Welcome to the Japanese Literature Challenge, now in its fifteenth year. What a joy it is to share our affection for Japanese literature together!
The term ”challenge” comes from the early days of blogging, when reading challenges were set forth by so many of my blogging friends. But, this is not really a challenge; it is more of an opportunity to read and share works written by Japanese authors.
Here are a few guidelines:
- Read as many books as you like from January through March. (Even if that is ”only” one.)
- Make sure the work was originally written in Japanese.
- Choose from classic to contemporary works, whatever appeals to you.
- Leave a link here to your review so that we can visit you.
Finally, there will be prizes. I have several books I would like to give as prizes during the three months of the Japanese Literature Challenge 15. So, do stay tuned for those announcements. I will leave this post as a sticky post at the top of my blog. Hopefully, that will help you access it easily to leave the links to your reviews. I am so looking forward to what it is that you read!
(Just click on the widget below to add the link to your review.)
Very excited! Thank you for hosting it again this year!
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Thank you for participating and commenting here, Karen!
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Count me in! Thanks for organizing this event again!
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Hooray, Emma, so glad to have you again!
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Hurrah! If nothing else, I have some unread Mishima!!
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He seems to be a quite popular author this year. Several people have mentioned him on Twitter and Instagram in relation to this challenge, so you certainly won’t be alone. 😉
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Yay! I haven’t done Japanese literature challenge for a couple of years now (extended reading block), but I have some cool books lined up, and am all set for the challenge.
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I can’t wait to see what you have lined up, Nish. So glad you’re joining in again.
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I have Klara and the Sun, and The Devotion of Suspect X lined up so far. Let’s see if I can squeeze anything else in.
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Love taking part in this, I’ll have to see what I have in the pile!
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I love having you, Cathy! So glad you’re in, as I love participating in your challenge, too.❤️
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[…] tuned” for future announcements. If this sounds like your bowl of cha, please head over to The Japanese Literature Challenge 15 (January through March, 2022) for detailed instructions on taking […]
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So honored to be included in your Winding Up The Week, Paula! Thank you.
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Sounds exciting! Would love to take part.
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I’m really glad you found this, Phillip. And, I see we have much in common (from what I can tell even with your header containing books on Christianity). Welcome!
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[…] there you have it! My initial thoughts on what I might read for the 2022 Japanese Literature Challenge. Thank you so much Bellezza for hosting it […]
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[…] and the sun by Kazuo Ishiguro – I picked up this book for Dolce Belezza’s Japanese literature challenge that starts in January. But it’s tempting me so much, I might just read it ahead in […]
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I am in! Here is my post, I’ll try again 12 books like last year. Here is my list: https://wordsandpeace.com/2021/12/14/japanese-literature-challenge-15/
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Sure I’ll read at least one novel from a Japanese author early in 2022. Count me in. First I’ll research which one I’d like to read … that came out in Japan in 2021. hmm.
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Yay, Susan! It was my hope that “merely” reading one would entice people to pick up some Japanese literature this winter. There are many, many exciting books published this year, and I’m sure some of them will be highlighted. I even have a few picked out myself, such as My Annihilation by Fuminori Nakamura (which might just show up as a prize, wink wink). A few others on my radar are Heaven by Meiko Kawakami, The Woman In The Purple Skirt by Natsuko Imamura, and There’s No Such Thing As An Easy Job by Kikuko Tsumura.
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this seems like so much fun. i am going to have to do some research. i think i have a japanese translated work but i am not sure.
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So glad you’re joining in! If you are not sure of what to read, you might find some ideas from the titles I’ll read on my sidebar. Of course, once people start posting their reviews, that list of what to read gets a lot longer!☺️
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Hello! I just read about this challenge from my online friend Emma at WordsandPeace. I would like to participate this year. I will post my blog and list soon!
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I’m starting low with one book a month for a total of three. Here is my blog page with my proposed selections. I will post links to their reviews when that occurs! Crossing my fingers for discipline this coming year.
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I think one book a month is a great way to begin! Don’t be worried about discipline, more important is joy with what we read.😉
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I enjoyed all 3 of the books that I chose for this challenge and completed a Mr. Linky link to 2 of the review. The third review for the book I read in January – Before the Coffee Gets Cold – has not yet been posted on the review site (FreshFiction.com) where I received it yet. I suspect it will go up when the 3rd book in the trilogy is published or a new edition of book 1 or 2 is released.
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It’s wonderful that you found out about this on Emma’s blog. She has been a faithful participant in the challenge, and I welcome you!
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I see your books on the left, but can’t seem to find a post on them, so I’m commenting here on them. Seeing all kinds of new books to me, looking forward to your reviews.
I have read the two by Murakami. His latest one on his collection of T-shorts is fun.Very short pieces, but they make think I get to know Murakami a bit better
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I would love to get to know Murakami better! He and his writing are always a bit elusive to me. I didn’t post on the books in my sidebar as I just finalized them last night, but perhaps I will. They look awfully exciting to me!
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YAY I’m joining! Already have one or two lined up for January.
