Japanese Americans are a very unique group. As far as I know they are the only people who have names for the different generations with in their group. The SOB (Straight off the boat) are the Issei, their children the second generation are the Nisei and their grandchildren or third generation are the Sansei. In addition to this they are one of the most resilient people who suffered great indignities and hardships in the course off their history in the Western Hemisphere. It was not until the 1950's that they were allowed to become naturalized American Citizens. Despite being interned during the war, losing the property and more they elected to look to the future rather than to the past.There is a subgroup the Kibei Nisei who were born in America and raised in Japan. Mas Arai is one of these young men who eventually found himself deep in a subterranean train station in Hiroshima during 1945 and it had naturally marked his life in very significant ways. He is now a 70 year old part time gardener who is getting a reputation for solving murders and he gets involved in the death of a recent lottery winner. The situation is complex and reaches back to Okinowa and WWII, to the red scare in the 50's and brings up some of the bad things men do for what they think are good reasons.There are a lot of characters to keep straight and convoluted motives but you won't regret reading this book, both for the history and the mystery.
I enjoy getting to know more about the characters in this mystery series, especially Mas Arai,survivor of the Atom bomb dropped on Hiroshima.Snakesskin Shamisen takes place in L.A. where Mas has resided for many years. He is a self-employed gardener,essentially alone; his wife died of cancer and his married daughter lives in New York with her husband and toddler son. Somehow, Mas always gets involved in solving murders in the Japanese community. In Snakeskin Shamisen, a friend of Mas's lawyer hits it big gambling and celebrates by throwing a party at a restaurant where an Okinawan musical group is the entertainment. Unfortunately, the big winner ends up dead. Mas gets pulled into trying to solve who done it where the shamisen (a traditional Okinawan instrument)is a major clue. Along the way, Mas has encountered a potential love interest.Intriguing plot, well-written, and excellent characterization.What I like most about the Mas Arai books is savoring the slow unfolding of Mas's intrinsic character and personality, his relationship with his colleages, friends, wife and daughter. One learns about Japanese and Japanese-American culture.
Hirahara's protag, Mas Ari is a bit of a curmudgeon, but is really lovely, and loyal to his friends and his community. Humble and dissembling, Mas is observant and often funny without artifice. He's the perfect investigator. In this work, Hirahara addresses the wrongs done to the Okinawan people in WWII, the loss of property and esteem as Japanese-Americans were placed into US internment camps, and the heroism of those who forgave but do not forget. Wonderful imagery of 1950s Los Angeles too through Mas' eyes.I'll read every one of Hirahara's Mas Arai mysteries - just love them. -- Ashland Mystery
—Ashland Mystery Oregon
As is the case with all the Mas Arai books so far, I really enjoyed this book. However, as far as being a murder mystery, this was one of the weakest of the series. To me, the murder plot was hard to follow, with too many characters involved, and kind of a weak conclusion. Interestingly, that does not distract from the rest of the story telling, which is delightful. Learning more about Mas' past, the Japanese/California culture, ash well as Okinawan history was fascinating.Definitely a good read, and a good stepping stone to later books in the series.
—Andy
I found this book confusing. Maybe it was just me, but I couldn't keep the characters straight, and the fact that many had additional nicknames or aliases didn't help. I was hopelessly lost on the plot. I liked that the author tried to sprinkle in some japanese words, but to expect me to remember what the word meant 20 pages later when she used it again was asking too much of my feeble brain. I liked the glimpse into Japanese-American history, and into the unwritten rules by which those of Japanese descent interact with other people.
—Stan
