Kneale’s first novel is a short and rather grim story about a young Englishman, Daniel, who is working illegally in Japan while on a working tour of Asia. His interest is photography but he is teaching English at a shady college whose proprietor always has an excuse for not paying him properly. Not only is he short of cash, but he has lost his passport. He is also in a relationship with Keiko, a former student (which is against college rules). Keiko is a withdrawn and colourless young woman whose attitude to Daniel is difficult to read. However, her father and other members of her family appear and seem bent on forcing Daniel to marry her. In fact they accuse him of making Keiko pregnant. Keiko’s family become more insistent, and Daniel begins to doubt the legitimacy of their activities. Meanwhile, his employers are trying to get rid of him. The suburbs of Tokyo are portrayed as drab and unattractive, and it constantly pours with rain as Daniel tries to sort it all out and the novel builds to its dreary conclusion. ( )

It is an interesting and funny read if you like japanese culture. The plot is not very profound though. ( )

Having lived in Japan, I really enjoyed the dialogue - how frustrating Daniel's conversations were with the Japanese rings true. But the plot is pretty lame and you can't care about the characters. ( )