The Japan Society Review

By Liane Grunberg Wakabayashi This compelling and insightful memoir reads like a classic love story full of trials and tribulations. Liane Grunberg Wakabayashi’s spiritual journey in Japan from secular to orthodox Judaism is a reflection on transformation, relationships, family values, finding happiness, and being true to oneself. Review by Renae Lucas-Hall

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

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

By Imai Yoshihiro This book is a chef monograph, where, through food writing – a blend of personal essays and photographs revolving around food and nature, concluding with a number of recipes – Imai Yoshihiro tells the story of his fourteen-seated wood-fire pizza restaurant. Review by Riyoko Shibe

By Ichikawa Takuji In 'Monkey Man', Ichikawa Takuji, one of Japan’s most imaginative, bestselling and unusual authors, pointedly challenges readers to consider how we can change the inevitable course of history and save the human race from itself. Review by Laurence Green