Books and Bao • 20th July 2025

Ecofiction's Gothic Inheritance. How Climate Fiction Helps Us Process Our Fear. | Books and Bao

This post may contain affiliate links that earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. Literature has always served as a mirror to society’s deepest anxieties, reflecting cultural fears through metaphor and allegory. Just as Gothic fiction emerged in the 18th and 19th centuries as a response to industrialisation, channelling unease about scientific progress and urbanisation, today’s ecofiction grapples with the existential threats of climate change, mass extinction, and ecological collapse. T...

Metropolis Japan • 19th December 2024

10 Must-Read Japanese Novels of 2024 - Metropolis Japan

From family dramas to thrilling mysteries and historical fiction, Japanese authors (and their translators) have brought something for everyone this year. Here are the ten must-read Japanese novels of 2024 that you shouldn’t miss.


A sequel to The Kamogawa Food Detectives, this short novel continues the story of a father-daughter duo who runs a hidden Kyoto diner with a unique twist. The chef, Nagare, and his daughter, Koishi, act as culinary detectives, recreating long-lost dishes that hold de...

Japan Objects • 20th July 2020

Amigurumi: All You Need to Know About Japanese Crochet

“For a beginner, I would recommend a heavier weight yarn like 8-ply and a larger hook size such as a 3.5 mm or 4 mm hook. Which size hook to use with your yarn of choice depends a lot on your stitch tension when you’re holding your yarn too. I personally love using a 2.5 mm hook with 4-ply yarn. I think this combination works for my designs as I like to incorporate a lot of shaping and details and this allows me to achieve this effect.”

If you’re in Tokyo you might want to check out these 5 Top

Metropolis Magazine • 8th January 2020

Five Japanese Novels to Read in 2020 | Books

Last year was a fairly good year for Japanese literature in translation, with breakout books by beloved mystery writer Seishi Yokomizo (“The Honjin Murders”) and newer authors like Hiroko Oyamada (“The Factory”), in addition to translations of appraised authors Yoko Ogawa and Hiromi Kawakami. In 2020, however, we’re promised an even better year, with more books by Oyamada and Yokomizo on the way, as well as a brand new novel from award-winning “Convenience Store Woman” author, Sayaka Murata. Out

Japan Objects • 26th October 2020

6 Things You Need to Know About Kumiko Woodworking

Beginning as an artform in the 8th century CE and remaining an active form of carpentry in Japan to this day, kumiko is a uniquely Japanese style of woodwork. The process involves interconnecting carved wooden pieces together, in intricate patterns, to create a finished panel without the use of glue, nails, or any other external tools.

Kumiko panels slot together and remain in place through pressure alone, and that pressure is achieved through meticulous calculating, cutting, and arranging. The

Japan Objects • 23rd March 2020

Kimono Fabric: All You Need to Know About Japanese Silk

A special clutch that recreates the abstract Okiku Momi tapestry housed in Koetsuji Temple in Kyoto. Designed by Tatsumura Textile who specializes in the restoration of priceless ancient Japanese and Chinese textiles, they’re Kyoto’s esteemed leader in world-class silk brocades and this tasteful clutch is a testament to their passion.

Not just for fashion accessories, there are many ways to incorporate timeless silk products and exquisite Japanese fabrics into your everyday life.

2nd April 2020

Learning a Foreign Language from Home

This is harder than you might imagine but could very well be the secret to you pursuing your language to a higher level. It’s very difficult to carry on with a language that you don’t have some sort of passion for or a specific goal in mind.

Have you always wanted to visit Spain or travel in South America? Well, keep that trip in mind and you’ll have a lot more incentive to get going with Spanish. Perhaps you’ve always had an interest in Korean pop culture or films and learning some Korean woul

Savvy Tokyo • 23rd October 2019

The Women of Tokyo International Film Festival 2019

It’s that time of the year again! Last year’s Tokyo film festival was a huge success and 2019 is heading the same way with nine days of films from around the world being showcased from October 28 to November 5. As usual, the films will be shown at Toho Cinema Roppongi Hills, Ex Theater Roppongi, Tokyo Midtown Hibiya, and Tokyo International Forum.

