The Japan Society Review

By Jayne Joso This collection of short stories, some of them illustrated by Japanese Manga artist NAMIKO, revolves around the main characters’ loneliness taking many shapes and forms. Review by Eleonora Faina

By Annegret Schopp-O'Dwyer Celebrating cherry trees in London this book achieves its aim of making you see 'joy at your fingertips' with wonderful photos and light-hearted socio-historical text. Review by Carole Tongue

Welcome to another exciting issue of The Japan Society Review bringing you five reviews of books, stage productions and films about Japan. This October issue is more eclectic than ever and we are thankful to our reviewers for their time and expertise.

Staged by Jack McNamara An immersive reading performance of Mieko Kawakami's new novel, "Heaven", a work about bullying, what it means to bully, and to be bullied. Review by Laurence Green

Directed by Graham Kolbeins Queer Japan, directed by Graham Kolbeins in 2019, is a documentary which explores the LGBTQ+ community in Japan offering an illustrative view of the queer culture in the country. Review by Jenni Schofield

By John Lander The Shikoku Pilgrimage is one of the most important pilgrimage routes in Japan. Connected by eighty-eight temples across the four prefectures of Shikoku, this 1,200 km trail is associated with Buddhist monk Kukai (Kobo Daishi), the founder of Shingon Buddhism. Review by Jess Cope

Written and directed by Hikari 37 Seconds explores the coming-of-age story of Yuma, a woman with cerebral palsy, and her quest to become more independent from her overbearing mother. Review by Jenni Schofield

By Imai Yoshihiro This book is a chef monograph, where, through food writing – a blend of personal essays and photographs revolving around food and nature, concluding with a number of recipes – Imai Yoshihiro tells the story of his fourteen-seated wood-fire pizza restaurant. Review by Riyoko Shibe

By Ichikawa Takuji In 'Monkey Man', Ichikawa Takuji, one of Japan’s most imaginative, bestselling and unusual authors, pointedly challenges readers to consider how we can change the inevitable course of history and save the human race from itself. Review by Laurence Green

By Hanaoka Kiyoko and Clare Pollard This book introduces over forty surimono in the collection of the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford and provides readers with an insight into the refined and cultivated Japanese literati culture of the early nineteenth century. Review by Fiona Collins