Best Japanese Books (774 books)

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(Note: if the author is not Japanese, the book is not Japanese. Edit: This has generally been interpreted to exclude also authors of Japanese descent who have grown up elsewhere, so please vote for them on other lists instead.)

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1	Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami 3.99 avg rating — 740,936 ratings score: 83,373, and 843 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
2	Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami 4.12 avg rating — 555,699 ratings score: 72,884, and 742 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
3	The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami 4.14 avg rating — 317,750 ratings score: 68,199, and 691 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
4	Battle Royale by Koushun Takami 4.26 avg rating — 86,601 ratings score: 38,236, and 387 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
5	1Q84 (1Q84, #1-3) by Haruki Murakami 3.95 avg rating — 342,239 ratings score: 34,372, and 352 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
6	Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World by Haruki Murakami 4.11 avg rating — 153,992 ratings score: 29,940, and 308 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
7	Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto 3.89 avg rating — 132,022 ratings score: 27,652, and 286 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
8	Out by Natsuo Kirino 3.94 avg rating — 49,169 ratings score: 26,485, and 272 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
9	After Dark by Haruki Murakami 3.74 avg rating — 191,152 ratings score: 25,557, and 267 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
10	Sputnik Sweetheart by Haruki Murakami 3.83 avg rating — 183,285 ratings score: 20,784, and 218 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
11	A Wild Sheep Chase (The Rat, #3) by Haruki Murakami 3.94 avg rating — 142,897 ratings score: 18,808, and 198 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
12	No Longer Human by Osamu Dazai 3.94 avg rating — 263,209 ratings score: 18,519, and 192 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
13	South of the Border, West of the Sun by Haruki Murakami 3.85 avg rating — 152,884 ratings score: 17,207, and 182 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
14	The Woman in the Dunes by Kōbō Abe 3.88 avg rating — 40,112 ratings score: 16,745, and 174 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
15	Snow Country by Yasunari Kawabata 3.56 avg rating — 42,419 ratings score: 16,190, and 169 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
16	Kokoro by Natsume Sōseki 4.04 avg rating — 43,674 ratings score: 16,180, and 167 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
17	Dance Dance Dance by Haruki Murakami 4.04 avg rating — 100,796 ratings score: 15,156, and 160 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
18	The Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu 3.72 avg rating — 14,930 ratings score: 13,317, and 138 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
19	The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yōko Ogawa 4.05 avg rating — 99,814 ratings score: 11,061, and 116 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
20	The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea by Yukio Mishima 3.83 avg rating — 54,034 ratings score: 10,834, and 113 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
21	Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage by Haruki Murakami 3.87 avg rating — 205,068 ratings score: 10,455, and 111 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
22	Confessions of a Mask by Yukio Mishima 3.95 avg rating — 40,375 ratings score: 10,243, and 108 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
23	Rashōmon and Seventeen Other Stories by Ryūnosuke Akutagawa 4.14 avg rating — 10,256 ratings score: 10,040, and 106 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
24	I Am a Cat by Natsume Sōseki 3.67 avg rating — 18,485 ratings score: 9,447, and 99 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
25	Grotesque by Natsuo Kirino 3.74 avg rating — 14,277 ratings score: 9,420, and 99 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
26	The Temple of the Golden Pavilion by Yukio Mishima 3.97 avg rating — 25,509 ratings score: 9,302, and 99 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
27	In the Miso Soup by Ryū Murakami 3.61 avg rating — 46,517 ratings score: 8,792, and 93 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
28	Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata 3.67 avg rating — 383,598 ratings score: 8,642, and 90 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
29	Spring Snow (The Sea of Fertility, #1) by Yukio Mishima 4.16 avg rating — 23,804 ratings score: 8,295, and 87 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
30	Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman by Haruki Murakami 3.83 avg rating — 43,685 ratings score: 8,073, and 88 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
31	Silence by Shūsaku Endō 4.10 avg rating — 39,879 ratings score: 7,900, and 84 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