This year we’ve decided to highlight the movies that have women front and center. They’ll make you laugh till you cry, question the meaning of life,

Savvy Tokyo • 25th November 2019

8 Heartwarming Japanese Books To Read This Winter

Feeling a bit chilly? Grab one of these winter picks for snuggle up to this season.

It’s getting to that time of year again — the days are getting shorter, the weather is growing colder, and the urge to dive under the kotatsu is becoming stronger. And nothing pairs an escape into a cozy heated table than a warm cup of rooibos tea and a good read. But which books are the ones that will warm your heart enough for your mind to escape the cold? We love these eight Japanese books filled with wholeso

Savvy Tokyo • 28th August 2019

The Best Japanese Video Games With Strong Female Characters

The once male-dominated gamer industry is now flooding with not only female gamers, but tenacious female characters as well.

While it has never been unheard of to have strong female protagonists in anime and video games, more often than not female characters were relegated to secondary or damsel in distress type roles or were hyper-sexualized aimed at the male audience.

Nowadays, video game developers are more aware that the landscape of gaming is more diverse—50 percent of gamers are women—an

Savvy Tokyo • 24th July 2019

6 Anime With Compelling Female Protagonists to Enjoy in 2019

An unmissable list of anime with engaging stories and interesting female characters

Anime has come a long way in the past decade, with more and more shows either being aimed at women or featuring strong, compelling, and well-rounded female protagonists. In the past year, we’ve had five fantastic anime that center around major themes of loss, self-discovery, adventure, and more. And each of these five showcase beloved and inspirational protagonists and sometimes even an entire cast of complex an

Japan Today • 24th June 2019

6 Japanese books to enjoy this summer

Visions of summer holidays often include a beach, a book, and a cocktail, but even if your summer vacation is still a long way ahead, there’s always room for a great Japanese read or two. Whether you want inspiration for new things to do in Tokyo, or want to be captivated by a romance or fantasy tale, there’s something for everyone on this list of Japanese summer reads.

1. The Bells of Old Tokyo by Anna Sherman

If you love Japanese culture and are itching to discover new things, then this is t

Savvy Tokyo • 4th February 2019

10 Of The Best Exhibitions To See In Tokyo In 2019

The spotlight is on unique Japanese art.

Tokyo’s wonderful art galleries and museums continue to offer us cultural experiences and places to absorb the greatest artworks in history. Not to be left out of your planning for the year ahead, here are ten of the years’ most significant upcoming exhibits to add to your calendar. From soul exploring immersive installations to some of the greatest names in Japanese art history and our lovable friend Winnie the Pooh – there really is something for every

Savvy Tokyo • 15th March 2019

Yu Miri's 'Tokyo Ueno Station' Gives Voice to the Invisible Working Class

There is another side to beauty and glory.

Author Yu Miri has had to fight for everything she has. As the daughter of Korean immigrants to Japan, she has struggled through racism and abuse throughout her career as a playwright and a novelist. This abuse has gone as far as receiving bomb threats called on her public events, leading to cancellations. None of this has stopped her from becoming a huge success in Japan, however. In fact, it has spurred her to become a strong and dedicated critic of

Act Build Change • 25th July 2019

Generation Share – Books –

The sharing economy isn’t a new concept. Many of you may have heard of several frameworks which exist to offer a mutual-benefit situation based on sharing. Couchsurfing is one, Trusted Housesitters is another, and food sharing apps such as Olio are becoming so mainstream now that it’s easy to forget that these are platforms based entirely on sharing. Platforms all providing an alternative lifestyle to the capitalism-based system that we’re used to. The art we consume has also been directly affec

Metropolis Magazine • 22nd October 2018

Five Female Japanese Writers To Read | Books | Metropolis

This past August, as the literary world celebrated Women In Translation month, Japanese female writers rose to the forefront of the conversation. UK publisher and literary magazine Granta published a well-received collection of Japanese short stories (the majority of them written by women) and the discussions using the hashtag #japanlit were dominated by fans of female Japanese writers.

There’s no doubt that Japanese women are making waves in the literary scene. Here are some writers and novels

Tokyo Weekender • 14th November 2018

10 Contemporary Japanese Authors You Should Know

The last few years have seen sales of Japanese translated fiction booming in the West. As a result, more of these talented writers are finally being translated for people to enjoy. Here are some of the contemporary Japanese writers people are talking about, and where you should start.

