12 Best Japanese Authors To Read Right Now

Japan doesn’t immediately spring to mind as a literary hub. Its popular culture is usually hidden under the canopy of anime, Harajuku style, and kawaii souvenirs; but there is a plethora of incredibly accomplished Japanese authors whose works have spread worldwide, influencing films and art as they go.

Haruki Murakami

Perhaps the most well-known of Japanese authors is Haruki Murakami. The minimalist covers have become a mainstay in bookshops throughout the UK, with their iconic red and black artwork. He has written more than 40 novels including Norwegian Wood, Kafka on the Shore, and 1Q84 — a behemoth of a story split into three books.

His style weaves mystery and surrealism together with inspiration from Western culture, the regular appearance of cats, and his characteristic dry humor. One of his most recent acclaimed works is the Sunday Times bestselling Men Without Women; a collection of short stories highlighting the lives of different men who all find themselves alone.

Yukio Mishima

Yukio Mishima was a man of many talents: a film director, poet, actor, model and writer. He was also an eccentric nationalist, loudly campaigning against the Westernisation of Japan. He formed an unarmed civilian militia and led a coup to return power to the Emperor, taking hostages at a military base. When this failed, he committed the ritualistic suicide known as seppuku, often linked to old samurai tradition.