An Interview with Ko Shinjo
Mike Taylor (Ishikawa) interviewing Ko Shinjo and Charles De Wolf
Translated by Tamao Taylor (Ishikawa)
Tokyo Swindlers is a novel about a group of real-estate scammers released to critical acclaim in 2019. The book was adapted into a TV series for Netflix, which stars Go Ayano, Etsushi Toyokawa and Eiko Koike. Hot off the heels of the streaming success, [CONNECT] Head Editor Mike Taylor sat down with author Ko Shinjo and translator Charles De Wolf to discuss the release of the English translation, international attention, and what’s next for the series.
Q: Congratulations on the success of the book and Netflix series. What kind of buzz have you heard from abroad?
Shinjo: Some of my friends who live in Thailand say that the Netflix series is very popular among people over there. A friend of mine, Frederick E. O. Toye, recently won an Emmy for an episode of Shogun that he directed and he said even people in Hollywood were talking about Tokyo Swindlers.
Did you predict that kind of response?
Shinjo: Not at all. But I always had the feeling that both my first novel, Narrow House, and Tokyo Swindlers dealt with issues particular to Japan. So that would maybe be interesting from a foreign perspective. I honestly didn’t expect to see so much buzz on Netflix, so I’m surprised. I didn’t aim for [international attention], but I’m glad it happened.
Are there any characters you think will resonate with a Western audience? I think Goto’s personality definitely stands out, for example.
Shinjo: I never really think about that sort of stuff but. . . a character like Goto, who speaks with a heavy Kansai dialect, would definitely be interesting if every nuance of the language is conveyed. I like old Japanese guys a lot. They’re peculiar, and I’d be happy if that atmosphere could be conveyed.
Are there challenges when it comes to interpreting parts of Japanese, like Goto’s Kansai dialect?
De Wolf: I worked on translating a different novel that was written in the Kyushu dialect. I really wondered what to do with the character’s speech. At first, I even considered using a Scottish dialect. I thought it would sound weird in a Southern American accent. But my British friend who helped me edit said that wasn’t good.
This time, it was the same. I tried to transfer the dialect in which Goto spoke, but my colleagues talked me out of it. So I decided to change his speaking style.
For other characters, Harrison uses polite language. Even if he’s about to kill someone, he’s polite. It’s his style. That can’t be translated directly into English, but I try to convey it the best I can.
We won’t spoil the end of the first book, but the second book has already been published in Japanese. What’s next?
Shinjo: Well, the sequel, Final Bets is set in Singapore. It centers around a former professional soccer player who now struggles with debt.
Is there anything you’d like to say to our readers?
Shinjo: Charles has done a wonderful translation. I hope you enjoy it. There are many types of scams concerning real estate, not just the “groundhog scam” that was covered in this novel, so be careful!
Mike Taylor is a JET alumnus based in Kanazawa, Ishikawa. Originally from Scotland, he spends most of his time longing for Irn Bru, Tunnock’s tea cakes and a good breakfast with plenty of baked beans.