The Japan Society Review

By Lesley Downer In The Shortest History of Japan, Lesley Downer brings an expert storyteller’s eye to the sweep of Japanese history. Here are the emperors and warlords, the samurai and women warriors, the merchants and geisha who shaped this extraordinary modern society. Review by Laurence Green

By Kanai Mieko Mild Vertigo is a short, slim novel containing both multitudes, and a whole lot of nothing. The paradoxical fascination of the everyday mundane - the busy-body clutter and utter banal domesticity of a very particular kind of middle-class hum-drum existence. Review by Laurence Green

By Susan Kiyo Ito An account of love and one writer’s quest for the missing pieces that might make her feel whole, I Would Meet You Anywhere is the stirring culmination of Ito’s decision to embrace her right to know and tell her own story. Review by Shehrazade Zafar-Arif

By Natalie Leon This treasure trove of folktales, recipes and activities is an invitation to celebrate each day, for increased creativity, harmony and happiness. Review by Renae Lucas-Hall

By Shibusawa Tatsuhiko A fantasy set in the ninth century, Takaoka's Travels recounts the adventures of a Japanese prince-turned-monk on a pilgrimage to India passing through faraway lands and finding curiosities and miracles wherever he goes. Review by Chris Corker

This exhibition celebrates half a century of work by renowned British-American photographer Michael Kenna. His in-depth explorations and imagery of Japan since 1987 stand out as perhaps his most distinguished and well-known works. Review by David Tonge

The second quarter of 2024 has continued to enrich the UK’s cultural landscape with an impressive variety of books, exhibitions, and events that delve into different facets of Japan.

Adapted by John Caird Studio Ghibli’s Oscar-winning Spirited Away is imagined for the stage by Olivier and Tony award-winning director of Les Misérables, John Caird. Review by Michael Tsang

Featuring over 75 exquisite prints, this exhibition journeys from the rich, nostalgic landscapes of the prolific artist and patriarch of the family, Hiroshi to the abstract work of the family’s later and current generations. Review by David Tonge

By Catherine Butler In this book, Catherine Butler explore the multifaceted relationship between British children’s literature and Japan considering its many manifestations in print, on the screen, in tourist locations and throughout Japanese popular culture. Review by Kimberley Reynolds