Read Japanese Literature
@readjapaneseliterature.com
a podcast about Japanese fiction + some of its best works | posting updates on new Japanese fiction | apologies for the typos | blocking new follows that look like bots | DON’T buy or read AI translations | all stories are political
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Read Japanese Literature is a podcast and resource site about Japanese lit and some of its best works. Follow this account for updates about the podcast, booklists of translated lit, and updates on new English-languages releases.
Remember to fill out your profile before you follow folks. ☺️
Remember to fill out your profile before you follow folks. ☺️
Natsuki Ikezawa is a poet, short story writer, novelist, and English-Japanese translator who won the Akutagawa Prize in 1987. Much of his work takes up the relationship between civilization and nature.
January 15, 2026 at 2:57 PM
Natsuki Ikezawa is a poet, short story writer, novelist, and English-Japanese translator who won the Akutagawa Prize in 1987. Much of his work takes up the relationship between civilization and nature.
Banana Yoshimoto began writing in her early 20s while working as a waitress. Her novel, Kitchen, was a worldwide smash hit—although it drew scorn from the literary establishment. (Her reputation has improved since.) Much of her work draws from tropes from shonen girls' manga and kawaii culture.
January 14, 2026 at 2:49 PM
Banana Yoshimoto began writing in her early 20s while working as a waitress. Her novel, Kitchen, was a worldwide smash hit—although it drew scorn from the literary establishment. (Her reputation has improved since.) Much of her work draws from tropes from shonen girls' manga and kawaii culture.
Happy birthday to Yukio Mishima (1925-1970), born 101 years ago today.
The ultranationalist, misogynist, genius remains one of the best-known Japanese writers outside of Japan.
The ultranationalist, misogynist, genius remains one of the best-known Japanese writers outside of Japan.
Episodes 31-32—Misogyny and Yukio Mishima - Read Japanese Literature
In this two-part episode, we're talking about misogyny in Japanese literature and the life and work of Yukio Mishima.
https://readjapaneseliterature.com/Podcast/Episodes+31-32—Misogyny+and+Yukio+Mishima
January 14, 2026 at 2:46 PM
Happy birthday to Yukio Mishima (1925-1970), born 101 years ago today.
The ultranationalist, misogynist, genius remains one of the best-known Japanese writers outside of Japan.
The ultranationalist, misogynist, genius remains one of the best-known Japanese writers outside of Japan.
Happy North American release day to Nahoko Uehashi's epic environmental fantasy Kokun—The Girl from the West, Volume 1 (trans Cathy Hirano).
Kokun: The Girl from the West
The Girl from the West
bookshop.org
January 13, 2026 at 3:04 PM
Happy North American release day to Nahoko Uehashi's epic environmental fantasy Kokun—The Girl from the West, Volume 1 (trans Cathy Hirano).
Happy release day to The Luminous Fairies and Mothra by Shinichiro Nakamura, Takehiko Fukunaga, and Yoshie Hotta and translated by Jeffrey Angles.
Pick up a copy and get ready for RJL's episode on stories about kaiju and the relationship between monster movies and their storytellers.
Pick up a copy and get ready for RJL's episode on stories about kaiju and the relationship between monster movies and their storytellers.
The Luminous Fairies and Mothra
Check out The Luminous Fairies and Mothra - <p><b>The original story that hatched Mothra, one of the most beloved monsters in the "kaijuverse"--available in English for the first time</b> <p/> Mystica...
bookshop.org
January 13, 2026 at 3:03 PM
Happy release day to The Luminous Fairies and Mothra by Shinichiro Nakamura, Takehiko Fukunaga, and Yoshie Hotta and translated by Jeffrey Angles.
Pick up a copy and get ready for RJL's episode on stories about kaiju and the relationship between monster movies and their storytellers.
Pick up a copy and get ready for RJL's episode on stories about kaiju and the relationship between monster movies and their storytellers.
Please note Bluesky is labeling a decade-old New Yorker illustration of a Haruki Murakami story as sexual content. 🫠
I have posted WAY more salacious stories than excerpts of 1Q84.
I have posted WAY more salacious stories than excerpts of 1Q84.
