5 (+1) Japanese novels to read in 2020

Happy New Year! 2020 is the year that the Olympic Games are heading to Japan. Even though I have never been to the land of the rising sun, I’ve always been fascinated by the Japanese culture and pretty much anything else Japanese (including literature). In fact, in the last couple of years, I have read quite a few Japanese novels, and in 2020 I plan to read even more, as well as other books from Japan, or about Japan. 

A few days ago, Barack Obama shared his annual list of favorites — books, films, and music. The former US President reflected that ‘outlets like literature and art can enhance our day-to-day experiences’. As a Psychiatrist, I couldn’t agree more. And, this is exactly why I often share posts about books I’ve read, films I’ve watched, or music I’ve listened to. One of the books recommended by Obama is ‘Men Without Women’ by Japanese author Haruki Murakami. First published in 2014, this is a collection of seven short stories by Murakami, translated and published in English in 2017. 

“The new day is almost here, but the old one is still dragging its heavy skirts. Just as ocean water and river water struggle against each other at a river mouth, the old time and the new time clash and blend.”

Haruki Murakami, After Dark

Today, I’m sharing my own recommendations on 5 (+1) Japanese novels you should read in 2020 (unless, of course, you’ve already read them).

‘Norwegian Wood’, by Haruki Murakami

Murakami is one of the most-known Japanese authors. His bibliography includes novels as well as short stories. Even though these were written in the Japanese language, most have been translated and published in English. ‘Norwegian Wood’ is one of his most notable works. Named after the song ‘Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)’ by the Beatles, it is a coming-of-age novel dealing with several themes, including love and sex, as well as death and suicide. It was written in 1987 and was first published in English in 1989. A film adaptation directed by Tran Anh Hung was released in 2010.

‘In The Miso Soup’, by Ryu Murakami

In this atmospheric psychological thriller, Ryu Murakami (not to be confused with Haruki Murakami) takes us deep into the dark world of the Tokyo sex district. This fascinating story takes place as another year comes to an end, and provides some interesting insights into the modern Japanese society.

‘The Travelling Cat Chronicles’, by Hiro Arikawa

It is no secret that I am a travel enthusiast as well as a cat lover. So, when I came across the title of this book by Hiro Arikawa, I knew I had to read it. A beautifully written story, it follows a man and his cat around Japan. While the protagonist visits friends and family in search of a new home for his beloved cat, he also re-visits his past. A film adaptation was released in 2018 directed by Kôichirô Miki.

‘The Travelling Cat Chronicles’ is not the only Japanese novel about cats that has been translated into English. I’ve recently come across the following titles that I would like to read in the New Year:

‘A Cat, a Man, and Two Women’, by Jun’ichiro Tanizaki

‘The Guest Cat’, by Takashi Hiraide

‘If Cats Disappeared From The World‘, by Genki Kawamura

‘Before the Coffee Gets Cold’, by Toshikazu Kawaguchi 

This beautiful novel takes the reader to a hidden cafe in Tokyo, where customers have the opportunity to travel back in time. 

‘Six Four’, by Hideo Yokoyama 

‘Six Four’ is the first novel by Yokoyama to be translated and published in English. It is a contemporary crime mystery taking place in a Japanese city, and naturally offers an interesting perspective into the Japanese psyche. A two-part film adaptation was released in 2016 directed by Takahisa Zeze. Other works by Yokoyama available in English are the novel ‘Seventeen’, and the collection of short stories ‘Prefecture D’.

‘The Remains of the Day’, by Kazuo Ishiguro 

Born in Nagasaki, Ishiguro moved to the UK at the age of 5, and has been a British citizen since 1983 (Japan does not permit dual citizenship). Even though he writes in English, and most of his books have little to do with Japan, when I read ‘The Remains of the Day’, I felt like I was reading a Japanese novel. For this reason, I have included it on this list. As Pico Iyer comments, even the title of this novel, set in England, is very Japanese. 

In 1989, ‘The Remains of the Day’ received the Man Booker Prize for Fiction. A film adaptation directed by James Ivory and starring Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson was released in 1993, and was nominated for eight Academy Awards. In 2017, Ishiguro was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. One of his most recent novels, ‘Never Let Me Go’, is next on my list of Japanese novels to read in 2020.

If you’ve read any other Japanese novels, feel free to share your thoughts.

In addition to these Japanese novels, here are 5 more books from, or about, Japan:

‘A Beginner’s Guide to Japan: Observations and Provocations’, by Pico Iyer 

British-born travel writer Pico Iyer is married to a Japanese wife and has been living in Japan for more than 32 years. In this book, he shares information and insight into the Japanese psyche and culture. His reflections are colored not only by his life in the land of the rising sun, but also by many Japanese novels and other works of literature he’s read.

‘The Little Book of Ikigai: The Essential Japanese Way to Finding Your Purpose in Life’, by Ken Mogi

I first came across the Japanese word ikigai a couple of years ago. Intrigued by this little-known concept, and to gain a better understanding, I bought ‘The Little Book of Ikigai’. Japanese neuroscientist and author Ken Mogi describes ikigai as a ‘mindset that has the potential to change your life. It is a miracle that can be found at the heart of Japan’s record-breaking longevity, sensory beauty and mindfulness’. The word ikigai consists of “iki” (to live) and “gai” (reason). It can loosely be translated to ‘a reason for being’ (or ‘la raison d’être’, as the French say), a ‘purpose in life’ or even ‘the reason to wake up in the morning’. 

‘Ikigai: The Japanese secret to a long and happy life’, by Hector Garcia and Francesc Miralles

‘Ikigai: The Japanese secret to a long and happy life’ is another book that introduced me to the concept of ikigai. Like Mogi, the authors take the reader through a number of related concepts and values, including ichigo ichie and wabi-sabi.

‘Japonisme: Ikigai, Forest Bathing, Wabi-sabi and more’, by Erin Niimi Longhurst 

To further learn about wabi-sabi, I read ‘Japonisme’. Here, Longhurst discusses concepts such as wabi-sabi and ikigai, but also favorite pastimes of the Japanese, including shinrin-yoku (forest bathing), calligraphy and ikebana (flower arranging). Being a book by a half-Japanese half-British writer, ‘Japonisme’ offers a unique perspective on the Japanese culture.

‘Spark Joy: An Illustrated Guide to the Japanese Art of Tidying’, by Marie Kondo

The Netflix show ‘Tidying Up with Marie Kondo’ premiered exactly a year ago, on the 1st of January 2019. It follows Marie Kondo, a Japanese organizing consultant and author, as she visits American homes to help people declutter and tidy up. ‘The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing’ was released in Japanese in 2011, and was transacted in English a few years later. It introduced people around the world to the KonMari method of tidying up. To help me declutter and tidy up my own home, I got myself ‘Spark Joy’, another book written by Marie. Named after one of her catchphrases, it provides practical advice and tips, but also makes use of concepts, such as gratitude, that go well beyond tidying up and decluttering.

Further reading

To read more about ikigai, check out my post ‘Ikigai & Komorebi: Finding purpose & beautiful moments’.

To read more about Japan, check out the latest issue of Monocle magazine.

Last but not least, check out my ‘5 tips to achieve New Year’s resolutions’. Mine is to teach myself the basics of the Norwegian language.

Happy New Year!!!

Alex

(the Traveling Psychiatrist)