Books May 12, 2022

'All the Lovers in the Night' ignites a spark of hope for lonely hearts

Author Mieko Kawakami imagines love reflecting the properties of light in her latest English release about the universality of loneliness.

Books / Reviews May 8, 2022

Kotaro Isaka's killer instinct for a rollicking good time

The "Three Assassins" author skillfully plays with the thriller genre, mixing literary fiction with high-octane fun.

Books / Reviews Mar 27, 2022

‘Don't Worry’: Take a breather from the corporate grind with Zen lessons

Shunmyo Masuno's book of compassionate teachings addresses those who find it difficult to relieve stress, specifically the people caught up in the busyness of corporate life.

Books / Reviews Mar 20, 2022

‘A Fictional Commons’: Rethinking alternatives to capitalism with literature

Michael Bourdaghs compellingly shows how influential literary figure Natsume Soseki imbued his classic works with challenges to the constrictive, patriarchal systems of property control.

Books Feb 17, 2022

‘Woman Running in the Mountains’ carries on the literary legacy of Yuko Tsushima

Geraldine Harcourt’s road to translating Yuko Tsushima’s stories parallels the writer’s artistic conceits: a fiercely independent woman determined to construct her own path.

Books / Reviews Feb 13, 2022

‘Of Arcs and Circles’: Step into the fertile imagination of a garden expert

Landscape artist Marc Peter Keane’s collection of essays experiments with form and offers practical observations as well as metaphysical musings.

Books / Reviews Feb 5, 2022

The dystopian society of ‘Monkey Man’ delivers a surreal sci-fi parable

Takuji Ichikawa’s novella presents a fully realized world within its short span, with connections and contrasts to our world that are at turns bold and subtle.

Books / Reviews Sep 27, 2021

'Colorful’: A second chance at a full life

Besides the requisite recently deceased soul and guardian angel, “Colorful,” Eto Mori’s English-language debut released on July 20 from Counterpoint Press, offers a unique take on the reincarnation trope. Banned from the cycle of rebirth because of a “grave error” in his previous life, the ...

Books / Reviews Sep 27, 2021

‘The Baseball Widow’: A moving read on isolation

After a succession of young adult novels, Shikoku-based writer Suzanne Kamata returns to adult fiction with “The Baseball Widow,” out from Wyatt-MacKenzie Publishing on Oct. 5. Kamata weaves multiple narratives throughout a cross-cultural study of Japan and the United States. Bicultural marriage, returnee struggles, teenage ...

Books Sep 19, 2021

'The Book of Form and Emptiness': Ruth Ozeki’s inquisitive side is still on point

An award-winning author with four titles and two film credits under her belt, Ruth Ozeki’s greatest talent may be her ability to ask the right questions. Her fifth novel, "The Book of Form and Emptiness," demonstrates that her inquisitive side is still on point. The ...