Japanese Literature

Japan. Photograph. Encyclopædia Britannica ImageQuest. Web. 5 Feb 2016.
http://quest.eb.com/search/126_478880/1/126_478880/cite

Konbanwa! That's "Good evening" in Japanese. Our culture gets a lot of Japanese influences, don't you think? We're reading Haruki Murakami; we're tidying up using the KonMari method; we're watching films by Hayao Miyazaki; we're playing kawaii games like Neko Atsume on our phones; there are 14 restaurants listed in Albuquerque's "Best Ramen" list on Yelp; and, it looks like New Mexico will be getting our first "cat cafe" - a phenomenon already very popular in Japan - soon.

There have certain been several famous Japanophiles (the Japanese would call them "shinnichi") throughout history, from Lafcadio Hearn to Gwen Stefani.There's even a Japanophiles! Group on Goodreads and you can watch a series called Begin Japanology on YouTube - the first episode is about Bento.

But to truly immerse yourself in the culture of a country, we recommend reading some of its best known literature. Here are some recommended reads from Japanese literature, from the classics to more recent.

Kusamakura by Natsume Sōseki

Thousand Cranes by Yasunari Kawabata

Somersault by Kenzaburo Oe

The Sound of Waves by Yukio Mishima [eBook]

Out by Natsuo Kirino 

The Devotion of Suspect X by Keigo Higashino 

Silence by Shūsaku Endō 

A Pale View of Hills by Kazuo Ishiguro [eBook]

Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto

The Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu

The Tales of the Heike translated by Burton Watson [eBook]
 

If there are any other Japanese books you want to recommend, let us know in the comments! Shitsurei shimasu! [translation:  “I’m being rude by leaving your presence”]


Links

5 Essential Japanese Writers [Book Riot] 

Julith Jedamus's top 10 Japanese novels [The Guardian]

Japan: The Official Guide [Japan National Tourism Organization] 

The Great Divide: How Sushi Culture Differs in America Versus Japan [First We Feast]

Japan's Ministry of Cool [The Atlantic]

Featured Author: Lian Hearn

Lian Hearn is the pen name of children's book author Gillian Rubinstein, an English-born woman who has lived in Australia since 1973. As Lian Hearn, she writes a series of historical fantasy novels called Tales of the Otori, set in a fictional nation that resembles feudal Japan and which is aimed at  young adult and adult audiences.

The Tales were originally published as a trilogy, but now a sequel and a prequel have been added to the mix. The books in the trilogy consist of two episodes each; you can read a couple of the episodes in a one- or two-volume format - the two-volume format features books that are quite small. The trilogy is the story of Takeo, a young warrior with special powers, and "his struggles to avenge an adoptive father, escape the legacy of his biological father, and pursue the love of his life in the midst of an enormous power struggle involving dozens of clan lords and thousands of warriors." [Wikipedia] 


Across the Nightingale Floor
Episode 1, The Sword of the Warrior
Episode 2, Journey to Inuyama

Grass for His Pillow
Episode 1, Lord Fujiwara's Treasures
Episode 2, The Way Through the Snow

Brilliance of the Moon
Episode 1, Battle for Maruyama
Episode 2, Scars of Victory

The Harsh Cry of the Heron (sequel)

Heaven's Net is Wide (prequel)

Links

Lian Hearn website

Gillian Rubinstein website

Lian Hearn on writing about other cultures

An interview with Lian Hearn

Kawaii: Cute Japanese Style Crafts

I first became obsessed with Japanese style (if you don't include my childhood love of Hello Kitty) when I came across a copy of Fruits, Shoichi Aoki's photographic study of Tokyo street style, which focused on young people in the Harajuku district.  (You might have also heard about Harajuku if you listened to Gwen Stefani's first album, Love, Angel, Music, Baby. Her song "Harajuku Girls" is where I first encountered the word kawaii - "'Cause it's super kawaii, that means super cute in Japanese!") I found these fresh & funky fashions amusing & delightful, & I became a dedicated follower of all things kawaii & Japanese style.  Happily, there are items in the ABC Libraries' catalog to meet my needs!

Some examples of Japanese (crafting) style:

Furoshiki Fabric Wraps: Simple-Reusable-Beautiful by Pixeladies

Omiyage: Handmade Gifts from Fabric in the Japanese Tradition by Kumiko Sudo

Temari: How to Make Japanese Thread Balls by Diana Vandervoort

A Japanese Touch for the Seasons by Kunio Ekiguchi and Ruth S. McCreery

Japan Crafts Sourcebook: A Guide to Today's Traditional Handmade Objects by Japan Craft Forum

The Beginner's Guide to Braiding: The Craft of Kumihimo by Jacqui Carey

Simple Modern Sewing: 8 Basic Patterns to Create 25 Favorite Garments by Shufu to Seikatsusha

Cut-Up Couture by Koko Yamase


Some examples of kawaii, mostly in crafting:

Hello Please!: Very Helpful and Super Kawaii Characters from Japan by Matt Alt and Hiroko Yoda
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Amigurumi by June Gilbank.

Kyuuto! Japanese Crafts- Fuzzy Felted Friends by Saori Yamazaki

Stitchy Kitty Fuzzy Puppy: 60 Motifs to Stitch Everywhere by Ayako Otsuka

Fleece Dog by Nobuko Nagakubo

Amigurumi Toy Box by Ana Paula Rímoli

Crafting with Cat Hair: Cute Handicrafts to Make with Your Cat by Kaori Tsutaya

Teeny-Tiny Mochimochi: More than 40 Itty-Bitty Minis to Knit, Wear, and Give by Anna Hrachovec

Happy Gloves: Charming Softy Friends Made from Colorful Gloves by Miyako Kanamori

Sock and Glove: Creating Charming Softy Friends from Cast-Off Socks and Gloves by Miyako Kanamori


Not Japanese, but totally cute!

Knit Your Own Cat: Easy-to-Follow Patterns for 16 Frisky Felines by Sally Muir and Joanne Osborne

Stupid Sock Creatures: Making Quirky, Lovable Figures from Cast-Off Socks by John Murphy