Books on Japan

Our Favourites

Speed Tribes

Explore snipets of life from representative characters of the Japanese underworld - a gangster from the drug trade, an actor from the lucrative porn industry, a motorcycle gang member, and others.
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Tokyo Underworld

Read about Nick Zapetti, who fresh off the boat in post-war Japan, starts a pizza-restaurant that turns into one of Tokyo's hottest expat, showbiz, and top-level YAKUZA hangouts.
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The Enigma of Japanese Power

A full-scale examination of the inner workings of Japan's political and industrial system. A must read for all the future Japan silverbacks.
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Memories of Silk and Straw

A collective autobiography based on interviews taped by a Japanese doctor in a small lakeside town near Tokyo. The villagers tell their simple, but fascinating stories in their own way, in this funny, but poignant picture of country life in pre-high-tech Japan.
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Memoirs of a Geisha

Enter a world where appearances are paramount; where a girl's virginity is auctioned to the highest bidder; where women are trained to beguile the most powerful men; and where love is scorned as illusion. (From Kirkus Reviews)
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Pink Samurai

Written nearly a decade ago, but still timely, this is an eye-opening examination of Japanese love, marriage, and eroticism.
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Books on Japan: Other Sources

Forums

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Links to Book Stores in Tokyo

Aoyama Omote-Sando

Cow Books Aoyama Cow Books Aoyama

Ebisu, Gotanda, Osaki

http://tdc1.design-center.co.jp/books/

Hiro-o and Minami-Azabu

Tokyo Metropolitan Central Library http://www.library.metro.tokyo.jp/

Roppongi

Bookshop http://www.bookshop.co.jp/stores/map.html
Bibliophile http://www.axisinc.co.jp/

Hibiya

Junkudo Press Center Nihon Press Center

Ginza

KyoBunKwan http://kyobunkwan.co.jp/

Marunouchi, Yaesu and Nihombashi JR Tokyo Terminal.

Maruzen Marunouchi Main http://www.maruzen.co.jp/
Maruzen Marunouchi Bldg. Marunouchi Building
Yaesu Book Center http://www.yaesu-book.co.jp/newsprint/newsprint.html

Akihabara and Asakusabashi

Blue Parrot Akihabara http://www.blueparrottokyo.com/
Nellie's English Bookstore http://www.nellies.jp/

Ikebukuro

Caravan Books http://www.booksatcaravan.com/

Takadanobaba to Waseda

Blue Parrot Bookstore http://www.blueparrottokyo.com/

Shinjuku

Nellie's English Bookstore Shinjuku http://www.nellies.jp/
Kinokuniya Main Store http://www.kinokuniya.co.jp/

Shibuya

InterSpain http://www.interspain.jp/
Shibuya Mandarake http://www.mandarake.co.jp/
Tokyu Bunkamura Bookshop http://www.bunkamura.co.jp/

Yotsuya and Kojimachi

Bonjinsha Website

Mail, Fax and Online Services

Maruzen http://www.maruzen.co.jp/
Amazon.com Japan http://www.amazon.co.jp/
Skysoft http://www.skysoft.co.jp/
The English Resource http://englishresource.com/
Caravan Books http://www.booksatcaravan.com/