32	The Makioka Sisters by Jun'ichirō Tanizaki 4.03 avg rating — 11,961 ratings score: 7,750, and 83 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
33	Thousand Cranes by Yasunari Kawabata 3.69 avg rating — 15,944 ratings score: 7,708, and 84 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
34	The Devotion of Suspect X (Detective Galileo, #1) by Keigo Higashino 4.17 avg rating — 79,647 ratings score: 7,633, and 79 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
35	After the Quake by Haruki Murakami 3.77 avg rating — 59,256 ratings score: 7,562, and 81 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
36	Musashi by Eiji Yoshikawa 4.47 avg rating — 24,233 ratings score: 7,538, and 78 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
37	A Personal Matter by Kenzaburō Ōe 3.90 avg rating — 15,817 ratings score: 6,938, and 74 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
38	Ring (Ring, #1) by Kōji Suzuki 3.77 avg rating — 31,745 ratings score: 6,747, and 71 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
39	The Pillow Book by Sei Shōnagon 4.02 avg rating — 10,235 ratings score: 6,630, and 70 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
40	Beauty and Sadness by Yasunari Kawabata 3.80 avg rating — 15,519 ratings score: 6,483, and 70 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
41	Goodbye Tsugumi by Banana Yoshimoto 3.77 avg rating — 15,702 ratings score: 6,389, and 68 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
42	The Elephant Vanishes by Haruki Murakami 3.82 avg rating — 58,749 ratings score: 6,077, and 67 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
43	Underground: The Tokyo Gas Attack and the Japanese Psyche by Haruki Murakami 3.91 avg rating — 22,707 ratings score: 5,411, and 59 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
44	Coin Locker Babies by Ryū Murakami 3.79 avg rating — 9,832 ratings score: 5,252, and 57 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
45	Naomi by Jun'ichirō Tanizaki 3.68 avg rating — 8,945 ratings score: 4,889, and 55 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
46	In Praise of Shadows by Jun'ichirō Tanizaki really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 31,113 ratings score: 4,806, and 54 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
47	The Sound of Waves by Yukio Mishima 3.77 avg rating — 24,537 ratings score: 4,777, and 51 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
48	Asleep by Banana Yoshimoto 3.76 avg rating — 16,047 ratings score: 4,324, and 47 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
49	The Setting Sun by Osamu Dazai 3.97 avg rating — 44,543 ratings score: 4,252, and 48 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
50	Botchan by Natsume Sōseki 3.64 avg rating — 16,407 ratings score: 4,189, and 46 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
51	The Sound of the Mountain by Yasunari Kawabata 3.84 avg rating — 9,705 ratings score: 3,976, and 44 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
52	Totto-chan: The Little Girl at the Window by Tetsuko Kuroyanagi 4.40 avg rating — 32,081 ratings score: 3,795, and 39 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
53	Strange Weather in Tokyo by Hiromi Kawakami 3.67 avg rating — 53,670 ratings score: 3,752, and 42 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
54	Geisha, a Life by Mineko Iwasaki 3.93 avg rating — 27,751 ratings score: 3,665, and 39 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
55	Real World by Natsuo Kirino 3.41 avg rating — 8,974 ratings score: 3,498, and 37 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
56	Amrita by Banana Yoshimoto 3.63 avg rating — 7,812 ratings score: 3,319, and 35 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
57	Runaway Horses (The Sea of Fertility, #2) by Yukio Mishima 4.23 avg rating — 9,196 ratings score: 3,277, and 36 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
58	Hear the Wind Sing (The Rat, #1) by Haruki Murakami 3.57 avg rating — 33,764 ratings score: 3,217, and 36 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
59	Uzumaki: Spiral into Horror, Vol. 1 by Junji Ito 4.44 avg rating — 42,549 ratings score: 3,174, and 33 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
60	N.P by Banana Yoshimoto 3.54 avg rating — 12,951 ratings score: 3,162, and 35 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
61	The Memory Police by Yōko Ogawa 3.69 avg rating — 144,380 ratings score: 3,041, and 32 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
62	The Master of Go by Yasunari Kawabata 3.81 avg rating — 5,753 ratings score: 3,028, and 33 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
63	The Book of Tea by Kakuzō Okakura 3.85 avg rating — 17,864 ratings score: 2,974, and 33 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
64	Forbidden Colors by Yukio Mishima 3.92 avg rating — 5,004 ratings score: 2,970, and 32 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
65	Audition by Ryū Murakami 3.57 avg rating — 21,389 ratings score: 2,950, and 32 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
66	The Box Man by Kōbō Abe 3.58 avg rating — 7,732 ratings score: 2,885, and 32 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
