Japanese Books I’ve Read So Far in 2026

Today, I’d like to take a little break from cooking and talk about something else I’ve been enjoying this year: Japanese books!

I know this isn’t my usual food- and recipe-related topic, but I thought I’d share the Japanese books I’ve read so far in 2026. If you enjoy Japanese literature, or if you’re simply looking for something new to read, I hope you might find something interesting here.

I’ve read variety a of books this year. Some are newer Japanese novels, some are award-winning books, and some are classics by authors like Osamu Dazai and Yukio Mishima.

Here’s what I’ve read so far.

1. コンビニ人間 Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata

This is the story of Keiko, a woman who has worked at the same convenience store for many years. For Keiko, the convenience store feels like a place where she finally understands how to fit into society by following its rules and routines.

The book takes a fascinating and sometimes funny look at what society considers “normal,” especially when it comes to work, marriage, relationships, and the way we are expected to live our lives. It won the Akutagawa Prize in 2016.

2. コーヒーが冷めないうちに Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

What if you could go back in time and have one more conversation with someone?

In a small café in Tokyo, there is a special seat that lets you travel back in time, or even into the future. But there are many rules, and most importantly, you have to return before your coffee gets cold.

The story follows several people who use the café for different reasons: to see someone they lost, to say something they never said, or simply to have one more chance to connect. It’s a gentle and bittersweet book about love, family, regret, and the importance of the conversations we have with the people we care about.

3. センセイの鞄 Strange Weather in Tokyo by Hiromi Kawakami

Tsukiko is a woman in her thirties who happens to meet one of her former high school teachers at a small neighborhood bar.

She calls him “Sensei,” and the two begin meeting there from time to time. Their relationship starts very quietly and gradually develops into something deeper.

I didn't hate this book, but honestly, I thought it was just okay. 😅 I think I was expecting to like it more than I actually did. The story is very quiet and slow-paced, so perhaps it just wasn't completely my style.

Still, I enjoyed the atmosphere of the book and the way ordinary things like eating, drinking, and spending time together are used to develop their relationship.

4. 献灯使 The Emissary (US) / The Last Children of Tokyo (UK) by Yoko Tawada

This was probably one of the most unusual books on my list.

The story takes place in a strange future Japan where the elderly live extraordinarily long lives, while children are born increasingly weak and fragile. The novel centers around an elderly great-grandfather, Yoshiro, and his great-grandson, Mumei.

Japan has also become isolated from the rest of the world, and even language itself has changed. Words disappear, new meanings develop, and the world the older generation remembers is gradually disappearing.

It’s a strange and somewhat surreal book, but underneath all of that, it made me think about generations, the environment, language, and what we leave behind for the next generation.

5. 人間失格 No Longer Human by Osamu Dazai

The edition I read is actually a collection of 11 works by Osamu Dazai, including No Longer Human, The Setting Sun, Otogizōshi, Hashire Merosu (Run, Melos!), and several other short stories.

No Longer Human and Hashire Merosu are especially familiar to Japanese readers because they are among required reading in Japanese school.

I'm not a big fan of Dazai because his stories are often so dark, and they aren't exactly easy or cheerful reading. 😅 But I wanted to revisit some of the familiar stories I remembered from school and also read some of his other works that I had never read before.

Even though Dazai isn't necessarily my favorite author, I think his works are important if you're interested in Japanese literature, and I'm glad I finally read this collection.

The edition I read is 文藝春秋’s 2000 Bunshun Bunko edition, ISBN 4167151111, which contains 11 works in total.

6. あん Sweet Bean Paste by Durian Sukegawa

Sentaro works at a small dorayaki shop and spends his days making sweet red bean paste. One day, an elderly woman named Tokue offers to help him make the anko.

Their relationship slowly develops, and through their conversations and the simple act of making food together, both of them begin to look at their lives differently.

Overall, this is a sad story, but I think it's an important one because it introduces us to people like Tokue who suffered from Hansen's disease (leprosy) and were mistreated and discriminated against by both the government and society.

The story made me think about how easily people can be excluded and forgotten because of something they cannot control.

7. 店長がバカすぎて Tencho ga Baka Sugite / My Manager Is a Moron by Kazuma Hayami

This one was a fun change of pace.

The story follows Kyoko, a bookstore employee who loves books. Unfortunately, she has a manager who is, as the title suggests, unbelievably frustrating!

The setting is a Japanese bookstore, and the book humorously portrays the everyday frustrations of working in retail: difficult customers, workplace problems, unreasonable managers, and the challenges of working in the book industry.

It’s funny and easy to read, but it also has a lot of warmth. Underneath the humor is a story about people who genuinely love books and the work they do. The novel was nominated for the 2020 Japan Booksellers’ Award.

There is no official full English translation available as far as I know, but I really wish there were one!

8. JR上野駅公園口 Tokyo Ueno Station by Yu Miri

This is a much heavier book.

