Books Jul 9, 2021

'Black Box' shines a light on shadowy realities of sexual assault in Japan

Shiori Ito’s memoir highlights shortcomings of justice for survivors in Japan.

Books | The World of Translators Jun 20, 2021

Morgan Giles: ‘I’m astounded by the sense of community among literary translators’

The World of Translators series wraps up with Morgan Giles, whose first full-length work, Yu Miri’s “Tokyo Ueno Station,” won the National Book Award for translated literature in 2020.

Books Jun 17, 2021

‘Three Japanese Buddhist Monks’ explores the merits of reclusion

Penguin's latest addition to its “Great Ideas” series features three texts that delve into the evolving revelations of Japanese medieval Buddhist thought.

Books May 27, 2021

Mieko Kawakami's 'Heaven': The world as seen through the eyes of bullied children

Mieko Kawakami examines violence and power in her latest English-language release.

Books | The World of Translators May 16, 2021

Masatsugu Ono: ‘I always feel for those on the periphery of society’

Translator and Francophile Masatsugu Ono draws on stories of his hometown in Oita Prefecture to inform his writing.

Books Apr 25, 2021

Ginny Tapley Takemori: ‘Translation is a community’

The “Convenience Store Woman” and “Earthlings” translator works to support writers and translators through a collective she started with colleagues Lucy North and Allison Markin Powell.

Books Apr 18, 2021

‘At the End of the Matinee’: Love and longing in the recent past strike a chord

In his novel, Keiichiro Hirano provides a detailed view of politics, culture and economics at the start of the 21st century alongside a story about star-crossed lovers.

Books | The World of Translators Mar 13, 2021

Cathy Hirano: Translation is a door to another world

Translator Cathy Hirano balances her time between freelance translations and young adult literature, and has earned accolades for both. Although her most recognized translations are for lifestyle guru Marie Kondo’s wildly popular works, starting with “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up,” Hirano’s translations have ...

Books Mar 6, 2021

Foraging in Japan: What to eat and where to find it

In her book, “Eating Wild Japan,” Winifred Bird traverses the country searching for edible plants and the stories of those who pick them, eat them and live surrounded by them.

Books Feb 20, 2021

A daughter reclaims her mother’s heritage in ‘Speak, Okinawa’

Elizabeth Miki Brina’s memoir reveals how country and culture are connected to identity by weaving her narrative with the history of Okinawa.