20 More Must-Read Japanese Books in Translation

[@mayl1227]

0:36 Beast in the shadows 2:01 Finger bone 3:31 Diary of a void 4:55 The diving pool 6:31 No longer human 7:57 Earthlings 9:28 Life ceremony 10:31 What you are looking for is in the library 11:45 The forest of wool and steel 12:54 The Makioka sisters 14:08 Solo Dance 15:38 The tattoo murder 16:58 The easy life in Kamusari 17:45 Mild vertigo 19:00 The boy and the dog 19:46 My neighbor Totoro 20:11 Hit parade of tears, terminal boredom 21:10 Sensor 22:00 Idol, burning 23:13 Honeybees and distant thunder

[@POlivares23]

I’ve been following your channel for about two years and I have to tell you you’ve played a significant role in helping me discover the greatness of Asian literature. Thank you!

[@gabriela8818]

the amound of screenshots i have of Willow holding books so i can look them up afterwards is truly concerning 😫😫💕

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Hahaha

[@oliverharris60]

I just read Earthlings and I have never been so confused in my feelings by a book! I’ve never read anything like it. A frenzied exploration of society and how some of us get left behind. And what can happen if people take their ways of coping too far.

[@TheLadyElyen]

I really get your emotional confusion about that book. Earthlings was and is the only book I ever threw away. I was absolutely disgusted (to the point where I felt physically sick) and still devoured it in less than a day. I detest and adore it at the same time and will never read it again.

[@oliverharris60]

Exactly! Absolutely bizarre! But unarguably incredible writing, if it can make us feel so strongly and simultaneously keep us hooked!@@TheLadyElyen

[@sylviakanel9766]

I found a video of your advice on where to start with Haruki Murikami about two years ago. I can't remember now but whatever it was you said, it made me realize Murikami was probably just not for me so it was certainly useful information. Now, all this time later, your video entitled Some Personal News popped up out of nowhere and I found what you had to say about your own life so compelling that I started to sample a broader range of your reviews and found a remarkable degree of depth and sensitivity. You don't bring a persona to them like so many reviewers do; you bring who you are as a person and I like that person very much. Thank you. And from this collection of Japanese literature I have found some titles that really interest me. I look forward to exploring your channel further.

[@CharlieBrookReads]

Just the way you triple our TBR’s 👀Too many great sounding books!! I did What You Are Looking For is In The Library recently and loved it too.

[@Yangja0913]

So glad Rin Usami’s work is included. Her book after Idol, Burning is also a masterpiece! Hope it will soon be translated into English!

[@TheBonsaiGarden]

Thanks for this Willow. I appreciate all you do, and will no doubt work through several of these books in the future (once I have struggled to complete the somewhat challenging The Tale of Genji)! It has taken me a while to get into the mindset for contemporary Japanese fiction, which can often be very slow, seemingly uneventful micro-dramas.

[@ariannelg]

I missed your videos! (My fault not yours) Who in this booktube world is not ready for “What you are looking for is in the library”??? Glad to hear about it here on your channel!!! 💚

[@shree2710]

Just listening to you talk about books gives me so much joy, i keep smiling throughout the watch❤

[@abouthan]

these videos of yours alway extend my tbr by at least 15 books! thank you for always recommending less read and hyped authors

[@CindyRichard-s3u]

This was such a helpful video, and I can't wait to check out some of these books (What You Are Looking for is in the Library and Honeybees and Distant Thunder). I tend to love Japanese books because of the themes they tackle, but they are also expressed in such a beautiful and thought provoking way; they also make their point in 300 pages or less (something more authors should learn from and emulate).

[@sdeangelis9491]

I found your channel in the past week. It and you are wonderful. I appreciate your thoughtful, concise yet comprehensive reviews. I am enjoying getting to know you and building my book list. Thank you.

[@dominiqueeslabra]

Thank you for the additional recos! Great timing since I'll be taking a trip to the bookstore tomorrow. 💟

[@kawaiikitty4569]

Amazing, thank you so much. Many more books for the list, I’ve learned so much from your recommendations and the books I’ve read so far have been fantastic!

[@bethstratton3391]

A sweet selection and re-review of great Japanese novels and short stories. I’ve read all of these too.

