Job Discussion Forums

blue jay · Posted: Sat Sep 18, 2004 5:11 am Post subject: Favourite Japanese author..

Who is your favourite Japanese author?

historical Japanese writers:
http://www.washburn.edu/reference/bridge24/Japanese.html

modern Japanese writers:
http://www.fetchbook.info/Modern_Japanese_Writers.html

Female Japanese writers:
http://www.fetchbook.info/Japanese_Women_Writers.html
http://www.artsci.wustl.edu/~copeland/japanesefiction.html

Banana Yoshimoto used to be my favourite..

Now I like..

Sujata Massey except she's not really Japanese but she writes about Japan..for light reading..

http://interbridge.com/sujata/novels.html

Actually I still like Banana Yoshimoto... Wink

Sweetsee · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 2302 Location: ) is everything

Have only read one but quite enjoyed Kenzuburo Oe.

May have spelled that wrong, sorry

blue jay · Posted: Sat Sep 18, 2004 5:40 am Post subject:

What book did you read by Oe? I'm not sure but I think it's spelt right.

J. · Joined: 03 May 2003 Posts: 327

Sorry, a bit off topic, but I have to say I love your images, Blue Jay. Are you or is someone you know an artist?

Recently I discovered Shikibu Izumi for tanka and I still like Ms. Banana Yoshimoto. For sheer fun, Japanese Children's Favorite Stories, edited by Florence Sakade and illustrated by Yoshisuke Kurosaki-- all the classic tales like Momotaro, The Tongue-Cut Sparrow, The Rabbit in the Moon etc. Nice illustrations.

When I first got to Japan I read translations of several Mishima books including Spring Snow, which I liked. I really enjoyed the humour of I Am a Cat, but only read the second part ( edition).

I'm working on Genji Monogatari but find it dull except for the lovely poetry and descriptions of places. As far as I can see, Genji was a bit of a twit.

Sadken · Joined: 11 Aug 2004 Posts: 341

Ryu Murakami's Coin Locker Babies is intense, surreal and pretty wonderful.

I liked Goodbye Tsugumi by Banana Yoshimoto but I have to confess it was a puerile interest in the name of the author that led me to her work.

Haven't got round to reading anything by Hurakai Murakami but there are a couple of books in my pile. Waiting.

Sheep-Goats · Joined: 16 Apr 2004 Posts: 527

Mishima grows on you pretty quickly, unless you hate him right off the bat:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0425029301/qid=1095541429/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/103-7790654-5915002?v=glance&s=books

Lynn · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 696 Location: in between

Hoshi Shinichi. I've only read a few of his short stories. It takes me a long time to read Japanese. But from what I read I LOVE his work.

ntropy · Joined: 11 Oct 2003 Posts: 671 Location: ghurba

Michael Toshiki is my favourite. He writes in both Japanese and English so no need for "lost in translations."

His most outstanding work, IMHO, is "The Incredible Daddy-Michael-Marching-Nose Band."

Did I mention he's my 8-yr-old son?

AndyH · Joined: 30 Sep 2004 Posts: 417

Blue Jay,
I followed your link of "modern Japanese writers" and noticed Alfred Birnbaum is credited as the author of Haruki Murakami's books. Actually, Birnbaum is the translator, FYI.
Murakami is my favorite!

Longing for Nippon · Joined: 14 Jun 2004 Posts: 49

Yes! Haruki Murakami is my favourite too. Just finished Wild Sheep Chase, excellent! Cant wait to start The Wind Up Bird Chronicle. Murakami is a very talented writter who makes you think.
I also recommend Natsuo Kirino who has written a good book called OUT.

blue jay · Posted: Sat Oct 02, 2004 7:24 am Post subject:

AndyH:

Really, that's not good. Of course it was Haruki Murakami who should get credit for his own writing. I should really check out my links more carefully in the future. Alfred Birnbaum should just get credit as a translator not as an author. Thanks for pointing that out..

Longing for Nippon:

Yeah. I read OUT by Natsuo Kirino as well. Quite intense.
http://www.asianreviewofbooks.com/arb/bygenre.php?file=review&genre=af

Have you read the book Ring by Koji Suzuki?

Longing for Nippon · Joined: 14 Jun 2004 Posts: 49

No sorry, I have only seen the Japanese and Hollywood version of The Ring! I imagine the book would be better than the movie though.
I have recently bought some older books by Japanese authors, The Makioka Sisters and The Key by Junichiro Tanizaki.
Shogun by James Clavell is also good but the Auther is not Japanese.
I am intersted in Ryu Murakamis In The Miso Soup and Transparent Blue. Anybody read these? I cant find In the Miso Soup in paperback.

spidey · Posted: Sat Oct 02, 2004 11:23 am Post subject:

Eiji Yoshikawa...

Musashi

Very nice Japanese storytelling.

canuck · Joined: 11 May 2003 Posts: 1921 Location: Japan

blue jay · Posted: Mon Oct 04, 2004 7:22 am Post subject:

To J.: