The Japan Society
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The Japan Society Review

The Japan Society Review is an digital publication covering Japan-related books and films, as well as theatre and stage productions, tv series and exhibitions. Published since 2006, it is released now on a quarterly basis and is available online on our website. Its purpose is to inform, entertain and encourage readers to explore the works for themselves.

The Japan Society Review is possible thanks to the work of volunteers who dedicated their time and expertise to help us to promote the learning and understanding of Japanese culture and society.

To become a reviewer, please fill the form here and let us know a little about you, your professional or academic background, your interest, passion or expertise regarding Japan and the type of works you would like to review.

If you have any questions, please contact reviews@japansociety.org.uk.

Mina’s Matchbox

Books

Mina’s Matchbox

By Ogawa Yoko A coming-of-age novel set in 1972 Japan, this novel follows twelve-year-old girl Tomoko as she moves from Tokyo to Ashiya to live with her aunt's affluent family. Review by Rio Julian

Jackson Alone

Books

Jackson Alone

By Jose Ando A darkly comic and provocative novel following a mixed-race, openly gay protagonist Jackson as he navigates a world that persistently defines him by his otherness. Review by Hester Mullen

Contents Tourism and Pop Culture Fandom

Books

Contents Tourism and Pop Culture Fandom

Edited by Yamamura Takayoshi and Philip Seaton In this scholarly yet accessible edited volume, contributors give a comprehensive look at how "contents tourism" - the phenomenon of travel stimulated by narrative media - is reshaping our world. Review by Kiki Luk

Alone in Japan: A Journey to the Future

Books

Alone in Japan: A Journey to the Future

By Tom Feiling Travelling from rural villages to vast cities, the author uncovers a distressing transformation. Japan remains prosperous and peaceful, yet fewer people are forming relationships or having children, and the population is shrinking dramatically. Review by Laurence Green

Japan: A History in Objects

Books

Japan: A History in Objects

By Angus Lockyer A history of the Japanese archipelago through its material artefacts over fifteen millennia. Review by Laurence Green

Japanese Wine: History, Regions, Wineries (and Cheese)

Books

Japanese Wine: History, Regions, Wineries (and Cheese)

By Nick Rowan This book offers a journey through the history, regions, and producers of wine in Japan. Review by Kylie Clark

Murakami Haruki on Film

Books

Murakami Haruki on Film

By Marc Yamada This book provides an indispensable analysis of the world of Murakami cinema, from high-profile works to older, more obscure Murakami adaptations. Review by Thomas Caffrey

Secrets of the Sun

Books

Secrets of the Sun

By Yoshikawa Mako A searingly honest memoir detailing a daughter’s quest to understand her brilliant yet tortured father in the aftermath of his death. Review by Isabel Mermagen

The Typing Lady and Other Fictions

Books

The Typing Lady and Other Fictions

By Ruth Ozeki These are the types of stories that leave us stuck between wanting to know more and moved by Ozeki's observation of humanity. Review by Azmina Sohail

Six Months of Dreaming

Books

Six Months of Dreaming

By Charlotte Cory In this work, contemporary multimedia artist and author Charlotte Cory balances creative and archival curiosity through an imaginative reconstruction to revive the almost-forgotten ambitions of an innovative Japanese neck-tie designer in 1920s Japan. Review by Maxine Stacey