[@AlejandraMiladin]

I just wanted to say that a lot of your recommendations have become my favorite reads. So i'm very grateful, really. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. Keep up this lovely videos. Greetings from Argentina..♥🌟

[@shuwei9420]

Ahhh I love this so much! At least with translated Japanese fiction, our tastes are so aligned. I agree with so many of your takes on these books + I now have a few that I need to add to my tbr yes!! Also thank you very much for the Sensor recommendation. I've been overwhelmed by Junji Ito's repertoire recently and now I have something to focus on.

[@TheFran2555]

I find your chanel because of the older video ❤ thank you for the awesome recs now and then

[@BenRogersWPG]

I love all these books! Outstanding video! ❤️📚

[@badfaith4u]

What a lovely collection of Japanese books.

[@osonhodeleon]

I love Japanese literature. Amazing video.

[@vitareads]

More for my TBR, thank you again! 🖤

[@mohandbasher7344]

We are so love your videos abut jappanise novels . We are weating another videos my friend

[@hylierosabelle]

I love you so much for this. Japanese Books in translation have a special place in my heart because of you.. It's always a struggle for me reading books even I really want to sit and commit to them.. Japanese books in translation especially works by women have my heart. I have read convenience store woman, the housekeeper and the professor, hotel iris, heaven.. I really want to dive into breasts and eggs but the number of pages scares me..🥺

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Remember that Breasts and Eggs is two books in one, and the first book is super short :)

[@NaritaZaraki]

Ah ... there goes my TBR ballooning dangerously. Then again you've never led me astray so thanks for the recs! ^_^

[@rachel1021]

When I looked through Edogawa Rampo's bibliography on Goodreads I found his short story The Human Chair, and remembered that Junji Ito adapted it into manga format. That story gave me chills. I've also read Junji Ito's manga adaptation of No Longer Human. I don't see myself ever rereading that one ever again. 😂 Anyway I'll try to read as many of the books on this list that I haven't read yet. 😊

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Love Junji Ito so very much 🖤

[@06Yvonne06]

Thank you for this amazing list!! I am reading "Honeybees & distant thunder" atm and it's great. I have a whole shelf full of unread Asian books in translation (including Idol, burning) and still I enjoy adding some more of your recommendations 😂😂

[@Nixx0912]

I got it manga format too, I found it in the library browsing. It's not pleasant read on emotional level bit it really drows you in.

[@jagodesune6894]

Beast in the Shadows sounds fascinating. I really loved The Forest of Wool and Steel

[@JohnSeney]

I love "Earthlings" and all of Murata, and I have never thought of "Earthlings" as "horror"" either!

[@radiantchristina]

Love how you match the colors of the Beast in the Shadows 💚🖤. Another great selection of books. Yoko Ogawa and Suyaka Murata are a couple of my favorite authors. I have never read No Longer Human. I'm nor anything else by that author. I don't know why because No Longer Human is totally up my alley. I need to get to it soon. What You are Looking for is in the Library intrigues me.

[@ioanax3421]

If you haven't gotten to it yet, I'd also highly recommend 'Lonely Castle in the Mirror' by Mizuki Tsujimura (I read the translation by Philip Gabriel, I see one of your favourites!). It addresses the issue of mental health in children in Japan, and I loved it both for the strength in this message, as well as for the creativity of the magical realism and the story, it blends in fairy tales in a truly unique way. Very touching and emotional.

[@WillowTalksBooks]

I mentioned it in the last video :)

[@ioanax3421]

@@WillowTalksBooks nice! A sign for me to go check out your backlog of videos too :)

[@isirlasplace91]

I just read No Longer Human and loved it!!!

[@silpionsbooks]

Thank you for the numerous recommendations! Over the past few days I've been reading Spring Garden, by Tomoka Shibasaki. Hoping to finish it today, it's quite short. It's about solitude in the megalopole of Tokyo, neighbours warming up to each other in a time of uncertainty (their building being due to be destroyed in the coming year or so), and how the material world that surrounds us is filled with memories / the past. I expected something a bit dry from an Akutagawa Award winning book, but it's nothing like that. A really nice surprise.

[@tyghe_bright]

Have you read Kathy Acker? Not Japanese, but it strikes me that you'd appreciate her work: punk, post-modern, literary. Few writers manage to be both intellectual and visceral in the same work.

[@WillowTalksBooks]

I haven’t but thank you! Sounds right up my alley!

[@Vic-mc6tb]

Right on time! I have just finished No Longer Human (loved the drunk review, lol) and was craving more Japanese lit.