Haruki Murakami owned a jazz club with his wife, Yoko, before an epiphany at a baseball game led to his writing debut. Like Ryu Murakami, from whom he drew inspiration, Murakami is a veteran of '60s student protests whose work often takes up isolation and disillusionment through magical realism.
January 13, 2026 at 2:50 PM
Please note Bluesky is labeling a decade-old New Yorker illustration of a Haruki Murakami story as sexual content. 🫠
I have posted WAY more salacious stories than excerpts of 1Q84.
I have posted WAY more salacious stories than excerpts of 1Q84.
Haruki Murakami owned a jazz club with his wife, Yoko, before an epiphany at a baseball game led to his writing debut. Like Ryu Murakami, from whom he drew inspiration, Murakami is a veteran of '60s student protests whose work often takes up isolation and disillusionment through magical realism.
January 13, 2026 at 2:48 PM
Haruki Murakami owned a jazz club with his wife, Yoko, before an epiphany at a baseball game led to his writing debut. Like Ryu Murakami, from whom he drew inspiration, Murakami is a veteran of '60s student protests whose work often takes up isolation and disillusionment through magical realism.
Reposted by Read Japanese Literature
Hi everyone,
If you are a literary translator, please fill our survey ! It only takes a few minutes and we need your feedback to get a clearer picture 😊
www.ceatl.eu/ceatls-ai-su...
If you are a literary translator, please fill our survey ! It only takes a few minutes and we need your feedback to get a clearer picture 😊
www.ceatl.eu/ceatls-ai-su...
CEATL's AI survey
CEATL is reaching out to invite you to participate in a survey regarding literary translation and artificial intelligence.
www.ceatl.eu
January 13, 2026 at 10:12 AM
Hi everyone,
If you are a literary translator, please fill our survey ! It only takes a few minutes and we need your feedback to get a clearer picture 😊
www.ceatl.eu/ceatls-ai-su...
If you are a literary translator, please fill our survey ! It only takes a few minutes and we need your feedback to get a clearer picture 😊
www.ceatl.eu/ceatls-ai-su...
In high school, Ryu Murakami ("the Other Murakami") was a participant in the 1968/9 student protests in Japan. He is known for his novels about Japan's darker side—drugs, murder, war, disillusionment. Almost Transparent Blue (1976), won the Akutagawa Prize for this new vision of Japanese literature.
January 12, 2026 at 3:37 PM
In high school, Ryu Murakami ("the Other Murakami") was a participant in the 1968/9 student protests in Japan. He is known for his novels about Japan's darker side—drugs, murder, war, disillusionment. Almost Transparent Blue (1976), won the Akutagawa Prize for this new vision of Japanese literature.
Reposted by Read Japanese Literature
Japan’s main coming-of-age tradition is Seijin-shiki (成人式), the Coming-of-Age Ceremony. It is held every year on Coming of Age Day, a national holiday on the second Monday of January. The ceremony celebrates young people who have turned 20, recognising them as adults with social responsibilities.
January 12, 2026 at 9:56 AM
Japan’s main coming-of-age tradition is Seijin-shiki (成人式), the Coming-of-Age Ceremony. It is held every year on Coming of Age Day, a national holiday on the second Monday of January. The ceremony celebrates young people who have turned 20, recognising them as adults with social responsibilities.
Tatsuhiko Shibusawa rose to prominence in an obscenity trial for his translation of a Marquis de Sade novel. According to translator David Boyd, he was “accused of making the obscene work even more obscene", He was found guilty, and remained “one of Japan’s most shocking and powerful voices”.
January 11, 2026 at 4:57 PM
Tatsuhiko Shibusawa rose to prominence in an obscenity trial for his translation of a Marquis de Sade novel. According to translator David Boyd, he was “accused of making the obscene work even more obscene", He was found guilty, and remained “one of Japan’s most shocking and powerful voices”.
Kobo Abe grew up in Japan's Manchurian colonies, and so never felt fully Japanese. Nevertheless, he become one of Japan's most iconic 20th century writers, playwrights, and directors. He also patronized the rise of Japanese sci-fi. He is probably best known for the novel The Woman in the Dunes.
