I always find there to be something magical about travelling to a new country through reading. There’s so many places I feel I have visited, just from reading about them in books.
Japan, with its rich history and stunning landscapes, is a perfect setting for unforgettable books.
If you’re looking to explore Japan through your reading, here are some brilliant books to get you started.
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The Makioka Sisters by Junichiro Tanizaki chronicles the lives of four aristocratic sisters in Osaka during the early 20th century.
As their once-wealthy family faces decline, the novel explores themes of tradition versus modernisation, societal pressures around marriage, and the bittersweet beauty of a fading way of life.
In Kyoto, 1948, eight-year-old Nori, born to a Japanese aristocrat and an African American GI, is hidden away in her grandparents’ attic because of her mixed race.
Forced into obedience and isolation, her life changes when her half-brother arrives. They form a bond, and Nori starts to fight for a place in a world that has ostracised her.
In 1861 Japan, young Lord Genji, gifted with prophecy, flees to his ancestral castle with a band of unlikely allies – American missionaries, a skilled swordsman uncle, and a mysterious lover.
Together they face a perilous journey and a final battle amidst a nation in turmoil.
Musashi tells the story of Miyamoto Musashi, a young man who starts as a brash swordsman seeking glory. After a battle and a forced confinement, he undergoes a transformation.
He rejects the samurai life, hones his skills with a dual-wielding style, and seeks enlightenment through swordsmanship and nature, becoming a master swordsman and a man of peace.
Pachinko follows multiple generations of a Korean family who immigrate to Japan during a time of prejudice.
They face hardship and discrimination as they try to build a life in a new country, all while grappling with their identity and longing for a place to belong.
This story follows a teenage tech genius grappling with his own past, as he encounters a mysterious waitress who leads him on a life-altering journey through Japan.
It’s a compelling exploration of identity, relationships, and the impact of innovation, set against the vibrant backdrop of a futuristic yet recognisable Japan.
This dark and gripping tale follows two boys abandoned in coin lockers as infants, growing up to uncover their past and seek revenge against a world that wronged them.
Set in a surreal and gritty Japan, it’s a haunting exploration of trauma and survival.
This classic novel delves into the life of a young boy, Noboru, and his obsession with a sailor who becomes romantically involved with his widowed mother.
The story explores themes of loyalty, masculinity, and the clash between idealism and reality.
The first in Mishima’s Sea of Fertility series, this novel tells the story of forbidden love between Kiyoaki, a young aristocrat, and Satoko, a noblewoman promised to another.
Set in early 20th-century Japan, it’s a poignant exploration of tradition, love, and fate.
