Japanese fiction
 

We all watch the anime and read the manga, but have you ever read any Japanese fiction translated from Japanese?

I just read a sort-of middle-aged love story that was very sad and moving. It is titled Translucent Tree and is probably not directed at most JF readers, but my next one will be Maid Machinegun about an aspiring maid cafe worker.

Anyway, have you tried any novels, light novels or non-fiction translated from Japanese.

Haruki Murakami-the Wind Up Bird Chronicles. Very brutal but so damn good. I must read all his novels!!

I just finished one of his works too! After the Quake. I really like his style.:)

I like Haruki Murakami a lot, too. I think "After the Quake" was the first book of his I read.

If you like things a little darker, try Ryo Murakami (same last name, but no relation).

I've never read any Japanese fiction stories outside of manga since those are more vast, seemingly, than light novels. Any recommendations of some that's maybe fantasy based that does have an English translation?

"The Guin Saga" is awesome. I like the fiction novels better than the manga, really (they are unreleted in terms of story) and the Guin Saga just started coming out on paperback.

If I'm not mistaken, there was another topic about novels. I've been pretty interested, but as I mentioned, just never come across any. I only know of an anime-based novel (Digimon Adventure) and I like that way more than what the anime and manga put out for it. Too bad the only way I can read it, is if someone translates it, and the person who was doing so, has become so busy with real-life stuff that she hasn't updated it in months. It has to be extremely time-consuming.

That aside, I'll look for Guin Saga. Thanks for the suggestion.

I think the other topic was just about light novels, but here I wanted to include plain Japanese (non-manga related) fiction, too.

Crimson Labryinth is a pretty cool book about a sort of "Battle Royale" Survivor game . I enjoyed that one a lot.

now that I think of it... I dont think i have, except for short stories in some japanese textbooks
oh and the time I attempted to read フランダーズの犬 :D

I just started reading "Maid Machinegun" tonight.

I bet a lot of JF'ers will like this one...

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

Do you mean romantic like Samurai and Geisha type stuff or romantic like love type of stuff?

'love type stuff'. or even just warm hearted stories
i

Sorry, I'm stoic and cerebral and stuff all my emotions under my gut.

I just read Translucent Tree. Here are my thoughts on it.

Mecha Mecha Media: Romance Done Real

It is not comedy in any sense of the word, but is a love story, in it's own way.

As far as comedy, I liked In the Pool by Hideo Okuda. It's an episodic novel about a very un-doctor-like doctor.

thanks ill check them out

Do you know what the word "fiction" means?

No because thats impossible :confused: when you translate stuff its usually into another language :D

I fixed it.

aahh,
I wish I could but I don't know where I should find japanese fiction translated into Netherlands. And in english or in french is maybe a bit hard though I do have to read English and Frech lecture in class. I know! Why don't they give us an english japanese novel in class :D

hahaha interesting theory

Go to Kinokuniya book sellers on the internet, they sell English translations of Japanese books of all kinds - Manga, fiction, history, politics, etc.

I am sure there is Kinokuniya in Europe somewhere. I can't imagine they don't ship...

I haven't read any j-fiction but I think it would be a cool experience.

You really should. What kinds of fiction do you enjoy?