The Japan Society Review

By Onda Riku The first novel by prolific and award-winning author Onda Riku to be published in English is prefaced by a transcript of a police interview with Hisako Aosawa, the sole survivor of a mass murder that has claimed the rest of her family. Review by Jill Dobson

By Shaun Curry Based on the real-life incidence of systematic persecution of Christians in 17th century Japan by the Tokugawa Shogunate, the story of The Swords of Silence takes as its focus Father Joaquim Martinez, a Portuguese priest [...] Review by Laurence Green

By Kerry Drewery Told through an interweaving of haiku, free verse and standard prose, The Last Paper Crane delights in flitting between mediums in an attempt to convey the essence of the Hiroshima story beyond the simple historical facts. Review by Laurence Green

By Iain Maloney In 2016 Scottish writer Iain Maloney and his Japanese wife Minori moved to a village in rural Japan. This is the story of his attempt to fit in, be accepted and fulfil his duties as a member of the community, despite being the only foreigner in the village. Review by Azmina Sohail

By Matayoshi Naoki Spark is a story about art and friendship, about countless bizarre drunken conversations and how far it’s acceptable to go for a laugh. A novel about comedy that’s as moving and thoughtful as it is funny [...] Review by Laurence Green

By Julie Otsuka Julie Otsuka’s novel of the immigrant experience is beautifully written. Its powerful narrative encapsulates the lives of a forgotten people still alive in the memories of Japan. It confronts the issue of immigrant [...] Review by Azmina Sohail

By Sato Hiroaki Sato Hiroaki’s examination is a close, comprehensive look at the Ako Incident through the context of its times, portraits of the main protagonists, and its literary legacy in the haiku of the avengers. Review by Trevor Skingle

By Thomas Lockley and Geoffrey Girard A tale of the life of Yasuke, the African mercenary-turned-samurai who found himself, against all odds, immersed in the very heart of political and military power in 16th century Japan, thousands of miles from [...] Review by Laurence Green

By Lafcadio Hearn This collection of fantasy tales is a great example of how literature has evolved and should continue to evolve in every sense of the word; in representation, theme and language. Review by Azmina Sohail

By Neil Jackson This book discusses the architectural influence that Japan and the West have had on each other during the last 150 years. Based on extensive research, this book provides a synthetic overview that brings [...] Review by Andrew Nishiyama Taylor