/lit/ - Literature

[Anonymous No.15606622]

What are the best works of Japanese literature?

[Anonymous No.15606648]

Manga

[Anonymous No.15606673]

>>15606622
So far I've only read In Praise of Shadows and The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea, enjoyed both tremendously, though probably like the Mishima more. Want to get into Akutagawa and Soseki since they're both also meant to be good.

[Anonymous No.15606835]

>>15606622
Monogatari Series.

[Anonymous No.15606854]

Attack on Titan is a good critic of guilt, oppression, and genocide.

[Anonymous No.15607045]

Here we go, I'll do 20th century

Kenzaburo Oe - A Personal Matter
Yukio Mishima - Confessions of a Mask
Natsume Soseki- Kokoro; Botchan
(you could prob add John Nathan's translation of Light and Dark too)
Junichiro Tanizaki - Naomi
Fumiko Enchi - Masks (Mishima loved this one)
Kobo Abe - The Woman in the Dunes
Yasunari Kawabata - Snow Country
(Any of the translations by Edward G. Seidensticker are good, check em out)
Haruki Murakami - The Wind up Bird Chronicle (not a perfect novel by any means but probably Murakami's best)

Not an exhaustive list by any means but this will get you started. I'm personally not a Daizai fan but his "No Longer Human" is still widely read everywhere. I'd recommend a work by an American as well, Donald Richie's "The Inland Sea," outdated in many ways but a book about searching for the lost Japan.

Check out John Nathan's biographies of Natsume Soseki and Mishima as well as the writings of Donald Keene, and you'll have a pretty good foundation for modern Japanese literature. I also recommend "The Factory" by Hiroko Oyamada that New Directions put out last year, it sort of flew under the radar but it's great.

[Anonymous No.15607098]

>>15607045
Good list. I'd rec Sanshiro instead of Botchan because I felt the supposedly funny parts in Botchan didn't translate at all I think.

Also
Kenzaburo Oe - The Silent Cry / A Personal Matter

[Anonymous No.15608031]

>it's an OP asks for a list of books on x subject and doesn't come back episode
Every fucking time.

[Anonymous No.15608392]

>>15606835
Unironically this

Also:
Jinrui wa Suitai Shimashita
Most Natsume Soseki stuff
Some Murakami stuff

[Anonymous No.15608497]

>>15606622
All the best literature is untranslated so start learning Japanese

[Anonymous No.15608512]

>>15608031
What would you like to me say?

[Anonymous No.15608525]

moon and eel by le sepukku man

[Anonymous No.15608594]

>>15608497
Give me some untranslated stuff, I know that even the most well known writers have a lot of untranslated material and some have nearly nothing in English like Yumeno Kyusaku

[Anonymous No.15608595]

>>15607045
very good list

[Anonymous No.15608605]

>>15607045
>Kobo Abe - The Woman in the Dunes
Is this still worth reading if I've already seen the movie?

[Anonymous No.15608734]

>>15606622
Oreimo

[Anonymous No.15608834]

>>15607045
>Including Murakami, who doesn't write culturally Japanese works and is CIA funded to help give Japan a nonthreatening image in the literati world
>The reddit list of Japanese authors' works
>Not Sanshiro or Sorekara or another really great work along with Kokoro
>Confessions for Mishima when he has a couple of better works.
>and so on

Shit taste. Can't believe there are young people who think your list is accurate for best JP works.

[Anonymous No.15608846]

>>15606622
Ozamu Dazai - No longer Human

[Anonymous No.15608860]

>>15608834
>culturally japanese
lol spooked

[Anonymous No.15608870]

>>15608860
It's an effect of him being CIA funded. Some scifi writers don't write culturally JP works, but at least have no agenda behind his works.

[Anonymous No.15609085]

>>15608834
Lol Idk man I genuinely think Mishima never really outdid Confessions.
I hate Rubin's translation of Sanshiro so that's why it's not there.

I'd throw in as well:
Toddler Hunting by Taeko Kono
The Shooting Gallery by Yuko Tsushima
American Hijiki by Akiyuki Nosaka
The Man Who Turned Into a Stick, Three Plays by Kobo Abe
Teach Me Us to Outgrow Our Madness by Oe, the titular story is one of my favorite in literature.

