Koushun Takami Quotes & Sayings

To memorize something, it's best to write it down. — Koushun Takami

We must defend ourselves according to our opponents' ability, not their intentions. — Koushun Takami

Even if it's a lie, even if it's a dream, please turn to me. — Koushun Takami

They're gonna make you a star Shuuya. Just like you always dreamed. — Koushun Takami

Hell is having no option but the wrong one and take it
-Shuuya Nanahara — Koushun Takami

How do you know I didn't bring you out here to dispose of you in private? — Koushun Takami

I just didn't want to be a loser anymore ...
-Mitsuko Souma — Koushun Takami

They want us scared and stupid. They want us to believe that their way is the only way. — Koushun Takami

Hurry and you can have the big crybaby for first kill. — Koushun Takami

It" was continuing. The game was undeniably in progress. A long funeral procession, a crowd of peoplewearing black. A man in a black suit with a somber know-it-all face addressed them, "Oh, ShuyaNanahara and Noriko Nakagawa? You two, that's right, you're a little early. But you did just pass byyour own graves right here. We carved in the number you two share, No. 15. Don't worry, we'reoffering a special bonus. — Koushun Takami

You don't want to stir things up by questioning the specialists.And it's terribly difficult to end something that's already been established.You interfere and you're out of a job.No, worse yet, you might be sent to a forced labor camp for ideological deviation.Even if everyone were against it, no one would say it out loud.That's why nothing changes. — Koushun Takami

Loving someone always requires you to not love others. — Koushun Takami

Touch me and I'll gut you like the pig you are. — Koushun Takami

It's official. Trust is dead. — Koushun Takami

Conservatism and passive acceptance...They can't think for themselves.Anything that's too complicated sends their heads reeling.Makes me want to puke. — Koushun Takami

He loved me ... He loved me so much he sought me out at the risk of being attacked. He was in danger this whole time, with every step. In fact, the wound in his side, the wound on his shoulder ... came as a result of him trying to find me. — Koushun Takami

That's when I tossed a coin. If it came up heads, I'd take on Sakamochi and...

If the coin came up tails, I decided I'd take part in the game. — Koushun Takami

I was the one who attacked Hiroki. At the very end, when Hiroki managed to achieve his goal. — Koushun Takami

No that's beside the point. I just decided to take instead of being taken. It's not a question of good or bad, wrong or right. It's just what I want to do.

Mitsuko Souma — Koushun Takami

Silly boys. Did you think we were making a silent movie? — Koushun Takami

On TV they keep their kids. Love them. — Koushun Takami

Your life is too precious to risk it by protesting, right? — Koushun Takami

Hey there. Here's something familiar, a bat. Hope you like it. — Koushun Takami

And so Yoshimi heard the dry pop one more time. Her forehead felt as if it were being crushed by a car. That was all. — Koushun Takami

Actually I do know. Now ask me if I care. — Koushun Takami

I am who I am.And you're you.Even if I'm pretty good at basketball or computers, or popular with the girls, that doesn't make me a better person. You can make people laugh and you're kind. When you're serious, you're much more sincere than I am. Like with the girls. I'm not resorting to the cheap cliche about everyone having something to offer, but i'm saying there are a lot of things I admire about you. — Koushun Takami

Listen, everyone, you all have your own circumstances. Some of you come from rich families,and some poor. But your value isn't determined by such things
by things beyond your control. Each one of you must discover your own worth through your own efforts. So ... don't make the mistake of thinking you alone are special. — Koushun Takami

Kazuhiko could have taken his gun and aimed it at the person behind them. But Sakura wouldn't want that. What she wanted was to leave this world quietly before they got sucked into this horrible massacre. Nothing was more important to him than her. There was no room for compromise. If this were what her trembling soul wanted, then he would follow her. Had he been more eloquent he might have described his feelings as something like, "I'm going to die for her honor."
Their two bodies danced in the air beyond the cliff, their hands still clasped together, the black sea under them. — Koushun Takami

It's not a bad thing to be loved. — Koushun Takami

Furthermore
though it was quite irrelevant now
he had no idea his killer, Kazuo Kiriyama, had, in his mansion that was much larger than Toshinori's home in Shiroiwa-cho, mastered the violin at a level far superior to Toshinori's a long time ago
and then tossed his violin into the trash. — Koushun Takami

You're so kind, Kazuhiko. That's what I like about you."
I like you, too. I love you so much."
If he weren't so inarticulate, Kazuhiko could have said so much more. How much her expression, her gentle manner, her pure untainted soul meant to him. How important, in short, her existence was to him. But he wasn't able to put into words. He was only a third-year student in junior high, and worst yet, composition was one of his worst subjects. — Koushun Takami

As he ran next to Noriko, a thought suddenly occurred to him. The screaming, their hasty footsteps, and the officer warning them to stop all receded as his mind was occupied with this thought.
It might have been inappropriate. And besides ... he'd ripped it off. Oh, man.
But still he thought this:
Together Noriko we'll live with the sadness. I'll love you with all the madness in my soul. Someday girl I don't know when we're gonna get to that place. Where we really want to go and we'll walk in the sun. But till then tramps like us baby we were born to run. — Koushun Takami

There's no end to suspicion once you get going. — Koushun Takami

He doesn't look like the type who's into cookies anyway. — Koushun Takami

Just because I don't care doesn't mean I don't understand. — Koushun Takami

Now, once again, 2 students left. But of course they're a part of you now. — Koushun Takami

We're still on the run. That's for sure.
Right on. This time we're on.
And we won't stop till we win. — Koushun Takami

