This cold season is perfect to stroll outside and experience snow, visit favorite stores, or snuggle at home under the kotatsu with a warm hot drink above the table. And more often than not to book lovers, it’s a great comfort to read a book that compliments the season. And if you’re wondering now what books you’re going to get then this article is just perfect for you! Just keep reading to find out.
Winter Japanese Books to Read
Excited to read a winter-themed book that would surely keep you up at night, warm up your heart and keep you in good mind? Then these books will stay at your bookshelf to re-read from time to time, especially during winter.
1. Snow Country by Yasunari Kawabata
This winter love story will make your heart pitter-patter, with a story set in a Period era in Japan. A married man named Shimamura escapes his city and travels to a remote village where he unexpectedly meets Komako, a geisha working in a mountain resort. After their encounter, Shimamura falls in love and pursues Komako. The romance between the two soon faces adversaries as Komako’s life as a geisha forbids her to have freedom to love. The author Kawabata-sensei beautifully details the life of geisha and the Edo period winter scenery.
2. Before The Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
Are you looking for a time travel story? Another story set in the Edo Period, a mysterious Tokyo Cafe is believed to have a very special item that guests can use; a time-traveling chair. Fumiko discovers the magical chair and that using it takes without risks; the time-traveler should not leave their seat nor leave the cafe, and must return to the present before the coffee gets cold. When the rules aren’t met, the time traveler becomes a ghost in the cafe for eternity. The fantasy story of Kawaguchi-sensei brings up the character’s intriguing stories which are the regular guests in the cafe and the cafe staff as they find a reason to use the time-traveling chair.
3. The Guest Cat by Takashi Hiraide
A story set in a suburb in Tokyo, a weary couple in their thirties finds a stray cat in their house which slowly brings life back to their home and gives spark to their marriage. The unexpected presence of the feline creates a family dynamic to the couple; a shared routine and renewed conversations bringing them back together. The charming story by Hiraide-sensei is a heartwarming tale of hope and awakening, a beautiful story of people who care for each other with the help of their unanticipated new furry family.
4. A Wild Sheep Chase by Haruki Murakami
The best-selling author Murakami-sensei takes us to a supernatural, detective-esque adventure story as the narrator/protagonist is tasked to track down a strange sheep with a star pattern on its wool. It begins an adventure to Tokyo in the search for the sheep and progresses as an exploration to its own self and life’s purpose, a story that will make you ponder and wonder to it’s surreal storyline in search of life’s meaning. The story’s pacing starts slow, eventually working its way to the end as something compelling and fast-paced, a perfect winter story.
Conclusion
Books are a great pastime to anyone who loves to read and to those who are starting to love reading. And winter is just the perfect time to sit down at home and enjoy the winter season while reading one of these books in this list. Are you a booklover? Which of the books are you interested in reading? Let us know in the comments.
References:
https://japantoday.com/category/features/lifestyle/8-heartwarming-japanese-books-to-read-this-winter
https://metropolisjapan.com/top-7-japanese-books-to-read-this-winter/
https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2020/jun/30/10-best-books-set-in-japan-murakami-murata-tokyo
https://booksandbao.com/japanese-literature-genres-where-to-get-started/
https://savvytokyo.com/8-heartwarming-japanese-books-to-read-this-winter/
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44421460-before-the-coffee-gets-cold