Literary Tourism: Japan Archives

Kokoro: Japanese Wisdom for a Life Well Lived

by Beth Kempton

Holly says: "Readers may know Japanologist Kempton from her previous book, WABI SABI: Japanese wisdom for a perfectly imperfect life. When I heard about this book, the immediately description caught my imagination. I’m excited to read about Kempton’s travels in rural Japan and how her observations and experiences supported her during a time of grief."

Just Enough: Lessons from Japan for Sustainable Living, Architecture, and Design

by Azby Brown

Holly says: "Brown, an American who has lived in Japan since 1985, compiled this unique and fascinating book that reflects on the lifestyle and traditions of the Edo period of Japanese history and what these traditions teach us about sustainable living. Broken into three sections that consider rural lifestyles, urban design, and societal constructs, this is best read in print due to Azby’s hand-drawn sketches and notes in the margins. This would be a dream gift for anyone broadly interested in the subtitle topics or specifically curious about Japanese history."

Red Winter (Red Winter Trilogy #1)

by Annette Marie

Holly says: "Drawn from Japanese mythology, this YA trilogy follows Emi, a young shrine maiden destined to become a living host for a goddess. Emi’s spent her life hiding from the earth spirits who are locked in eternal combat with the gods. But when Emi stumbles upon a life-changing secret, she flees to the woods, where she has an encounter with an earth spirit and ultimately saves his life. Shiro, the spirit Emi rescues, doesn’t realize who Emi is and has baggage of his own. The two begin to develop a relationship that will call everything into question in this slow-burn romantic fantasy."

Kiki’s Delivery Service

by Eiko Kadono

Holly says: "Thirteen-year-old Kiki must follow the tradition of her witch heritage and spend a year on her own in a new city, proving she can support herself and be of service to her community. In this award–winning, sweet middle grade fantasy story, Kiki and her loyal cat Jiji experience a range of misadventures during their trial year. The book was released in Japan in 1985 and translated into English by Emily Balistrieri in 2003. You may also recognize this title from the 1989 Studio Ghibli animated film."

Sweet Bean Paste

by Durian Sukegawa

Holly says: "Ex-con Sentaro is trying for a fresh start, but isn’t sure his dead-end job at a tiny confectionery shop will do the trick. After he reluctantly hires an elderly, disfigured woman named Tokue for her culinary skill, things start to change. Sentaro feels hopeful for the first time in ages, until Tokue’s mysterious past comes to light and Sentaro has to grapple with prejudice, regret, and societal expectations. Starting off as a charming story of sweets and redemption, this novel grows into something even more satisfying, balancing a beautiful story of friendship with an honest look at a darker chapter of Japanese history. Content warnings apply."

Four Seasons in Japan

by Nick Bradley

Holly says: "This story-within-a-story follows two plotlines over the course of a year. Flo is an American translator living in Japan. When she decides not to follow her girlfriend abroad, she’s left feeling adrift, until she discovers a mysterious memoir, and decides it's the perfect choice for her next translation project. Meanwhile, after failing his university exams, nineteen-year-old Kyo is sent from the city to a small village to live with his grandmother Ayako. Kyo is a talented artist who struggles to communicate with his grandmother, a formidable woman who shares a secret grief with Kyo. Much more character-driven than plotty, this story gently paints a picture of modern Japan; I found it a quick read and enjoyed the different layers of culture and society on display. Readers will want to note that this story deals with difficult themes including family trauma, depression, and suicide."

The Kamogawa Food Detectives

by Hisashi Kashiwai

Holly says: "So many urban stories in Japan are set in Tokyo, so this delightful cozy set in Kyoto was a nice departure. Reader, beware: reading this book will make you hungry (and likely to start googling all sorts of ingredients and recipes). Unlike cozy detective stories that feature a crime or murder, this collection of mysteries centers on food. When customers come to the Detective Agency in search of long-lost or nearly forgotten meals or recipes, retired police detective Nagare and his daughter Koshi hunt down the missing pieces and present their clients with the meal they’d been searching for. I devoured this sentimental read that speaks to the power of food and drink to evoke memory, and can’t wait to read more books in the series."