The narrator, Kazu, is a homeless man whose life becomes closely connected to Ueno Park in Tokyo. Through his story, the novel looks at homelessness, poverty, inequality, and the people who are often invisible in modern Japanese society.

The book also connects Kazu's life with major events in Japan, including the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and the 2011 earthquake and tsunami disaster.

I found this book quite difficult and sad at times, but it gave me a different perspective on Tokyo and on the people who can so easily become invisible in a city that is constantly moving forward.

9. 逆ソクラテス Reverse Socrates by Kotaro Isaka

This is a collection of five short stories, all featuring elementary school students.

The stories may sound like simple school stories at first, but they are really about the assumptions we make about other people. We sometimes decide that someone isn't good at something, isn't smart, or isn't athletic without really knowing them.

The children find clever ways to challenge those assumptions and change how people see them.

I really enjoyed this book. It’s easy to read and has a very positive message. Even though the main characters are children, I think adults can learn something from these stories, too.

The book won the Shibata Renzaburo Prize and was ranked fourth in the 2021 Japan Booksellers’ Award.

10. カフネ Cafune by Akiko Abe

This was the 2025 Japan Booksellers’ Award winner.

After Kaoruko unexpectedly loses her beloved younger brother, she meets his former girlfriend, Setsuna, because of something written in his will.

The two women initially have a difficult relationship, but eventually Kaoruko begins helping Setsuna with her work at a housekeeping service called Cafune.

And this is a book where food plays an important role. Through cooking and sharing meals, the two women gradually become closer and begin to heal from their own difficult experiences.

I especially enjoyed the connection between food and healing in this story. Sometimes a good meal really can make you feel a little better. 😊

11. イン・ザ・メガチャーチ In the Megachurch by Ryo Asai

This is the 2026 Japan Booksellers’ Award winner, so it’s the newest award-winning book on my list.

The novel is about fandom and “oshi-katsu,” the Japanese term for supporting and following someone you really like, such as an idol or entertainer.

The story is told from the perspective of three people who are connected to the world of idols in different ways: a record company employee who is involved in creating an idol group, his daughter, who becomes deeply involved in fandom, and a woman who once spent a lot of time supporting an idol.

I found it really interesting because it made me think about why we become so attached to the people we admire and how fandom can become such an important part of someone's life.

It’s a very contemporary story, and I enjoyed reading something that deals with a part of Japanese culture that is so common today.

12. 52ヘルツのクジラたち 52 Hertz Whales by Sonoko Machida

The title refers to a whale that calls at a frequency that other whales cannot hear, and is sometimes described as “the loneliest whale.”

That idea becomes a metaphor for people whose voices aren't being heard.

The main character, Kiko, has experienced abuse and exploitation in her own family. After moving to a seaside town, she meets a boy who has also suffered abuse and has difficulty expressing himself.

Their meeting becomes a story about listening, being heard, and finding someone who will finally recognize your pain.

This is an emotional book, and definitely one of the more difficult stories I read this year. But it also has a strong message of hope. The novel won the 2021 Japan Booksellers’ Award.

13. 汝、星のごとく Thou Art Like a Star by Yu Nagira

This novel follows Akimi and Kai, two young people who meet on an island in the Seto Inland Sea.

Both of them come from complicated family situations, and their relationship develops as they grow older. They love each other, but life, family, and the expectations of the people around them don't always make it easy for them to follow the path they want.

I started reading this book without knowing much about it. I knew that a movie adaptation was coming, but I didn't really know anything about the story itself.

And wow… this book was sad and heavy. 😭

This book won the 2023 Japan Booksellers’ Award.

14. 潮騒 The Sound of Waves by Yukio Mishima

And finally, a classic: Yukio Mishima’s The Sound of Waves.

The story takes place on a small Japanese fishing island and follows Shinji, a young fisherman, and Hatsue, the daughter of a wealthy boat owner.

It is a simple love story, but their relationship faces opposition from family, social expectations, and misunderstandings.

Compared with some of Mishima’s other works, I found this to be a relatively accessible and straightforward novel. It’s a beautiful coming-of-age story about young love, courage, and life in a small island community. The novel was first published in Japan in 1954.

From Classics to Contemporary Japanese Literature

Looking back at this list, I realize I've read a pretty interesting mix of Japanese literature this year.

From classics like Osamu Dazai’s No Longer Human and Yukio Mishima’s The Sound of Waves to contemporary books like Cafune and In the Megachurch, the stories are all very different.

Some were funny and easy to read. Some were heartbreaking. Some made me think about Japanese society, while others simply reminded me how much I enjoy getting lost in a good story. And honestly, I need the simple, fun books to bring me back after some of those heavier stories! 😅

Among these, some of my favorites were Convenience Store Woman, In the Megachurch, and The Sound of Waves.

I still have a long list of Japanese books I want to read. So I'm sure this won't be my last book post!

If you’ve read any of these books, or if there’s a Japanese book you think I should read next, I’d love to hear your recommendations!