ヘヴン（2009）／川上未映子 "Heaven" (2009) by Mieko Kawakami

Mieko Kawakami's "Heaven" was shortlisted for the International Booker Prize in 2022. In several ways it is the most profound work of the trilogy. The story is about school bullying and the actions are described in bloody detail throughout the book - it can be distressing to read if you are easily triggered. Picking on somebody is one thing, but the events in the story are so elaborate that it reaches a point where the reader will ask, "do these bullies have nothing better to do in life than to spend so much time and effort just to pick on somebody?" - and that is the central objective here. Kawakami has a background in philosophy and she states that "Heaven" is inspired by Nietzsche's "Thus spake Zarathustra". The story of bullying is used as a platform to explore master and slave morality, and nihilism. In the latter half of the book, there is a couple of discussions about why bullies bully and why victims let that happen. The title "Heaven" refers to a painting that one of the victims adore and she considers being bullied her role in the world and it purifies her - she is tied to "moral ideals". One of the bullies believes that there is no reason for what they do and they do so just because they can. The main character is philosophically torn for the majority of the book but in the end breaks the dichotomy and pursues the third path. He chooses to overcome a physical condition in hope for a brighter future and to avoid further bullying, which in a way is a manifestation of the will to power. "Heaven" is a finely crafted allegorical story if one appreciates the underlying philosophy, but there are also themes of friendship, self-awareness and overcoming hardship which make it a great general read. Powerful work.