Japanese Literature discussion

A number of us on the forum read Japanese history and other non-fiction along with Japanese literature. It usually takes more than a single month to read a history text so the group reads have been either Book Club or Buddy Reads in the past.

Bill had a general thread on history reads but the discussion was buried in the long history of Book Club discussions. We continue to talk about history texts on the forum and the discord channel.

I have grouped the past discussions together here for easier reference and to facilitate new selections for group reads and to exchange our thoughts.

Like others, I usually have a personal history books that I am reading, sometimes for general interest or to provide more context for a literary period that I am exploring. For example, I am currently working through Meiji 1868: Revolution and Counter-Revolution in Japan by Paul Akamatsu to better understand that time period that leads up to the period of "modern" Japanese literature.

Please feel free to join the discussion and suggest books that you would like to read or comments on the books that have been read by forum members so far.

regards,
Jack, co-mod

For 2025 I hope to focus on the period from the restoration up through the Russo-Japanese War. A secondary focus is to learn more about earlier Korean history so this I can slowly build a better understanding about interactions between Korea, Japan and China.

Currently reading Chinese Battleship vs Japanese Cruiser: Yalu River 1894 by Benjamin Lai. It covers much of the first Sono-Japanese war with a focus on, what is now called, the naval battle of Yalu River. Though it is a specialized text for naval historian junkies, it does should the impact of western powers on the modernization of China and Japan’s military and a real impact of the rapid westernization of Japan during the Meiji period, October 23, 1868, to July 30, 1912.
The book also greatly helped me with the geography of the battles in the first Sino-Japanese war.

Meiji means literally “enlightened rule”.

Is there any interest in a non-fiction group or buddy read for Aug-September 2025?

I have a stack but it is more interesting reading with friends. -j

I still have Japan in Print waiting. I thought we were going to do a group read of it at some point.

I have that also. It should be an interesting book.
Is there anyone else interested.

I can start a nonfiction group or buddy read.

Do you mean this book?

I'd be interested in joining a read in September, but am over-committed in August. No offense if you go forward before I'm ready.

Carol wrote: "Do you mean this book?

I'd be interested in joining a read in September, but am over-committed in August. No of..."

Yes, that book, Japan in Print: Information and Nation in the Early Modern Period. i do not mind waiting until sept to have a group or buddy read if you can join us.

I am a writer of Japanese historical fiction and have a few recommendations, at least for the modern era of Japanese history (since 1868) focusing on political/social aspects. It's a little niche but the Meiji Era to the early postwar era (especially the 1920s/1930s) is my favorite era of Japanese history.

The Rising Sun by John Toland
Conspiracy in Mukden by Takehiko Yoshihashi
Japan 1941 by Eri Hotta
Curse on this Country by Danny Orbach
The Double Patriots by Richard Storry
Rebellion in Japan by Ben-Ami Shillony
Mitsui by John Roberts
Rising Sun - Tumbling Bear by Richard Connaughton
The Imperial Screen by Peter B. High (about the prewar Japanese film industry)
Embracing Defeat by John Dower
From Party Politics to Militarism in Japan by Shinichi Kitaoka
Tokyo from Edo to Showa by Edward Seidensticker

Jack wrote: "Carol wrote: "Do you mean this book?

I'd be interested in joining a read in September, but am over-committed in..."

I’ll order a copy and be ready then.

Thanks, Matthew! I will be sure to look these up. I know I've read Embracing Defeat and Seidensticker's two-volume work on Tokyo,

Carol, I can wait until September. I won't run out of books to read in the meantime :)

Matthew, given your interests, you may like:
Bankrupting the Enemy

I'm still interested in nonfiction reads. :)
September will be a bit of a hectic month but I'll try my best to join in and read Japan in Print: Information and Nation in the Early Modern Period, the preview of this book has me excited.

Thank you for the recommendations Matthew!

I've read a couple of other books by Berry. I especially liked her Culture of Civil War in Kyoto.

Bill wrote: "Thanks, Matthew! I will be sure to look these up. I know I've read Embracing Defeat and Seidensticker's two-volume work on Tokyo,

Carol, I can wait until September. I won't run out of books to rea..."

yay! thank you.