Of Bullies, Isolation, and Mental Health Awareness

Society at large can be very mean. It requires us to step out of our comfort zones but once we do so, we are rejected. The world outside our comfort zones can be mean and fraught with danger. People can be unkind for no reason at all. While we only want to live in peace and harmony, bullies, scammers, and other mean-spirited individuals disrupt the natural rhythm of our lives. They do this at their whimsy. They cause disruptions simply because they can. They suck out all the happiness and enthusiasm that embraces us. There are just people who thrive on stirring trouble. It is their compunction to create chaos. Society’s rejection can be harsh and prompt many of us to recoil. We retreat to the recesses of our minds, perhaps even socially and physically withdrawing from society.

Take the case of Kokoro Anzai, a twelve-year-old freshman at Yukishina Junior High School whose story was captured in Mizuki Tsujimura’s novel Lonely Castle in the Mirror, originally published in Japanese in 2017 as かがみの孤城 (Kagami no Kojō). Following a traumatic bullying incident at school involving a popular clique, Kokoro has decided to stay at home and not return to school. Her case was exacerbated by her inability to fit in and connect with her peers. Her house, however, has also been stripped of its protective qualities. While she hid in her home, her bullies shouted and bashed on her door. As she withdrew more and more into herself, she found it difficult to communicate with her parents and teachers. For her part, her mother was trying to convince her to transfer to a different school, an option that Kokoro was weighing.

As she became increasingly isolated from the rest of the world, she noticed the mirror in her room starting to glow; its glow was beyond the ordinary. When she reached out to the mirror while inspecting where the light was emanating from, Kokoro was pulled across a threshold. The mirror was a portal that transported Kokoro to an unfamiliar place that reverberated with magic. It was a fairy-tale-like castle on an island. Things were only about to get stranger by the second. In this strange world, she was greeted and welcomed by an enigmatic girl whose real identity was further obscured by a wolf mask. She was the ruler of the magical castle and called herself the Wolf Queen. Disoriented, Kokoro’s initial reaction was to retreat only to return the following day.

“I sometimes find myself dreaming. A new transfer student has started at our school, and everyone wants to be friends with them. The most cheerful, kind, and athletic person in our class. And smart, too. Out of all my classmates this new student picks me out with a generous smile, as dazzling as the sun, and says, “Kokoro-chan, it’s been such a long time.” The other students can’t believe it. “What?” they say, looking at me meaningfully. “Do you two know each other?” In another world, we were already friends.”

~ Mizuki Tsujimura, Lonely Castle in the Mirror

However, Kokoro and the Wolf Queen were not the castle’s only occupants. The Wolf Queen introduced Kokoro to six other children who were about the same age as Kokoro: Subaru Nagahisa, Akiko Inoue, Rion Mizumori, Earth Masamune, Fūka Hasegawa, and Haruka Ureshino. The Wolf Queen collectively referred to them as Little Red Riding. The seven children gathered in the castle were not chosen randomly, as Kokoro slowly surmised. They share the same experiences they were reluctant to share with each other. They have all opted to stay out of school due to a plethora of trauma they experienced within their household or within the premises of the school. At 9AM – the start of the school day – they all noticed the mirror glow. That was how they all found themselves in the titular lonely castle in the mirror.

The seven children were granted free access to the castle by the Wolf Queen. They are free to return each day. However, there was a limit to the time they could spend at the castle. The Wolf Queen warned them about staying beyond 5PM. Should they stay beyond the set time, they will be eaten by a wolf. The Wolf Queen also left them a task. They must locate a key hidden inside the castle. The key will unlock a hidden wishing room that will grant any of their wishes. However, there is a catch. Only the first person to reach the room can have his or her wish granted. They were given by the Wolf Queen during the school year to locate the hidden key. This sets into motion the rest of the story.

Tsujimura carefully laid out the landscape of the story. Each of the seven children had their own reasons for wanting to be the first to locate the hidden key. While some strategized, others tried to find allies. They were united by their experiences but they were divided by their individual desires for a better life. The race is certainly on. The seven children started to spend more time in the castle. However, rather than locate the key, they became more engrossed in time away from the tumult of real life. As they spend more time at the castle, the more they get to know each other. They learned about each other’s interests. Rion, for instance, was a soccer player at a boarding school in Hawaii. Fūka, on the other hand, was a pianist. They also learned about each other’s aspirations and dreams. Subaru, for instance, dreams about becoming a video game designer.

