Q&A With Munehito Moro 

I have the honor of doing this Q&A With Munehito Moro who is the author of Empire Of Blood: An Alt History Of Espionage Tale of Power, Intrigue and War & the novel Talking Cure: A Psychological Thriller of Depression and Rebirth in Japan. 

Q: Munehito, would you like to give a brief description of both of your books beginning with your recent release Talking Cure?

A: When I was about 20, I experienced a severe bout of depression with a sleep disorder. It forced me to leave college for a few years. Although I recovered and completed my BA at another university, where I focused on acquiring English skills, the depression has come back a few times since then, with debilitating effects. Liz Wayne, the protagonist of Talking Cure, has similar medical conditions. The illness has alienated Liz from her community, and her only solace is Japanese anime/manga. She decides to go teach English in Japan in search of a “cure.” While the book offers a satirical take on the CIA and an (unnamed) U.S. president, Liz’s personal struggle forms the story’s core. Through her journey as an accidental spy, she discovers her cure. 

Empire Of Blood, my first English-language novel, is markedly different. In it, I wanted to explore the traumatic past of my country, Japan, and its wartime atrocities. Set in an alternate universe where Japan had won WW2, the story conflates hidden traumas with covered-up Imperial secrets. As my protagonists, Maj. Suzuki and Lt. Park, descend further down the rabbit hole of machinations, they are forced to confront the nature of loyalty and betrayal in a world where morality holds little sway. 

Q: Where did your ideas for both Talking Cure & Empire Of Blood come from? How long did it take you to write both books?

A: Talking Cure is a tale of Liz working as an English teacher in Japan. Like her, I was a conversational English instructor in Tokyo, teaching students from all walks of Japanese life. One day, I found myself giving lessons to an officer of Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force. That encounter inspired me; what if I were tasked with extracting intel from that guy during lessons? It took me a few more years to fully realize the plot. 

As for Empire Of Blood, I am a huge fan of The Last Emperor (1987), the film about the life of Pu Yi. He was the final ruler of the Qin Dynasty, who was later used by the invading Japanese as a figurehead of Japan’s puppet state in China, Manchukuo. My love for that film had compelled me to travel to the region where Manchukuo once stood. Then I perused books about Manchukuo written by American historians. They opened my eyes to the hidden brutalities by the Imperial Japanese Army, which form the central part of Empire Of Blood. 

As I mentioned earlier, I attended two universities. In the second one, one of my classmates happened to be a real Princess of Japan (the emperor’s niece). Her presence, combined with my fascination with Manchukuo, gave me the inspiration for the book. However, it took me almost a decade to get around to it, as I was overwhelmed with my work as an English teacher. 

Q: What important lessons do you hope readers come away with after reading both of your books? What emotions do you hope readers feel after they turn the last page?

A: First and foremost, I want my readers to feel entertained. As a lover of espionage novels, as well as being a movie enthusiast, I believe in the transformative power of storytelling. Nothing would please me more than hearing a reader say: “It was a page-turner!” 

Having said that, I also hope my books leave readers with a strong sense of optimism. They are both about struggles to find light at the end of a morally depraved tunnel. As our real world is increasingly growing chaotic, I believe the power of fiction gives readers a moral compass, teaching us how to survive with conscience and resilience. 

Q: Can you reveal any details of the plot for book 3?

A: I am currently working on several story ideas, testing which ones could develop into a strong, engaging plot. One of them centers around a podcaster in Japan; I recently had a chat with one, an American guy based in Japan. He interviewed me about my books in his show. Promoting my books has introduced me to the world of online creators and influencers, and I have become intrigued more and more by the sway they hold in our life. 

Q: If/when Hollywood gets the rights to your books, who would be your dream cast to play the characters you created?

A: A few years ago, I watched Yellowjacket: a TV show about a group of teenagers stranded in isolated mountains. One of the actors grabbed my attention with her powerful screen presence: Sophie Thatcher. With her emotional range, I believe she would be a perfect choice to play Liz Wayne in Talking Cure, an American woman teaching English in Japan, secretly working for the CIA, and battling with her depression. 

I confess I have a soft spot for Blackpink, the immensely popular K-POP group. If any one of them – Lisa, Rosé, Jisoo, and Jennie – were to play Lt. Park Ji-won from Empire of Blood, it would make me profoundly happy! Plus, they are all fluent English speakers. One can always dream, right? 

Q: Japan is one of many places I would love to and plan to see one day. You were born in Ibaraki Prefecture. What is Ibaraki Prefecture like? Where are your favorite places in Japan?

A: I grew up in Ibaraki surrounded by Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) cars; the kind you’d see in Fast and Furious movies. Ibaraki is a vast, flat area, known for its fertile farmland. My grandparents were farmers. Its streets are wide, with cars driving very fast and their drivers occasionally furious. A coworker at the English school once told me Ibaraki reminded him of the U.S. I drive a Mazda Miata myself, which makes two appearances in Talking Cure. 

I lived in Tokyo for almost two decades, first as a student, then as a teacher. I loved the city and the convenience that comes with it. You can hop on a bus, then switch to a train, and be anywhere in that sprawling megacity within an hour. Tokyo Skytree, after which the Co-Prosperity Tower from Empire Of Blood is modeled, is a massive, beautiful work of architecture. Just make sure that you’ve got a good navigation app; the transportation system could be a headache-inducing labyrinth for the uninitiated!