By JOSH STILTS
Reporter Newspapers
Richard Akutagawa has a simple message for all writers:
“Do it, do it now, because you never know when you won’t have now anymore.”
Akutagawa’s real life has had enough drama in it to be its own novel, which is why he so often draws on it for moments in his fiction writing, especially in his first published book “Mirage in the Desert.”
Based loosely on the life of his mother-in-law and her time as a teenager in an Arizona Japanese internment camp during World War II, Akutagawa masterfully captures the hope of an older child trying to find beauty as she transitions into adulthood in a horrible place.
Next month the Issaquah resident will turn 70, a birthday he never thought he’d see 10 years ago.
In May 2004 he was diagnosed with stage-four plus laryngeal cancer — essentially a death sentence — after years of heavy smoking. The cancer had spread to his lymph nodes and he was given just 45 days to live.
But he wasn’t about to go down without a fight and thanks to Dr. Audrey Tran, he avoided a tracheotomy and was able to beat the odds and cancer.
The treatment and the chemotherapy took its toll on him, but Akutagawa had something to focus on: writing his novel.
“After radiation and chemo the only thing keeping my mind focused and sharp was writing this book,” he said.
But it took another tragedy before he could get it published.
In August 2014, Akutagawa’s wife of 36 years, Jane M. Kato died, leaving him broken and alone. Melancholy and depression followed immediately. Thankfully, he said, it didn’t last and he was able to use his wife’s words and his writing to cope with the loss.
Before she died, she told him, “Richard, you can’t be fooling around with this book. Time is precious.”
The words were “heartbreaking” for him to hear, but in publishing his first book, Akutagawa said he hopes to honor the love of his life through his writing.
“She was just a really cool person,” he said tearfully. “Everyone said she was always the most pleasant person.”
As the organized one in the relationship, Jane would organize Richard’s pills, his appointments and ensure he was eating properly. She’d also be a constant yet gentle reminder that he should be writing.
In the months following her death, Richard set to work on the charge his wife had given him. Recreating her image, along with several other women he’s known, admired and loved, Akutagawa created Kitty Kirei, “a teenager caught in the maelstrom of fear after the bombing of Pearl Harbor.”
Throughout her experiences in the Gila Internment Camp in Arizona, Kitty meets three adults, combined personas of Akutagawa’s most cherished people, who befriend Kitty and plan a daring escape.
“She is a mirror who sees and reflects everything, a young lady who evolves into a woman in a tattered milieu, where all is topsy-turvy,” he wrote of his character. “She discovers her broad talents and becomes aware of her large possibilities.”
The story is a gripping tale with artistic language that reads like an orchestral concerto. It’s easy to identify his pain in his writing without being burdensome or overdone. It pulls at the heartstrings making it difficult to put down.
Although self-published currently at $4,000 for editing and 116 copies printed, Akutagawa is working with Barnes and Noble as well as Amazon to carry his book.
While the later years of his life have been difficult, he said he’s grateful for what he’s been given and the opportunity to share his writing with the world.
“If I never had the cancer I might never have written anything of importance,” he said.
For more information about the book contact Richard at ctakagi@msn.com.
Josh Stilts: 425-453-4290; jstilts@bellevuereporter.com