January 10, 2026 at 8:30 PM
Kobo Abe grew up in Japan's Manchurian colonies, and so never felt fully Japanese. Nevertheless, he become one of Japan's most iconic 20th century writers, playwrights, and directors. He also patronized the rise of Japanese sci-fi. He is probably best known for the novel The Woman in the Dunes.
Yukio Mishima is one of the best-known Japanese writers outside of Japan and was considered for the Nobel Prize at least five times for stories like The Temple of the Golden Pavilion. Readers should know he was a nationalist who publicly acknowledged that he held misogynistic views.
January 9, 2026 at 5:31 PM
Yukio Mishima is one of the best-known Japanese writers outside of Japan and was considered for the Nobel Prize at least five times for stories like The Temple of the Golden Pavilion. Readers should know he was a nationalist who publicly acknowledged that he held misogynistic views.
AI is theft.
Many fans are fearing for the future of the manga industry after an AI-generated title took the top sales spot on Japan's largest e-Book store. Some are arguing that AI slop derived from other artists' work should be segregated into a separate category.
buff.ly/ZS5r7Hw
buff.ly/ZS5r7Hw
How an AI Manga Became a Bestseller on Japan’s Largest e-Book Store - Unseen Japan
How did a fully AI-generated manga hit number one in Japan? And what does its success portend for the future of the industry?
unseen-japan.com
January 8, 2026 at 10:32 PM
AI is theft.
Osamu Dazai, the youngest son of a wealthy landowner, deeply disappointed his family's expectations. Still, he became one of Japan's most important modern writers. His most famous work outside of Japan is the novel No Longer Human. He died in a double suicide, leaving behind daughter Yuko Tsushima.
January 8, 2026 at 2:47 PM
Osamu Dazai, the youngest son of a wealthy landowner, deeply disappointed his family's expectations. Still, he became one of Japan's most important modern writers. His most famous work outside of Japan is the novel No Longer Human. He died in a double suicide, leaving behind daughter Yuko Tsushima.
Reposted by Read Japanese Literature
The “old/ancient/medieval” = isolated is such a tired, ignorant trope. For Japan it’s even worse because of nationalist talking points about isolation and uniqueness. When I tell students there were literally MILLIONS of immigrants into the archipelago by the 9th century it blows their minds.
Just to back up Anthony as a medievalist, that’s one of the dumbest fucking claims imaginable.
There have never NOT been people from continental Europe, Africa, and Asia moving to/ from the British Isles for 2000 years. In early modernity, this included the Americas!
There have never NOT been people from continental Europe, Africa, and Asia moving to/ from the British Isles for 2000 years. In early modernity, this included the Americas!
I just heard a law professor claim in a recording that in early modern England, there wasn’t any significant migration to the British Isles, which is just plainly wrong.
January 8, 2026 at 12:51 PM
The “old/ancient/medieval” = isolated is such a tired, ignorant trope. For Japan it’s even worse because of nationalist talking points about isolation and uniqueness. When I tell students there were literally MILLIONS of immigrants into the archipelago by the 9th century it blows their minds.
When the Museum Is Closed!
Emi Yagi’s first in translation since Diary of a Void. Translated by Yuki Tejima.
Europeans have had access since summer 2025. 😩 Out in North America soon.
Emi Yagi’s first in translation since Diary of a Void. Translated by Yuki Tejima.
Europeans have had access since summer 2025. 😩 Out in North America soon.
January 8, 2026 at 12:49 AM
When the Museum Is Closed!
Emi Yagi’s first in translation since Diary of a Void. Translated by Yuki Tejima.
Europeans have had access since summer 2025. 😩 Out in North America soon.
Emi Yagi’s first in translation since Diary of a Void. Translated by Yuki Tejima.
Europeans have had access since summer 2025. 😩 Out in North America soon.
Just finished my first-ever watch of the original Godzilla for an upcoming podcast episode.
Thinking about the PTSD of folks in the cinema watching Tokyo burn down…
The symbolism of a radioactive monster…
Geez.
Thinking about the PTSD of folks in the cinema watching Tokyo burn down…
The symbolism of a radioactive monster…
Geez.
