Do you like Japanese literature? I’ve recently been diving into the classics and have read:
No Longer Human – Osamu Dazai
The Human Chair – Edogawa Ranpo
Confessions of a Mask – Yukio Mishima
I read them in English, as my Japanese is still at an absolute beginner level.
I absolutely loved Dazai and Ranpo, but I didn't enjoy Mishima quite as much. Based on that, what is your favorite Japanese book? What would you recommend I read next?
I've read about Silence by Shuusaku Endou, though I haven't read it itself yet. Definitely not everyone's kind of thing, but as far as Japanese classics go it's the one I know the best.
Some others I know the names of but nothing more...
君はどう生きるか ("How do you live?"), don't know the author name
A Night on the Galactic Railroad, by Kenji Miyazawa
These last two I really only know about because of the anime related to them, I know barely anything about the novels themselves.
These all definitely won't be in everyone's areas of interest, but maybe you'll find at least one of them interesting.
Lunacy of Duke Venomania, Evil Food Eater Conchita, Gift From the Princess who Brought Sleep, Fifth Pierrot, Tailor of Enbizaka, Judgement of Corruption, Muzzle of Nemesis, and Master of the Hellish Yard, there's 4 more for the Pride Arc but I forgot their names
They are AMAZING although I do have to give a few content warnings for cannibalism, murder, and uh inc3st (also the entirey of Lunacy of Duke Venomania, the sin for that one is Lust, it doesnt go into detail though)
I havent read them all yet (I know the plot from the songs they are based on) and so far Lunacy of Duke Venomania and Evil Food Eater Conchita are my favorites
Last year I read "ハチ公物語 - 待ちつづけた犬" by 岩貞るみこ. It is a great book about the famous dog Hachiko and it was actually quite easy to read for me being at N4 level.
In English I read "64" by Hideo Yokoyama, a police story about an old murder case with intriques and internal disputes. I found it an interesting glimpse into the way the Japanese police works (considering that it's still a fictional story). A long but enjoyable read.
(also the entirey of Lunacy of Duke Venomania, the sin for that one is Lust, it doesnt go into detail though)