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What I may read: https://hopewellslibraryoflife.wordpress.com/2021/12/29/japanese-literature-challenge-15-what-i-may-read/
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[…] read for the Japanese Literature Challenge 14, and am preparing to begin the Japanese Literature Challenge 15 on January 1, 2022. Don’t forget that in the blog-o-sphere, and social media, there is also […]
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I’m in! Just need to find some books to read, but I’m sure that won’t be a problem. Happy New Year!
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[…] The Cat Who Saved Books | Sosuke Natsukawa for Dolce Bellezza’s Japanese Literature Challenge 15 […]
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[…] January *is*. however, a month with some challenges, and I shall most definitely be taking part in! The first is the Japanese Literature Challenge, hosted by Meredith and you can find out more about this here. […]
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I’m already enjoying my reading for this challenge! Thank you so much for hosting this again. Here’s my setup post: https://afondnessforreading.com/2022/01/02/japanese-literature-15/
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[…] An I-Novel by Minae Mizumura (2021, tr. Juliet Winters Carpenter. Original: 私小説, 1995) – Japanese Literature Challenge […]
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I’m spending January on various areas of Japanese culture, and have linked my review to the first Japanese book in translation that I’ve read this month – Kobo Abe’s The Woman in the Dunes, a nice bit of absurdist dystopia!
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[…] already been announced : Japanese Literature Challenge, Larry McMurtry 2022 for which I want to read Lonesome Dove, and the 1954 Club. (I have The Ponder […]
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[…] A slight story, but a beautifully observed and sensitively written study of human (and feline) nature. Tony Malone reviewed this when it was first reissued by Daunt, and this post will be linked to Meredith’s record-breaking 15th (fifteenth!) Japanese Literature Challenge. […]
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[…] plans too. Reviews were planned for Annabookbel’s #NordicFINDS Month and perennial favourite Japanese Literature Challenge, but at the moment I can’t seem to muster the energy to write anything that requires too much […]
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I’d love to join in as well. Have a few unread japanese translations on my TBR. Also an assorted sample of japanese writing, Monkey via NetGalley
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[…] January, and that means it’s time for Japanese Literature Challenge 15! I chose to read Ms Ice Sandwich by Mieko Kawakami, an endearing novella about a boy’s first […]
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I have come to know of this challenge through Tracy K @Bitter Tea and Mystery. I’d love to join too as there are some Japanese books I am excited about. Thanks for hosting.
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I’m so glad you’re joining in! Lovely to have you.
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[…] all the Japanese Literature Challenge rules and reviews […]
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[…] read this novel for the Japanese Lit challenge going on over at the blog Dolce Bellezza and found it well […]
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[…] am linking this once again to the wonderful Japanese Literature Challenge hosted by […]
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Am enjoying this immensely although the Mr Linky won’t let me link as my URLs are too long, so here are my posts so far!
https://kaggsysbookishramblings.wordpress.com/2022/01/19/all-the-demons-of-the-modern-age-had-been-swept-away-lifeforsale-mishima-japaneseliteraturechallenge/
https://kaggsysbookishramblings.wordpress.com/2022/01/17/exploring-a-pioneering-woman-author-for-the-japaneseliteraturechallenge-chiyouno/
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[…] a previous novel by Natsuo Kirino, I decided to go for another book of hers in the 746 for the Japanese Literature Challenge, hosted, as always by Dolce […]
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[…] progress tracker for the 15th Japanese Literature Challenge. A big thank you to Dolce Bellezza for hosting this […]
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[…] The last but one, I think, of my posts linking to Meredith’s Japanese Literature Challenge. […]
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[…] all the Japanese Literature Challenge rules and reviews […]
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[…] my last #JanuaryinJapan or Japanese Literature Challenge 15 contribution, I picked one of my favourite Japanese poets, who wrote both in freestyle […]
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[…] contributes to two blogging events, Japanese Lit Challenge 15 hosted by Meredith and Nonfiction Reader Challenge hosted by […]
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[…] Read for Japanese Literature Challenge 15 […]
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[…] review is my contribution to the Japanese Literature Challenge 15 hosted by Dolce Bellezza; see also my contributory posts to both the Japanese Literature Challenge […]
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[…] Winter TBR; Japanese Literature Challenge, hosted […]
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[…] all the Japanese Literature Challenge rules and reviews HERE. Thank you to Dolce Bellezza for hosting the […]
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[…] is the second book I read for the Japanese literature reading challenge hosted by Dolce Belleza. I finished this book in January but have been delaying my review because I […]
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[…] read The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yoko Ogawa for this year’s Japanese Literature Challenge. If you’re interested in Japanese literature, please check out my earlier post on Ms Ice […]
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[…] just managed to squeeze in a Japanese read in time to catch the end of this year’s Japanese Literature Challenge 15 hosted by Dolce […]
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[…] the best thing to do is open the Japanese literature books that I gathered for the Japanese Literature Challenge 15 but never got around to reading…,” I thought, and that is how I’ve decided to […]
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[…] by Mieko Kawakami in a bookstore I visited. I always look for Japanese novels for Belezza’s Japanese Literature Reading Challenge. Every January, she does this challenge, and this book might be great to reserve till then. I […]
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[…] The Japanese Literature Challenge 15 […]
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