I read everything but corny fantasy-themed stories.

Does Visual novel games count? 　エロゲーは文学なんだよ～～例えば,Clannad, Little Busters, 遥かに仰ぎ麗しの
If count, then I have read a lot :)

I am thinking just words on a page...so I will leave that choice to you.

I am guessing you might like Vampire Hunter D. It is dark and very well written.

I enjoyed Abe Kobo, especially "Tanin no Kao" and Eiji Yoshikawa. Of course I read Musashi first, but my wife gave me "Taiko" and that was fantastic. The first couple of pages spellbinding.

Abe Kobo is one of my favorites. He writes from a completely different reality. I also like Ryu Murakami (Coin Locker Babies, Piercing) who is very dark and also Haruki Murakami (unrelated) whose books remind more than a little of Abe Kobo.

I more recently read "The broken map" or "missing Map" something like that about the private detective. Hard to follow. He's great at showing human relationships. Are the Murakami's more recent?

I also read "I am a Cat." But all the meaning and word play are missing when translated, so it seemed a waste of time unless read in Japanese.

Yes, both Ryu Murakami and Haruki Murakami are modern fiction writers, and both have at least a half-dozen titles translated into English.

Amazon.com: Ryu Murakami: Books

Amazon.com: Haruki Murakami: Books

For slightly lighter fare, Natsuo Kirino is good for crime with a hint of other-worldliness.

Amazon.com: Natsuo Kirino: Books

Vertical Inc is the go-to high-end Japanese fiction and manga publisher

VERTICAL

i see a lot of titles, but how about descriptions?
any 'happy' romantic ones? or romantic/comedy?

thank you