The Japan Society
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The Japan Society Review

The Japan Society Review is published on a quartely basis, both online and printed (members are entitled to receive a copy by post). Since the starting of the publication in 2006, each issue covers a selection of Japan-related books and films, as well as theatre and stage productions, tv series and exhibitions. Its purpose is to inform, entertain and encourage readers to explore the works for themselves.

The Japan Society Review is possible thanks to the work of volunteers who dedicated their time and expertise to help us to promote the learning and understanding of Japanese culture and society.

Night Train to the Stars

Books

Night Train to the Stars

By Miyazawa Kenji A collection of enchanting and enigmatic Japanese fairy tales by one of Japan's most beloved early twentieth-century writers. Review by Renae Lucas-Hall

My Families and Other Samurai: A Memoir

Books

My Families and Other Samurai: A Memoir

By Fukuda Haruko Told with the crisp, breezy matter-of-factness of a historian, the emotion nevertheless comes through strongest in the remarkable vividity in which Fukuda’s family story is conveyed in the text. Review by Laurence Green

Honeybees and Distant Thunder

Books

Honeybees and Distant Thunder

By Onda Riku Honeybees and Distant Thunder is an intriguing story about an international piano competition and its wide variety of competitors. Review by George Mullins

Abroad in Japan

Books

Abroad in Japan

By Chris Board Abroad in Japan charts a decade of living in a foreign land and the chaos and culture clash that came with it. Review by Cameron Bassindale

Manga, Murder and Mystery - The Boy Detectives of Japan’s Lost Generation

Books

Manga, Murder and Mystery - The Boy Detectives of Japan’s Lost Generation

By Okabe Mimi An academic tome to its core, Manga, Murder and Mystery is nevertheless a thrillingly accessible read that will delight fans of its subject matter, as well as those coming to it through a passing interest in Japan in general, or detective fiction as a wider oeuvre. Review by Laurence Green

The Country Where Turtles Cry: Climate and Poetry of Japan

Books

The Country Where Turtles Cry: Climate and Poetry of Japan

By Nakanishi Susumu In The Country Where Turtles Cry: Climate and Poetry of Japan, Nakanishi focuses on different aspects and forms of Japanese traditional poetry, from waka (the original word for Japanese poem) to tanka (short poems) and haiku, sharing insights about its history and cultural influence in Japan and beyond. Review by Renae Lucas-Hall

Dragon Palace

Books

Dragon Palace

By Kawakami Hiromi Dragon Palace is a collection of eight short stories, set in wildly different times and settings, by the celebrated author of Strange Weather in Tokyo. Review by Cameron Bassindale

Finger Bone

Books

Finger Bone

By Takahashi Hiroki Finger Bone is a war novel, but it is also a story of an individual man, and the lives of those that pass fleetingly around him in the worst of all possible circumstances. Review by Laurence Green

Longing and Other Stories

Books

Longing and Other Stories

By Tanizaki Junichiro In this book, Tanizaki Junichiro, one of the most distinguished Japanese writers of the twentieth century, shares three compelling tales that delve into the complexities of family life. Review by Laurence Green

Sankyu Japan: Twittering thanks to Japan

Books

Sankyu Japan: Twittering thanks to Japan

By Paul Madden In this highly inventive book, Paul Madden maximises his extensive and varied experiences in Japan to provide a unique and, for many, fascinating series of insights into Japanese scenery, history, life and culture. Review by Ra Mason