台湾漫遊鉄道のふたり

Set in Taiwan under Japanese rule during the Showa era, this story follows Japanese author Chizuko Aoyama and her interpreter, Qianhe Wang, as they travel by train across Taiwan. The descriptions of food are simply delightful. Aoyama, a voracious eater who is always on the hunt for new flavors, samples one local dish after another as Chizuru guides her. The book features not only classic tourist fare but also detailed descriptions of regional specialties from across Taiwan and the food culture of the era, making readers feel as if they are actually traveling through Taiwan and sampling its cuisine firsthand. On the other hand, Wang Qianhe, who travels with them, is somewhat enigmatic. Although she is a schoolteacher, she is fluent in multiple languages and astonishingly knowledgeable about cuisine, history, and Western culture. I think what makes this work unique is how it seamlessly blends gourmet food, rail travel, history, and a yuri-like relationship—including the way the distance between her and Aoyama gradually closes. In the latter half of the story, it goes beyond being a mere travelogue or food novel, delving into themes such as “What does it mean to understand a different culture?” and “Could there be an unrecognized arrogance lurking even within goodwill and curiosity?” While the themes themselves aren’t particularly novel, the journey to reach them is quite lengthy, so opinions are likely to be divided based on whether readers can enjoy the food, travel, and the relationship between the two protagonists along the way. On the other hand, a work that weaves together elements such as food, railways, yuri, Taiwanese history, and colonialism into a single narrative is quite unique, and I felt it was breaking new ground in the genre. It is heartening that works like this are widely read outside of Taiwan and are receiving international acclaim. Furthermore, translating the detailed descriptions of Taiwanese cuisine and the nuanced, subtle communication in interpersonal relationships into English must have been quite a challenge. I believe the International Booker Prize was awarded not only for the work itself but also in recognition of the translator’s achievements.