ONLINE EVENT - The Japan Society Book Club: Mina's Matchbox by Yoko Ogawa

Date
Monday 10 Noviembre 2025
Time
7.00pm (GMT)
For countries outside the UK, please use this calculator to check the time in your region.

Booking Details
Online meeting on Zoom
Please register for the meeting in advance from the link below. After registering, you will receive a automated confirmation email with meeting access details (please check your spam folder if you don't receive any emails).

Free for members of The Japan Society

Book available from Bookshop.org, Amazon, and Waterstones (translated by Stephen Snyder)
Japanese version available here

Please help us to keep this event free and open to all! The Japan Society is a charity and its activities are made possible thanks to the support of its members. If you are planning to attend this event and are not a member (as an individual or through your employer), please consider becoming a member or making a donation if you can - the recommended donation is £5. Thank you!

Mina's Matchbox is a coming-of-age novel set in 1972 Japan. After her father's death, 12-year-old Tomoko moves from Tokyo to Ashiya to live with her aunt's affluent family. There, she forms a deep bond with her asthmatic cousin, Mina, who collects matchboxes and crafts imaginative stories inspired by their labels. The narrative explores themes of loss, family dynamics, and the transition from childhood to adolescence, highlighting the girls' shared experiences and the complexities of growing up.

Yoko Ogawa (1962-) is a Japanese author from Okayama Prefecture. She graduated from Waseda University with a degree in writing. Ogawa debuted in 1988 with When the Butterfly Vanishes. Her acclaimed works include The Housekeeper and the Professor, The Memory Police, and The Diving Pool. Her writing spans novels, short stories, and essays, often exploring memory, loss, and human relationships. Ogawa has received numerous awards, including the Akutagawa Prize, the Yomiuri Prize, and the Tanizaki Prize. Her works have been widely translated, earning her an international readership.

If you have any questions, please call The Japan Society office on 020 3075 1996 or email events@japansociety.org.uk.