Sorry I didn't suggest the Tanizaki novella with shit eating in it bro (captain shigemotos mother for the curious)

[Anonymous No.15609232]

reading Kokoro now, i really like it.

[Anonymous No.15609260]

>>15608512
Just come back, say anything. Please don't leave me. I just need to know you're here. It gives me anxiety knowing that we may never speak again.

[Anonymous No.15609267]

Tsurezuregusa, desu.

[Anonymous No.15609311]

Are there any good Japanese philosophers that you guys recommend reading?

>>15609260
I'm here, anon.

[Anonymous No.15609316]

>>15608834
>le unique opinions bait
What exactly triggered you so much about the list? The guy listed their better known works, and you can pick any other one and form your own opinion on which are the best. Maybe he thought of recs in terms of a broader appeal and accessibility. I've read almost a hundred books by Japanese authors and most of that list is alright.

There's a few charts for Japanese lit. There are hundreds of translated works.
Does /lit/ read so little they can't "afford" to read anything but """masterpieces""" and if they read some slightly forgettable book by one author, that author goes into the trash pile?

>>15609085
Looks interesting. I never heard of Kono or Nosaka. Tsushima is Dazai's daughter, isnh't she?

[Anonymous No.15609365]

>>15609311
Kyoto school

[Anonymous No.15609496]

>>15606854
>critic

[Anonymous No.15609523]

>>15609496
Yes.

[Anonymous No.15609626]

>>15608594
Jinrui wa Suitai Shimashita
Saenai Heroine no Sodatekata

[Anonymous No.15609641]

>>15609496
Yes.

[Anonymous No.15609794]

>>15609316
Because OP says 'best' you fucking idiot.

Not passable or merely good works. Not broad appeal, which worsens quality in our society. Not meme writers of YA like Memeakami. Best, nigga. Learn to read, and actually read Japanese lit deeply (and not chinese comic books) like you claim.

[Anonymous No.15609821]

>>15606854
isn't the ending basically "the jews did it"?

[Anonymous No.15609843]

>>15609316
Yeah I was just trying to give introductory stuff, just find a writer you like and then read their stuff. Like I love the Makioka Sisters but I don't think it's the best introduction to Tanizaki.

Tsushima is Daizai's daughter. She was only one when he committed suicide. She has some great writing and the translator who did all of her stuff is excellent.

I found out about Taeko Kono from New Directions reprinting her short story collection last year, she's a big fan of Tanizaki. You'll see the influence.

Nosaka is a pretty interesting character. There's a great Japanese new wave adaptation of his novel "The Pornographers" (can't speak to the novel itself, haven't read it).Surprisingly, everyone knows Nosaka's work: he wrote the original "Grave of the Fireflies" novella and received the Akutagawa for it along with "American Hijiki"
He's also a hilarious singer, wore a white suit and sunglasses: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYxh7zNKdlo

Since I'm adding more recs with each post,
The Lonesome Bodybuilder by Yukiko Motoya is another good short story collection, a bit more hit and miss than the other stuff I've recommended but still worth a read.

If you want older stuff, you can't go wrong with any of Donald Keene's translations, Essays in Idleness is a good place to start. The Seidensticker or Royall Tyler Genji translations are my personal favorites. I also recommend Ivan Morris's translation of The Pillow Book.

[Anonymous No.15609845]

>>15609794
The strong opinionated man is an asshole. Color me surprised.
>actually read Japanese lit deeply
Here's my Soseki collection btw.

[Anonymous No.15609884]

>>15609845
>here are spines of books i claim to have read, that's my rebuttal to my shitty reading comprehension and poor grasp on lit criticism.

[Anonymous No.15609896]

>>15609843
>retard thinks intro means best
You're stupid too

[Anonymous No.15609916]

>>15609843
Thanks for the recs. I usually just read older stuff. If I could recommend something to you, it would be A Dark Night's Passing (extremely Soseki-y) and Evening Clouds by Junzo Shono which was super comfy and wholesome. Different period and setting, but it reminded me of Turgenev's Huntsman's Sketches.

There's a few obscure Jap books on the ebooks thread >>15590170 btw.
Shiga Naoya is pretty underrated and there's another author I didn't know of (Riichi Yokomitsu) but I found it rather bland.

