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The Best Books of Japan: A Masterlist 🇯🇵🍡
64
items The perfect list for anyone trying to find their next Japanese read - there's something for everyone! From heartwarming reads that feel like a hug in book form, to mysterious thrillers, you can find something for you no matter what mood you're in.
Sections
9
emotional stories
heart-warming reads
quirky & weird
atmospheric reads
feminist lit
horror & thriller
emotional stories
A collection of stories about women recovering from painful events, each story shows us how the little things in life can make us happier.
Dead-End Memories
A book that consists of two stories, one in which the narrator takes a hike while grieving the death of her girlfriend, and one about a young woman whose sister is in a coma. There is a supernatural eerie element present, and it is written very well....
Hard-boiled & Hard Luck
Possibly the best of Banana Yoshimoto's work, an emotional novel about Mikage, who moves in with her friend and his mother Eriko, a trans woman. She develops a special connection with them, and we learn about her love for kitchens. The novel also inc...
Kitchen
The novel mainly follows a woman who works as a copy editor and leads an uneventful life, and she's an intriguing character because of how detached she is. She also has an interesting friend who is like her polar opposite. Lots of commentary on how w...
All the Lovers in the Night
Heaven follows a 14 year old boy who gets bullied at school for his lazy eye, and his friend Kojima is the only one who understands him because she also gets bullied. The two, especially Kojima, have interesting thoughts on why this must be happening...
Heaven
The famous Osamu Dazai talks about the every day experiences of a young schoolgirl in Japan, through a day in her life. The most important and valuable part is the girl's inner monologue, full of her musings and contemplations on her life.
Schoolgirl
An extremely well written novel, the main themes being nostalgia and facing the fact that you have to let go of something. The character analysis is great as well.
Goodbye Tsugumi
A short book about Tsukiko and her friendship with Sensei, who was once her teacher. They're both very lonely and watching their friendship develop is a wonderful experience.
Strange Weather in Tokyo
True to its title, this story which is connected to Strange Weather in Tokyo reads just like a folktale. The elements of mythology are great, and it's pretty much a must read for fans of Strange Weather in Tokyo.
Parade
The narrator, Hitomi, works at a shop that is special because of the objects sold there, but also because of the connections she makes with Mr Nakano, Takeo, and Masayo through working there. The shop itself is described so well, it makes you want to...
The Nakano Thrift Shop
A book that reveals to us who Mr Nishino is through the words of his ten loves. The things we discover are indeed negative, but it's an interesting reading experience nonetheless, and it's pretty fun to judge him harshly as you read.
The Ten Loves of Mr Nishino
A collection of stories in which Banana Yoshimoto's signature writing style truly shines. Many themes are discussed, but mainly time, healing, and fate.
Lizard
A beautiful read about the way the main character, Yoshie, deals with the passing of her father. Her father haunts her dreams and Yoshie keeps trying to call him, referencing the title of the novel, since moshi moshi is the greeting Japanese people u...
Moshi Moshi
This book is the childhood favourite book of Hayao Miyazaki of Studio Ghibli, so you already know it's a very special and touching story. It's a Japanese classic about a boy who gets life advice from his uncle, now that his father has passed away.
How Do You Live?
Dazai's most famous novel and a Japanese classic, a deeply emotional and autobiographical story in which the protagonist feels like a failure and cannot understand other people, leading to feelings of isolation and alienation.
No Longer Human
A unique story and a bestseller in Japan, about a dead soul who's been given a second chance. It has a beautiful message about seeing joy in the little moments of life.
Colorful
An impactful story about Kazu, a spirit haunting Tokyo Ueno Station, and his connection to this specific place. A very captivating writing style.
Tokyo Ueno Station
A book with an atmosphere that draws you in immediately, and a surreal story with many gorgeous elements of magical realism. It follows the family of a famous actress who has passed away mysteriously.
Amrita
A touching story about grief, family, death, loss, and coping with the death of a loved one. Features illustrations and photos by the beloved Nara Yoshimoto.
Argentine Hag
A beautiful book and a beautiful writing style, especially when it comes to the way the author talks about music and the process of creating music. It follows the lives of three students who are in a piano competition.
Honeybees and Distant Thunder
A story about nostalgia and family, that follows a 19 year old girl called Yayoi, struggling with the sense that she can't remember something big that happened to her as a child. She moves in with Yukino, her peculiar aunt, in hopes that she'll find ...
