The Japan Society Review

By Matsuie Masashi A group of architects compete to design Tokyo’s new National Library of Modern Literature in a novel that elegantly brings together love, art, and life in the shadow of Mount Asama. Review by Tabitha Carver

By various authors Second volumen of thise 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 Russell Jones This book offers a concise and accessible overview of Japan’s economic development from the late nineteenth century to the present, examining both its remarkable growth and subsequent challenges. Review by Sanae Inagaki

By Matsuda Aoko Bold, electrifying, and wickedly funny, Matsuda Aoko’s The Woman Dies slices with razor-sharp deftness through the everyday sexism woven into modern Japanese life. Review by Laurence Green

This review looks back at Ado’s concert at The O2 in London in 2025, reflecting on one of the most anticipated J‑pop live events of the year.

The meaning of Hyakkō is 100 makers. But more broadly it means many makers. There are slightly more than 100 makers showcased here, with around 2000 objects on display. Review by David Tonge

This issue of The Japan Society Review highlights the breadth and nuance of Japanese cultural narratives, from speculative fiction and independent film to historical biography and contemporary art. Covering literature, cinema, and more, the September issue offers a diverse and engaging set of reviews that reflect both enduring traditions and fresh creative perspectives.

This exhibition was an excellent introduction to Shibuya’s work, and offered a tranquil meditation on the importance of fleeting moments of beauty against an ever-shifting backdrop of bad news. Review by Lucy Farley

By Hamao Shiro With this volume, Hamao can be well and truly added to the pantheon of other classic Japanese crime writers gradually being resurrected from the mists of the past. Review by Laurence Green

By Murakami Ryu In Popular Hits of the Showa Era, Murakami Ryu presents to us a bizarre and violent conversation between generation and gender in post-war Japan. Review by Tabitha Carver