67	Some Prefer Nettles by Jun'ichirō Tanizaki 3.61 avg rating — 5,002 ratings score: 2,868, and 32 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
68	The Silent Cry by Kenzaburō Ōe 3.84 avg rating — 4,730 ratings score: 2,839, and 30 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
69	Almost Transparent Blue by Ryū Murakami 3.29 avg rating — 13,706 ratings score: 2,717, and 31 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
70	Goth by Otsuichi 3.98 avg rating — 6,863 ratings score: 2,662, and 28 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
71	The Old Capital by Yasunari Kawabata 3.73 avg rating — 7,992 ratings score: 2,555, and 29 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
72	Nip the Buds, Shoot the Kids by Kenzaburō Ōe 3.80 avg rating — 5,537 ratings score: 2,546, and 28 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
73	The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa 4.33 avg rating — 106,804 ratings score: 2,503, and 26 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
74	Before the Coffee Gets Cold (Before the Coffee Gets Cold, #1) by Toshikazu Kawaguchi 3.65 avg rating — 716,813 ratings score: 2,451, and 26 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
75	Revenge by Yōko Ogawa 4.01 avg rating — 30,868 ratings score: 2,439, and 27 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
76	Snakes And Earrings by Hitomi Kanehara 3.18 avg rating — 5,770 ratings score: 2,399, and 26 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
77	The Waiting Years by Fumiko Enchi 3.96 avg rating — 3,467 ratings score: 2,396, and 27 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
78	Japanese Tales of Mystery & Imagination by Edogawa Rampo 4.05 avg rating — 6,283 ratings score: 2,392, and 28 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
79	Confessions by Kanae Minato 3.93 avg rating — 87,642 ratings score: 2,375, and 26 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
80	Sanshirō by Natsume Sōseki 3.81 avg rating — 6,231 ratings score: 2,325, and 26 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
81	House of the Sleeping Beauties and Other Stories by Yasunari Kawabata 3.60 avg rating — 9,269 ratings score: 2,304, and 26 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
82	Lizard by Banana Yoshimoto 3.74 avg rating — 10,758 ratings score: 2,277, and 25 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
83	Kwaidan: Stories and Studies of Strange Things by Lafcadio Hearn 3.82 avg rating — 6,213 ratings score: 2,236, and 25 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
84	Dark Water by Kōji Suzuki 3.64 avg rating — 5,122 ratings score: 2,230, and 24 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
85	The Diary of Lady Murasaki by Murasaki Shikibu 3.80 avg rating — 2,193 ratings score: 2,228, and 25 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
86	Death in Midsummer and Other Stories by Yukio Mishima 3.99 avg rating — 6,664 ratings score: 2,146, and 24 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
87	The Samurai's Garden by Gail Tsukiyama 4.16 avg rating — 28,498 ratings score: 2,115, and 22 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
87	Malice (Detective Kaga, #1) by Keigo Higashino 4.06 avg rating — 36,728 ratings score: 2,115, and 23 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
89	The Diving Pool: Three Novellas by Yōko Ogawa 3.67 avg rating — 9,710 ratings score: 2,021, and 24 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
90	All You Need Is Kill by Hiroshi Sakurazaka 4.03 avg rating — 23,834 ratings score: 2,007, and 22 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
91	The Confessions of Lady Nijō by Lady Nijō 3.95 avg rating — 741 ratings score: 1,980, and 22 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
92	Tales of Moonlight and Rain by Ueda Akinari 3.78 avg rating — 2,995 ratings score: 1,945, and 22 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
93	Black Rain by Masuji Ibuse 3.99 avg rating — 4,656 ratings score: 1,938, and 23 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
94	Masks by Fumiko Enchi 3.68 avg rating — 4,128 ratings score: 1,934, and 22 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
95	Shipwrecks by Akira Yoshimura 4.02 avg rating — 3,158 ratings score: 1,888, and 22 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
96	The Three-Cornered World by Natsume Sōseki 3.75 avg rating — 5,777 ratings score: 1,881, and 23 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
97	Palm of the Hand Stories by Yasunari Kawabata 3.89 avg rating — 3,421 ratings score: 1,880, and 21 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
98	The Decay of the Angel (The Sea of Fertility, #4) by Yukio Mishima 4.13 avg rating — 5,543 ratings score: 1,788, and 21 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
99	Fires on the Plain by Shōhei Ōoka really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 1,805 ratings score: 1,677, and 18 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
100	Kamikaze Girls by Novala Takemoto 4.23 avg rating — 1,781 ratings score: 1,661, and 17 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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774 books · 3,250 voters · list created June 21st, 2008 by Mitu (votes) .

