Japanese Literature

The Tale of Genji - Murasaki Shikibu

Considered the world's first novel, this Heian-era work follows the romantic and political life of Hikaru Genji, the "shining prince," and explores themes of love, power, and the fleeting nature of life.

Kokoro - Natsume Sōseki

This novel examines loneliness, friendship, and the clash between tradition and modernity through the relationship between a young man and his mentor, Sensei, who harbors a dark secret.

Snow Country - Yasunari Kawabata

A story of doomed love between Shimamura, a wealthy man, and Komako, a geisha in a rural hot spring town, set against the backdrop of Japan's beautiful but harsh snow country.

No Longer Human - Osamu Dazai

An intense, semi-autobiographical novel about alienation, self-destruction, and identity as the protagonist, Ōba Yōzō, struggles to find meaning in life.

The Sound of the Mountain - Yasunari Kawabata

A quiet, introspective novel that explores family dynamics, aging, and memory through the experiences of an elderly man named Shingo Ogata.

Rashomon and Other Stories - Ryunosuke Akutagawa

This collection includes "Rashomon" and "In a Grove," stories that delve into human morality, perception, and the nature of truth. They were famously adapted into the film Rashomon by Akira Kurosawa.

Norwegian Wood - Haruki Murakami

A nostalgic tale of love, loss, and coming of age in 1960s Japan, focusing on the introspective Toru Watanabe and his complex relationships with Naoko and Midori.

The Woman in the Dunes - Kobo Abe

A surreal, existential story about a man who becomes trapped in a village and forced to dig sand, exploring themes of identity, freedom, and absurdity.

A Personal Matter - Kenzaburō Ōe

A dark, semi-autobiographical novel about Bird, a man who must confront his responsibilities and ideals when his son is born with a disability.

The Setting Sun - Osamu Dazai

A post-war novel that follows the decline of an aristocratic family, symbolizing the downfall of traditional values in modern Japan.

Thousand Cranes - Yasunari Kawabata

Explores post-war Japanese culture and the beauty and sadness of relationships through the life of Kikuji, who becomes entangled with his deceased father's former lovers.

I Am a Cat - Natsume Sōseki

A satirical novel narrated by a nameless cat observing Japanese society, critiquing the idiosyncrasies and hypocrisies of the Meiji-era middle class.

Kafka on the Shore - Haruki Murakami

A metaphysical novel following the parallel lives of a teenage runaway named Kafka and an elderly man named Nakata. It combines magical realism with themes of fate, memory, and trauma.

Battle Royale - Koushun Takami

A dystopian thriller where a group of high school students are forced to fight to the death by a totalitarian government, exploring themes of violence, survival, and loyalty.

Botchan - Natsume Sōseki

A humorous coming-of-age story about a young teacher in rural Japan, highlighting the clash between personal morals and societal expectations.

Black Rain - Masuji Ibuse

A poignant novel about the effects of the Hiroshima bombing, following Shigematsu Shizuma as he documents the aftermath of radiation exposure and the resilience of survivors.

Naomi - Jun'ichirō Tanizaki

A provocative story of obsession, Westernization, and eroticism, following the relationship between an older man and a young woman, Naomi, whom he tries to mold to his ideal.

The Silent Cry - Kenzaburō Ōe

A dark, complex story about two brothers who return to their village, facing family secrets and the legacy of their ancestors, with themes of history, trauma, and rebellion.

The Tale of the Heike - Anonymous

An epic chronicle of the Genpei War between the Taira and Minamoto clans, depicting the impermanence of power and the Buddhist concept of impermanence.

Kwaidan: Stories and Studies of Strange Things - Lafcadio Hearn

A collection of Japanese ghost stories and supernatural folklore compiled by Hearn, exploring traditional Japanese beliefs about the afterlife and spirits.

Spring Snow - Yukio Mishima

The first book in The Sea of Fertility tetralogy, it follows the doomed love affair between Kiyoaki Matsugae and Satoko Ayakura, highlighting Mishima’s themes of beauty, honor, and fatalism.

The Temple of the Golden Pavilion - Yukio Mishima

Inspired by real events, this novel tells the story of a troubled young acolyte obsessed with the beauty of the Golden Pavilion and his eventual destruction of it.

The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea - Yukio Mishima

A dark coming-of-age tale where a young boy's disillusionment with adulthood leads him to conspire against his mother's lover, exploring themes of purity and nihilism.

Silence - Shūsaku Endō

A historical novel about the persecution of Jesuit missionaries in 17th-century Japan, exploring themes of faith, suffering, and cultural conflict.