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July 24, 2026
 

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LITERATURE

Haruki Murakami's first book in three years hit shelves in Japan on Friday.
CULTURE / Books
Jul 3, 2026
Murakami says his novels are ¡®different¡¯ from AI literature
When he is deeply focused on writing a story, characters suddenly show up, and ¡°that¡¯s not something that comes out from analogy,¡± he said, adding ¡°AI probably can¡¯t do that.¡±
Yo Katami found a permanent home for Loneliness Books in Higashinakano in August 2024, but still travels for book pop-ups at fairs and events in Japan and across Asia.
CULTURE / Books
Jun 28, 2026
How a private collection of queer books became a cultural hot spot
Since establishing a permanent location in Nakano Ward in 2024, Tokyo¡¯s queer-focused bookstore Loneliness Books has become a hub of events and activities for the LGBTQ+ community and its allies.
Kodaiji Wakuden, a two-Michelin-starred restaurant in Kyoto, has found a new side dish for its cuisine: "waka" poems.
LIFE / Food & Drink
Jun 21, 2026
¡®Kaiseki¡¯ fine dining with a side of classical poetry
Kyoto fine dining restaurant Kodaiji Wakuden¡¯s experiment with traditional poems is an interesting, if uneven, experiment in aesthetics.
Using calligraphy brushes, ink pens and pencils, Chuya drafted his poems in a variety of styles. Pictured here is his draft of ¡°Chomon Gorge in Winter.¡±
CULTURE / Books
Jun 16, 2026
Prewar poet Chuya Nakahara¡¯s complete works get a new life in English
A new translation, and the first publication of Chuya¡¯s complete works in English, aims to introduce the poet to readers abroad.
Cafe Phosphorescence, owned by Osamu Dazai fan Miyuki Daba, is located about 15 minutes away from where the novelist used to live.
CULTURE / Books
Jun 15, 2026
In Tokyo¡¯s Mitaka, a search for traces of Osamu Dazai
The novelist¡¯s hometown honors his memory, but with many buildings demolished, a pilgrimage is an exercise in imagination.
Tokyo native Noemi Minami founded Koen Book Club in 2021 with two friends. The club continues to meet monthly in public parks across Tokyo, weather permitting.
COMMUNITY / Issues / The Foreign Element
May 18, 2026
Anglophone bookworms unite across Japan
Book clubs, book swaps and other reading events are providing a space for wholesome offline socializing in Tokyo and beyond.
Koji Suzuki
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May 10, 2026
Koji Suzuki, author of horror novel ¡®Ring,¡¯ dies at 68
¡°Ring,¡± released in 1991, was adapted into movies in and outside Japan, becoming major hits.
A letter from Ryotaro Shiba sent to Takeshi Kaiko's wife, Yoko Maki
51³Ô¹ÏÍø
Apr 27, 2026
Letter by novelist Shiba praising fellow writer Kaiko found
Ryotaro Shiba sent the handwritten letter on two sheets of paper in December 1989, soon after Takeshi Kaiko¡¯s death, to the late writer¡¯s wife, poet Yoko Maki.
Haruki Murakami returns this summer with his new novel, "The Tale of Kaho," which is centered on a 26-year-old picture book author.
CULTURE / Books
Apr 24, 2026
Haruki Murakami to release first novel in three years with ¡®The Tale of Kaho¡¯
The beloved author¡¯s new work, set to be released July 3, marks his first female-led novel ¡ª and a return to the uncanny.
Jimbocho, Tokyo¡¯s book town, has gained popularity online and some travel companies are already selling book-centric tours for foreign visitors.
CULTURE / Books
Apr 20, 2026
Now on the multilingual margins, can Japanese bookstores be more than just a vibe?
While some travel companies are now offering book-centric tours around Jimbocho, foreign visitors are often leaving bookstores empty-handed, despite intentions to buy books.
A shift is occurring in the translation industry both in Japan and across the globe, where using artificial intelligence in place of humans is increasingly becoming standard practice.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Society / FOCUS
Apr 16, 2026
As AI advances, translators forced to adapt to industry changes
Translators are having to grapple with lower pay and higher expectations, all while the future of the industry itself is in doubt.
The new edition of "In Praise of Shadows" also includes 30 mood-enhancing photos of evocative corners and shadowy spaces such as tearooms and gardens.
CULTURE / Books
Apr 8, 2026
New Tanizaki collection illuminates ¡®In Praise of Shadows¡¯ origin
The new edition of ¡°In Praise of Shadows¡± also includes 30 mood-enhancing photos of evocative corners and shadowy spaces such as tearooms and gardens.
Participants at the Kinrin Utakai discuss tanka at the group¡¯s gathering last month in Tokyo¡¯s Ogikubo neighborhood.
CULTURE / Books / Longform
Apr 6, 2026
Why tanka poetry is clicking with a new generation
A centuries-old poetic form is being reshaped through everyday experiences, online exchange and a new generation of writers.
Biwa Takaki won the 76th Mr. H Prize for poetry with her debut poetry collection ¡°A River of Hair.¡±
CULTURE / Books
Apr 5, 2026
Takaki Biwa on winning the 76th Mr. H. Poetry Prize