Tags: asian, author-by-country, best-books, ethnic, ethnicity, japan, japanese, nihongo, nippon, 日本, 日本語

2187 likes · Like

Lists are re-scored approximately every 5 minutes.

People Who Voted On This List (3250)

Mitu 89 books
3 friends

Jessica 10658 books
1452 friends

Holly 527 books
108 friends

Greyweather 2660 books
65 friends

Joel 96 books
2 friends

Zoe 568 books
53 friends

Jenn 3937 books
45 friends

Karen 2153 books
82 friends

More voters…

Post a comment »
Comments Showing 1-50 of 103 (103 new)

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message 1: by Mofo (new)

Nov 20, 2008 08:30AM

Why isn't Battle Royale on this list?

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message 2: by Jen (new)

Feb 16, 2009 06:22AM

If The Unconsoled is on this list, then Never Let Me Goshould be on it.

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message 3: by Jen (new)

Apr 17, 2009 06:25AM

Russell wrote: "kazuo ishiguro writes in english."

Correct, but The Unconsoled is on this list, and it is written by Ishiguro. :)

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message 4: by John (new)

Apr 29, 2009 06:52PM

Mofo wrote: "Why isn't Battle Royale on this list? "

It is. 5th one down.

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message 5: by Nelliel (new)

May 12, 2009 12:12AM

The Last Concubine by Leslie Downer...

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message 6: by Witch (new)

May 22, 2009 10:05PM

The Tale of Genji needs to be on this list.

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message 7: by Jen (new)

May 26, 2009 06:52AM

Nozomi wrote: "The Tale of Genji needs to be on this list."

Agreed!

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message 8: by Paul (new)

Jun 17, 2009 06:32AM

Kazuo Ishiguro not only writes in English, he IS English. 'The Unconsoled' shouldn't be on this list. It's not even set in Japan.

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message 9: by Bill (new)

Jun 22, 2009 05:36PM

The Mishima novel I've re-read the most (Runaway Horses) isn't on this list, either.

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message 10: by Dawn (new)

Dec 14, 2009 06:58AM

"Shogun" isn't a Japanese book, but I voted for it anyway---great historical novel!

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message 11: by Elizabeth (new)

Feb 08, 2010 03:12AM

Plum Wine By Angela Davis?

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message 12: by Jeremy (new)

Jun 22, 2010 07:16PM

I voted on Birthday :)
Lemon Heart was heart shattering...

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message 13: by Alex (last edited Jul 19, 2010 04:36AM) (new)

Jul 19, 2010 01:29AM

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro deleted. (not a Japanese book)

see Paul's comments above.

*Also have deleted Memoirs of a Geisha and another Kazuo Ishiguro book "Nocturnals etc.."

Same reason - Not Japanese. Geisha might be about Japan but it wasn't first written in Japanese or by a Japanese person.

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message 14: by Yassemin (new)

Jul 28, 2010 05:25AM

Actually Ishiguro was born in Japan so I think that makes him Japanese regardless of which language he writes in.

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message 15: by Paul (new)

Nov 16, 2010 03:33AM

(RESURRECTS THREAD)

Yas, you are entirely correct that he was born in Japan, and I believe he still holds Japanese citizenship. But he moved from Nagasaki when he was 5, and he has talked extensively in interviews about his irritation at lazy lit-critics trying to peg his style as Japanese. When he does write about Japan, such as in his first two novels, it is always in a very self-consciously imaginary fashion. So even though you may lay some fair claim to his Japanese ethnicity, the books themselves don't really belong on this list in my humble opinion.

