When Tamon finally reaches his destination, the reunion waiting for him is indeed moving. Seishū imbues Tamon with a nobility that never feels sentimental or overdrawn. With this tender display, he proves himself a gifted storyteller.
Heartbreakingly moving in its simplicity ... Hase’s staccato sentences and straightforward narrative structure should not be mistaken for shallowness... Hase’s novel is ultimately a touching meditation on shining lights in the face of trauma and hopelessness.