Best Book(s)?

George L. · Jan 11, 2004, 01:22

I am looking for a recommendation for several books...one book for Japanese history, one book for Japanese culture, and one book that is just a really good (maybe famous) Japanese book...the only stipulation for all of this is that it needs to be in english as I can't read Japanese (yet!). If possible I would like the history & culture books to be interesting as possible and not just a regurgitation of facts, names and dates...I tried to read a Japanese history book before and I couldn't get past the first chapter w/o almost falling asleep.

Thanks guys!

GookanGohan · Jan 13, 2004, 11:38

I recomend reading "Musashi" by "Eiji Yoshikawa" It contains Japanese History, culture and it kicks ***! I'st extremely famous and popular in Japan. Everyone in Japan knows about Musashi's story, and it was based on a real person too.

It's ACTION PACKED ^o^

mad pierrot · Jan 13, 2004, 17:06

As far as I know, Kokoro is a pretty famous book here. It's a bit depressing, but I liked it. It's by Natsume Soseki, who also appears on 1,000 yen notes.

axia · Jan 19, 2004, 13:28

i've read kokoro too! its a great book written in early 20th century. very poetic and beautiful. yah.. and kinda sad and lonely.
other famous classic writers includes yasunari kawabata who won a noble prize for literature and junichiro tanizaki who wrote more kinky stories. if you are into classical writers, can find out more about them.

but if you are looking for something more contemporary, try ryu murakami's 'coin locker babies'. powerful and wicked. violent, but i think it reflects also partly the psychic of japanese city people and how the negative effects of modern society, or at least what murakami thinks. that's another depressing story you have there.

Jan 11, 2004, 01:22	#1
George L. Regular Member Join Date: Jan 9, 2004 Age: 25 Posts: 52	Best Book(s)? I am looking for a recommendation for several books...one book for Japanese history, one book for Japanese culture, and one book that is just a really good (maybe famous) Japanese book...the only stipulation for all of this is that it needs to be in english as I can't read Japanese (yet!). If possible I would like the history & culture books to be interesting as possible and not just a regurgitation of facts, names and dates...I tried to read a Japanese history book before and I couldn't get past the first chapter w/o almost falling asleep. Thanks guys!

Jan 13, 2004, 11:38	#2
GookanGohan 新居様くんのガルフレンド Join Date: Jan 5, 2004 Location: Spanish/Cuban/Uruguayen Age: 22 Posts: 80	I recomend reading "Musashi" by "Eiji Yoshikawa" It contains Japanese History, culture and it kicks ***! I'st extremely famous and popular in Japan. Everyone in Japan knows about Musashi's story, and it was based on a real person too. It's ACTION PACKED ^o^ __________________ 「♪あんなこといいな。できたらいいな」「♪あんな夢こんな夢いっぱいあるけど～♪」私は...いつも、希望がある

Jan 13, 2004, 17:06	#3
mad pierrot I jump to conclusions Join Date: Nov 22, 2003 Location: The world via Chi-town Age: 28 Posts: 1,333	Kokoro!! As far as I know, Kokoro is a pretty famous book here. It's a bit depressing, but I liked it. It's by Natsume Soseki, who also appears on 1,000 yen notes.

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Jan 19, 2004, 13:28	#4
axia Junior Member Join Date: Jan 19, 2004 Location: singapore Age: 28 Posts: 7	i've read kokoro too! its a great book written in early 20th century. very poetic and beautiful. yah.. and kinda sad and lonely. other famous classic writers includes yasunari kawabata who won a noble prize for literature and junichiro tanizaki who wrote more kinky stories. if you are into classical writers, can find out more about them. but if you are looking for something more contemporary, try ryu murakami's 'coin locker babies'. powerful and wicked. violent, but i think it reflects also partly the psychic of japanese city people and how the negative effects of modern society, or at least what murakami thinks. that's another depressing story you have there.