The Japan Society Review

By Gavan McCormack The present work brings his scholarship to bear on the successive governments of Abe Shinzo (2006-7 and 2012 to the present). He regards the rise to power of Abe as based on two right wing [...] Review by Arthur Stockwin

By Yamashiro Chikako The forced cohabitation with American forces, very unwelcomed by the Okinawans, is the main preoccupation of Yamashiro Chikako’s work, on show under the title of Shapeshifter at White Rainbow’s non-profit [...] Review by Silvia Caso

Edited by Barak Kushner and Sherzod Muminov A widespread view has been that the Japanese Empire became an entirely closed chapter after August 1945, when it collapsed abruptly at the end of World War II. The subject has gained renewed interest [...] Review by Roger Macy

By Kawakami Mieko The plot revolves around an unnamed boy and his everyday life in his family’s house. His father died when he was younger and he now lives with his bed-ridden grandmother and his mother, who is busy [...] Review by Morgane Chinal-Dargent

Directed by Indhu Rubasingham, written by Francis Turnly What at first appears to be a conventional family drama, soon develops into something of global significance in Japanese-Northern Irish playwright Francis Turnly’s latest work for the stage. The play begins [...] Review by Poppy Cosyns

By Yokoyama Hideo Yokoyama was a journalist at a local newspaper in 1985 and was one of those who went to the JAL flight 123 crash site. It took him 17 years to reach a point where he could fully come to terms with his experiences. Review by Dr Christopher Hood

Directed by Hara Kazuo Hara’s film gives the briefest of briefings on the historical background before spending nearly all of its four hours following a group of ex-workers during their eight-year struggle to get compensation from [...] Review by Roger Macy

Directed by Yakumo Seiji The story is set in the prestigious all-girls Virgin Mary Christian academy where we find our main characters; the members of the literary club chaired by the principal’s daughter Itsumi. She is admired and [...] Review by Morgane Chinal-Dargent

By Jayne Joso It is difficult to say whether Joso’s masterful My Falling Down House is an advertisement for, or a warning against, isolation from society. It follows the thoughts, dreams and humble adventures of Tanaka Takeo [...] Review by Alice French

Edited by John Dougill,‎ Amy Chavez and Mark Richardson Echoes is a compilation of short stories (fact and fiction), poems and literary extracts which draw on individual experiences and the personal influence Kyoto has exerted on a selection of writers who have lived [...] Review by Harry Martin