I will be leaving for a three week trip to Japan. Do you know of any interesting historical novels, other than Hiroshima and Shogun, that will prepare me for this trip?

Tokyo Bay - Anthony Grey
Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden

I.J. Parker wrote mysteries set in 11th Century Japan. Her website is her name without the periods. I really loved them. Hope that helps.

Thanks for your quick responses. I forgot that I read Memoirs of a Geisha, too. I just ordered The Sailor Who Fell From Grace with the Sea and Snow Country. I'm still looking for other ideas.

THE COMMONER by John Burnham Schwartz is an excellent book from the past two years or so. It is a fictionalized story of a common woman who marries into the Royal family in the late 20th Century. Obviously bears a lot of relevance to true events.

BICYCLE DAYS by the same author


STREET OF A THOUSAND BLOSSOMS and others by Gail Tsukiyama

I know a few more good ones but have to remember the names. Especially thinking about a fascinating novel about the Tokyo underworld and the foreign women who get caught up in the life..this one also bears resemblance to recent events.

The Commoner sounds good. I'm going to have to get that one, too. I'm leaving in 9 weeks and it's time to start getting my thoughts in the Japan mode!

I just remembered the one I mentioned above; I am not sure if I would recommend this as background reading but I thought it was really interesting and exciting; depicts the seamy side of Tokyo:

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN by Don Lee Norton


http://tinyurl.com/ad5ypc

36 Views of Mount Fuji, The Lady and the Monk.

I love the trilogy of the Otori novels by Liam Hearn. The first in the series is called "Across the Nightingale Floor". They are historical novels and tell the stories of a Japanese Shogun dynasty and the samurai. However, the powers of the samurai have been raised to an almost magical level (move so fast we can't see them etc). The novels are complete fiction so if you are after details of actual happenings, you won't get that but it exposes you to a wealth of detail of how the Japanese lived in a by-gone age. I can't tell you how excited I was when I went to Nijo Castle in Kyoto and finally got to see a real nightingale floor.

My favorite book on Japan is The Samaurai`s Garden. Part of it is in Hong Kong, and the rest in rural Japan. I have read it twice!

... yo, poet (and if you do have a 'yen' to 'party', well, do hope you're flying F/J with those sensational Singapore Girls ... and Yes, my all-time favourite late-night 'hostess', at my all-time favourite Tokyo business travel hotel, the Park Hyatt) ...

... now, the following two, not exactly too historical, but both resonate with my current business trips to Tokyo, and a certain, lovely Japanese woman who currently serves as 'translator' during our various meetings: "Fear and Trembling" (w. Amelie Nothomb, and in 'movie version', the exquisite Kaori Tsuji) and yes, "Audition" (w. Ryu Murakami, and in cinematic form, starring the all-time cherished, Eihi Shiina) ...

... (Regarding the latter movie: perhaps best not to observe alone, late at night ... (you may never think about 'piano wire' the same way, ever again) ...

... savour your joyous Japanese times, perhaps, with that certain Singaporean airline ...

macintosh (robert)


... "You guys are all the same" ...

(E. Shiina, "Audition")

Audition is not for the squeamish!