Reviews by Tag: japan

A mysterious girl was found growing in a bamboo stalk by a poor bamboo cutter. She brought lots of riches to the bamboo cutter and his wife, so they saw her as a gift from the gods and wanted to raise her like royalty. They move to the capital and live a luxurious lifestyle, but the Princess named Kaguya can’t live happily as the materialistic world distracts her from a simple life. Her heart yearns to return to where she comes from, but soon she would learn to regret it. This movie is a great emotional and artistic take on a Japanese folktale.

A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki Ruth Ozeki is a struggling writer who lives in a small town near the coast with her husband and beloved cat. Strange treasures often wash up on the shore near her residence and so she doesn’t think twice about throwing out an old journal that washes up one day. However, her husband convinces her to read the journal before they part with it, leading Ruth to realize that the diary may be residue from the devastating tsunami that occurred in Japan, 2011.

Soul Lanterns by Shaw Kuzki is about a twelve-year-old girl named Nozomi. She lives in the Japanese city of Hiroshima. The city she lives in was bombed 25 years ago and caused many deaths of innocent people. During a certain time of the year, people from Hiroshima put lanterns in water and let them float as a memorial for the loved ones they lost during the devastating bombing that took place 25 years ago. As usual, during the holiday Nozomi's mom was placing two lanterns in water, a colored one and a white one.

Silence is a book regarding faith and religion in a time and place where seeking a religion outside Japan’s interest would lead to immense suffering for its citizens. Sebastian Rodrigues, a character this book focuses on extensively, is a priest who has journeyed to Japan to tell the people about Christianity. The story quickly develops into his constant evasion of Japanese authorities looking to coerce him to renounce his faith. 

Summary: Rin was a war orphan living in a poor town in Nikan (based on China) when she aced the Keju, the test to find the most talented children across the country to study at the academies. She goes to Sinegard, the most elite school in all of Nikan. There, she is hated by her classmates for her poverty and dark skin. But then she discovers that she has powers that may be able to stop Nikan’s enemy, the Federation of Mugen (based on Japan). Her powers may be the only thing that can save her people, but she fears that she might lose herself in the process.

The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami is a complex contemporary novel with elements of mystery and magical realism. The story follows a young man named Toru Okada who, at the beginning of the novel, is told by his wife to look for their missing cat. His journey takes him from the suburbs of Tokyo to a supposedly haunted house to the bottom of a well to a strange dream world that somehow affects reality. In the process of looking for their lost cat, he loses his wife as well.

Yotsuba is about a small girl named, well, Yotsuba!  In this book follow her as she comprehends criticism about her art, swears revenge after watching a gangster movie, and goes to buy cake! From the creator of Azumanga Daioh, Kiyohiko has done amazing work on this book.

Tsukimi Kurashita is a young girl living in Tokyo, Japan. Ever since she was little, she’s had a fascination with jellyfish. She lives in an apartment called Amamizukan, a haven for girls with strange interests. But one day, she runs into a “stylish” or at least that’s what everyone in Amamizukan calls them. But little does she know that there may be more to this woman than she thinks. . .

Elle Zoellner is a foster kid who, on her 16th birthday, finds out her father owns a hotel in Japan. Her father wants her to come live with him. When she arrives to Japan, she excited for her new life but finds out it doesn't live up to what it's supposed to. Her grandmother doesn’t accept her. Will Elle's life become better? This book was a 10 out of 10 in my opinion. I got to learn about Japanese culture through this novel. The author definitely put detail and thought throughout the whole book. I would recommend this novel to people who love the Japanese culture.

The main character, Waka, is a straight-A student from Kansas who is sent to Tokyo for five months to focus on her Kanji, when her parents suspect she can’t read nor write basic Japanese. She is forced to live with her strict grandmother, and has to say goodbye to her friends for the summer. While she’s in Japan, Waka gets made fun of by her classmates and struggles to make true friends.