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Original poster

Japanese fiction

64 replies

DesperateADHDMum · 03/08/2023 09:55

I’ve worked my way through the new translations of Seishi Yokomizo books this year and picked up a couple of other Japanese fiction books when browsing the bookshop. Has anyone any recommendations for other good translations? I like reading translated fiction but some of the translations can be really poor - it’s definitely an art form in itself!

OP posts:
Decaffe · 19/08/2023 17:04

Miura

Original poster
DesperateADHDMum · 27/08/2023 09:17

I thought I’d revive the thread to add a couple of books

Lonely Castle in the Mirror - I thought it was a really good book to get you thinking and one that would be great for teenagers to read

I’m halfway through Diary of a void by Emi Yagi. Interesting concept of a woman who pretends to be pregnant on the spur of the moment when she’s expected to do the menial jobs at work. So far it’s a good read and will be interested to find out how she gets away with it - if she does!

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clowniform · 27/08/2023 15:16

Heartily second the Tanizaki recommendation by @highlandcoo
Natsume Soseki, Sanshiro, Botchan and I am a Cat are enjoyable satires on early 20th century social changes in Japan.

Only a few of Keigo Higashino's Detective Kaga series has been translated but they stand alone quite well and are more cosy / slice of life. I think the first English book is Newcomer.

The Aosawa Murders is a recent favourite. Again you could shelve it as 'mystery' but it's very unusual, almost dreamlike. Dark but not in a gory or forced topical-issues-y way.

Helpmefly · 07/10/2023 17:55

Manicpanicatthedisco · 03/08/2023 09:56

I live Japanese fiction but I don't know if my taste is the same as yours. My favourite Japanese novel is Out by Natsuo Kirino - it's excellent but rather shocking.

I just finished this....brilliant. absolutely brilliant!

Original poster
DesperateADHDMum · 07/10/2023 20:23

Helpmefly · 07/10/2023 17:55

I just finished this....brilliant. absolutely brilliant!

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Agreed - although I wasn’t keen on the ending

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cassiatwenty · 08/10/2023 00:12

Did anyone read Yoko Ogawa?

Helpmefly · 08/10/2023 07:13

I haven't yet..the housekandfthe professor is on my TBR. Have you@cassiatwenty

JaninaDuszejko · 08/10/2023 09:04

@cassiatwenty I've read The Memory Police and adored it.

Original poster
DesperateADHDMum · 08/10/2023 09:45

I find the themes of some of her work quite disturbing so haven’t read them yet. I do have the memory police in my ‘to be read’ pile

ive been reading the ‘when the coffee gets cold’ series as a bit of light reading.

the last books I’ve read are

the Master Key by Masako Takagi
strange weather in Tokyo by Hiromi Kawakami
a quiet place by seicho matsumoto
convenience store woman by say aka murata

enjoyed them all!

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cassiatwenty · 08/10/2023 20:08

@DesperateADHDMum, @Helpmefly, @JaninaDuszejko I have read a little bit of the Diving Pool but I found it a tad dark for the time being.

I much prefer Banana Yoshimoto as it's lighter and more gentle, Amrita and Kitchen

TwistofFate · 21/10/2023 07:31

I've read a lot of the books mentioned, and wanted to add The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa.

Original poster
DesperateADHDMum · 21/10/2023 08:22

I thought it a very touching book

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yodaforpresident · 21/10/2023 21:44

The Travelling Cat Chronicles is a beautiful book and would definitely recommend it. Also Before the Coffee Gets Cold - I’ve just bought the second one. I would add

The Cat Who Saved Books by Sôsuke Natsukawa
and everything by Haruki Murakami

BrontëParsonage · 22/10/2023 17:40

The Mill House Murders

BrontëParsonage · 22/10/2023 17:47

How Do You Live

Original poster
DesperateADHDMum · 22/10/2023 19:06

I just read beast in the shadows by Edogawa Rampo which is a pen name taken from the Japanese transliteration of Edgar Allen Poe which I thought was delightful!! And a good book. Certainly get you thinking!!!

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Original poster
DesperateADHDMum · 26/10/2023 20:42

Just started The woman in the dunes by Kobo Abe and realised I’d read another by him(The Ark Sakura) which I really enjoyed

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MaggieBsBoat · 27/10/2023 11:08

Ah yes Kobo Abe is fabulous.
Everything by Haruki Murakami.

Although US Japanese I think Ruth Oseki deserves a mention (she won the Booker a few years ago). Tale for the Time Being is masterful. A work of great beauty.

breadonabread · 27/10/2023 11:10

This reply has been deleted

This user is a troll so we've removed their threads and posts.

OhMargaret · 27/10/2023 13:59

Seconding Mieko Kawakami especially All the Lovers in the Night

JaninaDuszejko · 27/10/2023 20:30

cassiatwenty · 08/10/2023 20:08

@DesperateADHDMum, @Helpmefly, @JaninaDuszejko I have read a little bit of the Diving Pool but I found it a tad dark for the time being.

I much prefer Banana Yoshimoto as it's lighter and more gentle, Amrita and Kitchen

Kitchen is fabulous, I loved it.

I did hate Before the Coffee Gets Cold though, I thought the decision one character made was completely unrealistic.

I've just bought, at great expense, Places by Jakucho Setouchi thanks to a BB4 documentary. Lets hope it's good.

Original poster
DesperateADHDMum · 28/10/2023 06:23

Before the coffee gets cold is a light quick read. I think it’s a book to make you think a bit and disagreeing is part of that! I read the next 2 but found them a bit too formulaic. I’m not mad keen on the translation (or the original writing style) and he makes the cafe staff a bit holier than thou.

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BrontëParsonage · 29/10/2023 10:11

My teen, who is obsessed with Japanese culture, recommends The Beast Player series by Nahoko Uehashi.

BusinessClass · 29/10/2023 11:43

Just finished sweet bean paste as recommended by @Kaamos

lovely book

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