How Do You Live? (君たちはどう生きるか) is a 1937 novel written by Yoshino Genzaburou. Originally begun as a serial by Youzou Yamamoto (who was unable to complete it due to illness), Yoshino Genzaburou took over and finished the book.
Outside of Japan, the book is considered a work of children's literature. However, inside Japan, it's considered more of a work on ethics and an observation on what the struggle of being a human is like. During World War II, the book was nearly banned as a result of its views. After the war, the book was republished. In 2021, an English translation was released.
Alternating between the viewpoints of the main characters Copper (Koperu) and his Uncle, How Do You Live? looks at everything from human connections and what it means to be a hero to more everyday concerns like bullying and poverty.
Adapted as a manga in 2017 and inspired a 2023 feature length film The Boy and the Heron by the director Hayao Miyazaki.
Tropes:
- All of the Other Reindeer: Uragawa is a poor student at Copper's school who is bullied for his poor grades and because he smells of fried tofu
- As You Know: Said by the Uncle during several of his letters to Copper, usually in reference to one of Copper's many science books.
- Cool Teacher: Copper's Uncle often teaches him about science, history, and life in his letters.
- Gang of Bullies: A group of older students takes it upon themselves to "improve school spirit" ...by targeting and beating up students they deem "traitors"
- Japanese Spirit: Taken to the extreme by some of the bullies, who say that anything not related to "school spirit" (such as reading novels) is "disrespecting Japan" and "an example of being a traitor to the country."
- Measuring Day: Copper is the second shortest in the class, as evidenced by the fact that they do periodic lineups by height.
- Middle School Is Miserable: Whether it's bullies, exams, or just trying to figure out friendships, Copper has it tough!
- Mono no Aware: As Copper's Uncle says, even the most distinguished and greatest humans are like drops of water in a great current.
- Ordinary High-School Student: Copper and his friends are in junior high school (中学校) and their day to day life often revolves around exams and bullies.
- Slice of Life: Specifically life in Japan prior to World War II. Some of the behavior of the bullies mimics the nationalist fever going on at the time.
- Teens Are Monsters: Some of the bullies are only too happy to take some of the nationalist fever sweeping the nation and using it to target other students who aren't "properly behaving" (such as reading novels or accidentally running into a snowman).
- Token Adult: While the Uncle isn't the only adult character in the book, he is by far the most important.
- Token Rich Student: As a more "elite" school, Copper's school is full of these. Uragawa is pretty much one of the only students living in poverty.
- Tokyo Is the Center of the Universe: Slightly averted: the story takes place just outside of Tokyo, in one of the suburbs.
