Tag: japanese

Suspicion by Seichō Matsumoto

A short novel in which a woman is accused of her husbands murder. The woman has prior convictions and the court of public opinion against her, presuming her guilt based on circumstantial evidence.

A journalist who stirred the fires is worried that a competent lawyer may get her acquitted and that he may reap what he sowed in her revenge due to her reputation and ties with the Yakuza..

I enjoyed it and the conclusion when it came was surprising and sudden and I would have liked more.

I really have had good experiences when I have read the novels of Seichō Matsumoto.

Goodnight Tokyo by Atsuhiro Yoshida

I am now well and truly back into Japanese translated books. I bought this one a while ago and really what attracted me to it was the cover. Both the book and audiobook have beautiful covers (see above and below).

The book is very engaging and follows a Tokyo taxi driver and his clients, the stories are all intertwined with people who all flit across each others stories. The atmosphere is very good and I enjoy the cast of characters and their stories. The problem is I would want more, more depth to the stories and book.

Kojiki: The Birth of Japan by Kazumi Wilds

Creation of the World but the Japanese/Shinto version.

I admit I bought the wrong book and this was not what I was expecting but it was a nice surprise to read it and I did enjoy it. It follows the creation mythology of Japan with the spirits. Very beautifully illustrated but at 32 pages long very short too -something I didn’t pay attention to.

For what it was I enjoyed it. It was nice to read the author/artists note too on the meaning of the Kojiki to them and how it relates to the place where they live and their life. Same with the process behind the illustrations in book.

I do intend on buying the comprehensive translation by Basil Hall Chamberlain to delve deeper into the subject

The Devil’s Flute Murders by Seishi Yokomizo

Its been a while since I read one of Seishi Yokomizo’s Detective Kosuke Kindaichi novels and I fancied catching up on the series with a new one due to be released this coming week.

This read was a great one and very readable and flows nicely. It was an interesting case involving a family and a locked room murder and the devilish apparition of an already dead family member. The plot was very cunning and I didn’t guess the culprit. There is a bit of incest in the plot which was a surprise and may be a trigger for some.

Though these are old books they aren’t dated and are very readable and enjoyable. I have the next one ready to read. The Little Sparrow Murders.