The Easy Life in Kamusari (Forest #1)

by Shion Miura

Holly says: "Apparently sending young men to the village is a theme in Japanese stories: the start to this delightful coming of age novel felt somewhat similar to Four Seasons in Japan, but with a very different voice. Yuki Hirano has just graduated high school with no real prospects, so his parents send him to the small mountain town of Kamusari and forcibly enroll him in a forestry training program. Yuki doesn’t want to be here and is plotting his escape from the moment he arrives. But with no choice but to stay and make the best of it, Yuki begins to learn the traditional skills of forestry. While he learns how to trim and fell trees, he also develops an appreciation for the rural lifestyle he originally disdained and forms relationships that will leave a lasting mark on his life. I can’t wait to read the sequel, Kamusari Tales Told at Night. Translated from the Japanese by Juliet Winters Carpenter."

The Aosawa Murders

by Riku Onda

Holly says: "This premise is WILD: a prominent family hosts a party where 17 people die from cyanide in their drinks. The only clues to what happened are a mysterious scrap of verse and one survivor: Hisako, the blind daughter of the hosts. This intricate puzzle mystery and psychological thriller jumps around in time, place, and perspective, leaving the reader not entirely certain of what, exactly, happened. I found it fascinating, although ultimately, the resolution was not as satisfying as I prefer in my mysteries. However, the telling of the story is a work of art, giving the reader insight into Japanese culture and an atmospheric setting. Translated from the Japanese by Alison Watts. Content warnings apply."

Tokyo Ever After

by Emiko Jean

A California teen finds her fairy tale in this sparkly YA novel. Izumi “Izzy” Tanaka’s life has always felt pretty normal. Raised by her single, plant-obsessed mother and blessed with a tight-knit group of friends she calls her AGG (Asian Girl Gang), she’s never lacked for anything—even if she has been curious about her father’s identity. But her life changes in an instant when an old love letter falls out of her mother’s book, and Izzy discovers her biological father is her mother’s one true love, the Crown Prince of Japan. One thing leads to another, and Izzy is shortly swapping quiet California for a Japanese palace filled with ball gowns, paparazzi, and a cute bodyguard. This was a delight; I especially enjoyed Jean’s storytelling through clips from the Tokyo gossip rag “The Tokyo Tattler.”

Across the Nightingale Floor (Tales of the Otori #1)

by Lian Hearn

Holly says: "First published in 2002, this series might be considered a young adult romantic fantasy on today’s bookshelves. When sixteen-year-old Takeo’s family is killed, he is rescued and adopted by a warring clan leader and raised as a warrior. Along the way, he is trained in magical skills, falls in love, and seeks to avenge those he’s lost. Set in a fictional world but based on Japan in the Sengoku period, this trilogy expanded to a total of five books as well as a spinoff series in 2020."

Fault Lines

by Emily Itami

A quiet yet vivid story set against the backdrop of Tokyo in springtime. When Andrea at Main Street Books said she'd loved this literary novel with echoes of Madame Bovary and a forty-ish female protagonist rethinking her whole life, I snapped it right up. The story is about Mizuki, an affluent Japanese singer-turned housewife who loves her workaholic husband and two beautiful children but has grown lonely and bored with her life. When she catches the interest of a handsome restaurateur, she is unable to resist the advances of a man who actually "thought about the answers to the questions I asked him and looked right at me when he replied."

Shōgun (The Asian Saga Part One)

by James Clavell

Holly says: "This 1975 classic, which became an award-winning streaming series on FX in 2024, follows English sailor John Blackthorne after he is marooned in Japan in 1600. From his original arrival and imprisonment to his eventual alliance with daimyo Toranaga and elevation to the samurai ranks, the story also follows Blackthorne’s love affair with a Japanese woman and his adoption of Japanese culture. Set against the backdrop of the Catholic and Protestant schism and the era of colonial exploration, Clavell’s novel is based on the journals of the first Englishman to reach Japan. Content warnings apply."

Water, Wood, and Wild Things: Learning Craft and Cultivation in a Japanese Mountain Town

by Hannah Kirshner

Holly says: "This nonfiction book by journalist Kirshner, a part-time resident of Japan, is my all-time top recommendation for those interested in the country’s rural culture and traditional handicrafts. Each chapter explores a unique art form, from woodturning to sake brewing, foraging to hunting, and more. Kirshner’s writing is immersive and richly detailed: reading this book inspired several of our off-the-beaten-track detours during our time in Japan last year. It would make a beautiful armchair travel choice for anyone with a curiosity about or passion for this country."

Literary Tourism: Japan

a gateway

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summer reading starts May 16th