January 7, 2026 at 11:52 PM
Just finished my first-ever watch of the original Godzilla for an upcoming podcast episode.
Thinking about the PTSD of folks in the cinema watching Tokyo burn down…
The symbolism of a radioactive monster…
Geez.
Thinking about the PTSD of folks in the cinema watching Tokyo burn down…
The symbolism of a radioactive monster…
Geez.
Reposted by Read Japanese Literature
Wonderful list! Just read and wrote a review of Girl Friends by Kaori Ekuni, translated by Sharni Wilson. :)
janeeksie.substack.com/p/kaori-ekun...
janeeksie.substack.com/p/kaori-ekun...
January 7, 2026 at 7:01 PM
Wonderful list! Just read and wrote a review of Girl Friends by Kaori Ekuni, translated by Sharni Wilson. :)
janeeksie.substack.com/p/kaori-ekun...
janeeksie.substack.com/p/kaori-ekun...
Edogawa Ranpo (a pen name from the American writer), Edogawa is widely considered the father of the Japanese mystery story, beginning with his 1923 tale, "The Two-Sen Copper Coin". He is also associated with Taisho era “erotic, grotesque, nonsense" and an interest in stories of male/male love.
January 7, 2026 at 5:48 PM
Edogawa Ranpo (a pen name from the American writer), Edogawa is widely considered the father of the Japanese mystery story, beginning with his 1923 tale, "The Two-Sen Copper Coin". He is also associated with Taisho era “erotic, grotesque, nonsense" and an interest in stories of male/male love.
Happy birthday to Tomihiko Morimi! The author (one of my favorites!) turns 47 today.
You can learn more about his life and work with the RJL podcast.
You can learn more about his life and work with the RJL podcast.
Episode 19—Japanese Magical Realism - Read Japanese Literature
Today, we’re going to take a look at magical realism in Japanese fiction. Magical realism is a literary genre famous for unexplained fantastical encounters that pop-up in the otherwise everyday world…
https://readjapaneseliterature.com/Podcast/Episode+19—Japanese+Magical+Realism
January 6, 2026 at 9:21 PM
Happy birthday to Tomihiko Morimi! The author (one of my favorites!) turns 47 today.
You can learn more about his life and work with the RJL podcast.
You can learn more about his life and work with the RJL podcast.
Takiji Kobayashi is perhaps the best known of Japan's proletarian writers, a group attempting to write for working-class people and incorporate Marxist ides into the plot. (They didn't always succeed.) He was killed by police in 1933 at just 29 years old.
January 6, 2026 at 6:46 PM
Takiji Kobayashi is perhaps the best known of Japan's proletarian writers, a group attempting to write for working-class people and incorporate Marxist ides into the plot. (They didn't always succeed.) He was killed by police in 1933 at just 29 years old.
Happy release day to Jose Ando’s Jackson Alone, trans. Kalou Almony.
“Four Black Japanese gay men team up against a culture where discrimination is deep-seated and revenge is just a click away. A searing, darkly funny debut from the Akutagawa Prize–winning author.”
“Four Black Japanese gay men team up against a culture where discrimination is deep-seated and revenge is just a click away. A searing, darkly funny debut from the Akutagawa Prize–winning author.”
Jackson Alone
Check out Jackson Alone - <b>Four Black Japanese gay men team up against a culture where discrimination is deep-seated and revenge is just a click away. A searing, darkly funny debut from the Akutagaw...
bookshop.org
January 6, 2026 at 2:05 PM
Happy release day to Jose Ando’s Jackson Alone, trans. Kalou Almony.
“Four Black Japanese gay men team up against a culture where discrimination is deep-seated and revenge is just a click away. A searing, darkly funny debut from the Akutagawa Prize–winning author.”
“Four Black Japanese gay men team up against a culture where discrimination is deep-seated and revenge is just a click away. A searing, darkly funny debut from the Akutagawa Prize–winning author.”
@jimrion.com et al.—Does the film "The Floor Plan" have a connection to Strange Buildings and/or Strange Houses?
The Floor Plan - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
January 5, 2026 at 11:54 PM
@jimrion.com et al.—Does the film "The Floor Plan" have a connection to Strange Buildings and/or Strange Houses?