The Premonition
A psychologically intriguing book that you can easily read in one sitting, follows a young actor called Rikio. Explores his thoughts on loneliness, life in the spotlight, and his strange relationship with his makeup artist.
Star
Mostly a novel about love, follows a guitarist called Makino, and a journalist called Yoko. They form a very interesting bond, which is amplified by the author's amazing writing style.
At the End of the Matinee
A touching story about Shingo, an old man whose kids have moved in with him and his wife due to some personal issues. Themes of human relationships, life and death, and the role of a parent in a child's life.
The Sound of the Mountain
heart-warming reads
An absolutely adorable story and a truly heart-warming bestseller. This novel follows an ex-con who has a job selling doriyaki, who then befriends an old woman who used to have Hansen's disease. An emotional book that carries important messages about...
Sweet Bean Paste
An undeniably adorable story that you will definitely enjoy if you liked the Studio Ghibli movie by the same name. A book that feels like a warm, cozy blanket.
Kiki's Delivery Service
An inspiring story about Takako, a woman who moves into a bookstore owned by her uncle. At first she has no interest in books, but we watch her change over time and blossom into a lover of literature.
Days at the Morisaki Bookshop
The beautiful story of a Tokyo librarian who is capable of knowing exactly what each and every visitor would like to read. When she recommends someone a book, it changes their life forever. A cozy, magical read.
What You Are Looking For Is in the Library
One of the most heart-warming and inspiring books ever, in which several kids are pulled into a mysterious castle. The approach to children's mental health is excellent, and this story is reminiscent of a Studio Ghibli movie.
Lonely Castle in the Mirror
A cozy little book about the many people living in one neighbourhood, featuring many strange or even magical people and events. Reading this book is like stepping into the neighbourhood yourself.
People from My Neighborhood
A story about the friendship between a housekeeper, her son, and the professor she works for. The professor has a condition where his memory is reset every day, so he meets the housekeeper and her son again with every new day. We also get to read abo...
The Housekeeper and the Professor
A precious story about Tamon, a dog looking for his owner after a tsunami and an earthquake. He meets very many people, but nobody compares to his owner. Truly the sweetest read ever.
The Boy and the Dog
An adorable romance novel about the extremely sweet story in which Kimi goes to Japan hoping to find herself and connect with her grandparents, and ends up falling in love with Akira, who works at a mochi shop.
I Love You So Mochi
quirky & weird
A collection of stories that you'll consider pretty quirky, or even straight up weird. Topics range from a woman who can't understand why her fiance dislikes items made of human remains, to a story in which a woman changes her personality to fit ever...
Life Ceremony
Probably Sayaka Murata's most famous book, and a perfect way to get to know her signature style. The story follows a woman who works at a convenience store and has a special connection to it, and other people often find her extremely weird. She's a c...
Convenience Store Woman
The quirky story of a boy who is infatuated with a woman who works at a store where she sells sandwiches. Everyone else finds the woman unpleasant, but the boy spends his time drawing her, telling his grandmother about her, and hanging out with his p...
Ms Ice Sandwich
A very fun, quirky story about Shizuka, a violin professor who's meant to deliver a certain number of souls to hell; Katrina, her student going through various struggles as a trans woman; and Lan, the head of an alien family who make donuts. The thre...
Light From Uncommon Stars
An especially unique novel in Sayaka Murata's quirky signature style, it follows Natsuki and her husband, who are feeling pressured to conform to being normal, whatever that entails. There's also a lot of insight into Natsuki's childhood, and she's a...
Earthlings
One of Hiromi Kawakami's most underrated books, a collection of super intriguing stories in the magical realism genre. The common themes of all eight stories are magic and transformation.
Dragon Palace
A collection of three stories, all with elements of magical realism. The first story is about a woman going through an endless night of strange occurrences, the second about a woman whose brother has disappeared, and the third about a woman who steps...
Record of a Night Too Brief
A psychologically interesting novel about a young girl called Mari, who gets into a relationship with a very strange man who may have murdered his wife. Themes of desire, relationships, various taboos, morality, and more.
Hotel Iris
A very unique novel about a Japanese author who has passed away and left behind some unpublished stories in English, and everyone who tries to translate story number 98 dies too. A girl called Kazami then decides to unravel this mystery.
