《东京塔：老妈和我，有时还有老爸》

    Anna Zhao

    anna.whizh@yahoo.com

    An autobiography by Japanese writer Nakagawa Masaya, the book tells the story of more than 30 years of his life with his mother. It explores* the themes of life, separation and the love between mother and child.

    Masaya has been raised by his mother Eiko since he was 3 years old, when Eiko left her husband. The mother and son moved to a mining town in Kyushu and lived a simple but peaceful life. Eiko worked hard to support the family, never got angry with Masaya and always gave the best she could have to her son.

    Masaya left his mother to study at an art university in Tokyo when he was 15. But life didn’t go as expected. Masaya often fooled around* with his friends and kept his rotten life from his mother’s knowledge.

    Eiko had been working hard in Kyushu to give Masaya money for his tuition*, and also, cash to pay back his debts for gambling* and other diversions*, until one day she was invited by her son to live with him in Tokyo, after he learned of her cancer.

    Masaya, now 30, lives with his mother after 15 years of separation from her. His life seems to go on the right track. His work as an illustrator* and columnist* goes well. Eiko, an excellent cook, brings happiness, warmth and encouragement to Masaya’s friends.

    But the happy hours came to an end when Eiko’s cancer returned.

    In her final hours, she told Masaya that she had been keeping savings for her funeral*.

    When Masaya looked outside his mother’s ward* he saw Tokyo Tower — he had been planning to bring his mother there, but the plan wasn’t realized until it was too late.

    The book sparked a craze* in Japan after its publication in 2005. It has been adapted into a TV drama, movie and stage play.