I love to read books by Japanese authors, particularly those on the shorter side. Something about the way the Japanese write, regardless of whether the work was translated or simply wrote in English to begin with, doesn’t shake the way these authors can so easily convey a scene, an emotion, or their (usually) odd sense of humour.
I find the shortness of the works below really help to elevate the qualities of each author, perhaps by making every page that little bit more impactful to the progression of the story.
Heaven by Mieko Kawakami
Heaven is a short novel that focuses on the complexities of how bullying, neglect, family, and self-image, affect a teen boy with a lazy eye.
Kawakami creates an interesting and vague story about two middle school outcasts who grow dependent on one another, but never mature enough to develop their bond. It features plenty of cruel characters, and leaves a surprisingly deep impact upon completion.
A Pale View Of Hills by Kazuo Ishiguro
Ishiguro’s debut novel tackles a lot, with a UK-based Japanese woman recounting her past life in Japan following the suicide of her eldest daughter.
Much of the story can be interpreted differently, but A Pale View of Hills is ultimately about loss and motherhood, in addition to leaving home and struggling to comprehend the impact our choices have on those around us.
Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata
Funny, but with a lot to say. Convenience Store Woman is a novel that wraps a critique of modern society, as well as an exploration of self-centredness and personal happiness, in comedy and absurdness.
An amusing and unique read throughout. A confident, yet partly cynical debut for the author. Brilliant stuff, even if it is tonally immature.
Tokyo Express by Seichō Matsumoto
Calculated and captivating, Tokyo Express is an enjoyable 1950s mystery novel that mixes a couple of fun clichés into a superb tale of deception and chance.
It is not your typical light-hearted detective tale starring a rookie and a gruff veteran, where one leads the other, but rather a good display of how two minds and two approaches can solve a complex mystery about suspicious suicides.
Strange Weather in Tokyo by Hiromi Kawakami
A more serious work, Strange Weather in Tokyo tackles the concepts of love and the social controversy of adult age gaps. However, given that it is modern Japanese fiction, it doesn’t lack wit or slightly quirky characters.
It explores the question of whether it is appropriate for an elderly teacher and his mopey ex-student to fall in love.
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