![How the English Language Failed Banana Yoshimoto](https://metropolisjapan.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Banana-Yoshimoto-2-380x214.jpg)
Literature
![How the English Language Failed Banana Yoshimoto](https://metropolisjapan.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Banana-Yoshimoto-2-380x214.jpg)
![5 (Translated) Japanese Novels to Read in 2021](https://metropolisjapan.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/The-woman-in-the-purple-skirt-8-380x214.jpg)
5 (Translated) Japanese Novels to Read in 2021
New works by Mieko Kawakami, Haruki Murakami and more![Fresh Ink: ‘Tales of the Zashiki Children’ by Kenji Miyazawa](https://metropolisjapan.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Zashiki-art-1-e1684215407637-380x270.jpg)
Fresh Ink: ‘Tales of the Zashiki Children’ by Kenji Miyazawa
The English-language debut of a prolific Japanese writer![Scientific Literature About an Unscientific World](https://metropolisjapan.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/IMG_5268-380x253.jpg)
Scientific Literature About an Unscientific World
Kanji Hanawa divulges society’s absurdity in two translated novellas![‘The Hole’ by Hiroko Oyamada](https://metropolisjapan.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Hole_HirokoOyamada4-2-246x380.jpg)
‘The Hole’ by Hiroko Oyamada
David Boyd translates Oyamada's surreal novel of transformation and isolation![Atomic Trauma and Family Albums – 75 Years Later](https://metropolisjapan.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Hiroshima-August-2017-380x303.jpg)
Atomic Trauma and Family Albums – 75 Years Later
Kazu Sashida's crucial book sheds light on the horrors of Hiroshima![Comedy is Tragic in ‘Spark’](https://metropolisjapan.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/IMG_4799-380x214.jpg)
Comedy is Tragic in ‘Spark’
A review of manzai star Naoki Matayoshi’s translated novel![Sushi Shokunin: Japan’s Culinary Masters](https://metropolisjapan.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Fazzari_DSC06096-copy-254x380.jpg)
Sushi Shokunin: Japan’s Culinary Masters
Photographer Andrea Fazzari delves into Tokyo’s top-level sushi scene![The Resurgence of a Japanese Literary Master](https://metropolisjapan.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/better-380x268.jpg)
The Resurgence of a Japanese Literary Master
Fifty years after his death, Yukio Mishima is reemerging in translation![Talking With the Only Gaijin in the Village](https://metropolisjapan.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IMG_4530-380x214.jpg)
Talking With the Only Gaijin in the Village
Scotsman Iain Maloney on his new book about life in rural Japan![Your Summer Reading List](https://metropolisjapan.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Screen-Shot-2020-07-10-at-15.03.35-380x189.jpg)
Your Summer Reading List
Recommendations from Tokyo's literary scene![Breasts, Eggs and Existential Feminism](https://metropolisjapan.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/photo-output-2-380x214.jpg)