Japanuary 2023
Hello from 2024!
Last year I had quite the lineup for Japanuary, a month where bookstagram and booktok take to reading Japanese literature. Here is some of my hopefuls on my Boston trip. In all honesty, I can’t believe how many books I read and in addition, how many centered or featured cats! As I’ve looked back on my more immediate thoughts in 2023, I’m surprised by how similar they remain in 2024.
Here’s a breakdown of all the Japanese fiction I read in January 2023. Hopefully, it will inspire or give you some ideas for your TBR now.
Books with Cats:
If Cats Disappeared From The World by Genki Kawamura
Out of all the books featuring cats, this was my favorite. It’s a look at what you would be willing to give up to continue living. The book contemplates how to decide what makes life worth living. It gives these considerations with all the seriousness the topic requires while also sprinkling in a bit of humor which goes far to make a joy of the book. I’m going to reread this sometime.
At a Glance: magical realism, talking cat, loss, reconciliation, finding hope
She and Her Cat by Makoto Shinkai, Naruki Nagakawa
“She and Her Cat explores the gentle magic of the everyday.“ This follows a variety of cats and their different owners. The stories slowly weave their lives together. This book didn’t wow me but I had a nice time reading it though!
At a Glance: emotional, hopeful, all the cats, interweaving people’s lives
The Guest Cat by Takashi Hiraide
This felt like a subtle landscape where each page drew you further into the picture. What a gripping meditation on the small joys in life and what it means to love. The prose felt like poetry and all around it was just a lovely reading experience.
At a Glance: slow-paced, emotional, melancholy, hopeful
Other:
Earthlings by Sayaka Murata
What a wild ride this was! I was invested and in distress the whole time. Reader discretion beware but Murata never misses.
At a Glance: horror, dark, aliens ?, childhood, memory
The Woman in the Purple Skirt by Natsuko Imamura
This was half mystery and half thriller. I wasn’t completely sold on the ending but I liked the reading experience up till then. The end felt a little rushed to me. It was a fascinating look at obsession, loneliness, and workplace power dynamics.
At a Glance: obsession, stalking, fantasy versus reality, suspense
Scattered All Over the Earth by Yōko Tawada
I wish I waited to read this. I was in Boston at the time and think because of that I didn’t give this my full attention. Each chapter had a different point of view and I liked some over others. Another aspect that I didn’t love (I’m not sure if it either wasn’t translated correctly or something else) was there was a constant misgendering of a trans character. I’m not sure if this was a reading mistake but I’ve read other reviews where it was a similar concern.
At a Glance: language, identity, politics, power, dystopian
Manga:
Snow White with the Red Hair (Vol. 1-3) by Sorata Akiduki
Snow White is a romance manga that’s the embodiment of the world ‘wholesome’. I adored this series (I later read past the first three) and not only love the romance but every one of the characters. Shirayuki has a way of seeing the world and the problems in her life in a way that made me feel like I could tackle my own. Her stories and can-do attitude empowered me to be more optimistic.
At a Glance: magic, herbalism, wholesome, romance, adventure, believing in oneself, friends, found family
Witch Hat Atelier (Vol. 8-10) by Kamome Shirahama
If you love fantasy, have an interest in graphic novels (or just love art), or want to read an epic adventure then this is my recommendation. I can’t stress how good this is. The art is sublime. The characters are fully fleshed out and complex. The plot is intriguing. And the worldbuilding is so, so good. Shirahama is on another level. I think, being only a bit biased, even if you aren’t someone who reads manga you should still read this.
At a Glance: magic systems, found family, fantasy, fulfilling your dreams
Jujutsu Kaisen (Vol. 11-13) by Gege Akutami
I don’t know what it is about this manga series but it just keeps pulling me along. I feel like half the time the fight scenes are a bit hard to follow and the magic system is even more convoluted but, it has that something that makes me continue reading. I would categorize Jujutsu Kaisen as an intermediate-level read for manga.
At a Glance: demons, curses, dark, horror elements, adventure
In/Spectre (Vo.1) by Kyo Shirodaira
I only read the first volume because it was free on my mom’s Kindle app. I did end up watching the anime! Interesting but I didn’t continue with it.
At a Glance: mystery, Sherlock Holmes vibes, magic, spirits
There Are Things I Can't Tell You by Edako Mofumofu
A one-volume manga my sister gave me for Christmas! I remember this being sweet but a tad rushed. I’m more of a slow-burn romance person so maybe that’s why it stuck out to me so much. I think there is also cheating in this which I didn’t care for either.
At a Glance: childhood friends to lovers, romance, angst, explicit