Japanese translated fiction has taken the UK by storm in recent years, and it is easy to see why. From whimsical novels with charming themes to hard-hitting content designed to provoke thought, there is a wide variety of books to suit any mood.
While I was in Japan, I naturally took several translated titles with me, but my love for Japanese fiction began long before that trip. Here are the top five books I recommend adding to your TBR pile immediately.
1. Hooked by Asako Yuzuki
According to Goodreads, Hooked is a taut, provocative novel about modern womanhood, the hunger for connection, and the quiet, ordinary ways our lives can spiral out of control. With razor-sharp insight and disarming empathy, Asako Yuzuki explores how far we will go to be seen and what happens when those who see us do not like what they find.
This book was absolutely amazing and kept me on the edge of my seat. It was creepy, offered commentary on female friendships and women in the workplace, and I enjoyed it far more than Butter.
2. Heaven by Mieko Kawakami
In Heaven, a fourteen-year-old boy is tormented for having a lazy eye. Instead of resisting, he chooses to suffer in silence. The only person who understands his plight is a female classmate, Kojima, who experiences similar treatment from bullies. Providing each other with immeasurable consolation during a time when they need it most, the two young friends grow closer. But what, ultimately, is the nature of a friendship when your shared bond is terror?
This book made me shudder. It was a grim mirror of how cruel children can be and the disturbing thoughts that go through a child's head when relentlessly bullied. Shortlisted for the International Booker Prize 2022, it is a thought-provoking piece of literature.
3. The Vanishing Cherry Blossom Bookshop by Takuya Asakura
Told over four seasons, each visitor to the bookshop holds a book that bridges their past and present, guiding them toward understanding and acceptance. Within the antique charm of the shop and the soothing aroma of freshly brewed coffee, Sakura and Kobako help their guests confront lingering sadness through the power of stories, enabling them to move forward with renewed hope.
This is an adorably gentle book, and the story was incredibly touching, bringing tears to my eyes on more than one occasion.
4. We'll Prescribe You a Cat by Syou Ishida
Tucked away on the fifth floor of an old building at the end of a narrow alley in Kyoto, the Nakagyo Kokoro Clinic for the Soul can be found only by people who are struggling and genuinely need help. The mysterious clinic offers a unique treatment: it prescribes cats as medication.
The idea of receiving cats instead of medication to cure whatever ails you made for an absolutely adorable premise. I have since read We'll Prescribe You Another Cat, which was essentially the same book with different characters, and I thoroughly enjoyed that one too.
5. Best Wishes from the Full Moon Coffee Shop by Mai Mochizuki
If you love cats and astrology, you will adore this book. In it, characters confront their past and present struggles as they seek happiness and contentment. Again, it is a slow but delightful read, and I finished it in just a couple of hours. I recommend starting with the first book in the series to get the gist.
