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Pachinko, millionaires, and more

By on November 4, 2008

Min Jin Lee is an acclaimed author from New York City.  Her debut novel, FREE FOOD FOR MILLIONAIRES, won numerous critical appraisals, from the New York Times book review to USA Today.  She moved to Tokyo last year with her family and recently talked with TF regarding her books and her life as an expat. 

 

Is this your first time in Japan, and what was your immediate reaction upon learning that your husband’s next assignment was in Japan?  

I’ve been in Japan several times. I think it is a terrific place to visit.  It is an incredibly interesting, vibrant country. There is so much going on at the same time. However, I find it very difficult to live here. When my husband first found out, I thought, “Wow, that’s a big deal.” And it wasn’t my first choice. But it’s really perfect for my second book, so I agreed to come. Having said that, living here is different from visiting. I think the hardest thing for me is the language. To lose my language is very hard, and I don’t have the kind of time to study it well.

 

What surprises you about Tokyo, and how would you compare it with other cities where you have lived before?

I think it is really quieter. I think it’s not a very beautiful city, in terms of architecture. I was surprised by that. Most people in the West have this idea that Tokyo is like Shibuya at nighttime. But actually, Tokyo is much more like the suburbs. It’s very quiet, really low to the ground, and there aren’t that many people walking in the streets all the time. I’m so used to this kind of very busy Manhattan life.  It’s a big shock for me.  

 

You are a highly acclaimed author back home. What was it like to pick up suddenly and move out of New York where you had become famous?  

I think it is good to have a reality check. I worked very hard for 12 years to write this book. And suddenly, all these people are saying great things.  Coming here, it is a really good experience in terms of keeping it real. Because it is not about how people perceive you, it’s about working hard everyday to write a good story. And writing is so hard.   

 

You have given advice for writers. What advice do you have for women who are thinking of coming or have just arrived here?

I went to a lecture at my son’s school, and the administrator gave me some fantastic advice. She said that the happiness of your family during the transition really depends on the mother’s happiness. 

 

I would say to really take a careful assessment of your emotional life. To really take care of your happiness.  And that’s important, it’s a priority. I want people to be honest and say when they are having a difficult time. Because the long term repercussions for children and families, when mothers aren’t happy, are so extreme. Be gentle with yourself and make your happiness a priority.  

 

You have talked about the importance of pursuing your dream, being grateful for your gifts, and choosing love. Are these some of what you would like to see your own son get out of life?

Yes, definitely. But also to be a good person with a good sense of morality. If he does not grow up to be an altruistic person, then I have failed as a mother.  I believe that more than anything. It’s not academic or professional excellence. More than anything, I want him to know that I care about morality and altruism, which are learned behavior.  It does not come naturally to human beings. 
So, for me that’s a very big focus for our family.

 

Speaking of altruism, tell us about your work with Hands on Tokyo.  How did you get involved?

A friend of mine, Diva Hirsch, founded it, and it’s a great organization, and it really helped me think about living in Japan in a different way. It’s difficult to have an intimate relationship with Japanese.  But while we are here, we can be really good Westerners.  This Sunday, for instance, I’ll be baking 100 pieces of corn bread for the International Society for the Blind.  On November 6, 2008, I will be giving a talk at a luncheon to benefit Hands on Tokyo.  

 

Aside from family, what do you miss back home?

I miss New York City very much. I miss the beauty of New York City. I really love America. I like the openness, generosity, and the acceptance of the American people. I don’t feel that here. The people here are very kind, polite, and really well intended.  But no one becomes Japanese. You can become an American. I think that’s a humongous difference.  I like Japan, but I also miss home.  

 

FREE FOOD FOR MILLIONAIRES depicts class struggles, generational gap, and loss of innocence.  You have said that the characters in your book have various notions of wealth.
What is your notion of wealth?

You are really rich, if you recognize that your life is a moment of grace and that every moment is a gift. I think you are a really rich person if you can afford to give sacrificially, of your time, money, or resources. You are a rich person if you could trust that things are going to work out the way they should. Maybe not the way you want them to, but the way they should.  

 

You are currently doing research for your new novel PACHINKO about ethnic Koreans in Japan and trading scandals. How did you come up with the idea for the book?

When I was in college, a missionary from Japan gave a lecture. He talked about the rate of depression and suicide among ethnic Korean teenagers in Japan. And I was so struck by his lecture, and it always stayed with me. Since I’m Korean-American, I wondered what it was like for Korean-Japanese.   

 

Do you think you will always be writing about Koreans trying to assimilate in other countries?  

No, my novel after PACHINKO will be about the reunification of Korea.

 

You said that humanity and understanding others better is a goal of your books.  How do you seek to accomplish that with PACHINKO?

I want to learn how to forgive historical tragedies.  

 

What would you think if FREE FOOD FOR MILLIONAIRES were to be made into a movie?  

There are people who are talking about it right now.

 

What is your favorite free thing?

Time. It’s a miracle, because as I get older, it’s the only thing I want more of. 

 

For more information on Min Jin Lee and her books, go to www.minjinlee.com. For details of  the Hands On Tokyo Author’s Luncheon with Min Jin Lee  go to www.handsontokyo.org/en

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