Modern Japan

This novel by Osamu Dazai, published in 1947, is about the life of a poet whose personality has collapsed, as told by his wife. It features an optimistic and strong-willed wife who is unhappy with her husband's unwillingness to settle down at home but still harbors dreams of a new family. The story is set in gloomy Tokyo in the aftermath of the war, but it still contains a sense of humor. After reading it, the reader will probably be left with a wry smile and something that stings in their heart. Annotations [1] Rice Balls [2] Sensei [3] Zabuton [4] Nakano [5] Gunma Prefecture [6] Nineteen ...

This short story was written by Osamu Dazai in 1939. Five siblings from a wealthy family - the eldest son is 28, the eldest daughter is 26, the second son is 24, the second daughter is 21, and the third son is 18 - create a story in relay format to pass the time. The story of an old mathematician begins to be told. As they all have different personalities and favorite books, the stories they create also show their individuality. The interactions between them are written in an attractive way. You can read it all at once and enjoy the unexpected twist at the end. As the work is written with a...

Often called the greatest novel ever written, War and Peace is at once an epic of the Napoleonic wars, a philosophical study, and a celebration of the Russian spirit. Tolstoy's genius is clearly seen in the multitude of characters in this massive chronicle, all of them fully realized and equally memorable.

This epic novel by master writer James Clavell, loosely based on the Namamugi Incident and Anglo-Satsuma War that took place in the late 1800s, is a richly researched, panoramic view of Japan’s budding relationship with the Western powers, its sweeping societal changes, and the political upheaval that followed.

This short story by Edogawa Rampo, published in 1929, is about the life of a former heroic soldier who has lost his limbs, hearing, and speech ability due to war and his former faithful wife who has come to take pleasure in tormenting him. This work was censored by the government in 1939, and The Caterpillar depicts the perverted sexual life of a man who has lost his limbs and becomes mute due to war with his wife. Although this work does not go as far as to be anti-war or to express a dislike of war, it does portray the tragic physical condition of a disabled soldier grotesquely. This is ...

This is a classic detective short story by Edogawa Rampo, first published in 1925. It marks the debut of the iconic detective Kogoro Akechi, who would appear in many of Rampo's later works. The story is narrated by an unnamed man who spends his time at a café on the main street of D-Slope, watching a secondhand bookstore across the road. The bookstore owner's wife, known for her striking beauty, mysteriously fails to appear despite the open store. The narrator is soon joined by Akechi, a fellow regular at the café and a fan of detective fiction. Curious about the strange situation, the ...

The idea of the sword-wielding samurai, beholden to a strict ethical code and trained in deadly martial arts, dominates popular conceptions of the samurai. As early as the late 17th century, they were heavily featured in literature, art, theater, and even comedy. This book gives listeners access to the real samurai as they lived, fought, and served. Much as they capture the modern imagination, the samurai commanded influence over the politics, arts, philosophy, and religion of their own time, and controlled Japan from the 14th century until their demise in the mid-19th century.

This essay-style short story, published in 1943, is a sequel to the earlier work Going Home (1943). The protagonist, who his family has disowned, receives news that his mother is dying and heads back to his family home with his wife and child. He is the sixth son of a wealthy family from Aomori. He went to Tokyo Imperial University with the hopes of his family, but became involved in left-wing movements, was arrested by the police, became addicted to drugs, and repeatedly attempted suicide. Dazai is aware that he has been a bad son to his mother and that her death is imminent. He also has ...

This work is a representative mystery novel by Edogawa Rampo, published in 1926, and fully demonstrates his tastes and preferences. The main character is morbidly obsessed with the illusory images created by lenses and mirrors. Blessed with wealth and not restrained by anyone, he heads towards a horrifyingly unhappy fate. Edogawa Rampo's talent for replacing the illusory beauty created by the light reflected by mirrors and lenses with words is artistic. His insight into human psychology is also wonderful. Readers can read in one go while enjoying his unique worldview.

Modern Day Samurai continues The Consortium Series, as the action moves to Japan. It contains the ending to Somnolent Chameleon - Book 1: Sleepy, where her vengeance remains unsatisfied, as she continues to hunt for members of the U.S. Government sanctioned Wet Work team that killed a child of the Old Ones in the Amazon jungles. The Comfort Women story still remains unresolved today, as sexual atrocities common decades ago are filtered through history as one of the most demeaning and destructive uses of women's bodies during wartime. New information thought buried has emerged through time, ...

