The Japan Society Review

By Anna Jackson and Yamada Masami This book explores the important role that woodblock prints played in the fashionable world of Edo-period Japan (1603-1868). Review by Carolin Becke

Edited by Fiona Collins This volume brings together over 75 significant woodblock prints, spanning 300 years, from the 17th to the late 20th centuries, from the Worcester Art Museum's collection, donated by John Chandler Bancroft in 1901. Review by Joseph Rosalind-Hayat

By various authors An anthology of short stories written by authors contemporaries of Japan's master of the macabre, Edogawa Ranpo, who kept a vast book collection in an old storehouse on the grounds of his property in Ikebukuro, Tokyo. Review by Shehrazade Zafar-Arif

By Richard Irving This revised edition of the story of William Adams, the English samurai, is now made available in two hardback volumes, with an updated text and the addition of several new illustrations. Review by Nicolas Maclean

By Timon Screech This illustrated book presents important sites and features from the rich history of Edo, the former name of the city of Tokyo, drawn from contemporary sources such as diaries, guidebooks and woodblock prints. Review by Trevor Skingle

By Akemi Lucas In this illustrated step-by-step guide, master calligraphic artist Akemi Lucas describes the equipment, brush positioning, ink-mixing techniques and mindset needed to excel at this art form. Review by Renae Lucas-Hall

By Kubo Misumi A compelling collection of interconnected short stories that delve into the complexities of human relationships, societal dislocation, and personal struggles within contemporary Japanese society. Review by Alex Russell

By Sakaguchi Ango Aiming at an audience for classic Japanese mystery fiction, The Coincidental Murders is a mix of quirky characters and mind-boggling intrigue. Review by Laurence Green

Edited by Simon Avenell and Akihiro Ogawa This Handbook volume examines civil society (shimin shakai) as seen in the activities of NPOs (Nonprofit Organizations), anti-nuclear groups, the media, gender critics, territorial disputes and influential right-wing advocates. Review by Roger Buckley

By Matsumoto Seicho Point Zero is a gripping mystery novel set in post-war Japan, where a newlywed woman embarks on a quest to uncover the truth behind her husband's sudden disappearance. Review by Laurence Green