Seeped in history, the novel is a vivid and immersive story of conflict and resilience, and … This three-volume edition begins with the geological formation of the archipelago and ends with the Meiji Restoration of 1868 which saw the end of the Tokugawa shogunate. Kazuo Ishiguro, born in Japan but raised in the UK, has written two books set in Japan. published 1992, avg rating 4.00 — It originally consisted of 31 volumes, though only 28 remain today. published 1997, avg rating 3.47 — 24 ratings — 758 ratings — The World of the Shining Prince: Court Life in Ancient Japan, by Ivan Morris (Purchase from Amazon) 3. A Modern History of Japan book. Best Historical Novels About Japan 1. published 2006, 1 chapters — 10,879 ratings — 204 ratings — published 2003, avg rating 3.92 — In a post-war world, he is shunned but still living, and trying to grapple with his … He is best known for his novels Botchan, Kokoro, I Am a Cat and his unfinished work Light and Darkness. 50 Essential Historical Fiction Books. 1. Now let’s delve into some really good Japanese books in English! Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. 467 ratings — Hirohito and the Making of Modern Japan, by Herbert P. Bix (Purchase from Amazon) 2. 1: East Asia in the 16th Century, IMJIN WAR Ep. Written in easy-to-read prose and with an eye for a captivating episode, any study of Japan’s history should begin with this box-set overview. published 1997, avg rating 4.25 — published 1985, avg rating 4.12 — Read 55 reviews from the world's largest community for r… by James Clavell. The book tells the story of four women working at a bento (boxed lunch) factory in the suburbs of Tokyo. Japan has what some people claim to be a unique culture. The Amulet: A heart-breaking novel of love and loss set in WW2 Singapore (Echoes of Empire: A colle… published 1982, avg rating 4.12 — published 2002, avg rating 3.79 — 92 ratings — published 2009, avg rating 4.15 — published 1972, avg rating 4.26 — 43 ratings — 28,762 ratings — Memoirs of A Geisha (1997) is a somber novel about Japan’s geisha industry from Japanophile and author, Arthur Golden. In Japan, Natsume is often considered as the greatest writer in modern Japanese history. updated May 17, 2016 03:54AM — Prices. published 1975, avg rating 3.66 — 143 ratings — 1,851 ratings — published 2002, avg rating 4.13 — published 1999, avg rating 4.21 — 37,444 ratings — Most are stories drawn from both Buddhist and secular folklore. Kenzo Kitakata Japan began producing color woodblock prints in 1765. published 1996, avg rating 4.12 — $5 - $10; $10 - $25; $25 - $50; Over $50; Formats. I Am a Cat By Soseki Natsume, 1905. list created December 28th, 2016 All the books we have selected are strong on location and what Japan is about – from historical novels, to tense thrillers, to travelogues. Shogun. published 1969, avg rating 4.27 — Shinjū (novel) Shiroi Kyotō; Shōgun (novel) The Sign of the Chrysanthemum; Silence (novel) The Silent Cry; Silk (novel) Silk and Insight; Sisters of the Sword; Snow Country; The Snow Empress; So Far from the Bamboo Grove; Socrates in Love; Somersault (novel) Sorekara; The Sound of the Mountain; The Sound of Waves; South of the Border, West of the Sun; Spiral (Suzuki novel) 1. Japan at War: An Oral History, … published 1946, avg rating 4.03 — 151,933 ratings — published 1990, avg rating 3.76 — Lists are re-scored approximately every 5 minutes. Stranger in the Shogun’s City is an outstanding Japanese history book, as enticing and fluid as any novel. published 2000, avg rating 3.84 — by. published 1963, avg rating 4.02 — Refresh and try again. It does not matter whether it is traditional or contemporary Japanese culture.Though traditional Japanese culture is the main source of knowing the old traditions dating back thousands of years.. Today I am going to feature the 10 most fascinating children’s books that teach them about Japanese culture. 131 ratings — published 1977, avg rating 3.89 — published 1645, avg rating 4.02 — List View List. You must have a goodreads account to vote. One of the best Japanese novels to come out of the country in years was 2018’s Konbini Ningen (or Convenience Store Woman). Discover the best Japanese History in Best Sellers. 84 ratings — Not in 4000 years of Japanese recorded history had anyone followed the Cherry Blossom Front from one end of the country to the other. 