Author of the award-winning Memoirs of a Polar Bear (translated by Susan Bernofsky) tales told from three generations of polar bear, Tawada is an author that isn’t afraid of a high concept. Her recent novel, The L

Books and Bao • 7th May 2019

Review: Thirteen Months of Sunrise by Rania Mamoun

Written by Rania Mamoun | Translated from the Sudanese by Elisabeth Jaquette

I admittedly went into reading Thirteen Months of Sunrise with high expectations; I haven’t been this excited for a collection since the Iraq +100 (also, coincidently, by Comma Press) and I’ll start this off by saying that it absolutely did not disappoint. This collection of short stories by the author, journalist, and activist Rania Mamoun is one of the first ever translations of a Sudanese female author into English

Savvy Tokyo • 7th June 2019

Being a Translator in Japan: An Interview with Louise Heal Kawai

Born in the north of England, Louise Heal Kawai has made a name for herself translating some of Japan's most popular contemporary literature. Here she tells us about life as a busy working mom and what it's like to collaborate with literary icons.

A translator of Japanese literature into English, Louise Heal Kawai originally comes from Manchester in the north of the UK, has lived in Texas and Nagoya, and now calls Yokohama home.

Her translation of Seventeen by Hideo Yokoyama was a finalist in

Act Build Change • 22nd April 2019

The Art of Asking – Book Review

Part personal memoir and part guide, Amanda Palmer takes the reader on a journey from her time as a performing statue in Boston, Massachusetts – to her successes as a solo artist. Along the way she extols the power of crowdfunding and creating a supportive audience. Palmer shares her lessons on how to stop worrying about being seen as weak, how to fight the imposter syndrome and to simply ask people for help when we need it.

And the results? Well after leaving her record label, Palmer’s Kicksta

Savvy Tokyo • 9th January 2019

5 Japanese Books To Read Before You Start Anything New This Year

A few inspirational titles to recharge your optimism batteries for all exciting things that are to come in 2019.

Looking for some inspirational books to get you in the mood to embrace everything the new year has coming? Resolutions are made to be broken but practicing some new habits and enjoying some fresh perspectives on life can get you going on the right note. Here are some Japanese books, from philosophy to fiction, to get you in the right frame of mind to begin the new year or anything el

Savvy Tokyo • 22nd October 2018

8 Films From Tokyo Film Festival 2018 That Everyone Will Soon Be Talking About

This year's lineup begins with "A Star Is Born" and ends with "Godzilla: The Planet Eater." Here's the best of what's in between.

This year marks Tokyo Film Festival’s 31st anniversary. With an additional venue added this year, starting from October 25th, for about a week you can enjoy dozens of films at Hibiya Step Square along with the usual Roppongi Hills and EXTheatre Roppongi screenings.

With Bradley Cooper’s (and Lady Gaga’s) masterpiece A Star Is Born as an opening movie and an impressi

Savvy Tokyo • 5th December 2018

'The Lonesome Bodybuilder' Takes Readers On A Dark Journey Of The Woman's Mind

Brimming with dark humor and featuring a strong feminist stance, we realize that no aspect of modern Japanese life is safe.

Yukiko Motoya is an established name in Japan. Having received the Kenzaburo Oe Prize, the Yukio Mishima Prize, the Akutagawa Prize (among other), she’s now a renowned multi-award winning author, a playwright and a theater director.

The Lonesome Bodybuilder, released in English this November by Soft Skull Press, is the long-awaited translation (by Asa Yoneda) of Motoya’s

Savvy Tokyo • 17th December 2018

5 Japanese Movies And Dramas To Watch Over The Holidays

No travel plans for Christmas? No worries! Here’s your unmissable list of Japanese films and dramas to keep you going over the festive and New Year period! This list has something for everyone from binge-worthy uplifting dramas to emotionally-charged films.

When we arrive at year’s end, social media sites like Facebook urge us to look back on the year we’ve just lived, and the creeping-in of New Year’s Eve gets us pondering on the next stage in our lives. This transition from year to year, life