one after the other, with no reprieve, but not much else underneath the surface.
I have been meaning to read this book for at least a decade (ever since it came out, whenever that was), as Shoko Tendo is an undeniably fascinating woman as well as one of those people one wants to look at and find out more about. Unfortunately though, the story was just an accumulation of sad and (more often than not) violent stories, with clearly unresolved family traumas and tales of honour and pride. What are believed to be the main focal points of the book, namely the Yakuza and Shoto's being a heavily tattooed woman in a society that to this day associates body modifications with crime, are just touched upon or hardly talked about at all.
Do I regret reading this book? No not really, but I wish there had been more to it. Wherever Shoko Tendo is now, I hope she is happy, even though the book makes it so very hard to believe.
P.s. editing to add that I read this book whilst getting a tattoo.. How could I forget to mention that!
I have been meaning to read this book for at least a decade (ever since it came out, whenever that was), as Shoko Tendo is an undeniably fascinating woman as well as one of those people one wants to look at and find out more about. Unfortunately though, the story was just an accumulation of sad and (more often than not) violent stories, with clearly unresolved family traumas and tales of honour and pride. What are believed to be the main focal points of the book, namely the Yakuza and Shoto's being a heavily tattooed woman in a society that to this day associates body modifications with crime, are just touched upon or hardly talked about at all.
Do I regret reading this book? No not really, but I wish there had been more to it. Wherever Shoko Tendo is now, I hope she is happy, even though the book makes it so very hard to believe.
P.s. editing to add that I read this book whilst getting a tattoo.. How could I forget to mention that!
dlberglund's review
I appreciate what was attempted, but I found it too graphic in its depiction of abuse and her sexual journey, which also included repeated violence. I think I would rather have read her print memoir than read the visual version, with the script written by a British man.
pastel_princess's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
4.5
roxanamalinachirila's review
3.0
Just like the title says, this is a true story about a yakuza's daughter, starting from adolescence - and up until she changes her life around and becomes a writer.
I don't think anyone's surprised that growing up in a bad environment can have unfortunate consequences, and Shoko grows up as a child of the underworld, with a father who brings home both shady associates and hostesses from night bars, gets drunk and breaks things around the house.
She's nearly raped by one of her father's associates, starts going to night clubs at 12 years-old, and finds little understanding at school, where she's at first bullied by her peers, then once she changes her hair color and starts looking tough, gets pressured to dye her hair back to black.
She goes through a string of abusive and/or married boyfriends, gets blackmailed and pressured into many things she doesn't want. It's just one thing after the next.
But this also means it all blends together - including the men, about whom we know very little. What is the world of the yakuza actually like? What do these people do? Where was Shoko's brother in all of this? (At one point, I was starting to wonder whether I'd misremembered him existing at all.)
On the other hand, this is a harrowing story and you can feel that this is very hard to tell. But Shoko is determined and, despite the abuse, you can feel her strength. And the tattoo she gets when she's starting to pull herself together is both beautiful - and a sign of that strength.
I don't think anyone's surprised that growing up in a bad environment can have unfortunate consequences, and Shoko grows up as a child of the underworld, with a father who brings home both shady associates and hostesses from night bars, gets drunk and breaks things around the house.
She's nearly raped by one of her father's associates, starts going to night clubs at 12 years-old, and finds little understanding at school, where she's at first bullied by her peers, then once she changes her hair color and starts looking tough, gets pressured to dye her hair back to black.
She goes through a string of abusive and/or married boyfriends, gets blackmailed and pressured into many things she doesn't want. It's just one thing after the next.
But this also means it all blends together - including the men, about whom we know very little. What is the world of the yakuza actually like? What do these people do? Where was Shoko's brother in all of this? (At one point, I was starting to wonder whether I'd misremembered him existing at all.)
On the other hand, this is a harrowing story and you can feel that this is very hard to tell. But Shoko is determined and, despite the abuse, you can feel her strength. And the tattoo she gets when she's starting to pull herself together is both beautiful - and a sign of that strength.
anakuroma's review against another edition
5.0
TW: rape, pedophilia, blackmailing into sex work, infidelity, drugs and hard drug addiction, physical abuse, gambling, blood, miscarriage, abortion, death, cancer
The moment I found this at a book sale I was intrigued. At home I read it in one go. It is deep and harsh, yet hopeful and healing. A personal story of strength even when one is weak.
The moment I found this at a book sale I was intrigued. At home I read it in one go. It is deep and harsh, yet hopeful and healing. A personal story of strength even when one is weak.
made_in_dna's review against another edition
3.0
While this book gives an interesting insight into the lives of those who are born on 'the other side of the tracks' and tells a compelling story, it suffers from a lackluster narrative. (Which is not the fault of the localizer.) Description is minimal and sophmoric even at the best of times. Those with no experience living in Japan or with Japanese culture (especially Bubble Era culture of the 80s) will be lost. SPEED TRIBES is a much better book on the same subject. Though I praise Ms Tendoh for her efforts and certainly wish her well in life as it seems she got the short end of the stick, I can only recommend this book to expats who have lived in Japan for an extended period of time.
kickpleat's review against another edition
3.0
A quick read about a Yakuza's daughter who got caught up in a whirlwind of speed as a young teenager. I'm not I'm not sure I'd really give this 3 whole stars, but even though this wasn't well written (or maybe it was just poorly translated), I felt for the author and her story. Just don't read the outro by another Japanese author (ugh).