Read Japanese Literature

In part two of this three part episode, we're looking at the apocalyptic and dystopian fiction of Japan.

We'll begin with the evolution of the idea of "the end of the world" in Japan, especially after Japan started importing American and European science fiction. We'll move on to Japanese apocalyptic stories, especially between 1945 and the 1970s and then during the 1970s and 1980s.

Notes and sources on the episode page. Transcript available.

This episode’s artwork is adapted from a photograph by Du Truong, “The Student of Gunkanjima”. Gunkanjima, also known as Hashima Island, is an abandoned island in Nagasaki Prefecture. Truong’s work is available under a Creative Commons license.

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All content © 2024 Read Japanese Literature.

In part one of this three part episode, we're looking at apocalyptic and dystopian fiction as genres. Their origins in Western and Central Asia. Their evolution in Western Europe. And a history of English-language apocalyptic and dystopian storytelling that will provide us with context and a basis for comparison when we turn to Japanese stories in part two.

Notes and sources on the episode page. Transcript available.

This episode’s artwork is adapted from a photograph by Du Truong, “The Student of Gunkanjima”. Gunkanjima, also known as Hashima Island, is an abandoned island in Nagasaki Prefecture. Truong’s work is available under a Creative Commons license.

Get in touch at www.readjapaneseliterature.com.
Support RJL on Patreon.com.
Buy your books from Bookshop.org.
All content © 2024 Read Japanese Literature.

In part two of this two-part episode on misogyny in Japanese literature, we're talking about the life and work of Yukio Mishima, especially by way of his I-Novel, Confessions of a Mask.

Check out part one for

• 400 years of attitudes about women in Japan
• Woman in modern Japanese literature, especially in the work of some of its most important writers

Notes and sources on the episode page. Transcript available.

This episode is rated mature.

CW: misogyny, fictional rape, internalized homophobia, suicide

Join Patreon to support the podcast and access bonus content.

Support Wajima and the urushi industry with the Matsuzawa Urushi Workshop.

Support this podcast by buying from Bookshop.org.

Get in touch at www.readjapaneseliterature.com.
Support RJL on Patreon.com.
Buy your books from Bookshop.org.
All content © 2024 Read Japanese Literature.

In part one of this two-part episode, we're talking about misogyny in Japanese literature.

• 400 years of attitudes about women in Japan
• Woman in modern Japanese literature, especially in the work of some of its most important writers
• Check out part two (coming soon) for the life and work of Yukio Mishima, especially by way of his I-Novel, Confessions of a Mask.

Notes and sources on the episode page. Transcript available.

This episode is rated mature.

CW: misogyny, fictional rape, internalize homophobia, suicide

Join Patreon to support the podcast and access 10 minutes of bonus content.

Support Wajima and the urushi industry with the Matsuzawa Urushi Workshop.

Support this podcast by buying from Bookshop.org.

Get in touch at www.readjapaneseliterature.com.
Support RJL on Patreon.com.
Buy your books from Bookshop.org.
All content © 2024 Read Japanese Literature.

There is no one quite like Kenji Miyazawa. Born into wealth, he longed to be “a real peasant”. One of Japan’s most influential children’s writers, he sold only one story during his lifetime.

Read Japanese Literature takes a look at Miyazawa's colorful biography through three of his beloved stories.

Miyazawa produced the artwork for this episode. It's a painted titled Power Pole in the Moonlight.

Notes and sources on the episode page. Transcript available.

Get in touch at www.readjapaneseliterature.com.
Support RJL on Patreon.com.
Buy your books from Bookshop.org.
All content © 2024 Read Japanese Literature.

To celebrate the overseas release of The Boy and the Heron (aka How Do You Live?) RJL delves into the stories that inspire animator Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli, especially

• Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind
• Howl’s Moving Castle
• My Neighbor Totoro

We’ll end with a deep dive into Kiki’s Delivery Service—the Ghibli film and the novel by Eiko Kadano (as translated by Emily Balistrieri).

Notes and sources on the episode page. Transcript available.

*25,000 total episode downloads! Thanks for your support!*

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All content © 2023 Read Japanese Literature.

In this episode, we're talking about one of the most important voices in modern Japanese literature, Haruki Murakami.

• His biography
• Why so many people have such strong feelings about his writing
• And his short story "TV People"

We'll end with what I like best about this much loved (and much hated) author.

Notes and sources on the episode page.

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All content © 2023 Read Japanese Literature.

In this episode, we're talking about Japanese children's literature.

• The history of children’s literature in general
• The history of children’s literature in Japan
• And Sachiko Kashiwaba and Temple Alley Summer—a story that is about Japanese children’s literature (at least a little bit!)

Notes and sources on the episode page.

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Support RJL on Patreon.com.
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All content © 2023 Read Japanese Literature.

How does a book make it from the mind of a Japanese author into the hands of an English-language reader?

In part 2 of this 2-part episode, we'll tackle the question, “How do Japanese books get translated into English?" What kinds of choices do translators make when they present a Japanese-language text to English-language readers?

We're still looking at at Minae Mizumura's An I-Novel, translated into English by Juliet Winters Carpenter, and we'll end with some philosophical and ethical questions about translation.

Notes and sources on the episode page.

Thanks for listening.
Get in touch at www.readjapaneseliterature.com.
Support RJL on Patreon.com.
Buy your books from Bookshop.org.
All content © 2023 Read Japanese Literature.

How does a book make it from the mind of a Japanese author into the hands of an English-language reader?

In part 1 of this 2-part episode, we'll tackle the question, “Why do some Japanese books get translated into English? How do publishers decide what gets translated? How do they decide what doesn’t get translated." And we'll take a look at Minae Mizumura's An I-Novel, translated into English by Juliet Winters Carpenter.

Transcript, notes and sources at the podcast episode page. 

Thanks for listening.
Get in touch at www.readjapaneseliterature.com.
Support RJL on Patreon.com.
Buy your books from Bookshop.org.
All content © 2023 Read Japanese Literature.