Books to Read if You’re Going to Japan

What do you think of first when someone mentions Japan? Is it Mount Fuji, the ‘Hello Kitty’ culture, manga, the food? (Hmmm, sushi, yum!) The years Japan spent closed to the world preserved its traditions and behaviours making it a very unique and interesting country. Fortunately, the works of many Japanese authors have been translated into other languages, making them accessible to the non-Japanese audience, and providing a fascinating window into this world.

Perhaps I ought to start with a disclaimer. You see, unlike the other posts in my ‘Books to read before you go’ series, I’ve never been to Japan. If it weren’t for Covid-19, I would have visited last month, but my much-anticipated trip had to be postponed. So, I cannot claim any title is ‘exactly how life is like in Japan’. Known authenticity aside however, in my excited preparation for the upcoming trip, I read a lot of books by Japanese authors, and that reading really opened my eyes to a lot of the cultural differences between Japan and the European culture I grew up in.

In the meantime, while travel has escaped our reach, here, in no particular order, are some reading recommendations from me. 

Fiction

Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata

Quirky 36-year-old Keiko is very happy working in a convenience store but faces constant judgement and criticism from her family and others, for not being ‘normal’, and not sharing their pressures and expectations. This book highlights the hypocrisy of judging certain professions as less worthwhile than others, and offers an amusing glance at modern Japanese behaviours.

Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami

If you want talking cats and other weirdness read another of Murakami’s novels. This is one of his more straightforward books, but dealing with grief, love, lust and mental health, it is a deeper love story than some, and makes you really feel for the characters.

Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden

Following one girl’s journey from impoverished childhood to geisha, this story provides a great introduction to geisha and Japanese culture for foreigners. I enjoyed the character development and what felt like a privileged insight into the secret world of geisha.

The Makioka Sisters by Junchiro Maziaki

Set in Osaka just before World War II, this book paints a literary family portrait centring around four sisters. The story follows the attempts by older sisters to secure good futures (ie. husbands) for their younger sisters, and the somewhat contradictory attempts by one sister to break free from traditional ways. It struck me as almost a Japanese version of Pride and Prejudice.

Breasts and Eggs by Mieko Kawakami

Widely labelled as ‘Japan’s feminist novel’, Breasts and Eggs examines modern life for women, especially working class women, in Japan’s patriarchal society. The three main characters are each battling for freedom to live their lives the way they choose, and even their own body autonomy (via topics such as breast augmentation and artificial insemination). It’s an eye-opening dive into life in Japan for women.

The Woman in the White Kimono by Ana Johns

This story is told in two timelines, the first in 1957 Japan, tells of a Japanese woman in love with an American soldier who finds herself pregnant, cast out by her society, and having to make unimaginable choices. The second timeline is set in present day America where the daughter of a dying man uncovers a revelation that shocks her to her core. It is historical fiction based on facts that I hadn’t known about before reading. I love learning something while also enjoying a great story.

Strange Weather in Tokyo by Hiromi Kawakami

This tender love story tells of the blossoming relationship between a woman in her 30s and a much older man who was once her teacher. The book is peppered with references to food so, if the romance doesn’t draw you in, the delicious food descriptions will.

The Sound of Waves by Yukio Mishima

Set in a remote fishing village, this sweet book follows two young people’s story of first love, their fight to be together, and the impact of the gossip and interferences of their community. There are pearl divers too!

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

This wonderful book tells the tale of a Korean girl who moves, with her husband, to Japan just before World War II. It is a sweeping family saga spanning generations. The characters are well developed and I enjoyed learning more about the experiences of Koreans in Japan during that period.

Fear and Trembling by Amelie Nothomb

This short book describes the experiences of a 22-year-old Belgian woman working in Japan, and is quite eye-opening regarding the work culture in Japan. However, her efforts to make the book amusing make Japan sound like a nightmare, so perhaps it is a worthwhile read for those planning to work in Japan, but it is unlikely to inspire a trip!

A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki

When a lunchbox washes up on Canadian shores, the contents are investigated and lead to a 16 year-old girl in Japan who is being bullied. Through the teenager’s diary, and the spiritual thoughts of the woman who found it, the book guides reflection on what it really means to be human. It is a slow moving and reflective story to savour.

Non-Fiction

Hiroshima by John Hersey

Written in a simple journalistic style, and based upon the memories of several survivors, this important book tells the experiences of Hiroshima residents in the aftermath of the atomic bomb being dropped on their city. The book shares horrifying stories from first-hand accounts. It is a shocking, disturbing and very worthwhile read.