Death by Water

novel by Ōe Kenzaburō

Also known as: “Suishi”

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July 22, 2026

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Suishi (2009), also known as Death by Water, is a novel by Nobel Prize-winning author Oe Kenzaburo. The story centers on Kogito Choko, Oe's recurring alter ego, as he attempts to write a novel about his father's death. The novel delves into themes of memory, loss, and the process of confronting personal history through writing. Oe Kenzaburo was a prominent Japanese novelist known for exploring the disillusionment of the post-World War II generation and grappling with complex personal and societal issues in his work.1

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Ōe Kenzaburō
In Suishi (2009; Death by Water) the writer Kogito Choko—Ōe’s alter ego, who appears in previous works—attempts to pen a novel about his father’s death. Ōe later published In reito sutairu (2013; “In Late Style”).
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In Suishi (2009; Death by Water) the writer Kogito Choko—Ōe’s alter ego, who appears in previous works—attempts to pen a novel about his father’s death. Ōe later published In reito sutairu (2013; “In Late Style”).
Read More