[Anonymous No.15609936]

>>15609845
Great stack, love those older editions. Have you read the John Nathan biography he put out a couple years ago?

[Anonymous No.15609946]

>>15609884
>shitty reading comprehension
Best is not an absolute and given the context of this board, and the lack of any discussion in the OP, I'd bet 5 bucks the guy was just looking
for Jap books to get into Japanese literature. I'd venture more because we get these threads every couple of days, but I'm poor.
>CIA spook
>"literary criticism"
Sure thing, champ.

[Anonymous No.15609993]

>>15609916
Thanks for the recs as well, I've got Evening Clouds on my shelf but haven't jumped into it yet. I'm excited for A Dark Night's Passing, it's translated by Edwin McClellan who did the masterful translations of Kokoro and Grass on the Wayside. It looks great

[Anonymous No.15610053]

>>15609946
Then list intro and actual best works. If you didn't consider that it might mislead them into a warped perspective of best, and not just good intros, you really are an idiot. You're like the subhumans who mention Fagles as the best English translation of Homer, when he's just a good intro.

[Anonymous No.15610144]

>>15610053
>If you didn't consider that it might mislead them into a warped perspective of best, and not just good intros
Your autism is showing, and it's ironic you described my reading comprehension as "shitty" when you missed the "not an exhaustive list" or "get you started" on the post you attacked (>>15607045) lmao.
You didn't shit on the guy mentioning some mangas, or a minor Mishima, or a fucking LN, but on the actual list of worth reading books.

Reminder that name calling, spewing some shallow observations and namedropping barely 2 books is neither literary discussion nor criticism.

[Anonymous No.15610218]

>>15610144
Fuck lit discussion when there are only retards around.

Not exhaustive can just mean it's not detailed. You can still mention their 1-2 best without being detailed.

[Anonymous No.15610247]

>>15607045
heyyyy this reads like its from a japlit syllabus in university

[Anonymous No.15610256]

>>15608605
yes, though the movie was great.

[Anonymous No.15610258]

>>15610218
>t. how to talk about books you haven't read: a 4chan reader edition

[Anonymous No.15610273]

>>15610258
I mentioned some of the actual best works from certain authors, views that are formed from actually reading them deeply, which no one else seems to have done, other than the guy who mentioned Makioka Sisters.

[Anonymous No.15610303]

>>15610273
Of course even that anon's taste is pretty shit, since he made that half assed best list in the first place

[Anonymous No.15610321]

>>15610273
>actually reading them deeply
Imagine being this delusional.
You barely mentioned 2 books by Soseki btw.

[Anonymous No.15610337]

>>15610303
Well it got one guy to start reading Kokoro so, better than nothing I guess. Could be better ofc, but whatever.

[Anonymous No.15610349]

>>15610321
Tell me why you don't think they're among his actual best (Kokoro's his best by a wide margin) and I'll tell you why you're wrong.

Not spoonfeeding you retards about the other authors unless another qualified dude comes in to help salvage this shithole of a thread.

[Anonymous No.15610386]

>>15607045
would like to add onto this

shusaku endo - when i whistle
junichiro tanizaki - the key (it's worth noting miller was friends with tanizaki, and loved this book)
yukio mishima - the temple of the golden pavillion
osamu dazai - setting sun; no longer human
haruki murakami - norwegian wood

i know that maybe these aren't considered "best works," but i think they're really enjoyable. i've found myself rereading a lot of these books, and i know a lot of my friends enjoyed them as well. if anyone could add to the list, that'd be great!

[Anonymous No.15610414]

>>15606622
Welcome to the NHK

[Anonymous No.15610428]

>>15606648
This. Read Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei.

[Anonymous No.15610533]

>>15610349
Congratulations. You've succeeded in making me engage a dumb aggressive faggot which I now regret it.

The guy with the "reddit list of books" listed Botchan and Kokoro. Given the context of this board, the "non exhaustive" and "get started" clues, I took he wanted to recommend one extra more light-hearted work by Soseki. I suggested he'd substitute Botchan for Sanshiro, which has the same bildungsroman quality to Botchan and doesn't try to be funny, which never translates too well.
It can be very easily inferred I did not contest Kokoro's worth (my favorite Japanese book btw) and that I hold Sanshiro somewhat high among Soseki's work.
I'm more likely to recommend Light and Darkness, Sorekara, Mon and Kojin because I like more serious books.

