Visiting All 47 Prefectures as a Solo Female Traveller | 47都道府県 女ひとりで行ってみよう Review

Title: 47都道府県 女ひとりで行ってみよう [Visiting All 47 Prefectures as a Solo Female Traveller]Author: Miri MasudaPublisher: Gentosha (2008)English translation: None at present The cover features a scene from Masuda's trip to Mie Prefecture. Hi readers, welcome back. I’ve been interested in reading more Japanese travel literature for a while. I think Anglophone travel writers like e.g. Bill …

Dreaming Reed Pipe | 夢みる葦笛 Review

Title: 夢みる葦笛 [Dreaming Reed Pipe]Author: Sayuri UedaPublisher: Kobunsha (2016)English translation: None at present Hi readers, welcome to my first post of the year, where I’ll be running through the ten stories in this dreamy-looking collection: These stories were published in Japanese between 2009 and 2015 with the exception of ‘Pteros’, which is new to this …

Post-Covid SF | ポストコロナのSF Review (4/4)

Title: ポストコロナのSF [Post-Covid SF]Author: Various members of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of JapanPublisher: Hayakawa (2021)English translation: None at present Cover image taken from the book's Amazon page. Hi readers,Here we are at the last four stories in Post-Covid SF. So without further ado… _ 16. Retronasal Scape [後香 Retronasal scape.] by Ryo Yoshigami …

Yūgen F | 幽玄Ｆ Review

Title: 幽玄Ｆ [Yūgen F]Author: Kiwamu SatoPublisher: Kawade (2023)English translation: None at present Hello readers! I’ve got something a little different for you today. As you’re reading this, the book I’m discussing will only just have come out in Japan (at least in standalone format). So how did I end up reading it early? Well, it …

Post-Covid SF | ポストコロナのSF Review (3/4)

Title: ポストコロナのSF [Post-Covid SF]Author: Various members of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of JapanPublisher: Hayakawa (2021)English translation: None at present Cover image taken from the book's Amazon page. Hi readers, this is the third instalment of Post-Covid SF, where I’ll be covering the next five stories in the book. Minor spoilers follow! _ 11. …

The Lazy Adventures of Wansabuko | ワンさぶ子の怠惰な冒険 Review

Title: ワンさぶ子の怠惰な冒険 [The Lazy Adventures of Wansabuko]Author: Natsu MiyashitaPublisher: Kobunsha (2021)English translation: None at present The gorgeous cover is by Hiroyuki Izutsu, and you can see more of his illustrations for the series here. Readers, last year I wrote about author Natsu Miyashita and her family’s year in Hokkaido in my post on her memoir, …

The Goldfish Princess | 金魚姫 Review

Title: 金魚姫 [The Goldfish Princess]Author: Hiroshi OgiwaraPublisher: Kadokawa (2018)English translation: None at present From Kadokawa's website. The beautiful cover illustration is by Rieko Mizuguchi. [MINOR SPOILERS FOLLOW] Jun is twenty-nine, recently jilted, and very depressed. There’s tragedy in his family past, and to top it all off, he’s employed at an awful company. One night, …

Post-Covid SF | ポストコロナのSF Review (2/4)

Title: ポストコロナのSF [Post-Covid SF]Author: Various members of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of JapanPublisher: Hayakawa (2021)English translation: None at present Cover image taken from the book's Amazon page. Hi readers, welcome back to the second instalment of Post-Covid SF, where I’m discussing the next five stories in the book. Minor spoilers follow! _ 6. …

The Fantastic Deer-Man | 鹿男あをによし Review

Title: 鹿男あをによし [The Fantastic Deer-Man]*Author: Manabu MakimePublisher: Gentosha (2007)English translation: None at present Do you like JAPAN? Do you like DEER? How about KENDO? SHRINES? ANCIENT HISTORY? MYSTICAL RITUALS? Well, The Fantastic Deer-Man may be just what you’re looking for. [minor spoilers follow] The unnamed protagonist (who I’ll call Sensei) finds himself temporarily cast out …

Post-Covid SF | ポストコロナのSF Review (1/4)

Title: ポストコロナのSF [Post-Covid SF]Author: Various members of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of JapanPublisher: Hayakawa (2021)English translation: None at present Cover image taken from the book's Amazon page. Hi readers, welcome back. I’m sure by now the pandemic has begun to appear in our fiction as well as our reality – after all, it …