The Floating Girl

Half-American, half-Japanese, Rei Shimura is finally beginning to feel like Tokyo is home. Now a writer on art and antiques at the Gaijin Times, a comic-style magazine aimed at affluent young readers, Rei`s latest assignment is a piece on the history of comic book art. During a weekend of research and relaxation at her boyfriend Takeo`s beachside house, Rei stumbles upon the perfect subject: an exquisite modern comic that reveals the disturbing social milieu of pre-World War II Japan.Rei art story, evolves into something much darker. One of the comic`s young creators is found dead -- a murder that soon takes the tenacious Rei deep into the heart of Japan`s youth underground. Immersed in the investigation, she finds herself floating through strip clubs, animation shops, and coffeehouses to get the true story -- and save her own skin. Copyright (C) Muze Inc. 2005. For personal use only. All rights reserved.