We're supposed to strive for harmony, and that's what the art of tea is supposed to accomplish ... but harmony is very, very difficult to achieve in this country. Tea ceremony is powerless. But it's also not such a bad thing either. You should enjoy it while you can. — Koushun Takami

Now there's the Niida we all know and loathe. — Koushun Takami

Cowards can't be faulted for being shy. They can't be held responsible for anything. — Koushun Takami

All of a sudden Yutaka realized he had created a cloud of dust all around him. Oh no! No! This sucks. This blows more than your mama! Hey, now's not the time to come up with stupid jokes! — Koushun Takami

Kill or be killed little warriors. — Koushun Takami

You were my best friend. I was supposed to know you. — Koushun Takami

If you could see for yourself then there'd be no need to lend an ear to what others said. — Koushun Takami

They tried to believe in their classmates. They must have believed that if we could all get together, then we might end up being saved. We should commend them for that. We couldn't do that. — Koushun Takami

Shinji slowly fell forward onto his face. Debris bounced up on impact. It took less than thirty seconds for the rest of his body to die. The memento of his beloved uncle
the earring worn by the woman he loved
was now stained with the blood running down Shinji's left ear, reflecting the glow from the red flames of the farm building.
And so the boy known as the Third Man, Shinji Mimura, was dead. — Koushun Takami

If I tell you will you go?"
"What? I don't get. What do you mean?"
"I love you, Kotohiki. I've loved you for a real long time. — Koushun Takami

Yes, just like those flowers. There's something strained, but there's beauty in that. Something like that — Koushun Takami

We're still on the run. That's for sure. — Koushun Takami

Yes, I'm going to die with him. I'm going to die for the sake of Hiroki's love for me and my foolishness. — Koushun Takami

Relax when you need to, but be tense when you need to. The point is to never mix up the two. — Koushun Takami

I didn't realize it until now, but I don't really know anything about them, or what kind of people they are, really. You can't see inside a person's heart. — Koushun Takami

One thing was absolutely certain - it was a given for Kazuo. Although he might not have particularlyrealized it, or more appropriately, perhaps because he was incapable of coming to such a realization, this was what it came down to: he, Kazuo Kiriyama, felt no emotion, no guilt, no sorrow, no pity, towards the four corpses, including Mitsuru's - and that ever since the day he was dropped into this world theway he was, he had never once felt a single emotion. — Koushun Takami

Shogo. I know I'm repeating myself, but I have to say it. If I were Keiko, this is what I'd say. Please Live. Talk, think, act. And sometimes listen to music ... Look at paintings at times to be moved. Laugh a lot, and at times, cry. And if you find a wonderful girl, then you go for her and love her. — Koushun Takami

Takako looked into Hiroki's eyes and grinned.
"You've become quie a stud."
"And ... you're the most stylin' girl in the world."
Takako smiled faintly. She wanted to thank him, but she was out of breath. She just stared at Hiroki's eyes. She was grateful. At least she wasn't going to die alone. The last person to stay with her ended up being Hiroki. And she was grateful. She really was. — Koushun Takami

Someday I'm going to marry someone like my mom and I'll be smiling all the time the way my Mom and Dad are. — Koushun Takami

Fucking bastard, I'll stab you in the chest with this pencil. — Koushun Takami

You all have your own distinct personal backgrounds. Of course some of you come from rich families, some from poor families. But circumstances beyond your control like that shouldn't determine who you are. You must all realize what you're worth on your own. — Koushun Takami

By then she was dead. In fact, she may have been dead a while ago. Physically, several seconds ago, mentally, ages ago. — Koushun Takami

You wear nice clothes, you seek respect, you make a lot of money, but what's the point? It's all pointless. Of course, this kind of meaninglessness might suit this crappy nation. But, you see, we still have emotions like joy and happiness, right? They may not mount to much. But they fill up our emptiness. That's the only explanation I have. — Koushun Takami

Nice jewelry and a boys corpse. Oh you're so pretty. — Koushun Takami

I hope you fall in love with someone nice and have a good marriage. I might end up dying without knowing what it's like to be in love. — Koushun Takami

But I'm willing to take a chance on believing there has to be a way. All I need is someone to believe with me. — Koushun Takami

What I mean is, even a dumbass like me can think everything's pointless. Why do I get up and eat? It all ends up shit anyway. Why am I going to school and studying? Even if I happen to succeed I'm going to die anyway. You wear nice clothes, you seek respect, you make a lot of money, but what's the point? It's all pointless. But ... but, you see, we still have emotions like joy and happiness, right? They may not amount to much but they fill up our emptiness. — Koushun Takami

That was it. Shogo stopped breathing. The dim yellow light falling from the ceiling of the pilothouse shone on his pale face. He seemed at ease.
"Shogo!" Shuya yelled. He still had more to say. "You'll see Keiko! You'll be happy with her! You're
"
It was too late. Shogo couldn't hear anything anymore. But his face just looked so damned peaceful.
"Damn it." Shuya's lips trembled along with his words. "Damn it."
Holding Shogo's hands, Noriko was crying.
Shuya also put his hand on Shogo's thick hand. A thought occured to him. He searched through Shogo's pockets and found the red bird call. He pressed it into Shogo's right hand and closed his hands over it so he could hold it. Shuya then finally burst into tears. — Koushun Takami

Sometimes you need to lie make the world go around — Koushun Takami

Shogo looked at Shuya and Noriko. "The winner's forced to transfer to another school where he or she is ordered not to mention the game and is instructed instead to lead a normal life. That's all."
Shuya felt his chest well up inside and his face froze. He stared at Shogo and realized that Noriko was holding her breath.
Shogo said, "I was a student in Third Year Class C, Second District, Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture." He added, "I survived the Program held in Hyogo Prefecture last year. — Koushun Takami