It's easier to attack a decent list than propose your own, exhaustive or non exhaustive. Proof enough is you barely mentioned 2 books, while making several attacks on the listed books.
Now, regarding those 2 (TWO) meager books you listed, I never claimed they were not good or that some might call them his best. Why do you assume I'm attacking you in the same retarded way you did? Kindly point out where you got that impression.
You did namedrop 2 books while having the nerve of calling other people retards, mentioning literary criticism and some dumb observations on the authors. However, so far you've done literally nothing to substantiate your claim. In short, you didn't discuss anything.

>not spoonfeeding when the OP asked
Why do I get the feeling you're an angsty /a/utist who can't escape his dumb elitist ways?

[Anonymous No.15610575]

>>15610533
>You did namedrop 2 books while having the nerve of calling other people retards, mentioning literary criticism and some dumb observations on the authors. However, so far you've done literally nothing to substantiate your claim. In short, you didn't discuss anything.
I'm sorry, and I do sincerely feel sorry, but I'm laughing that you took my idiotic baits so seriously. I should shitpost less, because you could salvage this thread without wasting time on me. Just move on and don't mind me. Build a better list to save this waste of a board.

[Anonymous No.15610632]

I can still prove I've actually read the big 20 JP authors and then some, but link me to a discord DM where there won't be /pol/ and /a/ who really suck.

[Anonymous No.15610638]

>>15606648
>>15610428
Can I get some unironic manga suggestions?

[Anonymous No.15610680]

>>15610575

[Anonymous No.15610690]

>>15610680
Link a discord and I'll do it

[Anonymous No.15610711]

>>15610638
>Fire Punch
Nah but for realsies what kinda books do you like.

[Anonymous No.15611077]

Cloud of Sparrows is a really tremendous book.
It's about how the West first started to properly interact with Japan in the 1800s, with good historical accuracy, told through a fiction between missionaries and a minor Japanese lord.

I very much liked how he switches between western and Japanese characters throughout, showing you the very different psychology of the two cultures at the time. There's similar situations in a certain movies where a culture clash is displayed, it's a fairly common theme, but in movies it tends to be a very visual experience and it doesn't get too deeply concerned with minutiae or psychology. Modern Japan is seen nearly the same way, you can see the chopsticks and sushi, the bowing, the paper doors etc, but you don't get a penetrating insight past the dazzle, and you can't really get a sense of just how very different they really are. In this book it digs deep into this, and for maximum it does it from the cool past period when they were still using samurai swords.
Reading it felt like finally getting the real scoop on Japan, the behind the scenes information, sort of like the DVD directors commentary on the whole country.
The author is a Japanese American who lives in Hawaii. It feels like he knows America well enough to have a revolver carrying old west guy turned missionary written the way a Californian would write him, but then he understands that classic peak Japan aesthetic also, but then thirdly he also he understands exactly how to convert it for your brain to understand because he has both halves, and he gets why you find in interesting or confusing, and he's like 'It's actually even more interesting that you suspected, here's all the stuff you wanted explained that whole time, but also all this other stuff you had no idea about that I know you should be seeing, and it's also explained in a non weeb way so it isn't faggy and you learn things, but actually also the weeb way after all, because swords are cool, so are revolvers and ship cannons.' It's like a Japanese guy made his own version of 'The Last Samurai' that's 10 times better that has a minor Japanese lord as the main character. There's a strong tribute to the west from the author, as well as the explanation of Japan element.
Also there's a sequel novel, Autumn Bridge, that is of the exact same quality of the first one and feels like an extension of the first book.

[Anonymous No.15611124]

>>15611077
Excellent. This is one of the best historical japanese works of its type so you won't see me bitching about it like I did with the others.

[Anonymous No.15611155]

>>15611077
Isn't he American born though?

[Anonymous No.15611163]

>>15611155
Yes, that's partly why it's so good. He knows exactly how to present it all for the western mind.

[Anonymous No.15611420]

>>15609821
More so subversion from their royals to believe they were the remnants of humanity. Though they were outcasts from a society that hated them because for centuries they were in power due to their monopoly on godlike powers. Basically the general my cycle of hatred story.

