Japanese Fiction

astrangerhere · 01-07-2011, 03:32 PM

I'm fascinated by Japanese literature and culture and wonder if anyone shares the passion or has a reccomendation?

I've read many Japanese classics like The Tale of Genji and the works of Natsume Soseki. I've also read some modern work by authors like Murakami (all of it!), Natsuo Kirino, Banana Yoshimoto, and Ryu Murakami. I just purchased in DTB (not available ANYWHERE in ebook) Kodansha Press' translation of The Waiting Years by Fumiko Enchi.

So anyone else up for some good Japanese Lit?

FlorenceArt · 01-07-2011, 03:43 PM

Classic authors you might enjoy are Inoue Yasushi, Kawabata Yasunari (one of my favorites), Mishima Yukio.

FlorenceArt · 01-07-2011, 03:48 PM

Also, the story of Musashi (a famous samurai) by Yoshikawa Eiji.

astrangerhere · 01-07-2011, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlorenceArt

Also, the story of Musashi (a famous samurai) by Yoshikawa Eiji.

Read that one. My list of classic literature was far from inclusive. Once I can get home and look at migh shelves, I might beef it up a bit.

SeaBookGuy · 01-07-2011, 04:41 PM

You might be interested in Kyoko Mori - a Japanese immigrant to the States - as a writer. I've read a couple of her memoirs, which cover quite a bit of cultural ground, but no fiction.

graphicsgirl · 01-07-2011, 06:18 PM

Not written by a Japanese author, but does have a great deal of Japanese culture in it: The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet by David Mitchell.

poohbear_nc · 01-07-2011, 08:20 PM

Indeed - many of David Mitchell's books are set in Japan - modern and historical.

rkomar · 01-07-2011, 08:24 PM

I second FlorenceArt's recommendation of Kawabata. I too love most of the translated Japanese Fiction I have read, and Kawabata's novels are near the top. You might also like "The Woman of the Dunes" by Kobo Abe.

ardeegee · 01-07-2011, 08:31 PM

There's an interesting one:

http://www.amazon.com/Curious-Casebo.../dp/0824831004

also

http://www.amazon.com/Best-Japanese-...dp/0942637283/

bitemeok · 01-08-2011, 04:50 PM

One of my favorite collections of horror stories is Edogawa Rampo's Tales of Mystery and Imagination--some truly disturbing stories from the first great Japanese mystery writer. Ryunosuke Akutagawa is also excellent, although only a few of his stories are mysteries or horror in the traditional sense (if you've seen the film Rashamon, it's based on one of his tales).

I should add though, that no Rampo is available in ebook format in English. I think one volume of Akutagawa is.

Latinandgreek · 01-08-2011, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rkomar

I second FlorenceArt's recommendation of Kawabata. I too love most of the translated Japanese Fiction I have read, and Kawabata's novels are near the top. You might also like "The Woman of the Dunes" by Kobo Abe.

I third the recommendation of Kawabata, and share your passion for Japanese literature. I even took a few classes in Japanese, but I'm not at a level where I can read Japanese literature in the original language - maybe someday!

rkomar · 01-09-2011, 03:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ardeegee

http://www.amazon.com/Best-Japanese-...dp/0942637283/

I have this in paperback, and the story "The Savage Mouth" is truly 'memorable'! Engrossing and disturbing. I'm glad I read it

.

Maggie Leung · 01-09-2011, 08:15 PM

For fiction, in no particular order, I like Junnosuke Yoshiyuki, Seicho Matsumoto, Fumiko Enchi, Haruki Murakami, Junichiro Tanizaki, Yukio Mishima, Yoji Yamaguchi, Banana Yoshimoto, Ruth Ozeki, Kazuo Ishiguro.

hidari · 01-09-2011, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maggie Leung

For fiction, in no particular order, I like Junnosuke Yoshiyuki, Seicho Matsumoto, Fumiko Enchi, Haruki Murakami, Junichiro Tanizaki, Yukio Mishima, Yoji Yamaguchi, Banana Yoshimoto, Ruth Ozeki, Kazuo Ishiguro.

The above are good and I would add, Shusako Endo, Kobo Abe, Ryu Murukami, Osamu Dazai, Junichiro Tanizaki, Natsume Soseki ( who was on the 1000 yen note for a long time), Kenzaburo Oe (Nobel Prize winner),

As for me my favorites are Dazai, Abe Kobo and Endo Shuzako,

Endo Shusako's Silence and Abe's Woman in the Dunes are very famous novels and the latter was made into a very famous film in Japanese. Soseki is a bit of a God in Japanese literaure as well as Mishima.

