Pachinko by Min Jin Lee ****

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee follows matriarch Sunja’s Korean family from the 1930s to 1989 through the Japanese occupation, World War II, the Cold War, and the Korean War. In the 1930s Sunja became pregnant with Hansu’s child. When he revealed that he had a wife and three daughters in Osaka, she spurned him. It later turned out that he was a rich yakuza (gangster). Instead, she married Isak (a Christian minister). With her new husband, she moved to Osaka as things were dire in Korea (because of the Japanese occupation). She suffered from racism and poverty in Japan even though Hansu stayed in touch and offered support. The book follows her family, her son with Hansu (Noa), her son with Isak (Mozasu), and Mozasu’s son (Solomon). A story of living with racism and poverty (not from the United States).

The poor and disadvantaged Korean families that lived in Japan were maintained by the women. This is a parallel to the situation of black families in the United States. There are many other parallels. More than poverty and prejudice, this is a book about strong women.

Do not let the almost 500 pages discourage you from this book. It reads very quickly.

During the period of this book, Japan was superior to Korea, but this has changed, and Japan’s oppression of Koreans has somewhat abated.

The end of the book (1989) and the Seoul Olympics (1988) marked a turning point for Koreans in Japan and Koreans, in general. In 1991 Japan created a Special Permanent Resident classification for Koreans which improved their legal position.

When the book ended South Korea had a per capita GDP of under $6,000, but since then it has risen to over $30,000. During the same period, total GDP rose from under 250 billion to over 1.5 trillion. Compared to Korea, in 1989 Japan was 12 times larger, but today, that comparison is just over 3. On a per capita basis, Korea has gone from ¼ of Japan to near parity.

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