What does a '68 Chevy pickup have in common with cherry blossoms? The centuries-old Japanese aesthetic concept mono no aware can provide a connection. Literally meaning "things of emotional reaction," it refers to an intense affective awareness of an object or event which precedes a poetic or expressive act. The concept is explored in the art-filled novel Oh! A Mystery of "Mono no Aware" which follows the journey of Zack Hara, a young technical writer, as he searches for an emotionally meaningful life in Japan. Todd Shimoda's research on mono no aware uncovered many interesting ties to Japanese brush art, literature, psychology, philosophy, anthropology, and neuroscience. With illuminating examples, he will unravel the complexities of the relationship between a pickup truck and cherry blossoms.
Todd Shimoda, of Hawai'i, has published three novels exploring Japan and Japanese themes: Oh! A Mystery of "Mono no Aware"(Chin Music Press), The Fourth Treasure (Nan Talese/Doubleday), and 365 Views of Mt. Fuji (Stone Bridge Press). Born and raised in Colorado, he has lived in California, Nevada, Texas, and Japan. His doctorate was from the University of California, Berkeley. He was a professor at Colorado State and a visiting researcher at Cal. He writes a blog at shimodaworks.com, contributes to the Asian Review of Books, and is a partner in the California firm SF Design Associates.
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