'Grit, Grace, and Gold' review: The Olympics are postponed, but this book's a winner
On the surface, sports and haiku are an incongruous mix but, as Nagamura notes in the introduction, "Writing good haiku involves the same attention to grace, balance, strength, bravery, restraint and observation that propels athletes to their peak."
'The Salaryman' review: Spilling the secrets of Japan's everyman
Alongside its humor, Michael Howard's recent memoir, "The Salaryman," provides an insightful look at Japan's corporate workforce. In 2008, Howard was a 32-year-old product manager at a small LA software startup who suddenly landed a high-paying job with a Japanese corporation of over ...
'Shadow of the Fox': Secrets, scrolls and an epic quest to save the world
Demons, spirits and other things that go bump in the night come to life in Julie Kagawa's epic young adult fantasy "Shadow of the Fox."
'Vampiric: Tales of Blood and Roses from Japan': Short stories to sink your teeth into
Vampires may not have a traditional place in Japanese literature, but since the 1910s plenty of writers have tackled the dark — often sexy — subject, albeit with a Japanese twist.
'The Japanese Discovery of Chinese Fiction': A literary classic's outsize impact on Japan
In "The Japanese Discovery of Chinese Fiction," William C. Helberg delves into Japan's fascination with "The Water Margin," and how its influence spread beyond the confines of pure literature.
'The Chronicles of Lord Asunaro': Period drama, modern satire
One of the newest novellas out from Red Circle Minis, "The Chronicles of Lord Asunaro" by Kanji Hanawa, covers far more ground than its size might suggest. The Chronicles of Lord Asunaro, by Kanji Hanawa Translated by Meredith McKinney.72 pages RED CIRCLE MINIS, Fiction. On one level, ...
'The Japanese Linguistic Landscape': Essays on language by the man behind 'Reiwa'
For the student lost in the midst of memorizing kanji, it's easy to forget that languages are molded not just by the sharp corners of reality but also by the careful caressing of poets. What a joy it is then to have this window ...
Whet your appetite with 'A Complete Guide to Japanese Cuisine'
Food writer Akiko Katayama's bilingual washoku primer, "A Complete Guide to Japanese Cuisine," covers everything from regional dishes to dining customs and bento.
'The Honjin Murders': Japan's own Sherlock Holmes is on the case
"The Honjin Murders" is a classic murder mystery in which a newly married couple are found butchered by a Japanese sword inside a room locked from the inside.
The new Japanese Classics series from Vintage Classics presents five seminal Japanese novels, from Junichiro Tanizaki to Yoko Ozawa, with stunning cover art by Japanese illustrator Yuko Shimizu.
'The Real Japanese Izakaya Cookbook': Everyday Japanese favorites for a rousing night in
Though it's impossible to agree on what, exactly, an izakaya is, it's now possible to recreate all the classic dishes at home with Wataru Yokota's "The Real Japanese Izakaya Cookbook."
'Zen in Japanese Culture': An astute explainer of Japan's spiritual aesthetics
With "Zen in Japanese Culture," Gavin Blair deftly sidesteps superficial how-tos and Orientalism to deliver a in-depth explainer that leaves readers wanting to dig even deeper.
