Publishing Details
About This Podcast
A podcast about Japanese literature and some of its best works
New episodes more-or-less monthly
Explore Statistics
Recent Episodes
S5E5 Yasunari Kawabata
In this episode, we're taking a look at Yasunari Kawabata's life and work.As we tell his story, we'll ask ourselves two big questions. Is Kawabata really a traditionalist? And what is up with the way…
S5E4 Japanese Monster Stories on the Big Screen
In this episode, we look at the writers behind two of Japan's greatest movie monsters—Godzilla and Mothra.We'll start out by looking at Godzilla—its context, author, and story—before we turn to…
S5E3 The Japanese Cell Phone Novel
In this episode, we take a look at the Japanese cell phone novel and the classic story of Train Man.We’re going to start today by explaining the Japanese cell phone novel, including some relevant…
S5E2 Lafcadio Hearn—The Master of the Japanese Ghost Story
In this episode, we explore the enduring legacy of Greek/English/Irish/American/Japanese author Lafcadio Hearn and the ghost story The Peony Lantern.We'll start out by looking at Hearn's life. We'll…
S5E1 Bullying in Japanese Literature
In this episode, we look at bullying in Japanese literature.We'll start out by defining bullying and looking at bullying in Japanese schools as well as the Japanese workplace. We'll see some examples…
S4E8 Christianity in Japanese Literature
In this episode, we look into the history of Christianity in Japan—especially the role Christianity has played in Japanese literature. Our focus text is Shusaku Endo's Silence.Notes and sources on…
S4E7 Japanese Writers Standing Up to the State
In this episode, we take a look at the Japanese proletarian writers’ movement of the 1920s and early 1930s. We also take a deep dive into the life of author Genzaburo Yoshino—not a proletarian…
S4E6 Keiichiro Hirano
For the first time ever, RJL brings you information from an interview with a Japanese author—Akutagawa-winner Keiichiro Hirano. This episode takes up his life and work, the influence of Yukio Mishima…
S4E5 Christmas in Japanese Literature
Happy holidays! And, in the interest of today’s episode, merri kurisumasu!Today we’re going to start with the origins of Christmas, especially why Christmas is celebrated in Japan at all. We’ll move…
S4E4 LGBTQ+ Stories from Japan, Part 2
RJL is excited to bring you this two-parter about LGBTQ+ stories from Japan. Part two covers Taisho Japan (when women finally enter the stage) through through contemporary LGBTQ+ writing, especially…
S4E3 LGBTQ+ Stories from Japan, Part 1
RJL is excited to bring you this two-parter about LGBTQ+ stories from Japan. Part one covers some of the earliest writing in Japanese through the end of the Meiji Period in 1912.Part two (coming…
S4E2 Japanese Crime and Mystery Writing
Today, we’re talking about crime and mystery novels from Japan. We’ll start with the development of the crime and mystery genre in the English-speaking world. We’ll move on to Japanese crime and…
S4E1 Atomic Bomb Literature
This episode is marked mature.In this episode, we take a look at Japanese writing about the American bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki that killed as many as 215,000 people in August 1945. We’ll…
S3E9 Zainichi Literature—Koreans Writing in Japan
In this episode, we take a look at the history of Koreans writing in Japan. We’ll start with the history of Koreans in Japan, including anti-Korean prejudice before and after WWII. We’ll move on to…
S3E9 The End of the World! Japanese Apocalypse, Part 3
In part three of this episode, we’ll finish our story of Japanese apocalyptic and dystopian fiction. First, stories from the mid-90s and 20-aughts. Then, stories from after the March 2011 Triple…
S3E8 The End of the World! Japanese Apocalypse, Part 2
In part two of this three part episode, we're looking at the apocalyptic and dystopian fiction of Japan. We'll begin with the evolution of the idea of "the end of the world" in Japan, especially…
S3E7 The End of the World! Japanese Apocalypse, Part 1
In part one of this three part episode, we're looking at apocalyptic and dystopian fiction as genres. Their origins in Western and Central Asia. Their evolution in Western Europe. And a history of…
S3E6 Misogyny and Yukio Mishima, Part 2
In part two of this two-part episode on misogyny in Japanese literature, we're talking about the life and work of Yukio Mishima, especially by way of his I-Novel, Confessions of a Mask.Check out part…
S3E5 Misogyny and Yukio Mishima, Part 1
In part one of this two-part episode, we're talking about misogyny in Japanese literature. 400 years of attitudes about women in JapanWoman in modern Japanese literature, especially in the work of…
S3E4 Kenji Miyazawa
There is no one quite like Kenji Miyazawa. Born into wealth, he longed to be “a real peasant”. One of Japan’s most influential children’s writers, he sold only one story during his lifetime.Read…
Frequently Asked Questions
Read Japanese Literature has published 49 episodes since September 2021, covering topics in Arts, Books.
Read Japanese Literature is currently highly active with new episodes every 2 months. Average episode length is 45m.
Similar Podcasts
Self Publishing School: How To Write A Book That Grows Your Impact, Income, And Business
Chandler Bolt, Founder of selfpublishing.com
324 episodes
Hardcore Literature
Benjamin McEvoy
90 episodes
Mystical Theology: Introducing the Theology and Spiritual Life of the Orthodox Church
The Mount Thabor Academy
84 episodes
MAGICk WITHOUT FEARs "Hermetic Podcast" with Frater R∴C∴
Frater R∴C∴
320 episodes
Women Leaders on the Move - HerCsuite® Radio
Natalie Benamou, Host and HerCsuite® Founder, C-suite leader
270 episodes
Michael & Ethan in a Room with Scotch
Michael & Ethan in a Room with Scotch
193 episodes