When he was a young boy, Manjiro Nakahama ran away from his home in a poor Japanese fishing village. Joining up with some fishermen who took him under their wing, one of their fishing excursions soon turned into a disaster, stranding them on a deserted island. As they awaited their rescue, he had no idea [...]

Part of the Japanese Literature Series by Dalkey Archive Press, The Glass Slipper and Other Stories features World War II era shorts in a setting unique to American readers. In fact, of the three from this series I’ve reviewed so far, this one is my favorite due not only to the setting, but the contemporary [...]

Another installment of the Japanese Literature Series by Dalkey Archive Press, these two Tsutomu Mizukami Novellas allow an English-speaking readership its first look at The Temple of the Wild Geese and The Bamboo Dolls of Echizen.
The Temple of the Wild Geese tells the story of a temple at the base of Mt. Kinugasa. The [...]

Teacher, calligrapher, restaurant owner.  These were all common jobs during Japan’s Edo period.  If you were a man.  But what if you were a woman who had to support herself?  What if you were one of the best and willing to stay the best, despite the prejudices against you?
The Budding Tree - Six Stories of [...]