“Tokyo n’attend personne”, the new novel by Léa Bouzit
At just 29, young author Léa Bouzit makes her literary comeback with a captivating novel entitled “Tokyo n’attend personne”.
Based in Cavalaire-sur-Mer, Léa spent a year in Tokyo, a city that deeply touched and inspired her. Her love for Tokyo, with its fascinating architecture, unique atmosphere, and intoxicating melodies, nourished her daily writing. The rich independent music scene of the Japanese capital was also a source of inspiration for Léa Bouzit, who wanted to pay tribute to it through her work.
QUEST FOR SELF The title of her novel, “Tokyo n'attend personne”, reflects a reality that this young novelist experienced during her stay. She points out: “When you arrive in a foreign country, you often feel like opportunities are waiting for you. In fact, you realize that Tokyo n'attend personne.
No one is going to say 'welcome, we were waiting for you, here is this opportunity'. You are a bit of a nobody in this city. A lot is happening artistically, but if you don't try to create, nothing will happen.”
Le titre de son roman, « Tokyo n’attend personne », reflète une réalité que cette jeune romancière a vécue lors de son séjour. Elle souligne : « Lorsqu’on arrive dans un pays étranger, on a souvent l’impression que des opportunités nous attendent. En fait, on réalise que Tokyo n’attend personne. Personne ne va dire ‘bienvenue, on t’attendait, voici telle opportunité’. On est un peu personne dans cette ville. Il se passe plein de choses artistiquement, mais si on n’essaie pas de créer, il ne se passera rien ». Ce message fort est au cœur de son livre, incitant chacun à poursuivre ses rêves et à créer ses propres opportunités. La jeune femme se souvient de son arrivée à Tokyo où elle avait tout prévu. Mais la perte de sa valise l’a quelque peu déstabilisée. « Je suis arrivée à Tokyo les mains vides », Léa a confie-t-elle. Cependant, la vue imprenable sur la Skytree, un monument emblématique de la ville, personnage à part entière de son roman, lui a redonné le sourire. Elle a passé des heures à explorer les quartiers moins touristiques de Tokyo, souhaitant mettre en lumière les oubliés de cette métropole.
This powerful message is at the heart of her book, encouraging everyone to pursue their dreams and create their own opportunities.
The young woman remembers her arrival in Tokyo, where she had planned everything. But losing her suitcase left her somewhat unsettled. “I arrived in Tokyo empty-handed,” she confides.
However, the breathtaking view of the Skytree, an iconic monument of the city and a character in its own right in her novel, brought back her smile. She spent hours exploring the less touristy districts of Tokyo, wishing to highlight those forgotten by this metropolis.
SOCIAL PRESSURE “There is a lot of social pressure in Japan, and those who fail to meet expectations prefer to disappear,” she explains. Léa Bouzit's passion for Japan dates back to her middle school years when she discovered manga. Having become a manga editor, she learned the basics of Japanese and worked with Japanese publishers, thereby strengthening her attachment to this culture.
“Japan has been part of my life for years. I had to stay for a year to immerse myself in Japanese culture,” she says.
Léa announces that her novel is available on the shelves of the media library of the Institut français in Tokyo as well as in several media libraries in the Var. A new chapter is opening for this talented author, who continues to share her passion for Japan through her writing.
Interview conducted by Laurette PARAY – Photo DR.