738 ratings — Error rating book. 5,854 ratings — published 1961, avg rating 4.02 — published 1964, avg rating 3.72 — “ Konjaku Monogatari Shu ” is a large collection of stories that was written during the late Heian period (794-1185 A.D.). One of the most famous/popular books... 2. A basic understanding of Japanese history is essential to making sense of contemporary Japan, and the books below provide insight into some of the country’s most crucial historical periods. “The entrenched interests of the regional nobility prevented the proper functioning of a government built upon ethical practice. Through great pride and determination, she would be hailed as one of the most prized geishas in Japan’s history, and one of the last great practitioners of this now fading art form. Abbie’s recommendations for the best Japanese books: Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami . 89 ratings — Why not focus on some serious family drama? First, you’ll find her recommendations for Japanese novels to read, then I list my own. published 1986, avg rating 4.08 — I grew up in Guam listening to stories my grandparents told about the Japanese occupation of the island during the Second World War, so this also piqued my curiosity. In the 1980’s Banana Yoshimoto and Haruki Murakami emerged as bestselling authors widely known outside Japan. 2,419 ratings — 567 ratings — 14. This novel - … While high-minded scholars often called for reforms, their memoranda carried little weight with an idle aristocracy.”, avg rating 3.79 — 26 ratings — I have some Japanese heritage, so learning about the language, history, and culture of the country meant tapping into an undiscovered part of myself. 1,530 ratings — published 1999, avg rating 3.99 — Nor had anyone hitchhiked the length of Japan. Today Japanese books ranges from the popular manga, to crime novels, science fiction, creepy horror and modern literature books. The book also explains how the country gradually adopted Western culture, military strategy, and politics after the First World War. Pachinko is a wonderful engrossing novel about four generations of a Korean family who moved to Japan in the early 20th century. 1,649 ratings — Add to Wishlist. But, heady on sakura and sake, Will Ferguson bet he could do both. A Classic Essay on Samurai Ethics (Hardcover), Kaigun: Strategy, Tactics, and Technology in the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1887-1941 (Hardcover), The Cambridge History of Japan, Volume 5: the Nineteenth Century (Hardcover), The Cambridge History of Japan, Volume 2: Heian Japan (Hardcover), The Cambridge History of Japan, Volume 3: Medieval Japan (Hardcover), The Last Shogun: The Life of Tokugawa Yoshinobu (Paperback), The Japanese Discovery of Europe, 1720-1830: Revised Edition (Paperback), Nagasaki: Life After Nuclear War (Hardcover), Showa, 1926-1939: A History of Japan (Paperback), Shogun: The Life of Tokugawa Ieyasu (Paperback), Japan: A Short Cultural History (Paperback), Downfall: The End of the Imperial Japanese Empire (Paperback), Absolute Erotic, Absolute Grotesque: The Living, Dead, and Undead in Japan's Imperialism, 1895-1945 (Paperback), Japonius Tyrannus: The Japanese Warlord Oda Nobunaga Reconsidered (Hardcover), Japan at War: An Oral History (Paperback), Peasants, Rebels, and Outcastes: The Underside of Modern Japan (Paperback), A Book of Five Rings: The Classic Guide to Strategy (Hardcover), Splendid Monarchy: Power and Pageantry in Modern Japan (Paperback), Japan in Print: Information and Nation in the Early Modern Period (Hardcover), IMJIN WAR Ep. published 1008, avg rating 3.79 — 484 ratings — published 1931, avg rating 4.18 — 24 ratings — The country has a long and great history and traditions that have stood the test of time. published 1967, avg rating 4.12 — Courtesy: McRent. 60 ratings — The following list includes five of the best fictional tales that explore different aspects of that history. It is available from the Guardian bookshop for £22, including free UK p&p. 999 ratings — Buy “Geisha of Gion” here. It brings to life a fascinating period of Japanese history and shines a light on the life of a woman from a place nobody knows, a woman who swims against the current to do something different with her life. So important in fact that from 1984 until 2004, his portrait appeared on the front of the Japanese 1000 yen note. updated May 13, 2015 06:33PM — 53 ratings — As 2020 approaches, The Japan Times' book reviewers look back at a decade of literature and their favorite and most impactful books written about Japan or by Japanese writers. published 2005, avg rating 3.69 — 1,497 ratings — Find the top 100 most popular items in Amazon Books Best Sellers. Paperback; NOOK Book; Audio CD; Hardcover; Audio MP3 on CD; Japan - Historical Fiction. 