Pachinko (novel)
| Company type | Novel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Literature |
| Founded | 2017 |
| Founder | Min Jin Lee |
| Products | Historical fiction novel |
Pachinko represents the second literary work by Harlem-based writer and journalist Min Jin Lee. Released in 2017, this epic historical fiction novel chronicles the migration journey of a Korean family to Japan. It delves into issues such as prejudice, discrimination, and the stereotyping endured by Koreans throughout 20th-century Japan.
In 2017, Pachinko was shortlisted for the prestigious National Book Award for Fiction. Its adaptation into a television series, produced by Apple Inc.’s streaming platform Apple TV+, debuted in March 2022.
Plot
The narrative unfolds across three sections, each prefaced by quotes from Charles Dickens, Park Wan-suh, and Benedict Anderson respectively.
- Book I, Gohyang/Hometown, traces Sunja’s family background up until the birth of Noa.
- Book II, Motherland, depicts Baek Isak’s incarceration and Sunja’s pursuit of Koh Hansu.
- Book III, Pachinko, portrays Noa’s new existence in Nagano alongside Sunja’s introspections.
Book I (1910–1933): Gohyang/Hometown
Beginning in 1883 on Yeongdo Island near Busan, a fisherman's family endures hardship yet maintains some stability following Korea’s annexation by Japan in 1910. Hoonie, their sole surviving son with physical impairments, weds Yangjin through arranged marriage. After the death of Hoonie's parents, they manage a boarding house.
Yangjin and Hoonie have a daughter named Sunja. When Hoonie succumbs to tuberculosis, Sunja is raised by her mother alone. At sixteen years old, she encounters Koh Hansu, a prosperous fishbroker and Zainichi Korean, who rescues her from an assault. Their relationship turns coercive when Hansu sexually abuses her and discloses that he is married but desires her as a mistress. Pregnant and overwhelmed with shame, Sunja refuses him.
Her mother seeks help from Baek Isak, a Christian minister lodging with them. Despite his frail health, Isak marries Sunja to provide legitimacy for her child. The couple relocates to Osaka to live with Isak’s brother Yoseb and his wife Kyunghee. There, Sunja confronts harsh realities: Koreans are confined to ghettos and relegated to low-paying labor. Yoseb supports the family financially but carries debt incurred from aiding Sunja and Isak’s relocation. To repay creditors during pregnancy, Sunja sells a watch gifted by Hansu, which angers Yoseb. She subsequently gives birth to her son Noa.
Book II (1939–1962)
In this section, Sunja raises two sons: Noa (biological son of Hansu) and Mozasu (Isak's son). Noa physically resembles Hansu but inherits Isak's reserved and scholarly disposition. Following Mozasu's birth, Isak is imprisoned due to his refusal to comply with state-imposed worship rituals. To sustain the household amid wartime shortages, Sunja and Kyunghee launch a small kimchi business that eventually achieves financial stability through support from restaurant owner Kim Changho. Isak briefly reunites with his family before passing away.
As the war continues, Hansu reveals himself as the true proprietor of the restaurant and arranges for Sunja’s move to the countryside for protection while Yoseb takes factory work in Nagasaki. Hansu also reconnects Sunja with her mother and returns Yoseb severely wounded after the atomic bombing.
Back in Osaka, Noa and Mozasu resume their education despite ongoing hardships even with Hansu’s financial backing. Hansu sponsors Noa’s studies at Waseda University out of a sense of duty toward younger Koreans. Mozasu leaves school to work in pachinko parlors; he marries Yumi and fathers a son named Solomon. After Yumi’s death, Mozasu raises Solomon alone. Upon discovering that Hansu—connected to the yakuza—is his biological father, Noa withdraws from university and cuts ties with his family.
Book III (1962–1989)
Assuming the name Nobuo, Noa relocates to Nagano and takes on a role as a bookkeeper for a pachinko proprietor known for discriminatory practices, while establishing a family in Japan. Despite warnings from Hansu, Sunja reaches out to Noa, who ultimately ends his own life.
Mozasu amasses wealth through ownership of pachinko parlors and becomes involved with Etsuko, a Japanese divorcee who declines to remarry. Etsuko’s troubled daughter Hana arrives pregnant but later terminates the pregnancy; she develops a connection with Solomon and eventually escapes to Tokyo.
Years later, Solomon pursues his studies in New York City and dates Phoebe, a Korean-American. After a mistaken tip about Hana’s location in Japan, Etsuko finds her working as a sex worker. Solomon graduates from Columbia University and secures a banking position in Japan but is dismissed due to his father’s pachinko associations following a contentious land transaction.