[@nl3064]

No one asked, but some of the ones I like; Almost Transparent Blue (Ryu Murakami) The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle (H. Murakami) after the quake (H. Murakami) Nip the Buds, Shoot the Kids (K. Oē) Life For Sale (Y. Mishima) The Decagon House Murders (Y. Ayatsuji) The Decay of the Angel (Y. Mishima) Wait, damn. How could I forget? Uzumaki by Junji Ito (I know, it's a Manga, but still)

[@camiloflores1592]

ooh nooo!! my tbr trembles and I have just watched 30 seconds of the video 😂

[@Nixx0912]

I think you might like "Malice" by Keigo Higashino, he's one of my fauvrite authors in mystery thriller. It's also seams very straightforward in the beginning, but then everything gets turned on It's head.

[@crimsonwhispersva2498]

Am reading the book No Longer Human and I am enjoying it I do agree it is a bit of a tough read, I am also reading Braised Pork by An Yu... I am also enjoying this book

[@nira3160]

I really enjoy watching your channel and I'm very thankful for your recommendations. Can you make a video where you recommend the coziest/most cheerful books you've ever read. I would love to see your list.

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Fun idea!

[@nira3160]

@@WillowTalksBooks Thank you!

[@Carolina-kb3sz]

i love your necklace/choker!!! sayaka murata fan here too

[@user-yg6ft1iu1i]

Another great list

[@Jessicab-u7c]

Before the coffee gets cold is also a great book of interconected short stories by

[@elainev4802]

Yes to Yoko Ogawa!

[@chrisreadingcorner3816]

Adding all these for reservations at my local library might have to hide away for a while so I can read them.

[@jeannareadsbooks8475]

Would you be interested in doing a video on books translated from more 'obscure' countries? I know obscure isn't the right word, but when I look up translated book recommendations, the vast majority is stuff from Japan, Latin America, Korea or France, and when you're doing a Reading Around the World challenge you need stuff from everywhere. (this definitely isn't me saying don't talk about books from those big countries anymore, I love your reccomendations for books orignially written in Spanish because I'm learning it and I use your videos to find good books to practice with. Elena Knows was the first time I was able to read in spanish and appreciate the quality of the literature and not just concentrate on making sure I actually understood what was happening)

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Absolutely! I’ve written articles and made videos about books from Indonesia, India, Egypt, Thailand, Taiwan, Palestine, and other parts of Europe, but there are still so many others, obviously. And even within those I’ve mentioned, I have often only read one or two books. So yeah, I should set myself a similar challenge!

[@priyalkhurana9763]

Could you give some recommendations for young adults to read translated fiction? Btw love your vids!

[@helloitsme5727]

What are you doing to me, my TBR is already overwhelming as it is 😭😭😭. Keep it up tho 😏

[@mvjh2277]

10:31 The Reading List: A Novel by Sara Nisha Adams.

[@ecritdelajaponographie8565]

Curious why so few of the authors in Willow's list of the best Japanese writers of all time are discussed in these videos🤔

[@riles342]

does anyone have books are similar in vibe or anything else to honeybees and distant thunder? it's become one of my favourites and I feel like I'm always 2 steps away from reading it again

[@meganmadkour9328]

What is lovecraft?? You say in your review of Sensor “if you like Lovecraft(??)”

[@WillowTalksBooks]

H.P. Lovecraft was an American horror writer who created the concept of “cosmic horror”, which centres around the idea that there are gods and things completely beyond our understanding. His writing changed the world, but he was also a very disgusting racist.

[@TheGamer-sb3ry]

​​@@WillowTalksBooksbut didn't murder or hurt or commited crime compared to many other people

[@user-uo9kf1sx5o]

@@TheGamer-sb3ry oh, that's alright then. As if racism doesn't hurt anyone?

[@TheGamer-sb3ry]

@@user-uo9kf1sx5o he said a disgusting racists

[@user-uo9kf1sx5o]

@@TheGamer-sb3ry SHE said that and I'm aware of that. You then essentially said that wasn't that bad because Lovecraft didn't murder or hurt anyone. I was pointing out that racism does hurt people and that, just because he didn't murder anyone, doesn't make his behaviour ok.

[@Kryssstals]

Have you read OUT? I feel like you’d love it. :)

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Yup, talked about it a few times in a few different articles and videos :)

[@Nixx0912]

I hated the protagonist familly so much in "Earthlings" what a bunch of horrible, abusive people. The sexual abuse she suffered as a child hit me really hard.

[@GladysQueen-ub3sf]

much like david s. pumpkins, earthling's its own damn thing.

[@au8730]

ふむふむ