Japanese fiction

[DesperateADHDMum]

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!

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.

looks good! I’ve also read Yukio Mishima and various books based around cats! The Ark Sakura as well.

My favourite Japanese writer at the moment is Mieko Kawakami. Yōko Ogawa's The Memory Police was incredible but I've not read any others yet. Hiromi Kawakami writes gentle literary romances. Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto is also good.

Confessions by Kanea Minato was a really good read.

Thanks. I enjoyed Lonely castle in the mirror if anyone else has read that.

any older books? I like 20th century - tend to avoid anything with modern issues as read too much about them on the news already!!

Oh I loved out as well

Sweet Bean Paste by Durian Sukegawa is excellent.

I really enjoyed The Makioka Sisters by Junichiro Tanisaki. A bit like a Japanese version of Pride and Prejudice

@Manicpanicatthedisco i loved Out as well, are there any similar you can recommend? Sorry to hijack thread!

Sorry @Yeswecan12 I don't know any as good as out - although all of Natsuo Kirino's books I've read have been good. She's written loads in Japanese but unfortunately just a few have been translated so far. I also read one in French as it had been translated into French but not English so if you speak any other languages it's worth checking!

I forgot about the housekeeper and the professor - that was really good as well

I liked the woman in the purple skirt.

I love the style of Japanese authors.

I like more character and psychological based books than plot driven works.

You've beat me to it! Agree they're an acquired taste though.
I have all her translated books but there hasn't been a new one for a while and she has so many more. Maybe I need to learn Japanese.

Yuko Tsushima

Out is next in my reading pile and I’ve got a few more on my shopping list. Thanks!

Oh I just read. Before the coffee gets cold...because its a time slip novel...but I enjoyed it and was thinking I should explore more Japanese authors

thats The last one I read - an interesting read but it did make me think I’ve read better so should find them.

Yoko Ogawa - Revenge

Strange Weather in Tokyo by Hiroma Kawakawi

Immediately thought of “Three Wild Swans”, but a quick Amazon search and discovered it’s set in China not Japan.

Well I’ve just finished Out and thought it was excellent - though troubling!! Will try out some of the other recommendations

Toshikatzu Kawaguchi Before the coffee gets cold

So just bought these to read

diary of a void by emi yagi
tokyo express by seicho matsumoto
the sailor who fell from Grace by mishima

Loved this and I am just about to start the third in the series!

I thought The Great Passage by Shion Midura was endearing. You don’t get books like that in the English language!