[Anonymous No.15611438]

>>15610711
Philosophical ones.

[Anonymous No.15611661]

Steel Ball Run

[Anonymous No.15611670]

>>15611438
Koko Wa Ima Kara Rinri Desu

[Anonymous No.15611714]

>>15606622
For classics the only things worth reading are The Tale of Genji and The Tale of Heike. Both are examples of the only two things the japs care about, sex and war.

For modern I would recommend Kenzaburo Oe, he writes complex and gritty novels that deal with the darker aspects of Japanese society that japs don't like to talk or think about. Japs don't like Oe generally and they were upset when he won the Nobel Literature prize

Murakami is supposed to be really good but I've only read 1 of his books so I can't recommend him.

[Anonymous No.15611751]

>>15611714
>For classics the only things worth reading are The Tale of Genji and The Tale of Heike. Both are examples of the only two things the japs care about, sex and war.
Lol, absolutely based opinion.

>>15611714
They actually hold Oe in high esteem and his son's achievements have won broad acclaim and sold well.

[Anonymous No.15611820]

>>15611751
Weird. My professor who focused on Japanese Literature told us that they don't like his work. But I'm only hearing this second hand so I can't say for certain which is true.

[Anonymous No.15611844]

These are the best works of Japanese literature in no particular order. If you think the writing is bad its because you don't speak Japanese. In the original language the prose holds a candle to the likes of Anna Karenina and Paradise Lost.

Felix, I know you're in this thread. Let me send you my novel.

[Anonymous No.15611851]

>>15611714
>Japs don't like Oe generally and they were upset when he won the Nobel Literature prize

Wtf I like Oe now

[Anonymous No.15611862]

>>15611844
>If you think the writing is bad its because you don't speak Japanese. In the original language the prose holds a candle to the likes of Anna Karenina and Paradise Lost.

I know this is bait, but I've ran into too many weebs who unironically believe this. The thing is though, I read Japanese myself and whenever I challenge them on their ridiculous claims they grasp at any sort of straws to defend their retarded stance.

[Anonymous No.15611869]

Manyoushu

[Anonymous No.15611887]

>>15611844
>>15611862

[Anonymous No.15612132]

Never read Murakami
the nigga writes YA novels for man/womanchilds
don't fall for the Haruki meme

[Anonymous No.15612153]

>>15611887
Lol I remember all the debates happening over Dies Irae. It was literally the VN that weebs lorded over Japanese illiterate weebs for the longest time. Then it got translated and they could no longer use the language barrier to justify it.

The thing is, for what it is (Chuuni/YA tier) its actually fairly good. Better then Fate/Stay Night, Tsukihime or any other Chuuni. But to claim its anything more then that is delusional.

[Anonymous No.15612216]

>>15612153
What is the lit value of Umineko comparable to?

[Anonymous No.15612748]

>>15612216
>>15611844
I wish you people would stop.

[Anonymous No.15613225]

>>15611844
Based.

[Anonymous No.15613274]

>>15606622
The pillow book
Murasaki Shikibu's works
Dazai

[Anonymous No.15613297]

>>15606835
I've read Kubishime Romanticist, and compared to that what I've seen of the Monogatari Series seems kinda lazy.

[Anonymous No.15613301]

>>15612216
Umineko is unironically good, picrelated is a good post about it I read on another thread from here a couple weeks ago.

The issue with Umineko is that it can drag a bit and the prose isn't very good (in either Japanese or English). But the characters are fleshed out very well, and the themes/concepts the VN focuses on are very well executed. Furthermore, while slow at times, it always builds up to something quite satisfying.

[Anonymous No.15613329]

>>15613301
How long does it take to go through?

[Anonymous No.15613341]

Hiromi Kawakami is the comfiest author I've ever read. Strange Weather in Tokyo is her most popular but Manazuru is a lot deeper

[Anonymous No.15613364]

>>15608834
>is CIA funded to help give Japan a nonthreatening image in the literati world
Source for this schizoshit?

[Anonymous No.15614259]

>>15606622
I'm reading Musashi by Yoshikawa Eiji and its pretty good, it reminds me a lot of Water Margin, which I also really liked

[Anonymous No.15614324]

>>15613301
That pic is just as cringey as the one about Dies Irae.

