Heather’s Bookshelf: Author Interview with Ryu Takeshi
Book Title: Shadow Shinjuku
Released: 08/05/21
Genre: Historical/Fantasy Fiction
Interview by Heather L. Barksdale
What inspired you to write “Shadow Shinjuku”?
Takeshi: It is difficult to pinpoint one particular source of inspiration. My writing process is quite spontaneous and instinctive, meaning that I plan ahead very little. The starting point of the novel was a novella that I had written back in 2015, when I was still living in Japan, which was a transgenerational love story between a yakuza and a lady of the night, and I kind of took it from there. Not necessarily the plot of that novella, but the main characters and the atmosphere, the general feel of the story. But as I then went on with the writing, I had many different sources of inspiration, such as movies and anime that I had watched, music, and my own life as well.
How did you come up with the names of your main characters?
Takeshi: Oh, the names are very spontaneous. They just come to me. Whatever feels right for a particular character. But again, I would say that films and anime definitely had some influence on me. Kobayashi-san, for example. I probably had the movie Usual Suspects on my mind when I was choosing this name.
Is there anything that you want readers to know about you, your writing process or your book?
Takeshi: What I'd like them to know is that this book is really difficult to categorize. I've had people tell me it was a crime thriller, urban fantasy, magical realism, and all kinds of variations of those. And for me too it was very difficult to put the book in any category. So, the readers shouldn't look at it through the lense of any particular category, but rather the atmosphere and the feelings the book evokes. It's a very atmospheric book, a little dark, sometimes gritty, there is lyricism and a poetic flow to the writing, but also some violence and sexuality. It's full of contrasts, just like Tokyo, just like the Japanese society.
If "Shadow Shinjuku" was adapted into a movie, who would you like to see cast to play your lead characters?
Takeshi: This is a very good question, because I do feel this would be a great movie. Probably an even better anime, as my writing is very visual. Obviously, one could go with either Japanese or Western actors, depending on the adaptation. If it was Japanese, I would love to see Tadanobu Asano as the male lead, "Beat" Takeshi playing Kobayashi-san, and Keiko Kitagawa playing the female lead. In a Western adaptation Keanu Reeves would be a perfect Sato, Jeremy Irons would be Kobayashi-san, but I'm not sure yet about the female lead. Open to suggestions!
Are there any tips that you would like to share with other aspiring authors?
Takeshi: I guess, the most important thing is to love writing. If you love to do it, then you just have to sit down and do it. Don't think too much about it, don't read tutorials and watch "how to do" videos, instead just open your laptop and start hitting on those damn buttons!
When you encounter writer’s block, what do you do to break yourself out of it?
Takeshi: Luckily, I have never had a writer's block. The only issue I tend to have is severe lack of spare time. It's just so difficult to find time to write.
What is your favorite genre, book, and/or author?
Takeshi: It has to be Haruki Murakami and magical realism. His magical realism. It feels like his worlds and his characters are something straight out of my world, my soul. I feel connected to his books.
What are you working on next?
Takeshi: I plan to make Shadow Shinjuku into a trilogy. I'm now working on a prequel novel, which will then be followed by a sequel. So, Shadow Shinjuku stands in the middle.
Learn More About the Author and Shadow Shinjuku here:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryutakeshi.official/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Qhb3RVncv5w
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