825 ratings — published 1988, avg rating 3.71 — 6,303 ratings — I am a cat. Blogger, zine maker and all round creative Ebony Bizys moved to Tokyo in 2010 after working at Vogue magazine for 11 years. 1,768,693 ratings — published 1999, avg rating 3.72 — Japan - Historical Fiction 3; Refine by. They were essentially early examples of comic books. From samurai to geisha and feudalism to philosophy, Japan’s history is brimming with intrigue. published 2003, avg rating 4.05 — published 1958, avg rating 4.12 — The books below are some of those most highly rated by members of the TripFiction community. published 2000, avg rating 4.13 — Read the book. Paperback $17.99 $19.99 Current price is $17.99, Original price is $19.99. published 2002, avg rating 3.79 — Welcome back. 111 ratings — published 2010, avg rating 4.04 — published 1993, avg rating 3.89 — published 1970, avg rating 3.93 — Geisha: The Secret History of a Vanishing World by Lesley Downer. Hello Sandwich ‘Tokyo Guide’, Ebony Bizys (2015) Though this is more guidebook than novel, it’s a great look at the contemporary world of Japanese food, art and culture. For his first novel, produced when he was just 23, he wrote about a group of boys evacuated to a remote village in the closing days of the war. QUICK ADD. published 1995, avg rating 4.15 — published 1995, avg rating 3.95 — This is the peak of modern Japanese novels, and it holds the state of modern-day Japanese life under a lens by force. 112 ratings — Not only that, but many subcultures are quite unique in Japan, too, attracting a lot of attention from other countries. Oe grew up in wartime Japan. published 1982, avg rating 4.05 — The technology was soon used to produce graphic novels known as Gesaku that were dark, sensual, playful, mocking and irreverent. published 2015, avg rating 4.26 — 3 - Japan vs. Korea: The Invasion Begins. 1,554 ratings — 4,334 ratings — The Lone Samurai: The Life of Miyamoto Musashi, by William Scott Wilson (Purchase from Amazon) 4. Japanese culture fascinates millions of people from all over the world. published 1219, avg rating 3.82 — 3,720 ratings — Geisha of Gion (Geisha, a Life) by Mineko Iwasaki. 178 ratings — Read 30 877 reviews from the world's largest community for readers. 1,155 ratings — 224 ratings — 789 ratings — Min Jin Lee uses this game of chance and manipulation as a metaphor in her novel, which trails a Korean family through four generations from Korea to Japan. Translated by Philip Gabriel . Japanese literature has a rich history and some of the early works were heavily influenced by Chinese literature, while Western literature impacted later works. 53 ratings — Western ideas and their influence on Japan’s economy … See reviews . Cellphone literature, books written on a mobile via text messaging, comes from Japan and is very popular. published 1993, avg rating 4.39 — Pachinko by Min Jin Lee. Memoirs of a Geisha book. published 1997, avg rating 4.00 — It is a doorstopper, so if you're only mildly interested, the manga version of The Tale of Genji by Waki Yamato might be a better fit. See All Formats. The resulting travelogue is one of the funniest and most illuminating books ever written about Japan. Whether or not you consider yourself a fan of historical fiction, you've heard the names Hilary Mantel, Eleanor Catton, Anthony Doerr and Kristin Hannah repeatedly over recent years. Japanese Novels. As in Yokohama Yankee it was shocking to read how difficult it was for foreigners to integrate into the country and how even third generation immigrants born in Japan were refused citizenship and treated as inferior. 752 ratings — published 2000, avg rating 4.35 — If you haven’t seen the television version, don’t. The four novels span from 1912 (just after the Russo-Japanese war) to post-war Japan in 1975. As yet I have no name. 24 ratings — 29 ratings — 392 ratings — 1 - 20 of 76 results Grid View Grid. These were seen as a threat to Japan's aristocracy as they often covered the political controversies of the day. ‘Out’ – Natsuo Kirino Both a crime thriller and a social critique, Natsuo Kirino’s Out was a sensational breakout hit and the first Japanese novel shortlisted for the Edgar Awards Best Novel prize. 