Ganbare! Workshops on Dying

Praise for Ganbare! Workshops on Dying
“This excellently crafted, heart-wrenching book offers a reporter’s perspective on how people cope with a catastrophe that upends their lives. Although it describes specific events in a specific country—the tsunami and explosion at a nuclear power plant in Japan—it tells a prophetic and universal story. The climate catastrophe has already begun, and perhaps we need to learn how to mentally and physically deal with it.”
— Olga Tokarczuk

 

When the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami devastated Japan, it left a haunting legacy: entire villages swept away, tens of thousands of lives lost, and a nuclear disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant that reshaped the global conversation about safety and resilience. In Ganbare! Workshops on Dying, Katarzyna Boni takes readers beyond the headlines to explore how the Japanese people grapple with the profound physical, emotional, and cultural aftermath of the tragedy.

At its core, Ganbare! is a meditation on grief, survival, and the resilience of the human spirit. Through an intricately woven collection of reportage, Boni presents the voices of those whose lives were forever altered. From fishermen searching for lost loved ones in the debris-strewn waters to mothers trying to rebuild their families in ghost towns contaminated by radiation, the book gives a voice to survivors who face their trauma with remarkable strength and vulnerability.

The title, Ganbare!—a Japanese word often translated as “Do your best!” or “Hang in there!”—echoes the sentiment that has carried many through unimaginable loss. Yet, Boni’s narrative does not shy away from the complexities and contradictions of such a rallying cry. Through her sensitive interviews, readers witness the tension between stoicism and the unspoken weight of collective grief.

Acclaim and Impact

Since its initial publication in 2016, Ganbare! Workshops on Dying has received critical acclaim and numerous accolades:

  • Gryfia Award: The Polish Literary Award for Female Writers.
  • Conrad Award Nomination: Recognizing outstanding debuts in Polish literature.
  • Ryszard Kapuściński Award Nomination: Honoring excellence in literary reportage.
  • National Geographic Traveler Award Nomination.

The book has been translated into multiple languages, reflecting its global resonance:

(photo – Dominika Płońska: vimeo.com/dominikaplonska)