'My Almost Flawless Tokyo Dream Life': Well-intentioned diversity misses the mark
Props to Rachel Cohn for attempting to add some much-needed diversity into Japanese literature with "My Almost Flawless Tokyo Dream Life." Unfortunately, it falls flat.
'Kojiki: The Birth of Japan': Picture this, a nation's creation myth
Artist Kazumi Wilds retells Japan's creation myth, the "Kojiki," through vivid and accessible illustrations.
'Cats of the Louvre': A storied museum reveals its secrets
In this surreal work by Taiyo Matsumoto, a small band of stray cats take refuge inside the attic of the Louvre. Their adventures and interactions with the humans of the Louvre unfold in connected chapters of "secrets."
'Noon: An Anthology of Short Poems': Wit and wisdom in 14 lines or fewer
In "Noon: An Anthology of Short Poems," editor Philip Rowland shows there's more to the short form poetry genre than haiku or tanka.
'The Democracy of Suffering': Wit, erudition and philosophical change
Todd Dufresne's "The Democracy of Suffering" argues that, if we are to understand the Anthropocene, then philosophy itself needs a radical overhaul.
'The Complete Guide to Japanese Drinks': A compendium of Japan's alcohol traditions
Stephen Lyman and Chris Bunting's "The Complete Guide to Japanese Drinks" is a beautiful, carefully put together coffee-table book full of insights, anecdotes and thirst-inducing pictures of Japan's various alcohols.
'A Manga Lover's Tokyo Travel Guide': Picture the capital in a whole new way
Singaporean artist Evangeline Neo walks travelers through Tokyo's best traditional must-sees, anime hot-spots and even Mount Fuji in her comic-book guide to the metropolis.
Brad Glosserman's 'Peak Japan': Japan on the down and out
"Peak Japan" provides a painstaking overview of the country's social, economic and political trajectory since the 1990s.
'The Swords of Silence': Hidden Christians, vengeful daimyo and a few miracles thrown in
Set in the early 17th century, "The Swords of Silence" focuses on the plight of Japan's hidden Christians and the closing of Japan to foreign trade and relations — with a fantasy twist.
'Mishima, Aesthetic Terrorist': The brain behind the coup
In "Mishima, Aesthetic Terrorist," Andrew Rankin takes us to the less-visited corners of Mishima's complete works, the intellectual essays that were the fount for the ideas that played themselves out in his novels.
'Half of Each Other': Grief, marriage and tragedy
"Half of Each Other," the newest novel from the prolific author and director, Roger Pulvers, considers how love, desire and grief intertwine in the aftermath of tragedy.
'Sushi Master': Nothing fishy about this masterful account
Sushi master Nick Sakagami presents a beautifully photographed, levelheaded guide to sushi culture and cuisine. Recipes included.