Maggie Leung · 01-09-2011, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hidari

The above are good and I would add, Shusako Endo, Kobo Abe, Ryu Murukami, Osamu Dazai, Junichiro Tanizaki, Natsume Soseki ( who was on the 1000 yen note for a long time), Kenzaburo Oe (Nobel Prize winner),

As for me my favorites are Dazai, Abe Kobo and Endo Shuzako,

Endo Shusako's Silence and Ab'es Woman in the Dunes are very famous novels and the latter was made into a very famous film in Japanese. Soseki is a bit of a God in Japanese literaure as well as Mishima.

Thanks. I'll look into some of your recommendations. Tanizaki is one my favorites. I couldn't get into Kenzaburo Oe, but have been meaning to take another crack at him.

01-07-2011, 03:32 PM	#1
astrangerhere Professor of Law Posts: 3,747 Karma: 68428716 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Chapel Hill, NC Device: Kobo Elipsa, Kobo Libra H20, Kobo Aura One, KoboMini	Japanese Fiction I'm fascinated by Japanese literature and culture and wonder if anyone shares the passion or has a reccomendation? I've read many Japanese classics like The Tale of Genji and the works of Natsume Soseki. I've also read some modern work by authors like Murakami (all of it!), Natsuo Kirino, Banana Yoshimoto, and Ryu Murakami. I just purchased in DTB (not available ANYWHERE in ebook) Kodansha Press' translation of The Waiting Years by Fumiko Enchi. So anyone else up for some good Japanese Lit?

01-08-2011, 04:50 PM	#10
bitemeok Connoisseur Posts: 55 Karma: 42 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Silver Spring, MD Device: Sony PRS-300	One of my favorite collections of horror stories is Edogawa Rampo's Tales of Mystery and Imagination--some truly disturbing stories from the first great Japanese mystery writer. Ryunosuke Akutagawa is also excellent, although only a few of his stories are mysteries or horror in the traditional sense (if you've seen the film Rashamon, it's based on one of his tales). I should add though, that no Rampo is available in ebook format in English. I think one volume of Akutagawa is. Last edited by bitemeok; 01-08-2011 at 04:52 PM. Reason: Added last line

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01-07-2011, 03:43 PM	#2
FlorenceArt High Priestess Posts: 5,761 Karma: 5042529 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Montreuil sous bois, France Device: iPad Pro 9.7, iPhone 6 Plus	Classic authors you might enjoy are Inoue Yasushi, Kawabata Yasunari (one of my favorites), Mishima Yukio.

01-07-2011, 03:48 PM	#3
FlorenceArt High Priestess Posts: 5,761 Karma: 5042529 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Montreuil sous bois, France Device: iPad Pro 9.7, iPhone 6 Plus	Also, the story of Musashi (a famous samurai) by Yoshikawa Eiji.

01-07-2011, 04:41 PM	#5
SeaBookGuy Can one read too much? Posts: 2,029 Karma: 2487799 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Naples, FL Device: Kindle PW 3, Sony 350 and 650	You might be interested in Kyoko Mori - a Japanese immigrant to the States - as a writer. I've read a couple of her memoirs, which cover quite a bit of cultural ground, but no fiction.

01-07-2011, 06:18 PM	#6
graphicsgirl Connoisseur Posts: 50 Karma: 612 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: Nook wifi, Ebookwise 1150, Dell Axim x5	Not written by a Japanese author, but does have a great deal of Japanese culture in it: The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet by David Mitchell.

01-07-2011, 08:20 PM	#7
poohbear_nc Bah! Humbug! Posts: 62,822 Karma: 135239851 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Durham, NC Device: Every Kindle Ever Made & To Be Made!	Indeed - many of David Mitchell's books are set in Japan - modern and historical.

01-07-2011, 08:24 PM	#8
rkomar Wizard Posts: 3,042 Karma: 18821071 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Sudbury, ON, Canada Device: PRS-505, PB 902, PRS-T1, PB 623, PB 840, PB 633	I second FlorenceArt's recommendation of Kawabata. I too love most of the translated Japanese Fiction I have read, and Kawabata's novels are near the top. You might also like "The Woman of the Dunes" by Kobo Abe.

01-07-2011, 08:31 PM	#9
ardeegee Maratus speciosus butt Posts: 3,292 Karma: 1162698 Join Date: Sep 2009 Device: PRS-350	There's an interesting one: http://www.amazon.com/Curious-Casebo.../dp/0824831004 also http://www.amazon.com/Best-Japanese-...dp/0942637283/

01-09-2011, 08:15 PM	#13
Maggie Leung Wizard Posts: 1,449 Karma: 58383 Join Date: Jul 2009 Device: Kindle, iPad	For fiction, in no particular order, I like Junnosuke Yoshiyuki, Seicho Matsumoto, Fumiko Enchi, Haruki Murakami, Junichiro Tanizaki, Yukio Mishima, Yoji Yamaguchi, Banana Yoshimoto, Ruth Ozeki, Kazuo Ishiguro.

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