Please suggest specific books (not just generically by author) for me to bring on vacation to Japan (Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, and Nara), written by Japanese authors and translated into English. What are books like this that will make me feel even more immersed in the culture as I read them and sit amongst the people and scenery and vibes? Interesting and enthralling fiction only, please. Books that will only enhance my experience and bring another depth and level to everything. Thanks in advance!
by DrmsRz
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You’ll see konbinis everywhere, which is the Japanese word for convenience stores, which are like 7-Eleven if you’re from the US, but way way nicer with way better food and items. In fact, there are 7-Elevens in Japan, but you’ll see other konbinis like Lawsons, FamilyMart, etc.
Because of that, definitely check out Convenience Store Woman by Sayata Murata. It won various prizes and it’s really short book. It’s more of a slice-of-life book but if you’re interested in day-to-day mundane life of urban Japan, getting an interior look of how it feels to work at a banal job from a Japanese mindset. It’s good read.
If you’re looking for something more thrilling with eccentric characters, check out Bullet Train by Kotaro Isaka. It’s set on the shinkansen, the Japanese name for the bullet train, and you’ll probably be riding on some of them while traveling in Japan.
The Devotion of Suspect X by Keigo Higashino is a fantastic mystery crime thriller, set in Tokyo. Higashino is one of the most popular authors in Japan.
I really love Yasunari Kawabata and his novel Snow Country is beautiful, but it’s much better if read in the original Japanese. A lot is lost in the English translation so it can be slow and too ambiguous, so maybe read a sample first if you think it’s for you.
The Penguin Book of Japanese Short Stories edited by Jay Rubin is a great collection of Japanese short stories across different eras. It’s grouped by different themes and I really liked the introduction by Haruki Murakami. I highly recommend checking this out as you’ll probably discover authors that you’ll want to read more of.
Haruki Murakami is probably one of the most well-known Japanese authors in the west. If you want something more experimental and surreal with Murakami’s own blend of absurdism and melancholy, check out A Wild Sheep Chase. If you want something more grounded, then read Norwegian Wood.