Good Japanese Books/Authors?

[B Gallagher]

Hey everyone,
I'm just wondering if anyone can recommend any good Japanese authors/books? I'm not really interested in the old Mishima/Kawabata/Tanazaki era style of books, moreso the more recent stuff, Murakami Haruki etc... (actually he's the only modern Japanese author I really know that well!).

Any suggestions would be appreciated - thanks.

[gkanai]

Yoshimoto Banana

[Akito]

Haruki Murakami. Hard to decide which book though. The first Murakami book I read was the Wind Up Bird Chronicle but it's quite long. The Elephant Vanishes or After the Quake are quite good short story collections if you don't have much free time on your hands.

[Kurofune]

It isn't up to the minute, but Sakyo Komatsu's Japan Sinks (in Japanese, Nihon chimbotsu) is relatively modern and a fantastic read. The only English translation I've seen is abridged, but it's a full, satisfying story that analyzes Japan on many levels. It was also made into a movie.

[Charles]

What are you looking for, books in Japanese or in English translation?

"Snakes and Earrings" by Hitomi Kanehara won the 2004 Akutagawa Prize, it was just translated into English. I think I'm going to try to find a Japanese copy first, I need a new book project, I'm getting rusty at reading.

Warning: this book is said to contain lots of sex both hetero and lesbian, and the author is a total hottie (if that doesn't pique your interest, nothing will).

Edit: Now I remember how I heard about the newly translated version: thanks to Mulboyne. Another thread discussing Kanehara and Risa Wataya might be of interest. Too bad the pic link is busted, they are both hotties.

[Akito]

I forgot to mention Natsuo Kirino as well. She writes suspense novels but I think Out was the only one to make it into English. It was made into a drama series in Japan as well but I haven't watched it though. Good book btw.

[AssKissinger]

I loved Battle Royale, the book not the movie

[Akito]

How is the book different to the movie?

[Andocrates]

How is the book different to the movie?

Iin the same way Lord of the rings was better then the movies of the same name. More back-story, more charector development (and more characters). The book could trudge along chapter after chapter in hopelessness as Frodo and Samwise approached the . . . evil lair. (I forgot the name)

[Mulboyne]

Kenji Nakagami is excellent although his career was short and English translations are limited. I recently read Saiichi Maruya's "Singular Rebellion" and "A Mature Woman" which were both very enjoyable. If you like crime books then Miyuki Miyabe is currently being translated to English. "All She was Worth" is the best so far in that list. Kenzo Kitaka's Ashes is a modern classic.
I know you don't favour Tanizaki but I would still read "The Makioka Sisters". Also dig out Morio Kita's "House of Nire".
Vertical Inc have a useful range of new novelists in translation but their prices are high since they tend to emphasize cover design and likely have smallish print-runs. They have also started a feature on their blog called "Finger in the Throat Book Report" which looks at bad books on Japan/Asia. The guys at JapanReview.net tend to ask their interviewees for their favourite stinkers too.

[B Gallagher]

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone.

Mulboyne, it's nothing personal against Tanizaki et al, I just had to read one of his books in the most boring Japanese Literature class with the worse teacher ever. ichigo_partygirl'll back me up on this.. man that class sucked.

So, hopefully somewhat understandably, that's put me off Tanizaki and a few others for a while. Hopefully not for good, but at least for a couple of years.

[Buraku]

Try this fucked book

Dogs and Demons: Tales from the Dark Side of Modern Japan

Alex Kerr

[Big Booger]

Nip the Buds Shoot the Kids -- Kenzaburo Oe

Great book.