Underground: The Tokyo Gas Attack and the Japanese Psyche by Haruki Murakami
In this book, Murakami attempts to delve into the psyche of the Japanese after the Sarin gas attack in the subway by the Aum cult.
He interviews as many of the victims as he can find and who are willing to speak to him. To be balanced, he also interviews as many of the Aum members as he can find who are willing to speak to him.
What comes across is a cross section of the Japanese people who have been affected by the attack, the questions turned up which have been left unanswered. And with this book, a realisation that a festering rot in the Japanese psyche is present, glossed over and hidden. Unable or unwilling to face this rot, the reactions and the actions of the Japanese society, the people and most importantly, the people of the Aum cult speaks implicitly of a society which is at odds with the current status quo, yet refuses to face it.
There is a lesson in this book, which all societies can learn from. Especially the Singapore society.
Remarkable in its way of handling the personal history of the event. 4 1/2 our of 5.
