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July 25, 2025
 

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LITERATURE

Japan Times
CULTURE / Books / RECENTLY PUBLISHED BOOKS ABOUT JAPAN
Feb 22, 2020
'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.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Books
Jan 25, 2020
Is Japan enjoying a new literary golden age?
The case for Yes
Japan Times
CULTURE / Books
Oct 26, 2019
Tokyo's Jimbocho neighborhood won't close the chapter on books
Thousands of bibliophiles are expected to descend on Tokyo's Jinbocho neighborhood over the next week or so as the city celebrates the 60th anniversary of its largest secondhand book fair.
JAPAN
Apr 19, 2019
Museum devoted to Japanese novelist Natsume Soseki, shuttered in London in 2016, to reopen in Surrey
A museum in London devoted to renowned Japanese novelist Natsume Soseki (1867-1916), which was closed over two years ago, is set to be revived in nearby Surrey in May.
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 2, 2019
What's in a name? Reiwa reflects today's politics, Japan's cultural history and a social philosophy
Media hype over Reiwa, the newly announced name for the upcoming era, continued unabated Tuesday. At the same time, a majority of people appeared to happily welcome the name, which means "auspicious" (rei) and "peace" or "harmony" (wa).
JAPAN / History / Heisei Icons,Heisei Icons
Mar 22, 2019
Haruki Murakami: Writing in a parallel universe, connecting with a global readership
In Japan, it was the runaway best-seller status of 'Norwegian Wood' (1987), his wistful tale of crushed innocence and young love that sold more than 4 million copies in Japanese alone, that established Murakami's iconic status.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Books
Mar 9, 2019
'My Brother's Husband': Young adult literature from Japan attracts a new global audience
In January this year, 'My Brother's Husband,' a two-volume manga written by Gengoroh Tagame and translated by Anne Ishii, won the inaugural Global Literature in Libraries Initiative (GLLI) Translated YA Book Prize.
JAPAN / History
Feb 26, 2019
Writers recall their initiation to Japanese literature via Donald Keene
The Japan Times asked author Suzanne Kamata to reach out to some of her fellow writers for their memories and thoughts about Donald Keene, the noted scholar of Japanese literature who died Sunday in Tokyo at age 96. Here is a short collection of their replies.
JAPAN
Feb 24, 2019
Donald Keene, lauded scholar of Japanese literature, dies at 96
Prominent U.S.-born Japanese literature scholar Donald Keene, who introduced a roster of talented writers from Japan to the world, died of cardiac arrest in Tokyo on Sunday.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Books
Feb 2, 2019
How Japan unleashed Lu Xun's ferocious literary passion
Although he was poised to be a doctor, Lu Xun, the most celebrated of all modern Chinese authors, abandoned medicine for something he felt would truly enlighten and modernize his nation: literature.
CULTURE / Entertainment news
Feb 1, 2019
Top Australian literature prize goes to detained refugee who wrote book on his phone
A refugee held in a remote Pacific detention center has won Australia's top literature prize with his debut book, which he wrote on his mobile phone and delivered one chapter at a time via WhatsApp.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 24, 2018
There's more to Charles Dickens' festive fare than just 'A Christmas Carol'
Charles Dickens wrote "A Christmas Carol" in 1843 in part because he was appalled at the living conditions of England's urban poor, especially after a visit that September to a so-called Ragged School for London slum children. But he also wrote it because he needed money. His sixth novel, "Martin Chuzzlewit,"...
Japan Times
JAPAN
Sep 16, 2018
Japan's Haruki Murakami withdraws from consideration for alternative Nobel award
Japanese author Haruki Murakami asks that his nomination for an alternative to the Nobel Prize in Literature be withdrawn as he wants to concentrate on writing.
ASIA PACIFIC
Nov 6, 2017
China warns on overseas content after Springer Nature pulls some articles
Chinese distributors of overseas publications must verify that the content is legal in China, Beijing said late Sunday, after a major western publisher blocked access to some content in the country citing local regulations.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / NEWS IN NIHONGO
Oct 16, 2017
British novelist Kazuo Ishiguro wins Nobel Prize in literature
The Swedish Academy is awarding this year's Nobel Prize in literature to Nagasaki-born British novelist Kazuo Ishiguro.
COMMENTARY / World
Sep 23, 2017
The literary magic of Harry Potter
Will the ultra popular Harry Potter series stand the test of time?
CULTURE / Books
Jul 19, 2017
First-time writer Shinsuke Numata wins prestigious Akutagawa Prize
A 38-year-old first-time writer is the winner of the 157th Akutagawa Prize for his story "Eiri," the awards selection committee announced Wednesday.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
May 27, 2017
Burton Watson, noted translator, remembered
Burton Watson, the foremost translator of Chinese classics and poetry into English, chose to live much of his long life in Japan.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
May 22, 2017
Tanka help Japanese express emotions
Tanka are one of the oldest forms of poetry in the world with a 1,300-year history.
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 11, 2017
A wry squint into the grim future of the U.S.
Novelist Lionel Shriver imagines America slouching into dystopia merely by continuing current practices.
Japan and U.S. both claim win in surprise 11th-hour tariff deal
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Ryosei Akazawa, Japan chief tariff negotiator, in Tokyo
Junglia, Japan’s newest theme park, opens in northern Okinawa
In Junglia’s Dinosaur Safari attraction during a media preview on Thursday, a casual drive through a habitat for the prehistoric creatures goes haywire when several Tyrannosaurus rexes break out of containment.
Disappointing start to Nagoya tournament turns into fascinating final stretch
Ichiyamamoto (left) defeats Gonoyama to secure a winning record at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament, at IG Arena on Monday.
Ignore the election hype, foreign residents are here to stay
Sohei Kamiya, founder of the Sanseito, which campaigned on a “Japanese first” message and tough immigration rhetoric, speaks at a rally in Gunma Prefecture on July 6.
Big unanswered questions follow Japan's big, beautiful deal with the U.S.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday in Washington, the day after he agreed to an 11th-hour trade deal with Japan.
Hall of Fame always held deeper meaning for Ichiro
Ichiro presents then-Hall of Fame President Jeff Idelson with the bat he used to break the single-season hits record in 2004.
Japan leans into homegrown AI amid rising competition
McKinsey’s 2025 Technology Trends Outlook, published Wednesday, says that the use of “sovereign AI” is a trend gaining significant global traction, including in Japan.
JT picks: What not to miss at Fuji Rock 2025
Fuji Rock Festival turns the green slopes of Niigata Prefecture’s Naeba Ski Resort into a summer escape that offers soundtracks for every mood.
Japan’s top brands get tied up in the great sunscreen debate
A coral reef in Okinawa in July 2022. Some jurisdictions around the world have moved to ban certain sunscreens in a bid to protect coral reefs, but some say the impact on reefs is far from clear.
Pentagon looks to unleash ‘military drone dominance’
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth hosts a drone demonstration at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, on July 10.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Longform

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The rise of AI companionship in a lonely Japan
By Alex K.T. Martin

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