Phantom Lights
By Miyamoto Teru Phantom Lights is a short story collection comprised of eight stories linked thematically by personal hardship, all employing a nonlinear narrative structure to describe how these hardships affect characters on a lifelong timescale. Review by Lachlan Evans
The Contestant
Directed by Clair Titley The Contestant is a documentary film that revisits a reality TV programme that aired in Japan in 1998, blending original footage with recent interviews with those involved. Review by Mayumi Donovan
Eclipse
By Hirano Keiichiro Part historical odyssey, part philosophical meditation, Eclipse immerses readers in the mysticism of medieval Europe while asking probing questions that still haunt us today. Review by Laurence Green
Life in 3 Lines / La Vie en 3 Lignes
By Fern Jean-Joseph Life in 3 Lines presents a deeply reflective exploration of life, love, loss, and resilience through the prism of haiku poetry. Review by Annabelle Bouji
Shosa: Meditations in Japanese Handwork
By Ringo Gomez and Rob Walbers In this book, journalist Ringo Gomez and photographer Rob Walbers portray 12 Japanese makers from different regions. From a bamboo weaver to a tatami mat maker, from a ceramist to a Zen monk. Review by Azmina Sohail
Naraku奈落 (Abyss)
From Kushida Yoshimitsu and Dance Company Lasta Naraku is a visceral journey into a man’s psyche, where desire, ego, and obsession clash with electrifying intensity. Review by Alice Baldock
Happyend
Directed by Neo Sora A dystopian drama that touches on issues we’re facing today all seen through the eyes of a group of high school friends in Tokyo. Review by Mayumi Donovan
Splendours of Japan: Highlights from the Bodleian Library
By various contributors The Bodleian Library’s Japanese rare books and manuscripts, among Europe’s oldest institutional collections, are explored by leading scholars in a celebration of five centuries of collecting. Review by Sanae Inagaki
Embodied Performance: Warriors, Dancers, and the Origins of Noh Theater
By Matsuoka Shinpei In this book renowned Noh scholar Matsuoka Shinpei reimagines the origins of Japan’s iconic theater tradition, not as an elite pastime, but as a vibrant fusion of popular culture, religious ritual, and bodily expression. Review by Laurence Green
Tokyo Swindlers
By Shinjo Ko This contemporary Japanese crime thriller weaves a complex tale of deception and greed, drawing inspiration from recent land-fraud scandals. Review by Shaun English