01/13Japanese novels you must read if you love Haruki Murakami

Haruki Murakami is a writer prodigy who has given some astounding novels which are internationally acclaimed for their relatable themes like alienation and loneliness. Japanese literature has a rich and illustrious style with a subjective and emotional tone. Bibliophiles across the world boast of their Japanese novel collection and you shouldn’t be left out either. Here are some notable Japanese books that explore different themes, setting, plot and characters, and of course, touch our soul.

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02/13'The Remains of the Day' by Kazuo Ishiguro

'The Remains of the Day' by Kazuo Ishiguro

Born in Japan and raised in Britain, Nobel Literature laureate Kazuo Ishiguro won the Man Booker Prize for his 1989 book 'The Remains of the Day' which is considered to be one of his best-known novels. It is written as a diary of an English butler Stevens, who worked in a manor house during World War 2. Stevens describes his unrequited love for his former co-worker Miss Kenton, who was married. This novel focuses on the themes of time, memory, lost-opportunities and self-delusion. 'The Remains of the Day' was adapted into a film of the same name in 1993.

(Photo: Faber)

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03/13'Convenience Store Woman' by Sayaka Murata

'Convenience Store Woman' by Sayaka Murata

Sayaka Murata's 'Convenience Store Woman' is her first novel to be translated into English (translated by Ginny Tapley Takemori). This is a heart-warming tale of a 36-year-old woman, Keiko Furukura, living in Tokyo. Keiko has always been a misfit-- in her family, school and with her friends. When she started working at a convenience store at the age of 18, she found peace and purpose in life. But since then 18 years have passed by and Keiko, who has never had a boyfriend and only has a few friends, is still working at the same store. Worried that she might be losing out on life, her family pressurises her to find a husband and get a "proper" job which prompts her to take desperate action. 'Convenience Store Woman' highlights the contemporary work culture and societal pressures one has to conform.

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04/13'The Travelling Cat Chronicles' by Hiro Arikawa

'The Travelling Cat Chronicles' by Hiro Arikawa

Hiro Arikawa's 'The Travelling Cat Chronicles' is translated into English by Philip Gabriel. The story revolves around Nana, a stray cat, and Satoru, his owner, who go on a road trip across Japan in their silver van to find a loving home for Nana. Through their journey together, the duo learns the real meaning of gratitude, loyalty and love. The story is partly narrated from the cat's point of view, which adds humour to it. This is a heart-touching story of a pet-owner and his beloved cat. Anyone who has ever owned a pet (especially cats) would love this book.

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05/13“Out” by Natsuo Kirino

“Out” by Natsuo Kirino
This crime fiction was adapted into a film in 2002 after its immense success as a novel. This is a story of a woman who strangles her sluggish, good-for-nothing husband, she on the other hand slogs every day to make ends meet. The exceptional portrayal of violence and crime in this Japanese novel makes it a fabulous crime fiction.
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06/13“The Woman in the Dunes” by Kobo Abe

“The Woman in the Dunes” by Kobo Abe
This is a story of a non-specialist entomologist who takes shelter in a bottom of a sand pit because he misses the last bus to his home after a long day at a sea shore. He takes refuge there for the night, and gets into trouble after being held captive by the villagers to help them get out of their terrible situation, the sand dunes. In this impossible task, he is accompanied by a young woman. Kobo Abe received international acclaim with this masterpiece which also got adapted as a movie in 1964 two years after its publication.
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07/13“Sputnik Sweetheart” by Haruki Murakami

“Sputnik Sweetheart” by Haruki Murakami
“Sputnik sweetheart” is a love triangle between Sumire who shares his true feeling for Miu to K, his childhood friend, and at the same time, K who likes Sumire and wants to confess his feelings about him. The story deals with multiple themes of love, confession, desire, societal pressure and emotional imbalance. The novel is one of Haruki Murakami’s greatest hits, published in 1999.
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08/13“Kitchen” by Banana Yoshimoto

“Kitchen” by  Banana Yoshimoto
In this novel, the protagonist Mikage Sakurai who is an orphan, laments the loss of her grandmother who raised her up. The story takes us into the life of a Japanese woman whose love for the kitchen is portrayed beautifully. Banana Yoshimoto's best known novel leaves a deep mark onto the reader’s mind and soul. This beautiful tale is a must read for its evocative content.
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09/13“Snow Country” by Yasunari Kawabata

“Snow Country” by Yasunari Kawabata
The Nobel Prize winning author Yasunari Kawabata’s “Snow country” is a simple love story of Shimamura, a wealthy amateur artist, and Komako, a small town geisha in a hot spring town. The small town becomes a fun spot for men who are travelling there alone or in groups to get the company of female escorts, which is also a boost to the economy of the town. Yasunari Kawabata inculcates the Japanese traditional beauty in his heroine which is a subversion of the traditional Japanese form into a new modern form.
Picture Credit: Penguin Random House
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10/13“Grotesque” by Natsuo Kirino

“Grotesque” by Natsuo Kirino
The novel takes us into the conservative hierarchal society of Japan where the struggles of two prostitutes Yuriko and Kazue is shown. The story starts with the murder of these two girls where the reason for murder and the name of the murderer is not revealed. It takes a flashback to reveal the rigid societal structure in which they have been living. Natsuo Kirino,’s “Grotesque” was published in English in 2007, translated by Rebecca Copeland. The novel deals with some serious issues of patriarchal control and dominance.
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11/13“Battle Royale” by Koushun Takami

“Battle Royale” by Koushun Takami
“Battle Royale” by Koushun Takami was controversial for its content when it was published in 1999. The story talks about a merciless authoritarian program where students of a high school program are given a forceful task of killing each other with a gun on an isolated island until only one survivor is left. Though initially criticized for its harsh and aggressive content, it became a bestseller later on, and was turned into a series and also a movie.
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12/13'Never Let Me Go' by Kazuo Ishiguro

'Never Let Me Go' by Kazuo Ishiguro

'Never Let Me Go' is considered as one of Nobel laureate Kazuo Ishiguro's finest works. This is a dystopian story about human clones who are created to donate their organs as adults, narrated by 31-years-old Kathy. But the novel has much more to offer-- it also touches the themes of love, friendship, fate and the fragility of life. 'Never Let Me Go' was also adapted into a motion picture starring Keira Knightley, Andrew Garfield and Carey Mulligan.

(Photo: Faber & Faber)

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13/13“Norwegian Wood” by Haruki Murakami

“Norwegian Wood” by Haruki Murakami
The story revolves around the protagonist Toru, a man with unusual seriousness. Toru, a college student in Tokyo, gets into a relationship with two different women - quiet and beautiful Naoko and liberated, independent Midori. He feels outcast and lonely trying to adjust in the new atmosphere where else Naoko succumbs to life’s pressure and duties. Written by the impeccable Japanese writer Haruki Murakami and set in late 1960’s Tokyo, the novel of heroic love portrayal by the protagonist became a huge success among Japanese youth. The book was also made into a movie of the same name rising Murakami to new pedestal.
Picture Credit: Penguin Random House
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