Ultimately, they unpacked what kept them coming back to the castle. This diverse cast of characters from different walks of life, in a way, appeals to us. They are like us. They have dreams. They get hurt. They experience joy. However, these were luxuries denied to them by harsh realities. The experiences of these seven children mirror real-life experiences across the globe. As the children navigated the intricate maze-like structure, each child’s layers were unpeeled. What slowly manifested was an intricate case study of how the pressures prevalent in the Japanese public educational system have and can adversely impact the psyche of young teenagers. The Japanese have even coined a term for this growing social concern: futoko. A futoko is a child who opts to stop attending school for an extended period.

“A hypothetical reality seemed preferable to present reality, and the more she fantasized about how great it would if certain things could come true, the more reality that world seemed to take on.”

~ Mizuki Tsujimura, Lonely Castle in the Mirror

Tsujimura crafted an eclectic cast of characters with diverse stories. As such, she provided different dimensions to the issue. She probes into the issue by examining the various elements driving this social concern. In the broad spectrum of this social concern, two reasons were rounded up to be the primary drivers: bullying and family circumstances. Public schools are fertile grounds for bullies to find their next targets. Teachers, the school system, and parents are having a challenging time containing cases of bullying as victims tend to be silent about the mistreatment they receive. Unfortunately, it is not only in the school grounds and other public spaces that dangers lurk. Several children experience abuse within the household while some grow up in broken homes. With trauma rife at every corner, many retreat into isolation.

This social concern further branches into other social concerns such as those related to suicide and depression. It can also lead to extended periods of social isolation and withdrawal. The Japanese have also coined a term to refer to these socially avoidant individuals: hikikomori. These, without a doubt, are timely and relevant subjects. The novel also delves deeper into the struggles that are being faced by contemporary teenagers, not just in Japan but across the world. The pressure to excel academically and the sense of inadequacy often felt by the younger minds were vividly captured by the story. Severe cases result in social anxiety and the proliferation of mental health issues; these are further offshoots of futoko. Their cases were exacerbated by their innate desire to please.

In Lonely Castle in the Mirror, In the castle, the characters must confront their fears and the trauma they have been avoiding. As they slowly opened up to peers with similar experiences, they were also transforming themselves. As their bond grew deeper, they learned about the beauty behind and the power of establishing meaningful human connections. The novel was at its most affectionate painting a portrait of human connections and how it can combat the inevitable despair one feels existing in a world that pushes us out. In the process, the characters also learn about the value of empathy, compassion, and communication. In gaining these insights, the characters learn to understand each other’s pains and struggles. As the novel paints an evocative portrait of adolescence, they learn how to become resilient, find hope, and dream again.

For the characters to gain this wisdom, they must first find a safe haven. In a way, this safe haven came in the form of the lonely castle in the mirror. Despite the time limitations, the castle provided a reprieve from the struggles and traumas of their quotidian existence. The castle allowed them to broaden their perspectives and develop as individuals. Each of the characters was provided their individual private physical spaces. The Wolf Queen gave them permission to do anything they wanted in their individual rooms. They were also given communal rooms where they could gather around and interact with each other. They can do all of these without any adult influences or interference. They experience freedom away from the control and parameters defined by the adults around them.

“Only with kids who had gone through similar experiences could she really open up about what had happened, and how it made her feel. And now she’d gone and closed the door on that opportunity, and it was painful.”

~ Mizuki Tsujimura, Lonely Castle in the Mirror

The novel, despite the dark and heavy subjects it grappled with, resonated with a hopeful tone. What set them apart in the real world became a ground for them to create a bond in the castle. Tsujimura’s writing was at its most affectionate capturing how their dynamics progressed and fluctuated as they got to know more about each other, as they learned about each other’s differences and similarities. Tsujimura fleshed out an interesting and eclectic cast so well that it took time before its flaws started manifesting. The story falls short in worldbuilding. Further, the plot was thin and the story started petering out in the middle section. Repetitiveness undermined the foundations laid out by the first third of the story. However, the story redeems itself in the last third. A cathartic moment toward the end unravels the story and ties all of its threads together.