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message 16: by Alex (new)

Nov 16, 2010 01:09PM

I agree Paul and while Ishiguro has Japanese heritage his books are written in English which don't make them "Japanese" books even if they are about Japan. (still haven't read any of them yet)

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message 17: by [deleted user] (new)

Jan 19, 2011 10:44AM

Hmmm Geisha, a life by Mineko Iwasaki isn't here either.

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message 18: by Steve (new)

Feb 07, 2011 09:54PM

House of the Sleeping Beauties And Other Stories by Kawabata

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message 19: by christokristo (new)

Mar 08, 2011 10:13PM

Ishiguro was born in Japan but move to england while he was 6 or 7 and he already have British citizenship. I think his works should not on be the lists

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message 20: by Amy (new)

May 31, 2011 08:30PM

He became a British citizen when he was 22 years old. Since he is both British and Japanese, he should be included.

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message 21: by Trang (new)

Jul 11, 2011 10:01PM

Kirei wrote: "He became a British citizen when he was 22 years old. Since he is both British and Japanese, he should be included."

How can his books be included when he was English bred, identifies more with Britain and his books are not concerned about Japan?

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message 22: by Livy (new)

Oct 16, 2011 08:34PM

just out of curiosity, what is Catcher in the Rye doing on this list?

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message 23: by Fincalian (new)

Oct 27, 2011 09:44AM

And what is I was Told There'd be Cake doing on here?

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message 24: by Michael (last edited Nov 08, 2011 03:00PM) (new)

Nov 08, 2011 02:47PM

Deleted "Never Let Me Go," "I Was Told There'd Be Cake," and "Catcher in the Rye." In each case, the author is not Japanese, the book was written in English, and the subject matter is not related to Japan. Nothing about these books are Japanese, so they are inappropriate to this list.

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message 25: by David (new)

Dec 10, 2011 08:38PM

Incredible list! I have read several of these and saved even more to my "to read" list! I added several more that I thought might belong on this list including:

So Sad to Fall in Battle
Something Like an Autobiography
20th Century Boys
Battle Angel Alita
Japan Atlas
Robot Ghosts and Wired Dreams
Mishima's Sword
The Rising Sun
A Modern History of Japan
A Hundred Years of Japanese Film
Dreaming Pachinko

The last five on the list are on Japan but not by Japanese authors so not sure which of those would fit best on this list (please delete if you feel necessary, it will not offend me). I own all those books and they are all really good. Great list!

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message 26: by Ian (new)

Jan 21, 2012 03:00PM

Mofo wrote: "Why isn't Battle Royale on this list? "

Because it is a list of "the best" Japanese books. Battle Royale is a classic and a great alternative to Hunger Games and Lord of the Flies. I was going to write how it should not be considered "the best" but as I am writing my thoughts I have started to see your point. I wouldn't put it on this list for its amateur craftsmanship and pulpy violence. But I wouldn't object if you put Battle Royale on the list.

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message 27: by Alex (new)

Jan 21, 2012 09:28PM

Battle Royale is on the list, it's in 4th place and I would hardly call it an alternative to Hunger Games. Hunger Games pretty much ripped off Battle Royale, made it more YA and gave it a female lead to get more readers and it worked.

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message 28: by Michael (new)

Jan 23, 2012 02:12PM

Fully agree with Alex.

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message 29: by Masanaka (new)

Feb 14, 2012 06:26AM

Thank you for the wonderful list! I would like you to include these next time: "Lonely Hearts Killer" by Tomoyuki Hoshino; "The Apprenticeship of Big Toe P" by Rieko Matsuura; "The Doctor's Wife" by Sawako Ariyoshi

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message 30: by Michael (new)

Feb 23, 2012 08:15AM

Masanaka,

Click "add books to this list" at the top of the page and then type in those three books. The list is made by everyone.

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message 31: by Masanaka (new)

Feb 23, 2012 08:42AM

Hi Michael, thank you for letting me know how this space grow. I have just added the books above and more. Cheers.