64,035 ratings — 775 ratings — Japan Story: In Search of a Nation by Christopher Harding is published by Penguin, priced £25. However, not many readers are familiar with Japanese authors other than Haruki Murakami, Kazuo Ishiguro or Keigo Higashino. Not yours, of course, but a fictional family whose story you can follow through the generations of... Across the Nightingale Floor (Tales of the Otori, #1), Risuko: A Kunoichi Tale (Seasons of the Sword #1), The Last Concubine (The Shogun Quartet #2), The Courtesan and the Samurai (The Shogun Quartet #3), Across a Bridge of Dreams (The Shogun Quartet #4), The Shogun's Queen (The Shogun Quartet #1), The Way of the Traitor (Sano Ichiro, #3), The Pillow Book of Lady Wisteria (Sano Ichiro, #7), The Dragon King's Palace (Sano Ichiro, #8), A Strange Tale from East of the River and Other Stories, The Convict's Sword (Sugawara Akitada, #6), The Fires of the Gods (Sugawara Akitada #8), The Emperor's Woman (Sugawara Akitada #10), The Shrine Virgin (Sugawara Akitada, #14), The Assassin's Daughter (Sugawara Akitada, #15), The Island of the Gods (Sugawara Akitada, #16), The Crane Pavilion (Sugawara Akitada, #12), Death on an Autumn River (Sugawara Akitada #9), Death of a Doll Maker (Sugawara Akitada #11), The Old Men of Omi (Sugawara Akitada, #13), 33 Sweeping Multigenerational Family Dramas. It is the tale of fictional geisha Chiyo Sakamoto, who is stripped away from her … The current edition of the book covers Japan’s historical timeline from 1989 to 2008 and includes a brand-new chapter that analyzes some of the recent national problems fac… His second novel, An Artist of the Floating World, is his most complex and political novel, following the later years of an aged artist who disgraced himself by drawing propaganda posters for the Japanese empire during World War II. It’s a short novel that tells the story of a woman who has worked in a convenience store for 18 years. 0 people liked it, 2 chapters — This historical novel follows a Korean family to move to Japan in the... 3. This novel spawned a limpid miniseries and a boon in Japanese language studies across the United States. The Kansei Reforms of 1787 banned Gesaku and … This book details the last two centuries of Japanese history, starting from events that occurred during the days of the Tokugawa feudalism to the 19th century revolution by the samurai that modernized the country. 0 people liked it, A Modern History of Japan: From Tokugawa Times to the Present (Paperback), Embracing Defeat: Japan in the Wake of World War II (Paperback), Hirohito and the Making of Modern Japan (Paperback), The Rising Sun: The Decline & Fall of the Japanese Empire, 1936-45 (Paperback), Japan's Modern Myths: Ideology in the Late Meiji Period (Paperback), A History of Japan, 1615-1867 (Paperback), Emperor of Japan: Meiji and His World, 1852-1912 (Paperback), Shinsengumi: The Shogun's Last Samurai Corps (Hardcover), A Brief History of the Samurai: The Way of Japan's Elite Warriors (Paperback), Memoirs of a Geisha (Mass Market Paperback), The Cambridge History of Japan, Volume 1: Ancient Japan (Hardcover), Samurai William: The Englishman Who Opened Japan (Paperback), The Last Samurai: The Life and Battles of Saigo Takamori (Paperback), War Without Mercy: Race and Power in the Pacific War (Paperback), Male Colors: The Construction of Homosexuality in Tokugawa Japan (Hardcover), A History of Japan, 1334-1615 (Paperback), The World of the Shining Prince: Court Life in Ancient Japan (Paperback), Bushido: The Soul of Japan. 16 ratings — Buy “Pachinko” here. And, as Ferguson learns, it illustrates that to travel is … 81 ratings — 27 ratings — If you're looking for one of the classics of Japanese literature, the book you're looking for is The Tale of Genji by the Japanese noblewoman Murasaki Shikubu. The stories are divided by their region of origin, including India and China. published 1899, avg rating 4.42 — published 1989, avg rating 3.82 — published 1010, avg rating 4.15 — 「日本の本」は日本の出版物を世界に紹介するサイトです。 Japanese Books is a website which aims to introduce Japanese publications to the world. published 1002, avg rating 3.75 —