[Anonymous No.15614329]

>>15612153
>Lol I remember all the debates happening over Dies Irae. It was literally the VN that weebs lorded over Japanese illiterate weebs for the longest time. Then it got translated and they could no longer use the language barrier to justify it.
Next on the chopping block is Muramasa. I really liked Hanachirasu (by the same writer), though, so maybe it will live up to the hype at least a little.

[Anonymous No.15614357]

>>15614324
How is it cringey?

[Anonymous No.15614393]

>>15607045
lol, how you put Murakami apologetically at last place because you know everyone here pretends to hate him

[Anonymous No.15614418]

>>15614393
>pretends

[Anonymous No.15614432]

>>15611661
Magnanimous setting, could've been better in delivery.
Idk, to manga I'd rec the basic bitch ones that are a cut above the rest:
Blame!, Biomega - Tsutomu Nihei
Innocent, Innocent Rouge - Shinichi Sakamoto
Vagabond - Takehiko Inoue
Melancholia - Dowman Sayman
Anything by Tsuruta Kenji (I'd start with Forget-me-not)
Ashita no Joe - Ikki Kajiwara
Planetes - Yukimura Makoto
Bokkou - Mori Hideki

For something a bit more lighthearted:
Shoujo Shuumatsu Ryokou - Tsukumizu
The Fable - Minami Katsuhisa

[Anonymous No.15614437]

>>15606854
Just read the original: Muv-Luv Alternative.

[Anonymous No.15614445]

>>15614432
Forgot to say that I'd appreciate some /lit/kino recs too. Lately I've been reading romcoms...

[Anonymous No.15614459]

>>15614445
>Lately I've been reading romcoms...

[Anonymous No.15614474]

>>15606622

[Anonymous No.15614478]

>>15614459
I know, but it's something to read during my downtime or a bit before sleeping when I'm not reading something else. I recommend Bonnouji.

[Anonymous No.15615446]

>>15610638
Shigurui
Oyasumi Punpun

[Anonymous No.15615593]

>>15607045
>Seidensticker
>good

[Anonymous No.15615634]

>>15607045
I'd also add Ryunosuke Akutagawa - Rashomon and 17 Other Stories is good collection that contains most his best work.

[Anonymous No.15615640]

>>15607045
This reads like an MA in Japanese curriculum

[Anonymous No.15615644]

>>15615593
Yes.

[Anonymous No.15617002]

>>15611887
God I fucking hate kastel. Nowadays he just rants about trannies and BLM, but this pic is a good reminder he was always an insufferable cunt.

[Anonymous No.15617476]

>>15609626
please go back to /a/

[Anonymous No.15617504]

>>15610386
I read Silence by Endo for a course at uni and quite liked it. May have to give his other books a shot.

[Anonymous No.15617792]

>>15606622
Oreimo

[Anonymous No.15617853]

>>15613329
Like 100 to 150 hours (probably closer to 150 if you are a slower reader and sub-vocalize like me). I started reading it during this corona-shut down because I finally had the time to lol

[Anonymous No.15618109]

>>15617476
There's nothing wrong with /a/.

[Anonymous No.15618117]

>>15606622
Edogawa Ranpo

[Anonymous No.15618183]

>>15610638
Here's a list I wrote up for another anon last week:

Alexandros by Yasuhiko Yoshikazu (check out his other stuff too)
Japan Tengu Party Illustrated by Kuroda Iou
National Quiz by Sugimoto Reiichi
Onward Towards Our Noble Deaths by Mizuki Shigeru
Soil by Kaneko Atsushi
GoGo Monster by Matsumoto Taiyou (check out his other stuff too)
Ultra Heaven by Koike Keiichi

None of them fall for the usual "anime" tropes.

[Anonymous No.15618226]

>>15618183
Thanks, any one in particular that you recommend or should I just pick one that sounds interesting to me?

[Anonymous No.15618435]

>>15618226
They're pretty different, I'd say look them all up and read whichever seems most interesting to you.

[Anonymous No.15619922]

Snow Country

[Anonymous No.15619940]

>>15606622
The Sea of Fertility