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message 32: by Michael (new)

Feb 28, 2012 07:32PM

No problem, Masanaka.

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message 33: by Sizilien (new)

Apr 23, 2012 05:53AM

I love "The Summer of the Ubume".

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message 34: by GlenK (new)

Jun 21, 2012 10:43AM

Didn't see The Tattoo Murder Case on the list. Excellent locked-room mystery set in post-WWII Tokyo.

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message 35: by Matīss (new)

Jan 27, 2013 07:56AM

Livy wrote: "just out of curiosity, what is Catcher in the Rye doing on this list?"

I wonder about it, too. And so many votes... What does that mean?

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message 36: by Michael (new)

Jan 27, 2013 01:29PM

Matīss wrote: "Livy wrote: "just out of curiosity, what is Catcher in the Rye doing on this list?"

I wonder about it, too. And so many votes... What does that mean?"

I wonder what that means too. I deleted it... again.

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message 37: by Mark (last edited Feb 01, 2013 11:49PM) (new)

Feb 01, 2013 11:48PM

It is interesting that "Across The Nightingale Floor" is on the list. Although the "Tales of the Otori" books are set in a place fairly closely resembling feudal Japan, they are actually set in a fictional island nation, not any real place in Japan.

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message 38: by Michael (last edited Feb 03, 2013 08:31PM) (new)

Feb 02, 2013 01:07PM

Mark wrote: "It is interesting that "Across The Nightingale Floor" is on the list. Although the "Tales of the Otori" books are set in a place fairly closely resembling feudal Japan, they are actually set in a f..."

Where the books take place is irrelevant. The author is not Japanese though, so I'll remove the book.

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message 39: by Mark (new)

Feb 02, 2013 01:09PM

Oh, OK. Though it was just a comment.

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message 40: by Michael (new)

Feb 03, 2013 08:30PM

Yep, just clarifying how the list works! Someone managed to remove the book before I got to it. Yay!

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message 41: by Anna (new)

Feb 08, 2013 05:06PM

Deleted: A Clash of Kings
Eleven Minutes
A Game of Thrones

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message 42: by Michael (new)

Feb 11, 2013 10:06AM

Thanks, Anna!

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message 43: by Ryan (new)

Mar 10, 2013 03:29PM

This seems a great list, and just what im looking for. Il be honest, ive only really read Haruki Murakami, but want to delve further into Japanese literature. Do any of you guys have any recommendations for the next books to read?

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message 44: by Michael (new)

Mar 24, 2013 07:24PM

The strange otherworldiness of Kpbo Abe's The Box Man might be a fitting follow-up to Murakami.

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message 45: by Evan (new)

Apr 05, 2013 01:52PM

Great List!

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message 46: by Evan (new)

Apr 05, 2013 01:56PM

Not sure if I saw Revenge by Yoko Ogawa. Absolutely love that quiet little book of short stories that roll up on you in the most hauntingly beautiful way!

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message 47: by BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) (last edited Apr 11, 2013 06:55AM) (new)

Apr 11, 2013 06:49AM

The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet (no. 104) is not a Japanese book. The story may be set in Japan (for the most part, anyway) but the author, David Mitchell, is British (Merseyside) and lives in Europe. Therefore, the book has been deleted.

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message 48: by Wong (new)

May 05, 2013 01:30AM

Booklovinglady wrote: "The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet (no. 104) is not a Japanese book. The story may be set in Japan (for the most part, anyway) but the author, David Mitchell, is British (Merseyside) and lives i..."

Agreed. Good book though.

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message 49: by Wong (new)

May 05, 2013 01:33AM

Evan wrote: "Not sure if I saw Revenge by Yoko Ogawa. Absolutely love that quiet little book of short stories that roll up on you in the most hauntingly beautiful way!"

I particularly liked the story about the girl who was in love with her diver stepbrother (the main story, unsurprisingly). And the Professor and Housekeeper novel she wrote was a gem too.

Didn't like Hotel Iris though.

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message 50: by Wong (new)

May 05, 2013 01:39AM

Shouldn't Memoirs of a Geisha be taken down too?

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