Welcome to the NHK

The localized edition published by Tokyopop back in 2007 came as a pleasant surprise

Author: Takimoto Tatsuhiko
Published: 2005

"It's a conspiracy"

This is, without doubt, one of the most pathetic novels I have ever read.

Tatsuhiro Satou is a twenty-two year old shut-in (hikkikomori) who one day meets our enigmatic female lead Nakahara Misaki. Misaki claims she can cure him of his hikkikomori ways and invites him to join her secret 'project'. A lolicon neighbor, a quest to create the ultimate eroge and lots of crack later, we get Welcome to the NHK.

While reading NHK, you can't help but feel bewildered at the outlandish plot. Even if it was exaggerated for the sake of comedy, most scenarios are so unthinkable that you'd have to wonder what the author was smoking when he wrote them. It's only after spending a good half hour or so ridiculing and laughing at Satou do you start pondering, "how far better off am I"?

Themes like existentialism, nihilism, stagnation, facticity and depression are raised in NHK, and they're always painted in a very miserable light. Take a class reunion for example. Everyone's enjoying it and living for the moment, but it doesn't take long before Satou starts to question how long it lasts, or whether it actually means anything at all.

Compared to the anime, the novel is much more depressing. Perhaps it's the empty, monotonous pages of text (there are no illustrations in the novel, save the cover), or perhaps it's just the power of written text - while pictures paint worlds for your thoughts, words let your thoughts paint worlds.



Where to savor:
NHK can get pretty gritty at times, so here's a little experiment: Pick a food outlet in a crowded mall, with a view of the bustling crowd. As you progress through the story, look up and observe the people in the crowd. What do you see in them? What do you feel from them? Repeat this after certain intervals in the story - does your mood change? Do you view them differently than before?

It's pretty good to read during heavy downpours in the evening too. A glass of warm milk makes for a nice drink after the ending.




Most notably quote excerpt:
"At reunions and parties, everyone laughed and made a big fuss. Those events were fun, as was karaoke. Everyone had a good time and seemed sure that the future would be perfect: We could become anything! We could do anything! We could be happy!


These things were true - but steadily, very steadily, at a speed so terribly slow we didn't even notice it, we were being run down. There was nothing we could do, even if we were in trouble, defeated or crying. Every one of us eventually had some terrible experiences. The only difference was whether it would happen sooner or later; but in the end, we all would fall into some really unbearable situation."
-Tatsuhiro Satou



Overall thoughts and score:
NHK is not meant for everyone. To some it might just be a laughable book about a pathetic otaku hikkikomori (damn you riajuu!). To others it might be a depressing reflection on their current situation and perceived existence. While I've read dozens of novels throughout my life, few have hit the mark as accurately as NHK. Terribly thought-provoking, it's a novel you should not take too lightly. 

Overall Score: 8.5 / 10

 

Though things may seem thoroughly bleak, remember all thunderstorms eventually end in sunshine.