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.
A whip-smart tale that'll prove impossible to put down
Edgy... the familiar story of the apprentice surpassing his master
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
This novel screams out that there's nothing more beautiful than a fool who's kind, and not one person can laugh at that beauty
Excels as a comedy of the absurd... a Japanese Withnail and I... Immensely satisfying
I read Spark three times. This novel has ten books worth of themes packed into one novel. It oozes resonance and has some unforgettable scenes
Irresistible. A painfully sensitive rendering of the reality for young manzai comedians... The writing is wonderful
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 UK.