Tokyo Ueno Station

 I like to read books that take me away to other places. This book brought me to Tokyo Ueno Station, a train station in Tokyo near museums, the zoo, and the cherry blossoms. The story is narrated by Kazu. Kazu grew up in the Fukashima prefecture in a very poor family. He and his siblings had to lie and say their parents were not home when the bill collector came to the door. Kazu started working to support his family at age 12. He harvested fish and kelp from the ocean. After he married he continued to work to support his family while his wife lived with his parents and their two children. Kazu helped to build tennis courts, volleyball courts, and facilities for the 1964 Olympics. The story is told in bits and pieces going back and forth in time. Eventually it comes to light that Kazu has died but his spirit is still hanging out at the Ueno Station where he used to live as a homeless person. In preparation for the 2020 Olympics, the city officials keep moving the homeless people from place to place as dignitaries visit the area. The story is sad yet moving and I really liked Tokyo Ueno Station.