The Japan Society Review

By Yasushi Inoue The three stories collected in Life of a Counterfeiter take place shortly after the war; defeat is still an open wound, and the future a grim prospect, although the war rarely appears as more than an [...] Review by Chris Corker

By Akiyuki Nosaka Don’t let the title fool you – this collection of short stories contain poignant, melancholic and tragic tales set on the day of Japanese surrender, 15 August 1945. Review by Annabelle Sami

By Sophie Richard Sophie Richard’s book is a seductive and accessible introduction to Japanese art, from its ancient beginnings to its current shape, and the spaces in which it is displayed. Review by Jenny White

By Yasushi Inoue During the aftermath of the Second World War, Tsugami, the editor-in-chief of a newspaper agrees to arrange a bullfighting contest. Over the months that follow he becomes consumed with the event and [...] Review by Chris Corker

By Yasushi Inoue The book focuses on a husband (Misugi), his wife, his lover, and his lover’s daughter. Letters written by each of the women to Misugi offer three different perspectives on his affair, each (mis)interpreting events. Review by Lucy Kikuchi

By Barak Kushner In this book, the author's focus is on Class B and C war crimes and the way in which trials were held in China/Taiwan. Moreover, he stresses that war responsibility and war crimes are ‘two different species.’ Review by Sir Hugh Cortazzi

By Takashi Hiraide The prose in The Guest Cat bare and clinical. The pace of the book is lethargic, leaving the narrative to meander a little too often.The book is part of The New York Times and The Sunday Times best seller lists. Review by Chris Corker

By John T. Carpenter This catalogue was published with the exhibition ‘Designing Nature: The Rinpa Aesthetic in Japanese Art’. It introduces some of the most colourful paintings and artefacts of Edo Japan. Review by Sir Hugh Cortazzi

By Junji Banno The book assumes that the reader has a fair grasp of the history of modern Japan. It is thus intended primarily for historians as it is not an introduction to Japanese political history for the newcomer to [...] Review by Sir Hugh Cortazzi

By Yoshihiko Futamasu The sufferings of allied prisoners of war forced by the Japanese military to work on the have been recounted in many books. This book is the first publication in English of an account by a Japanese railway engineer. Review by Sir Hugh Cortazzi