The Japan Society Review

By Murakami Haruki Murakami T: The T-Shirts I Love is an ode to that most humble item of clothing, as the author takes us through a selection of some of the favourites from his own personal wardrobe Review by Laurence Green

By Joy Hendry This book is a heart-warming, funny, informative and highly personal love letter to Kurotsuchi, the small village in Fukuoka Prefecture, Kyushu that anthropologist Joy Hendry first visited in 1975 to undertake a year of fieldwork whilst during her time as a PhD student at Oxford University. Review by Alice French

By Sudo Reiko This luxurious large format book, bound in NUNO fabric, is encyclopaedic in both content and weight and is a fitting celebration of the work of one of Japan’s most innovative and respected textile design studios. Review by David Tonge

By Haneda Masashi Professor Haneda’s book is a very important addition to de-westernise World History as a subject, which so far is still too heavily western-centric despite all its good intentions. Review by Francesco Cioffo

By Jayne Joso This collection of short stories, some of them illustrated by Japanese Manga artist NAMIKO, revolves around the main characters’ loneliness taking many shapes and forms. Review by Eleonora Faina

By Annegret Schopp-O'Dwyer Celebrating cherry trees in London this book achieves its aim of making you see 'joy at your fingertips' with wonderful photos and light-hearted socio-historical text. Review by Carole Tongue

Welcome to another exciting issue of The Japan Society Review bringing you five reviews of books, stage productions and films about Japan. This October issue is more eclectic than ever and we are thankful to our reviewers for their time and expertise.

Staged by Jack McNamara An immersive reading performance of Mieko Kawakami's new novel, "Heaven", a work about bullying, what it means to bully, and to be bullied. Review by Laurence Green

Directed by Graham Kolbeins Queer Japan, directed by Graham Kolbeins in 2019, is a documentary which explores the LGBTQ+ community in Japan offering an illustrative view of the queer culture in the country. Review by Jenni Schofield

By John Lander The Shikoku Pilgrimage is one of the most important pilgrimage routes in Japan. Connected by eighty-eight temples across the four prefectures of Shikoku, this 1,200 km trail is associated with Buddhist monk Kukai (Kobo Daishi), the founder of Shingon Buddhism. Review by Jess Cope