Imagine a world where you had the legal right to decide when your life would end.

While Japan hasn’t legalized “freedom of death” yet, what if it did?

Keiichiro Hirano’s Hidden Thoughts (本心) takes us to a near-future Japan where this bold idea is a reality, and a son uses technology to bring his deceased mother back to life — just to understand why she chose death in the first place.

What if technology could bring back loved ones, but in doing so, it forced us to confront uncomfortable truths about life, death, and our emotional connections?

Could such a world reshape the way we think about freedom?

And what would it mean for you, personally, if you had the right to choose your own end?

Hidden Thoughts（本心）by Keiichiro Hirano

The Book in 3 Sentences

• The novel is set in a near-future Japan where “freedom of death” (自由死) has been legalized.
• The story follows a son who, using advanced technology, brings back his deceased mother to uncover her true intentions behind her desire for “freedom of death,” only to discover hidden aspects of her life through her friends and a former lover.
• As he uncovers shocking secrets, the novel explores profound themes such as self-determination in death, poverty, social division, and the search for love and happiness in an increasingly fragmented world.

Impressions

How Did I Discover It?

I was browsing for something interesting to read at a bookstore after work on a Friday, and came across this book in the special display section featuring this month’s popular titles.

Who Should Read It?

• Fans of Literary Fiction — If you enjoy introspective stories that explore complex emotional and psychological dynamics, this book offers a rich, thought-provoking narrative.
• Philosophy and Psychology Enthusiasts — The novel dives deep into themes of self-deception, identity, and the nature of truth, making it a great choice for readers fascinated by the inner workings of the human mind.
• Readers Interested in Human Relationships — Those who enjoy exploring the intricacies of personal connections and emotional bonds will find this book especially compelling. It looks at how true emotional intimacy transcends superficial gestures.

How the Book Changed Me

1. Reminded me to embrace the inevitable and the cyclical nature of existence.

The quote where the mother expresses contentment and a desire for death, saying “I am very happy now… If I could, I would like to die just like this,” points to the inherent impermanence of life. It suggests that fulfillment in life is not a state of endless accumulation or achievement, but rather an acceptance of its limits.

Just as one cannot savor the same meal forever, there comes a time when the natural end of life feels like a peaceful conclusion, not a tragic loss. In this, the novel explores a kind of wisdom that embraces death as a natural counterpart to life, encouraging us to reflect on our own relationships with mortality and closure.

I found it a lesson here about embracing the inevitability of death as a necessary and natural process, not something to be feared but understood as an intrinsic part of life’s cycle.

2. Showed me that true emotional connection goes beyond external gestures.

The protagonist reflects on his regrets about never physically embracing his mother, even in her death. He questions why he didn’t hug her while she was alive, which speaks to a broader philosophical question about the limits of human interaction: What does it mean to truly connect with another person?

In a world where emotional expressions can become detached or impersonal — especially in a technologically advanced future where people might bring back deceased loved ones — this lesson calls attention to the importance of deeper, emotional resonance over surface-level gestures. It also touches on the difficulty of truly understanding another person’s internal world and emotional responses.

I found it a lesson that while actions and words matter, what is often sought after is the internal, unspoken emotional connection that can never be fully replicated or manufactured, even with advanced technology.

3. Highlighted how freedom, in a fragmented society, can lead to feelings of isolation.

The protagonist’s sense of isolation after his mother’s death, where he notes that no one would mourn his actions if he were to commit a crime, suggests a profound alienation that comes with societal fragmentation.

With the disappearance of familiar social bonds — symbolized by the absence of his mother and the “freedom of death” — individuals might lose a sense of collective purpose or moral compass. This can lead to existential questioning about the value of life and the meaning of social rules.

The novel raises an important philosophical question: In a world that prioritizes individual freedom, do we lose our sense of communal responsibility and meaning?

I see a lesson here that while freedom can be liberating, it may also lead to alienation and a loss of shared values, making it harder for individuals to find meaning in their lives. True freedom requires a balance with connection to others and the shared values that bind society together.

My Top 3 Quotes

• “I live. But if life is simply an irreversible process leading to death, how is that different from saying, ‘I will die’? If living is merely the act of slowly dying, why do we even need the word ‘live’?” (僕は生きる。しかし、生が、決して後戻りの出来ない死への過程であるならば、それは、僕は死ぬ、という言明と、一体、どう違うのだろうか？ 生きることが、ただ、時間をかけて死ぬことの意味であるならば、僕たちには、どうして、「生きる」という言葉が必要なのだろうか？)
• “I have lived without breaking the law up until now, without much doubt, and the reason for that was probably because my mother was there, and I was loved by her. I didn’t want to make her sad, nor did I want to leave her alone. But what about now? After stepping into a world without my mother, after living here for a while, I have certainly come to a point where I no longer understand why I must follow the laws of this new world. Now, if I were to commit a crime, there would be no one to grieve for me.” (僕は、さしたる疑問もなく、これまで法に触れることをして来なかったが、その理由は、恐らく母がいて、母に愛されていたからだった。母を悲しませたくなかったし、母を独りにもさせたくなかった。 しかし、今はどうだろう？ 母のいる世界から、母のいない世界へと足を踏み入れ、しばらくここで生きてみたあと、確かに僕は、なぜこの新しい世界の法律を守らねばならないのかが、わからなくなっているのだった。 今、僕が犯罪を犯しても、誰も僕のために悲しむ人はいない。)
• “I had hoped that the natural reaction of VF (Virtual Figure)’s ‘mother’ would one day fill my heart. But perhaps there was a fundamental flaw in that expectation. What I truly sought was not the outward response of the mother toward me, but the response deep within her heart. I wanted her to feel something in her chest when she was touched by my words. I wanted my existence to reach the deepest part of her being and stir something within her. — What I long for now, and what I will never again be able to attain, is that inner response of the mother’s heart!” (僕は、ＶＦ（ヴァーチャル・フィギュア）の〈母〉の自然な反応が、いつか僕の心を満たしてくれると期待していた。けれども、そこに根本的な間違いがあったのかもしれない。僕が本当に求めているのは、僕に対する、母の外向きの反応ではなかった。母の心の中の反応だった。母が、僕の言葉に触れて、何かを胸に感じるということ。僕の存在が、母という存在の奥深い場所に達して何かを引き起こすということ。──僕が今、どうしても欲しているもの、そして、もう決して手に入らないのは、その母の内なる心の反応だった！)

Hidden Thoughts doesn’t just ask what it means to live or die — it challenges you to reflect on your emotional connections and the ways you seek closure in life.

If technology could erase the boundaries between life and death, would it help us understand each other more deeply — or just make us more isolated?

Hirano’s exploration of autonomy, love, and loss speaks to our own fears and desires in an increasingly fragmented world.

So, let me ask you:

If you could choose your own death, would you?

And how would that choice change your relationships with the people you care about most?

Dive into Hidden Thoughts — it’s not just a book, it’s a conversation waiting to happen.