« more discussions

• 

  favourite Japanese authors

  New Title

  

  Greetings,
  I was enjoying a quiet day at home,re-reading "kafka on the shore"...delving into the wonderful mind of Murakami...glad to find this group.
  It's been awhile since I have picked up any books by Mishima or Ranpo,but I do enjoy wandering there,as well.
  Have you read "The Key" by Tanizaki?

  Kharinna K started this discussion 3 years ago. ( reply | permalink )

• 

  sanjuro (edited)

  New Title

  

  A first new member! I'm amazed, I didn't think it would ever happen. A big welcome to you!

  To be honest, I haven't picked up a Japanese novel in quite a while too, the last one must have been Osamu Dazai's No Longer Human or Natsuma Soseki's Sanshiro. I have read one novel by Tanizaki, I don't remember which one but it wasn't The Key, although I've seen the old film, by Kon Ichikawa I believe.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

• 

  sanjuro 

  New Title

  

  After checking his bibliography on Wikipedia, I think it must have been his last, Diary of a Mad Old Man (瘋癲老人日記, Fūten Rōjin Nikki). If I remember correctly, the said old man was quite a pervert.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

• 

  Kharinna K 

  New Title

  

  Oh,yes,I have certainly wanted to read "No Longer Human".That will be on my list of books to read and purchase.
  As far as Tanizaki's "The Key", it's about a middle-aged couple who both keep diaries,and secrets,from each other.Of course there is an amount of perversion,but not as much as in Rampo books,or in Takashi Miike's films.
  *grins*
  Speaking of films,have you seen " Rampo Noir",based on the short stories? I would recommend it,if only for the stunning episodes "Mirror Hell" and "Caterpillar".

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

• 

  sanjuro (edited)

  New Title

  

  I'm replying late, sorry, always busy, not always with the most important things. I haven't seen Rampo Noir, this is the first time I hear of it. Unfortunately it doesn't appear to be available over here, though I think it would take great skill and subtlety to propertly adapt Edogawa Ranpo for the movies.

  Oh, and there's a new member! Hello and welcome Michael Hacker!

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

• 

  Kharinna K 

  New Title

  

  It's been a busy time for me,also.
  Welcome to you,Michael,hope you will share some of your favourite books with us.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

• 

  timea 

  New Title

  

  Hi Sanjuro. Are you Japanese? A literary critic gave me a tip about understanding the Japanese literature, that I began to study. You must get a list of at least 50 books from somebody interested in literature and who is a native speaker. What would be your recommendation?

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

  show 1 reply

  • 

    Mauro B (edited)

    New Title

    

    (obviously neither I'm a Japanese native ;-) -- and sorry for any possible mistake in my english but I'm not a native english speaking person too ) anyway to give to you some suggestions or advices to get acquainted with Japanese Literature, one of the deepest and most precious source to have a good perspective of the Japanese literary production is the massive study from the scholar Donald Keene.
    I wouldn't suggest to anyone a full reading of his entire works since they are extremely wide and omni-comprehensive and this turn out to be an obstacle for an easy reading. Luckily his Japanese literature history is split into different books so that you can pick the 'literary age' you're most interested in and have the chance to discover the most important and relevant authors of that time.

    have a look at it:
    http://www.shelfari.com/books/73531/Dawn-to-the-West-Japanese-Literature-of-the-Modern-Era-(Owl-Book

    It is hard anyway to suggest to you a bunch of books without knowing anything of your personal tastes or your interests. Any list of authors would be obviously very subjective :))

    posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )

• 

  sanjuro 

  New Title

  

  Hello timea,

  No, unfortunately (for you, and maybe for me too), I'm not Japanese. I have 2 groups on Shelfari related to world literature, I am not from the country in the present group but I am from the other one. :) So I'll abstain from giving any recommendations. Besides, all in all, 50 Japanese books probably wouldn't be too far from the number I've actually read.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

• 

  Cura 

  New Title

  

  Osamu Dazai's the most talented Japanese writer I've read, but Koji Suzuki's a bit of a guilty pleasure, even if he can be a little too overbearing with his "detail".

  posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )

• 

  Jasmine 

  New Title

  

  I am so fond of Yasunari kawabata!
  I read ishiguro first and discovered "mono no aware". I am also trying to read the Tale of Genji.
  Kawabata is amongst my favorite writers. I didn't quite like what I've read of Murakami.

  posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )

• 

  Isadora Cadaver 

  New Title

  

  Hello everyone! Lately i've started to develop interest in Asian literature, especially Japanese, i haven't read many authors just yet, only Haruki Murakami, Shusaku Endo and i'm currently reading Yukio Mishima's Confessions of a Mask. Nice to find this group :)

  posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )

• 

  Cura 

  New Title

  

  I recommend Natsume Soseki, Isadora. He's probably the most profound Japanese author, if not the most profound author in general that you'll find. Murakami's even stated before in some of his writings that he looks up to Natsume Soseki as being the greatest author he's ever discovered. He's given forewords in a couple of his books as well (most notably Sanshiro).

  posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )

  show 1 reply

  • 

    Isadora Cadaver 

    New Title

    

    Thanks for the recommendation, i'll look him up ;)

    posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )

• 

  Marc M (edited)

  New Title

  

  I started out with Koji Suzuki (like most, drawn by the movie Ringu) and Haruki Murakami. Recently, I discovered Yoko Ogawa and Natsuo Kirino. I'm a slow reader but I've managed to get through three novels in a week and a half, of Ogawa and Kirino. Since I got a Kindle I've been reading books almost as fast as I can download them. (I live in Hong Kong and space is a real issue here, ergo, ebooks)

  Real World from Kirino made a big impression, written from the points of view of contemporary Japanese teenagers. It's dark but so compelling, I couldn't put it down.

  There were no individual groups for those two writers I recently discovered so, here I am. I'm hoping to uncover more great contemporary Japanese writers here.

  Oh, and hi! people. :)

  posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )

• 

  Sebastian (from the Seashore) 

  New Title

  

  Hey everyone! After watching many movies by Kurosawa, Kitano and Imamura while in school I tried Japanese literature for the first time, starting out with Yasunari Kawabata and Kenzaburo Oe. Now I'm here to discover more amazing books! Glad to be here ^_^ Thanks for starting this group, Sanjuro!

  posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )

• 

  Diego McGregor 

  New Title

  

  Hey everybody, I am a Jamaican and i after studying Kyokushin Kai i fell in love with Japanese. I am now thinking about taking Japanese Literature at University. Which University would you guys suggest? Thanks for creating this group. Sanjuro!

  posted 1 year ago. ( permalink )

• To reply to this discussion, please sign in.

Return to top