The Whale that Fell in Love with a Submarine
By Akiyuki Nosaka Don’t let the title fool you – this collection of short stories contain poignant, melancholic and tragic tales set on the day of Japanese surrender, 15 August 1945. Review by Annabelle Sami
The art lover’s guide to Japanese museums
By Sophie Richard Sophie Richard’s book is a seductive and accessible introduction to Japanese art, from its ancient beginnings to its current shape, and the spaces in which it is displayed. Review by Jenny White
Mr Potsunen’s Peculiar Slice of Life
By Kentaro Kobayashi In his lonely life, Mr Potsunen is surrounded by creativeness and marvels. This story begins with his interest in insects and a central aspect is the capture of one, that Mr Potsunen decides to look after. Review by Mike Sullivan
Bullfight
By Yasushi Inoue During the aftermath of the Second World War, Tsugami, the editor-in-chief of a newspaper agrees to arrange a bullfighting contest. Over the months that follow he becomes consumed with the event and [...] Review by Chris Corker
The Hunting Gun
By Yasushi Inoue The book focuses on a husband (Misugi), his wife, his lover, and his lover’s daughter. Letters written by each of the women to Misugi offer three different perspectives on his affair, each (mis)interpreting events. Review by Lucy Kikuchi
Men to Devils, Devils to Men
By Barak Kushner In this book, the author's focus is on Class B and C war crimes and the way in which trials were held in China/Taiwan. Moreover, he stresses that war responsibility and war crimes are ‘two different species.’ Review by Sir Hugh Cortazzi
Masterpieces of Artisanal Japan: Wazuka tea and Ogatsu inkstones
Every year the Daiwa Foundation hosts a number of events on Japan, and recently this included a talk on Wazuka tea and Ogatsu inkstones with contributors Timothy d’Offay, Teruo Kurosaki and Timothy Toomey. Review by Mike Sullivan
The Guest Cat
By Takashi Hiraide The prose in The Guest Cat bare and clinical. The pace of the book is lethargic, leaving the narrative to meander a little too often.The book is part of The New York Times and The Sunday Times best seller lists. Review by Chris Corker
An interview with Lisa Ueda
Mike Sullivan interviews violinist Lisa Ueda, who in addition as being part of the Ueda/Rinaldo Duo, she has an upcoming concert at Wigmore Hall which will be followed soon after with a tour in Japan. Interview by Mike Sullivan
Tango at the End of Winter
The play’s setting is a decrepit family-run cinema in a small northern town on the Sea of Japan coast, soon to be turned into a supermarket. It is here that we encounter Sei, a middle-aged actor, who, like the [...] Review by Susan Meehan