Book of the day

“The Story of Tomoda and Matsunaga” by Junichiro Tanizaki

This story was written in 1926, 3 years after Tanizaki moved to Kyoto. The narrator, a writer called “K”, one day receives a letter...

“Building a human being” by Hideo Kobayashi and Kiyoshi Oka

This book is a rare dialogue between Hideo Kobayashi, one of the most noted literary critics in Japan and Kiyoshi Oka, who is a genius...

“Variations On a Theme By Mister Donut“ by David Mitchell

David Mitchell is a noted English author and has written 9 novels together with many short stories. I was drawn to the title of the...

“The Priest and His Love” by Yukio Mishima

I have successfully finished this term with a beautiful story by Mishima, which was written in 1954. Mishima composed it based on an...

“Brother and Sister” by Saisei Muro

Saisei Muro was born in Kanazawa, Ishikawa prefecture. He started his literary career as a poet and later became a novelist. The story...

“Snow” by Orhan Pamuk

I’ve finished reading “Snow”. This is the first time for me to read Pamuk. I was completely enchanted by his beautifully crafted prose....

“Hari to Ito” (Needles and Threads) by Ito Ogawa

This is a travel essay by Ito Ogawa. She reminisces about her stay in Berlin for some years as a language student and a writer as well...

“The Power of Reading” by Eisuke Wakamatsu

The author says there are 4 conditions that make books “good” books. 1. When you encounter that book, you are ready for it. 2. The book...

Essays by Mari Mori

When I was reading Aoko Matsuda, I came across a proper noun, “Mori Mari”, who is a renowned essayist and Mori Ogai’s daughter. One key...