Spark

Two young manzai stand-up comedians struggle forward through the tradition, navigating the parameters of acceptable humour. "Spark" has been adapted for Netflix.

About the author

Naoki Matayoshi is a Japanese manzai comedian and author, who found fame performing as part of the popular comic duo Peace. Spark is his first novel and has been hugely successful in Japan since it was first published in 2016. It has won the Akutagawa Prize and was adapted for film, stage and TV - the hit series is available on Netflix.

Summary

Hilarious, strange and moving in equal measure - a Japanese multi-million-copy smash hit about the struggles of a pair of young manzai stand-up comedians.

Foreword

Hilarious, strange and moving in equal measure - a Japanese multi-million-copy smash hit about the struggles of a pair of young manzai stand-up comedians

Additional text

'A whip-smart tale that'll prove impossible to put down' Vogue

'Edgy... the familiar story of the apprentice surpassing his master' Sunday Times

'Excels as a comedy of the absurd... a Japanese Withnail and I... Immensely satisfying' Japan Society

'The seedy side of Tokyo is summoned up in tale about a comedy duo and the awkward bonds of men... Spark does the city credit' Financial Times

'Irresistible. A painfully sensitive rendering of the reality for young manzai comedians... The writing is wonderful' Akio Nakamori

Product details

• Authors: Naoki Matayoshi, Naoki (Author) Matayoshi, Alison Watts
• Assisted by: Alison Watts (Translation), Watts Alison (Translation)
• Publisher: Pushkin Press
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 30.04.2020
• EAN: 9781782275909
• ISBN: 978-1-78227-590-9
• No. of pages: 160
• Subjects: Fiction > Narrative literature; Fiction > Narrative literature > Contemporary literature (from 1945); Modern & contemporary fiction (post c 1945), FICTION / Literary, Fiction in translation, Modern and contemporary fiction: literary and general