i'm surprised that Kobo Abe did not make this list. The Box Man and Woman in the Dunes are life changers. Also, Yoko Tawada, extremely significant contemporary writer
I got into Japanese litterature with Mishima's SPRING SNOW, then I read Yasunari Kawabata, Minato, Yoshimoto, Miyabe, Yamada, Eiji Yoshikawa but now I am on a Murakami binge. I have many more to read and I am surely going to look into Soseki.
The first one I read was Mishima and he really got me into japanese literature, I love Spring Snow most. Then I got to know Soseki, Dazai, Akutagawa, all interesting, but I loooved Yasunari Kawabata the most. Thousand Cranes, absolute masterpiece.
my top 5 japanese translation novels as of now are - Kafka on the shore, Norwegian wood, Before the coffee gets cold, No longer human, after dark. Looking forward to read more of mishima's works
I've read pretty much everything by Soseki, and love his writing. A couple by Mishima, several by Tanizaki and Kowabata. Artist of the Floating World is one of my favourite books. Recently read Shipwrecks by Akira Yoshimoto, which is an extraordinary book. Strange Weather in Tokyo (Hiromi Kawakami) is short, light, but perfectly formed. About half way through Musashi ( Eiji Yoshikawa) but having a break from all the bloodshed. Currenty in Revolutionary Russia with Dr Zhivago, but will keep returning to Japan agai and again.
I am surprised that you consider Yukio Mishima to be an unknown author outside Japan! How can a three-time nominee for the Nobel Prize in literature be an unknown? After his death, his photo appeared on the front cover of Newsweek!
Fair point. I’ve made several videos on lady Murasaki’s the tale of Genji. Also in my top 10 Japanese novels I talked about Ogawa and Murata. Any female authors you had in mind? Please suggest I’ll include my future videos.
@@Fiction_Beast Writers often have to be solitary for long periods, but solitary doesn’t necessarily mean lonely. Loneliness can be felt in a crowd. Not all novelists are lonely. Of course there can be emotional, mental, even spiritual issues that make a person despair. So sad.
Great novelists are like coal miners who dive deep to fetch psychological insights. While beautiful for us to read, it does take a toll on the writers. As is precarious for the miners who die at a far greater rate than an office worker.
I was waiting for Osamu Dazai.... But I love all of them too especially murasaki shikibo
Yes I think Dazai deserves to be on the list. His novel no longer human is one of my favorite Japanese novels. Thank you for watching my video.
i'm surprised that Kobo Abe did not make this list. The Box Man and Woman in the Dunes are life changers. Also, Yoko Tawada, extremely significant contemporary writer
Oh yes, I can second Tawada Yoko!
I got into Japanese litterature with Mishima's SPRING SNOW, then I read Yasunari Kawabata, Minato, Yoshimoto, Miyabe, Yamada, Eiji Yoshikawa but now I am on a Murakami binge. I have many more to read and I am surely going to look into Soseki.
The first one I read was Mishima and he really got me into japanese literature, I love Spring Snow most. Then I got to know Soseki, Dazai, Akutagawa, all interesting, but I loooved Yasunari Kawabata the most. Thousand Cranes, absolute masterpiece.
Yes, Kawabata is my favourite Japanese author, also the most Japanese among them.
I'm sad to say I've never read any books by these authors! What interesting backgrounds these authors have too. Thank you for these recommendations :)
I didn't get the Edgar Allan Poe, what an interesting idea for a name!
There is still time.
It’s not easy to see.
my top 5 japanese translation novels as of now are - Kafka on the shore, Norwegian wood, Before the coffee gets cold, No longer human, after dark.
Looking forward to read more of mishima's works
I'm only familiar with Ishiguro, but I'd like to mention Kobo Abe here too) his books are really surprising 🙉 thanks for the video)
I read the woman in the dunes by kobo Abe. It’s an amazing book.
Ishigura is English
Edgar Allan Poe! I got that
Great vedio 🌺
also this channel is criminally underrated
Wow, thank you!
What about Sei Shonagon? Her Pillow Book is strikingly modern and even reminds me a bit of Proust, although it’s relatively brief.😉
I've read pretty much everything by Soseki, and love his writing. A couple by Mishima, several by Tanizaki and Kowabata. Artist of the Floating World is one of my favourite books. Recently read Shipwrecks by Akira Yoshimoto, which is an extraordinary book. Strange Weather in Tokyo (Hiromi Kawakami) is short, light, but perfectly formed. About half way through Musashi ( Eiji Yoshikawa) but having a break from all the bloodshed. Currenty in Revolutionary Russia with Dr Zhivago, but will keep returning to Japan agai and again.
Yukio Mishima has to be my favourite Japanese author
He was unique!
The only one I've read is Soseki. I just finished Sanshiro. I'm going to check out the others too.
I am surprised that you consider Yukio Mishima to be an unknown author outside Japan! How can a three-time nominee for the Nobel Prize in literature be an unknown? After his death, his photo appeared on the front cover of Newsweek!
I guess I meant in the shadow of Murakami and Nobel prize winners. He was famous in the 70s and 80s.
because you're familiar with Japanese literature, I'll ask you this- have you read any manga? what do you think about them?
Actually no.
If you're over 12 years old you need to graduate from manga to proper books
@@thadtuiol1717 please elaborate
I just wonder how and why most of the amazing japanese writers committed suicide?it's so saddening right?
I really think ryūkishi is great
Never heard that name, but will check out.
Ryukishi? You mean the creator of higurashi and umineko?
Edgar Allan Poe ofcourse!!!
Edgar Allan Poe 5:59
Ishiguro is English.
Women Japanese authors?
Fair point. I’ve made several videos on lady Murasaki’s the tale of Genji. Also in my top 10 Japanese novels I talked about Ogawa and Murata.
Any female authors you had in mind? Please suggest I’ll include my future videos.
Banana Yoshimoto
@@Fiction_Beast I enjoyed breasts and eggs. and the convinince store.
Why have so many Japanese authors committed suicide?
It’s a lonely job!
@@Fiction_Beast Writers often have to be solitary for long periods, but solitary doesn’t necessarily mean lonely. Loneliness can be felt in a crowd. Not all novelists are lonely. Of course there can be emotional, mental, even spiritual issues that make a person despair. So sad.
Great novelists are like coal miners who dive deep to fetch psychological insights. While beautiful for us to read, it does take a toll on the writers. As is precarious for the miners who die at a far greater rate than an office worker.
みしま