Read Japanese Literature

Alison Fincher

A podcast about Japanese literature and some of its best works
New episodes more-or-less monthly

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Top 10 Read Japanese Literature Episodes

Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Read Japanese Literature episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Read Japanese Literature for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Read Japanese Literature episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

Cats in Japanese Literature

Read Japanese Literature

11/28/22 • 42 min

Today, we’re going to look at cats in Japanese literature.

We’ll start with the history of cats in Japan.

We’ll move on to cats in Japanese folklore and fiction, including the work of Haruki Murakami.

And finally we’ll end with a discussion of our readers' choice, “The Town of Cats” by Sakutaro Hagiwara.
Notes and sources at the podcast episode website.

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The Smile of the Mountain Witch

Read Japanese Literature

10/25/22 • 41 min

In this episode...

Is she a man-eating crone?

Is she a lonely wanderer?

Or is she a sensual matriarch?

However you define her, she’s the yama-uba—Japan’s legendary mountain witch.
Notes and sources at the podcast episode website.
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Let RJL know what you think! (Contact us through the website if you want a response.)

Translating Japanese Women

Read Japanese Literature

09/01/22 • 42 min

In all our episodes so far, we’ve talked almost exclusively about what Japanese literature looks like in Japan.

But we’re English-speakers and English-readers on an English-language podcast about Japanese literature in English.

In honor of Women in Translation Month, we’re talking about why there is such a wealth of contemporary books by Japanese women available in English.

Notes and sources at the podcast episode website.
Donate to RJL's Patreon.

Let RJL know what you think! (Contact us through the website if you want a response.)

Banana and the Bubble

Read Japanese Literature

08/23/22 • 45 min

In this episode, we’re talking about Japan’s bubble economy of the 1980s and the work of Banana Yoshimoto.

Runaway consumer spending.

Everything kawaii.

A Nobel laureate’s contempt.

And a young author whose career challenged the publishings powers that be.

Content warning: This episode addresses transphobia as well as hate crimes against Asian Americans and trans women.

Notes and sources at the podcast episode website.

Let RJL know what you think! (Contact us through the website if you want a response.)

Literature of Change in the 1960s—Mishima and Oe

Read Japanese Literature

08/14/22 • 39 min

Today, we’re talking about the literature of change in the 1960s—how writers took on questions about what it meant to be Japanese in the post-war era and what was the continuing role of Japanese tradition.

We’re looking especially at Yukio Mishima and Kenzaburo Oe.
*This episode incorrectly states that Kenzaburo Oe was born in 1925. He was born in 1935.

Content warning: This episode addresses fascism and suicide.
Notes and sources at the podcast episode page.

Let RJL know what you think! (Contact us through the website if you want a response.)

Japanese Literature in WWII

Read Japanese Literature

07/12/22 • 41 min

Today we’re talking about the 1930s and 40s in Japan—fascism, World War Two, and the American Occupation.

In particular, how did 20 years of censorship shape Japanese literature?
We're also taking a look at the life and work of Akiyuki Nosaka, whose novella, "Grave of the Fireflies" inspired the classic anime film. We'll discuss his short story, "The Cake Tree in the Ruins".
Notes and sources at the podcast episode website.

Let RJL know what you think! (Contact us through the website if you want a response.)

The I-Novel, Osamu Dazai, and No Longer Human

Read Japanese Literature

06/23/22 • 41 min

Today, we’re talking about the I-Novel—the highest form of literature in Japan in the 1910s and 20s.

It’s a genre one American scholar describes as “perhaps the most striking feature of modern Japanese literature.”

And it’s a genre Haruki Murakami claims to have an allergy to.

We’ll also be looking at the life and work of Osamu Dazai and asking, “What does it take to get disqualified as a human being?”

Content warning: This episode addresses addiction, rape, suicide, and misogyny.
Notes and sources at the podcast episode website.

Let RJL know what you think! (Contact us through the website if you want a response.)

Taisho Magazines and Akutagawa’s Vision of Hell

Read Japanese Literature

05/31/22 • 39 min

The father of the Japanese short story shares his dark vision about what it means to be an artist.

We’re taking a look at Japan in the 1910s and 1920s, the era of the Taishō Democracy and the heyday of Japan’s literary magazines and serial novels.

Content warning: This episode addresses addiction, suicide, and sexual assault.
Notes and sources at the podcast episode website.

Let RJL know what you think! (Contact us through the website if you want a response.)

The Women Writers of Meiji Japan

Read Japanese Literature

05/06/22 • 37 min

Last episode, we talked about the coming of the West and the way it impacted Japanese literature.

This time we’re talking about women as they take up a prominent position in the story of Japanese literature for the first time in almost 1000 years.
Special focus on Ichiyō Higuchi and her best-beloved story "Takekurabe".
Please note that this episode mistakenly attributes quotes from Higuchi’s diary to translator Melek Ortabasi. The translations are by Kyoko Omori.
Notes and sources are available on the podcast episode webpage.

Let RJL know what you think! (Contact us through the website if you want a response.)

Fukushima Fiction

Read Japanese Literature

03/06/23 • 43 min

On March 11, 2011, at 2:46pm, one tectonic plate forced its way on top of another 45 miles (or 72 km) off the Eastern coast of Japan. It caused a 9.0 magnitude megathrust earthquake that lasted about six minutes.

The Great East Japan Earthquake triggered a tsunami—a great wave—that may have reached heights up to 133 feet (more than 40 meters).

The earthquake and tsunami also disabled the reactor cooling systems at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, causing several reactors to meltdown.

The government of Tokyo released official death numbers around the tenth anniversary of 3/11 in 2021. It reported 19,759 deaths. 6,242 injuries. And 2,553 missing. Most of the missing are presumed dead.

Hundreds of thousands of people who evacuated the area still haven’t returned home—many never will.

In this episode:

Tohoku and its place in Japan's history and culture
The response by Japanese writers to the 3/11 disaster
Hiromi Kawakami's life and work—especially her stories "God Bless You" and "God Bless You, 2011"

Transcript, notes and sources at the podcast episode website.

Donate to support Tohoku:

Soso Volunteer (Japanese)
Support Our Kids (Japanese)
The Taylor Anderson Memorial Fund (English)

Become an RJL supporter for ten minutes of bonus content.

Let RJL know what you think! (Contact us through the website if you want a response.)

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FAQ

How many episodes does Read Japanese Literature have?

Read Japanese Literature currently has 43 episodes available.

What topics does Read Japanese Literature cover?

The podcast is about Literature, Fiction, Podcasts, Books, Japanese and Arts.

What is the most popular episode on Read Japanese Literature?

The episode title 'The Smile of the Mountain Witch' is the most popular.

What is the average episode length on Read Japanese Literature?

The average episode length on Read Japanese Literature is 44 minutes.

How often are episodes of Read Japanese Literature released?

Episodes of Read Japanese Literature are typically released every 27 days, 16 hours.

When was the first episode of Read Japanese Literature?

The first episode of Read Japanese Literature was released on Sep 29, 2021.

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Read Japanese Literature

Alison Fincher

Top 10 Read Japanese Literature Episodes

FAQ

How many episodes does Read Japanese Literature have?

What topics does Read Japanese Literature cover?

What is the most popular episode on Read Japanese Literature?

What is the average episode length on Read Japanese Literature?

How often are episodes of Read Japanese Literature released?

When was the first episode of Read Japanese Literature?

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