This short story by Edogawa Rampo, published in 1950, is a mystery involving a conversation between a man and a woman on a cliff overlooking a mountain stream. The conversation, as the two probe each other's hearts, is rhythmical and full of tension. The woman has the insight to see through the man's lies. Readers will enjoy Edogawa Rampo's unique worldview as they read through to the end in one sitting. They will surely be captivated by the many layers of trickery.

This book is a crime novel, a bizarre mystery, by Edogawa Rampo, published in 1925. A bizarre club is held in "The Red Chamber," which has a fantastic atmosphere. They are tasteless people who are bored with their lives and seek stimulation. One day, a new member of the club tells the story of the murder he committed. What is the method of the man who says he killed 99 people? What happens after he finishes telling the story? Edogawa Rampo's skillful description leads the reader into a mysterious world. It is both fun and frightening. The reader will read it all in one go to the end and be ...

Who is the Japanese man in the 21st century? From stoic salarymen and distant fathers to gentle rebels and reimagined roles, The Quiet Strength explores the complex, evolving identity of Japanese masculinity. Through cultural reflection, real voices, and poetic insight, Mira K paints a portrait of a country in quiet transformation. This book is not a critique. It is a meditation. An invitation. A journey into the lives behind the silence. For readers of cultural nonfiction, gender studies, and anyone curious about modern Japan, The Quiet Strength offers something rare: a moment of stillness...

Uncover Japan's hidden gems with this comprehensive guide to unforgettable adventures that delivers travel tips for authentic, pocket-friendly experiences. Discover the Japan that exists beneath the surface, the Japan that only locals know. This guide is your passport to that world, taking you beyond the surface-level experiences and into the heart of Japan. It's a treasure trove of authentic, unforgettable, and budget-friendly adventures that are waiting for you to uncover.

Zen monk Santoka Taneda (1882 - 1940) is one of Japan's most beloved modern poets, famous for his "free-verse" haiku, the dominant style today. This book tells the fascinating story of his life, liberally sprinkled with more than 300 of his poems and extracts from his essays and journals - compiled by his best friend and biographer Sumita Oyama and elegantly translated by William Scott Wilson.

The star of her school’s running team, Sadako is lively and athletic…until the dizzy spells start. Then she must face the hardest race of her life - the race against time. Based on a true story, Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes celebrates the courage that makes one young woman a heroine in Japan.

"[The] story speaks directly to young readers of the tragedy of Sadako's death and, in its simplicity, makes a universal statement for 'peace in the world.” (The Horn Book)

This book, published in 1943 by Japanese fairy tale writer Nankichi Niimi, tells the story of a little fox who goes to a human town to buy gloves. On a snowy morning, as the little fox returns home after running around outside, the mother fox holds his cold hands and gets the idea to buy him some gloves. The mother fox uses magic to turn one of the little fox's hands into a human child's. She then teaches the little fox to hold his human hand in the shop and ask for gloves. In Japanese folktales, foxes often use magic to trick people. This heartwarming story is short, so you can read it ...

In the heart of Kyoto, an ancient war is fought in shadows. Two rivals hold the key. Anya Akatori and Kenji Kagehebi are bound by duty to their feuding clans. But when a chance encounter forces them together, they begin to unravel a conspiracy far deeper and more terrifying than their inherited rivalry. A sinister organization known as the Karasu Gumi pulls the strings, manipulating empires and stoking the flames of hatred. Their only hope lies in uncovering the truth behind the legendary Twin Katanas and exposing the puppet masters. From glittering summits to clandestine meetings in Gion's...

In the weeks after Japan finally surrendered to the Allies to end World War II, the victorious powers turned to the question of how to move on from years of carnage and destruction. For the Allied powers, the trials were an opportunity both to render judgment on their vanquished foes and to create a legal framework to prosecute war crimes and prohibit the use of aggressive war. For the Japanese leaders on trial, it was their chance to argue that their war had been waged to liberate Asia from Western imperialism and that the court was no more than victors’ justice.

In the weeks after Japan finally surrendered to the Allies to end World War II, the victorious powers turned to the question of how to move on from years of carnage and destruction. For the Allied powers, the trials were an opportunity both to render judgment on their vanquished foes and to create a legal framework to prosecute war crimes and prohibit the use of aggressive war. For the Japanese leaders on trial, it was their chance to argue that their war had been waged to liberate Asia from Western imperialism and that the court was no more than victors’ justice.