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May 05, 2026
 

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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
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.
CULTURE / Books
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.
CULTURE / Books
¡®What am I, a Deer?¡¯ searches to understand the self and others
Japanese-to-English translator Polly Barton has published nonfiction before. "What am I, a Deer?" is her debut novel.
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
By Steve John Powell and Angeles Marin Cabello
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
By Zoria Petkoska
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
By Aleksandra Priimak
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.
Amy Yee poses for a photo in Lalibela, Ethiopia. An award-winning journalist and former foreign correspondent for the Financial Times, Yee shifted her focus to the issue of Tibetans in exile for her book, ¡°Far From the Rooftop of the World: Travels Among Tibetan Refugees on Four Continents.¡±
CULTURE / Books / Longform
Mar 31, 2026
The voices of Tibet, far from home
By Michael Judge
A conversation with author Amy Yee on exile, identity and the lives of Tibetan refugees across continents.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Books
Mar 23, 2026
¡®Alone in Japan¡¯ travels towns in decline and talks to the people left
By Tim Hornyak
While 91²Ö¿â depopulation is a much discussed issue, Tom Feiling's book "Alone in Japan" tackles the topic face to face as he travels to remote parts of Japan.
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
By Mike Fu
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.
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
By Thu-Huong Ha
Mieko Kawakami¡¯s noir-y novel follows a group of powerless young women working in Tokyo¡¯s 1990s nightlife.

Water shortages hit tourist spots in Japan during Golden Week
A hot spring facility in the city of Tomioka, Gunma Prefecture, has suspended the operation of its open-air baths since March.
What is the hantavirus that killed three cruise ship passengers?
The cruise ship MV Hondius floats off the port of Praia, the capital of Cape Verde, on Sunday.
China's rare defiance of U.S. sanctions sparks showdown over banks
A Chinese flag flutters in front of the Shanghai Gaoqiao Company Refinery in Shanghai.
Article 9 in focus as Takaichi pushes for revision of Constitution
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi gives a speech in Hanoi on Saturday.
As Iran war sends oil prices soaring, some see fresh potential for solar in Japan
An agrivoltaic crop, in which solar panels are raised about 3 meters off the ground so that agricultural machinery can freely operate on the crops underneath, in Sosa, Chiba Prefecture.
Fujisawa flashpoint: A mosque project stokes nativist fears
Muslims pray at Tokyo Camii in the Yoyogi-Uehara neighborhood. Though Muslims account for only 0.3% of Japan¡¯s population, rhetoric in online spaces and by conservative politicians has fomented social tensions.
No longer shushed: Japan¡¯s cultural venues make room for children
In 2019, Saitama Arts Theater started permitting children under 3 to some of its shows. Previously, children under 4 were not permitted.
New head chef at Maz explores Peruvian food through a Japanese lens
Since taking over Maz last month, chef Yuya Nakamura has been gradually introducing more Japanese influences to the restaurant's innovative Peruvian cuisine.
For tourists in Japan¡¯s outdoor sports scene, safety is not guaranteed
Each winter, countless tourists flock to Japan's famous snow-covered mountains, but a lack of top-down regulation on the country's outdoor sports industry can make certain activities unnecessarily risky.
¡®Sashiko¡¯ needlework artisan says craft is about 'the stories behind the stitching'
Traditional Japanese needlework has exploded in popularity, but a book from a third-generation artisan aims to bring more context to the craft's newfound popularity.

Podcast

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

Longform

Projects like the BuddhaBot aim to re-create dialogue once lost to time, raising questions about whether AI can extend the teachings of Buddha or merely simulate them.
Can AI replace a priest? Japan¡¯s temples and shrines are testing the limits.
By Alex K.T. Martin

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