10. Norwegian Wood
Perhaps Japan’s most celebrated contemporary novelist, Haruki Murakami became a household name in 1987 withNorwegian Wood.
The plot follows students in 1960s Tokyo who are—much like in real-life—protesting against the established order. But it becomes apparent that they don’t have the kind of clarity of vision that they so claim.
While some critics claim that Murakami writes in a style that has been made palatable for Western audiences, most consider his work to be a fantastic addition to the canon of Japanese literature.
9. Kitchen
Kitchenis a transcendent piece of Japanese fiction. The plot is relatively simple: one woman discovers the mysteries of food and all of the triumphs and tragedies that life has in store for us.
Much like Haruki Murakami, many have claimed a Western influence in Yoshimoto’s writing style, though others have countered the suggestion by stating an inherent Japanese quality to her work.
Either way,Kitchenis a beautiful novel and a classic entry in Japanese contemporary literature that’s worth reading.
8. I Am a Cat
As Japan’s most beloved novelist, it was only a matter of time before Natsume Sōseki appeared on this list.
I Am a Catis a satirical novel that lampoons the Meiji era of Japanese history with a subtlety that’s hard to come by. It also analyzes the integration of American customs with Japanese traditions, making it a socio-historical allegory as well.
The story is nothing more than the observations of a house cat, who describes the lives of the people around him with such fantastic amusement thatI Am a Catbecame an instant classic in 1906 and has remained culturally relevant ever since.
7. Snow Country
Written as a serialized novel between 1935 and 1937, Yasunari Kawabata’s great novelSnow Countrywas first translated into English in 1956. The story follows the illicit romance of a wealthy man from Tokyo and a geisha who lives in a provincial town.
Snow Countryis often cited as Kawabata’s greatest work and was even referenced as a leading piece of Japanese literature when Kawabata was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1968.
6. Convenience Store Woman
Translated into a whopping thirty languages,Convenience Store Womanrepresents the first of Sayaka Murata’s books to be translated into English. Lucky for us! The novel is stunning.
It’s a simple story that aims to capture a small part of Japanese culture: the quintessential convenience stores that dominate Japanese life. At the center is Keiko, a woman who has worked there for the past 18 years, who can feel that she’s different from those around her.
Sayaka Murata has stated that she’s interested by characters who defy conventional ways of thinking, by characters who denounce the conforming of themselves to a suffocating society.
In this respect,Convenience Store Womanis more than just a short novel. It’s an affront to the status quo, making it an important read.
Related:The Best Relaxing Books to Read When You Need to Destress
5. No Longer Human
The second best-selling book in Japan’s history, Osamu Dazai’sNo Longer Humanis widely considered to be his masterpiece.
Much like the title suggests, the story is primarily about themes of social alienation, but also a few other ideas that were highly important to Osama Dazai in his life, including suicide and depression.
The work is a blend of fiction and autobiography, falling into the category of semi-autobiographical. The novel’s plot points mirror Dazai’s own life, although the characters are entirely fictional.
In some ways,No Longer Humanis considered to be Dazai’s will, as he took his life after the story’s final segment was published.
4. The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle
The second entry by Haruki Murakami on this list is what I’d consider to be his best work of all time:The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle.
The narrative follows Toru Okada, whose cat has disappeared and whose wife grows more distant as the days pass on by. On top of that, he’s been receiving phone calls with increasingly explicit content.
The Wind-Up Bird Chronicleisn’t as well-known as, say,Kafka on the Shore. However, it’s arguably his most vibrant work and it successfully brings all of its words to life on the page. If you like Haruki Murakami but haven’t read this one, make it the next thing you read!
3. The Silent Cry
Perhaps the best novel of Kenzaburō Ōe’s career,The Silent Cryis also one of the most important works of Japanese literature. The story follows two brothers, both of whom have met their fair share of tragedy and misfortune.
The mythical style of this tale gives it the feeling of a tragic folktale, akin to the magical realism of Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It also connects to other aspects of Japanese history, making it a culturally relevant read that offers an experience unlike any other Japanese novel.
2. Kokoro
Without question,Kokorois Natsume Sōseki’s masterpiece. This story tracks Japan’s transition from the era of traditional Meiji society into what we know as modern Japan.
Kokorofeatures themes of change and isolation as it takes an honest look at a country during a period of flux and uncertainty.
You should also know thatKokorois also the best-selling Japanese novel of all time, having sold more than seven million copies in Japan alone since its initial release in 1914. If you’re looking for an important Japanese novel to read,Kokorois the one to check out.
1. The Tale of Genji
The novel that tops our list of best Japanese novels of all time isThe Tale of Genji, which incidentally is recognized as one of the world’s first-ever novels (and likelythefirst novel ever written).
The Tale of Genjifollows Hikaru Genji, the son of the Japanese emperor and one of his many concubines. When he’s removed from the line of succession, Genji decides to pursue a military career.
Not only was it written in the early 11th century by the lady Murasaki Shikibu, it was written in Japanese (uncommon at the time). This novel then sparked a literary revolution and helped pave the way for Japanese literature to become what it is today.
It’s a fantastic tale and one of the most important novels in the history of human literature. For those reasons, it’s a clear pick as first among all the best Japanese novels ever written.
