With 2020 knee-deep in its second quarter and the coronavirus still rampant on the streets, we’re left with a lot of time to spend indoors. Quarantine life doesn’t have to be boring, however, as the extra time on our hands can easily be spent reading books. If you’re looking for the perfect companion to curl up with, try any of these recommended 5 books to read, all about Japan.
Secrets, Sex, and Spectacle: The Rules of Scandal in Japan and the United States by Mark D. West
Downright delicious, this book examines Japanese culture with scandals as the point of interest and comparative law as the lens. A word of caution though: this book is lengthy and if you’re not familiar with academic publications, you might have to wade through jargon in the first few chapters before getting to the fun part. That is, this book is teeming with amusing case studies—from the go-to lawyer of Johnny’s Entertainment when one of their male idols gets into trouble, to mischievous photographers defacing corals in Okinawa for the sake of a headline. Japan’s entertainment industry is as fascinating as it is appalling, and the author’s got the receipts to prove it.
Ghosts of the Tsunami: Death and Life in Japan’s Disaster Zone by Richard Lloyd Parry
Japan is no stranger to life-altering catastrophes, and one’s that fresh in our collective memories is the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami. Parry, a Tokyo-based foreign correspondent, documents interviews with the survivors in the six years that he spent reporting from the heart of the disaster.
This book is laden with grief, and some of the images, while painted with tasteful words, depict extremely distressing situations. At the same time, it also illustrates people who have managed to cope with tremendous tragedy, as well as how the Japanese government responded to a nationwide crisis—two valuable pieces of information for expats in Japan at the time of COVID-19.
Underground: The Tokyo Gas Attack and the Japanese Psyche by Murakami Haruki
If you’ve ever wondered why there are so few trash bins in Japan’s public spaces and why the trash bags are transparent, the 1995 sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway system is among the reasons. In this non-fiction book by popular novelist Murakami Haruki, he interviews the survivors and the perpetrators of the horrendous crime, with Aum Shrinkyo cult leader Asahara Shoko as mastermind. It’s an engaging read, and like Parry’s book, Murakami’s Underground is on this list because it shows how Japan responded to and survived a large-scale tragedy.
Convenience Store Woman by Murata Sayaka
For a fun, light-hearted read with poignant social commentary, Convenience Store Woman does the trick. The novel follows the story of a 36-year old part-timer at a convenience store as she grapples with her role in Japanese society. I used to work part-time at a convenience store during my grad student years, so I can attest to the fact that Murata captures the konbini atmosphere with precision, all the while allowing us laugh at the main character’s hilarious yet thought-provoking predicament.
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Happy Money: The Japanese Art of Making Peace with Your Money by Honda Ken
Real talk. One of the things that makes us wildly anxious with the worldwide pandemic that’s going on is our job security in a failing economy. I’ve had my goals set before the year started—a target annual salary by the end of the year among them—but alas, COVID-19 chewed up my plans and spat them back in my face. Honda Ken’s book, however, has helped ease my financial frustrations by giving a zen perspective on money. He posits that money is energy, and it can either be happy or unhappy depending on our relationship with it. It’s a calming read, perfect for these tumultuous times.
Video: 5 Books on Japan to Read during Quarantine
Want to learn more? I talk about the books cited above on this YouTube video.
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Top Image Photo by Patrick Tomasso on Unsplash
