"The Disease Called Family" Akiko Shimojū Price: ¥858 #AkikoShimojū #Books #BOOK #Nonfiction #Education Many Japanese people long for the phrase "family togetherness" and are bound by the compulsion to achieve it. But is "family" really such a wonderful thing in the first place? In reality, there's no end to the incidents and troubles related to family. So why is "family" idealized in Japan? On the other hand, there are people who are obsessed with the illusion of "family" and only talk about their families. The author cuts through such people, saying, "People who only talk about their families are boring" and "New Year's cards with family photos are a forced sale of happiness." While dissecting the reality of family, the book raises the question, "What is family...?"