Synopsis
The protagonist, Sakuma, is a young man in his late twenties who, after leaving the Self-Defense Forces, works part-time as a bicycle messenger around Tokyo. He struggles with daily life while harboring a vague desire to “go far away.”
He has had a variety of jobs in the past, but was unable to keep them for long due to interpersonal relationships and impulsive violence. An incident led to his imprisonment, further deepening his disconnect with society.
The story depicts the conflict between his inner “violent impulses” and his impatience to “do things right,” highlighting the loneliness and anxiety of young people in modern society.
Review
・The title “Black Box” seems to symbolize the inner depths of the protagonist’s mind and the invisible structure of society. Furthermore, Sakuma’s violent impulses are depicted not simply as antisocial behavior, but as a manifestation of his frustration with his inability to adapt to society and a sense of anxiety with no way out. This anxiety is likely felt by many people living in modern Japan.
・Through Sakuma’s perspective, we become keenly aware of the difficulty of “living a normal life” and the pressure to “do things properly.” In this respect, it feels similar to the novel “Convenience Store Woman.” Sakuma is able to remain normal when he’s riding his bike as a messenger, but once he gets off his bike, he seems like the type of person whose impulses get the better of him.
・Living alone in the city seems at first glance like something anyone can do, but I think the future is uncertain. It’s true that if you lose your job, you’ll quickly find yourself unable to survive, and it’s also frightening. Through this novel, I felt that being alone is a reality that can happen to anyone at any time.