Subsequently, Solomon joins his father’s enterprise and reconciles with Hana, who is nearing death. An elderly Sunja attains peace upon learning that Noa regularly visited Isak’s grave despite his feelings of shame, symbolizing lasting familial connections.
Major characters
Hoonie — The initial character introduced, born with a deformed foot and cleft palate. He marries Yangjin; after losing three children, they have Sunja, their only surviving daughter. Hoonie dies from tuberculosis when Sunja is thirteen years old.
Sunja — The central figure of the story, daughter of Hoonie and Yangjin from Yeongdo, Busan. She has two sons: Noa and Mozasu. Both are raised by Baek Isak; however, Mozasu is Isak’s biological child while Noa's biological father is Koh Hansu.
Baek Isak — A Protestant pastor from Pyongyang who visits Yangjin’s boardinghouse before relocating to Osaka. He battles illness throughout his life and eventually passes away in Osaka.
Kyunghee — Yoseb’s wife, Sunja’s closest friend and sister-in-law. She supports Sunja by assisting with kimchi preparation for sale, playing an essential role in sustaining their households.
Yoseb — Baek Isak’s brother living in Osaka who works in a factory to provide for his family. In 1945, he obtains employment in Nagasaki but suffers severe injuries during the US atomic bombing.
Koh Hansu — A Korean man adopted into a Japanese yakuza family. Although married in Japan, he fathers Noa with Sunja. Driven by love for his son, Hansu uses his influence to protect Sunja’s family.
Noa — The son of Koh Hansu and Sunja. He attends Waseda University in Tokyo before moving to Nagano to distance himself from his yakuza background. Noa marries Risa and fathers four children.
Mozasu — Son of Baek Isak and Sunja. After experiencing bullying, he leaves school to work at a pachinko parlor and eventually becomes a prosperous owner. Mozasu marries Yumi and has one son named Solomon.
Solomon — The child of Mozasu and Yumi who grows up affluent and studies at an American university. Conflicted about his future path, he ultimately decides to join the pachinko industry like his father.
Themes
Pachinko delves into themes such as discrimination, stereotyping, and power dynamics, centering on the experiences of Koreans in Japan during World War II. The narrative addresses historical subjects including comfort women and examines women’s societal roles in Korea, emphasizing female leadership within a predominantly male context.
The recurring symbol of the game pachinko represents the unpredictable nature of the characters’ lives. Initially titled Motherland, Lee renamed the work Pachinko after recognizing how Koreans identified closely with the pachinko industry.
Food acts as an emblem of wealth and social standing, contrasting characters like Hansu—who prefers luxurious Japanese cuisine—with Noa, who opts for simple dishes typical of working-class Koreans. These culinary choices mirror their ambitions and degree of success.
Style
The narrative style of the novel has been likened to the works of John Galsworthy and Charles Dickens due to its intricate portrayal of social dynamics.
Historical context
Covering the years from 1910 to 1989, Pachinko encompasses significant historical periods such as the Japanese occupation of Korea and World War II, which profoundly influence the characters' experiences. Lee highlights the marginalization and alienation endured by Korean-Japanese populations throughout these times.
Reception and awards
Achieving status as a New York Times Best Seller, Pachinko garnered widespread praise from critics at outlets including The New York Times, The Guardian, NPR, and Kirkus Reviews. It appeared on multiple "Best Books of 2017" compilations by publications like Esquire, Chicago Review of Books, Amazon.com, and the BBC. Author Roxane Gay selected it as her top read for 2017. Additionally, the novel was named one of The New York Times' 10 Best Books of 2017 and placed #15 on their 2024 ranking of the 100 Best Books of the 21st Century.
The book was shortlisted for the 2017 National Book Award for Fiction and earned second place for the 2018 Dayton Literary Peace Prize.
| Year | Award | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | National Book Awards | Fiction | Finalist |
| 2018 | Dayton Literary Peace Prize | — | Runner Up |
Television adaptation
In August 2018, Apple Inc. secured the rights to adapt the novel into a series for Apple TV+. The production is handled by Media Res, with Soo Hugh acting as showrunner, writer, and executive producer. By October 2020, key directors and principal cast members were revealed: South Korean director Kogonada helmed four episodes, including the pilot, while also serving as an executive producer; Justin Chon directed another four episodes. The ensemble cast includes Youn Yuh-jung, Lee Min-ho, Jin Ha, Anna Sawai, Minha Kim, Soji Arai, and Kaho Minami. The series debuted on March 25, 2022.