Despite its flaws, Lonely Castle in the Mirror is an endearing and wonderfully written coming-of-age story. It tackles relevant and timely subjects, particularly the struggles of the younger generation as they slowly navigate the threshold into adolescence. It highlights the growing social withdrawal of the younger generation while probing into the major factors that stymied their morale. Bullying, domestic abuse, and the pressures society and families place on children adversely impact them. As such, the novel doubles as a social commentary that challenges societal norms. It advocates mental health awareness, a timely subject. The Publisher’s Note highlighted how Japanese children, according to a recent UNICEF report, ranked second-to-last in an international survey assessing children’s mental health across thirty-eight developed and emerging countries. This is ironic because Japanese children ranked first in physical health.

Nevertheless, amidst this tumult, the seven characters found strength in their shared experiences. Together, they learned about compassion, communication, and camaraderie. They learned about the beauty of establishing meaningful human connections. In their shared despair, they created a bond that brimmed with hope and gave them meaning. They learned to embrace their differences and accept their flaws. In the process, they learned to accept and love themselves. In each other’s company, they slowly unveiled the strength that lies within. Their story underlines the resilient spirit of individuals. Lonely Castle in the Mirror transcends physical boundaries. It is served with local flavors but appeals to a global audience. It is a magical but most importantly, profound tale that probes into the intricacies of adolescence.

“You’ve been working towards a single goal for years, and worried about what might happen if you can’t win competitions or become a pianist. With that in mind, studying – schoolwork – might be a much lower-risk activity for you. If you try hard, you’ll always see results, and it will never be wasted, no matter what you end up doing in life.”

~ Mizuki Tsujimura, Lonely Castle in the Mirror
Book Specs

Author: Mizuki Tsujimura
Translator (from Japanese): Philip Gabriel
Publisher: Erewhon Books
Publishing Date: 2021 (2017)
No. of Pages: 377
Genre: Fantasy, Bildungsroman

Synopsis

Seven students find unusual common ground in this warm, puzzle-like Japanese bestseller laced with gentle fantasy and compassionate insight.

Bullied to the point of dropping out of school, Kokoro’s days blur together as she hides in her bedroom, unable to face her family or friends. As she spirals into despair, her mirror begins to shine; with a touch, Kokoro is pulled from her lonely life into a resplendent, bizarre fairytale castle guarded by a strange girl in a wolf mask. Six other students have been brought to the castle, and soon this marvelous refuge becomes their playground.

The castle has a hidden room that can grant a single wish, but there are rules to be followed, and breaking them will have dire consequences. As Kokoro and her new acquaintances spend more time in their new sanctuary, they begin to unlock the castle’s secret and, tentatively, each other’s.

With the thoughtful whimsy of Before the Coffee Gets Cold, the exquisite textures of A Tale for the Time Being, and the youthful resonance of Your Name, Mizuki Tsujimura paints an intricate portrait of a cycle of loneliness that can only be broken by friendship, empathy, and sacrifice. Lonely Castle in the Mirror is a mesmerizing, heart-warming novel about the unexpected rewards of embracing human connection.

About the Author

Mizuki Tsujimura (辻村深月) was born on February 29, 1980, in Fuefuki, Yamanashi, Japan. Her interest in writing started when she was attending high school. For university, she attended Chiba University because there was a mystery research group in this university.

In 2004, Tsujimura made her literary debut with the publication of 冷たい校舎の時は止まる (Tsumetai Kōsha no Toki wa Tomaru, trans. A School Frozen in Time). Her manuscript for this novel series earned her the 31st Mephisto Prize. Her works were shortlisted for the Naoki Prize before she finally made a breakthrough win in 2012 with 鍵のない夢を見る (Kagi no nai Yume wo Miru, trans. I Saw a Dream Without a Key). Her 2017 novel かがみの孤城 (Kagami no Kojō, trans. Lonely Castle in the Mirror) won her the 2018 Japan Booksellers’ Award.