View Full Version : Books set in Japan
For some reason I've been on a Japan kick lately and I can't quite place why. I've only read a few books so far but I'm looking for more but I don't know what to search for and any suggestions would be highly welcome. I own Battle Royale, Memoirs of a Geisha, and The Tea House Fire and have enjoyed them all. Time-period doesn't matter too terribly much to me though I would rather not have something futuristic.
So, any suggestions or is too small a niche?
RandoM51
04-18-2010, 07:54 AM
James Clavell.
Thanasimos
04-18-2010, 07:55 AM
Anything by Haruki Murakami. For the most part, set in the seventies and eighties in Japan, and riding the line between magical realism and thrillers, two very disparate things. Have a stab at it.
Except his best book, Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World, because only half the book is set in Japan, and it's futuristic Japan. The other half is set in a strange, strange place.
Chris_D
04-18-2010, 09:14 AM
If you don't mind a non fiction biography, I found Tokyo Underworld (http://www.amazon.com/Tokyo-Underworld-Times-American-Gangster/dp/0375724893) pretty interesting.
Also, I just started reading Tokyo Year Zero (http://www.amazon.com/Tokyo-Vintage-Crime-Black-Lizard/dp/0307276503) but it's been super depressing.
nnanji
04-18-2010, 09:38 AM
My wife has been enjoying a mystery series set in Japan. The first book is called Shinju. It is set in 1600s era Japan. I would also second the James Clavell reference. Black Rain is an incredible, but deeply disturbing and affecting book set in Hiroshima.
shunoshi
04-18-2010, 10:08 AM
James Clavell.
This. Do yourself a favor and pick up Shogun. It's a fantastic book. Don't be frightened by its modest size. ;)
Bandango
04-18-2010, 10:26 AM
Anything by Haruki Murakami. For the most part, set in the seventies and eighties in Japan, and riding the line between magical realism and thrillers, two very disparate things. Have a stab at it.
Except his best book, Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World, because only half the book is set in Japan, and it's futuristic Japan. The other half is set in a strange, strange place.
Read Norwegian Wood. It's fucking great and super sad.
tacitus
04-18-2010, 11:03 AM
If your are reading or have read or even watched shogun - check out learning from shogun (http://www.columbia.edu/~hds2/learning/)
Krispy
04-18-2010, 11:35 AM
The first part of Snow Crash takes place in Japan. :D
Crittias
04-18-2010, 12:00 PM
The Fox Woman (http://www.amazon.com/Fox-Woman-Kij-Johnson/dp/0312875592/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1271613511&sr=8-1) by Kij Johnson is a good book set in medieval Japan. It helps that I'm friends with the author :)
Superman's Dead
04-18-2010, 12:07 PM
I'ma agree with Shogun and Battle Royale is GREAT for sure...have you thought of maybe reading some manga? Those are pretty Japanese, and can take you by surprise =)
I honestly have a hard time with manga. I'm not sure why but it rarely does a lot for me and I usually feel in over my head with it. Not that I'm opposed to picking some up in any way if there's something I shouldn't miss.
And much thanks for all of the suggestions so far! I'll definitely grab Shogun. Tokyo Underworld looks really interesting too as does the stuff from Murakami. I love trips to the book store.
Superman's Dead
04-18-2010, 12:56 PM
The cool thing about manga is that if there's something you're interested in...chances are there's manga about it. I'm reading this great one about Japanese High Schoolers who play American Football, and it's a lot of fun.
You'd probably rather have it in your hands, but mangafox.com has an absolute ton to read online.
I'll check out the link. Maybe that will help get me into it more? Thanks!
Lithium Flower
04-19-2010, 01:00 AM
The James Clavell novel Gai-jin is also fantastic. Set in a somewhat later historical period. Shogun is just riveting! Breath-taking book.
pronounconnoun
04-19-2010, 11:02 AM
Out by Natsuo Kirino. You learn a lot about Japanese society, especially some of the hardships that women experience. The book is pretty out there, though. It's a crime/mystery novel.
Vandabo
04-19-2010, 11:17 AM
The first part of Snow Crash takes place in Japan. :D
Really? I thought it was Neuromancer that started in Japan...
civil
04-19-2010, 12:53 PM
Forget every other suggestion and go with the Murakami ones. I'd suggest starting with Kafka on the Shore, but as thatha said, anything is pretty much gold.
Thanasimos
04-20-2010, 06:20 AM
Forget every other suggestion and go with the Murakami ones. I'd suggest starting with Kafka on the Shore, but as thatha said, anything is pretty much gold.
This man is most definitely right, but. . . who the fuck is thatha? T_T
So I went to the store yesterday and the only author they had out of everything suggested was Murakami so I snagged Norwegian Wood. So far it's phenomenal and I much appreciate the suggestion.
Quick question: with Clavell, I haven't seen Shogun but I have come across his other stuff in my search but they all say something about being part of a Saga. Do I need to read them in some sort of order or do they just all take place in the same area?
rinichanraar
04-20-2010, 06:53 PM
I was here to suggest anything by Haruki Murakami (looks like everyone's got that covered) and this:
Out by Natsuo Kirino. You learn a lot about Japanese society, especially some of the hardships that women experience. The book is pretty out there, though. It's a crime/mystery novel.
Out is pretty fucked up, but it's also pretty interesting.
Lithium Flower
04-21-2010, 03:00 AM
So I went to the store yesterday and the only author they had out of everything suggested was Murakami so I snagged Norwegian Wood. So far it's phenomenal and I much appreciate the suggestion.
Quick question: with Clavell, I haven't seen Shogun but I have come across his other stuff in my search but they all say something about being part of a Saga. Do I need to read them in some sort of order or do they just all take place in the same area?
There is no continuity, they are all pretty much stand alone novels set in the Far East around the common theme of East meets West. Only two actually take place in Japan - Shogun and Gai-Jin. King Rat is about a Japanese POW camp in Singapore during WWII. Tai-Pan and Noble House are set in Hong Kong, Whirlwind is set in Iran.
Unless your interest is wider than Japan alone, you need only read Shogun, Gai-Jin and maybe King-Rat.
Vyzov
04-21-2010, 05:02 AM
Really? I thought it was Neuromancer that started in Japan...
Two completely different books by two completely different authors.
Quite a few of Gibsons books take place in Japan. The Sprawl Trilogy as well as the Bigend Trilogy both frequently visit Japan.
And no, Snow Crash doesn't start in Japan. It starts and ends in Los Angeles. I don't believe it even visits Japan at all.
Vandabo
04-22-2010, 07:05 PM
Two completely different books by two completely different authors.
Quite a few of Gibsons books take place in Japan. The Sprawl Trilogy as well as the Bigend Trilogy both frequently visit Japan.
And no, Snow Crash doesn't start in Japan. It starts and ends in Los Angeles. I don't believe it even visits Japan at all.
I know they are different authors and everything, but I often hear them mentioned in the same breath. Lots of similarities between them and both classics of that genre.
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