NP
A super intriguing book with two unreliable narrators, Aki and Hiro, who have broken up but they're spending one last night together. Aki believes Hiro killed their mountain trek guide, while Hiro believes it was actually Aki. What, then, actually ha...
Fish Swimming in Dappled Sunlight
A collection of quirky and unique short stories, all eleven stories have absurd characters. Some read like fever dreams, or even hallucinations. Lots of references to music and feminism.
Hit Parade of Tears
atmospheric reads
An underrated gem of a book from the author of works like Strange Weather in Tokyo, a super atmospheric and melancholic story about memories, grief, desperation, love, desire, motherhood, and more. A woman grieving her husband gets obsessed with a sm...
Manazuru
A collection of three stories all sharing the theme that is sleep, which is very much reflected by the atmosphere of each story. In the first story we see a sleepwalking woman, in the second a woman who is haunted in her dreams by a woman she was in ...
Asleep
An atmospheric story about how the life of a woman grieving her mother's death gets more and more mysterious. The cult theme is an especially interesting element.
The Lake
A quietly intriguing novel about Taro and Nishi exploring the mysteries of the blue house next to their building, as they wait for their apartment block to be destroyed so it can be replaced by modern buildings. An atmospheric read that comments on l...
Spring Garden
feminist lit
A feminist novel, mainly focusing on Natsuko's relationships with other women, but also her own sense of womanhood. Lots of different topics are discussed, such as fertility, beauty standards, plastic surgery, and objectification.
Breasts and Eggs
A novel about the struggles and lives of pregnant women, focusing on Shibata, who pretends that she's pregnant and starts to realise how differently people treat her, except she goes (too) far in her pretending. Excellent writing, super easy to read.
Diary of a Void
A book focused on motherhood, society's expectations, and what it's like to be a woman. Beautifully written, follows a pregnant woman who is already a single mother of an 11 year old girl.
Child of Fortune
horror & thriller
A mystery of a middle school murder that develops in an extremely interesting way - it's best to go into this story knowing as little about it as possible.
Confessions
A short story collection consisting of eleven horror tales, all of them being connected to each other through small details. Every story seems normal at first, until the creepiness settles in.
Revenge
non-fiction
A non-fiction book with a beautiful cover that tells you everything you need to know about the Japanese Tea Ceremony.
The Wisdom of Tea
A super educational book about Japanese mythology and folklore, written by an actual scholar on the subject.
An Introduction to Yokai Culture
cat books
One of the best cat novels, a book about the cat Nana and his owner Satoru, who go on a trip together since Satoru is trying to find a new home for Nana. Nana gets to meet many new people and animals, and sees new places. Nana also has an adorably sn...
The Travelling Cat Chronicles
An adorable novel that revolves around a lonely girl and her cat who adores her. Chobi, the cat, has some adorable observations and friendships with other animals in the neighbourhood. A read that will definitely make you smile.
She and Her Cat
One of Japan's heartwarming cat books, a novel about Rintaro, a boy whose deceased grandfather owned a bookstore called Natsuki Books. He meets a talking cat, Tiger, and they have to save books that have been abandoned or treated badly. Almost like a...
The Cat Who Saved Books
One of Japan's best cat themed novels, about a man with terminal brain cancer who gets an offer from the Devil where he can get an additional day to live for every item he disappears from the world. Would he let his cat, Cabbage, disappear as well?
If Cats Disappeared from the World
A collection of cat-themed stories, the highlight being the adorable cat Spin, a rescue kitten. Includes some cute illustrations as well, a super cozy read.
The Goodbye Cat
A heart-warming story about a couple that starts getting visits from a neighbourhood cat called Chibi, who they get very attached to since they live otherwise uneventful lives. Highlights how seemingly small things can make one the happiest.
The Guest Cat
dystopian stories
An intriguing book that criticises work culture, in capitalism specifically. It follows three workers of a factory and their thoughts on how they feel like they're becoming nothing more than employees, instead of actual people with personalities.
The Factory
A dystopian novel about a regime in which people are to forget about things that disappear on a regular basis. The story focuses on a woman and her editor who is unable to forget anything. The atmosphere was perfectly eerie at times, it's a very well...
The Memory Police
A dystopian novel about Klara, an Artificial Friend, and the way Klara fits into the lives of Chrissy and Josie, considering she is literally a robot. A very well written story that asks the question what does it mean to love.
Klara and the Sun