The Mr. H Prize is one of the biggest and oldest awards for contemporary Japanese poetry and often compared to the Akutagawa Prize for literary fiction.
Famed British author Len Deighton, who died last week at 97, revolutionized spy fiction with his unnamed, working-class anti-heroes whose cynical realism and bureaucratic worlds offered a sharp contrast to glamorous spies, leaving a lasting mark on the genre.
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 24, 2026
Six decades ago, Len Deighton created a man for our times
Unlike Ian Fleming and John le Carre, creators of James Bond and George Smiley, respectively, Deighton never worked for the British intelligence service.
Asako Yuzuki¡¯s novel about female obsession offers timely and shrewd social critiques ¡ª but not catharsis.
CULTURE / Books
Mar 20, 2026
¡®Hooked¡¯ but not reeled in by Asako Yuzuki¡¯s new release
Asako Yuzuki¡¯s second novel to appear in English presents a claustrophobic dynamic between prospective gal pals but shies away from the catharsis that this type of story needs.
Literary translation is one of humanity¡¯s most crucial tasks ¡ª one that should never be left to the machines.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Mar 18, 2026
Lost in AI translation: What¡¯s at stake? Our humanity.
Literary translation is one of humanity¡¯s most crucial tasks ¡ª one that should never be left to the machines.
In ¡°Sisters in Yellow,¡± Mieko Kawakami brings to life a group of exuberant young hustlers in the underbelly of 1990s Tokyo.
CULTURE / Books
Mar 17, 2026
¡®Sisters in Yellow¡¯ is a wild ride through Tokyo¡¯s underworld
Mieko Kawakami¡¯s noir-y novel follows a group of powerless young women working in Tokyo¡¯s 1990s nightlife.
A page from Kenzaburo Oe's unpublished novel ¡°Trip From a Dark Room¡±
51³Ô¹ÏÍø
Mar 3, 2026
Two unpublished works by Nobel laureate Kenzaburo Oe found
The two short stories will appear in the April issue of Kodansha¡¯s literary magazine Gunzo.
Tokyo¡¯s Jimbocho neighborhood has all kinds of bookshops and cafes, but it is mainly known for its abundance of stores selling secondhand books.
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Mar 2, 2026
Inside a Japanese bookshop: Words you need to browse in Jimbocho
Decode shelving systems, publisher groupings and reader slang before making the most of Tokyo¡¯s famed literary district.
Japan scientists identify clusters of protein believed to trigger Alzheimer¡¯s disease
A team of researchers said they found a ¡°seed¡± that accelerates the amyloid beta accumulation process in the brain, naming it ¡°Peak 1 amyloid beta,¡± as seen in a mouse's brain.
Indian brothers make manga debut in Japan
Two Indian brothers made their manga debut in Japan with "Kung Fu Kung Fool" ¡ª an action-comedy series that follows the adventures of a notorious thief and a young boy.
Japan weighs regulating Pokemon cards amid trading mania
A Pokemon event is held in Jakarta on July 11
Low-income families in Japan cut food and air conditioning during summer break
Yumiko Watanabe, the chairperson of nonprofit Kidsdoor, explains the results of a survey in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward on July 1.
Iran strikes on CIA facilities prompt questions about possible Russian role
Iranian drones are displayed in an undisclosed location in Iran, in this handout image obtained on Jan. 13, 2025.U.S. officials have acknowledged that Russia has ?provided targeting ?and other support for Iran in its drone strikes on U.S. targets in the Persian Gulf region.
The sci-fi sensibilities of electronic trio Black Boboi
Black Boboi was formed in 2018 when solo artists Julia Shortreed, Utena Kobayashi and Ermhoi came together under Kobayashi¡¯s newly founded label, Bindividual.
A perfect storm: Kaze Fujii fans flock to Fuji Rock
Okayama-born singer-songwriter Kaze Fujii has carved out a distinctive place in Japanese pop since his major-label debut in 2019.
Can Japanese comedy get laughs in English? Yoshimoto Kogyo lets the jokes rip
Wes-P has millions of followers and his viral clips made him recognizable out of Japan.
The 180-day locals: Life on Japan¡¯s digital nomad visa
Christopher Flinn works remotely from Tokyo earlier this month. Japan issued 646 digital nomad visas in 2025, but tourism officials are hoping to increase that figure in the coming years, with Japan's relatively cheap cost of living and the weak yen seen as potential draws for young professionals.
Japan reveals hint of new defense spending target in fiscal blueprint
The Self-Defense Forces' Type 16 mobile combat vehicle fires during a joint live-fire drill with U.S. Marines as part of the annual Resolute Dragon exercises in Yufu, Oita Prefecture, on June 28.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo¡¯s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo¡¯s ¡®stadium of desire¡¯

Longform

For many people, utility poles and power lines have become such a familiar part of Japan¡¯s landscape that they often go unnoticed.
Why Japan¡¯s utility poles won¡¯t be disappearing anytime soon
By Alex K.T. Martin

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