The Komi Can’t Communicate manga is translated from the Japanese by John Werry Tomohito Oda’s Komi Can’t Communicate manga (Komi-san wa Komyushou Desu) is a slice-of-life comedy that succeeds and fails in equal parts; propelled forward by a sweet premise that remains interesting, but its comedy moments are often jarring and forced. The titular Komi …
Japanese Literature
So much of our experience with a novel relies on its narrator and its protagonist. When we read, we both apply our understanding of the world to the novel, and seek to put that aside to look through the narrator’s eyes. Most protagonists and narrators feel trustworthy, pleasant, and kind; even if that protagonist has …
Created, written, and drawn by Makoto Yukimura, the Vinland Saga manga is a historical epic and a true work of manga genius. Here’s why. Manga come and manga go. Some great manga become symbols of the medium; the first thing on our lips when we recommend manga to our friends (Berserk and Dragon Ball spring …
For more than a decade now, mythology has had a colossal resurgence in popular culture. From the God of War video games to Thor: Ragnarok, kids and adults around the world are devouring every movie, TV show, and video game based in mythology. But, for those of us wanting to dig a little deeper, there …
As many of the books on this list explore and celebrate, Tokyo is a city that contains multitudes. It is an Edo city of traditional Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines. It’s also a pre-war town of narrow yokocho alleyways lined with ramen joints and izakaya. And it’s a modern metropolis of kawaii cafes, shopping districts, …
Parenthood, however it may look, is a shared experience worldwide. Yet, the reality of caring for a child is so often romanticised, and ultimately the emotions, stresses, and hardships of the parent are brushed aside. Motherhood in particular is often painted in rosy hues and presented as a gift, never as a sacrifice, and these …
You don’t need me to tell you that the isekai genre has quickly taken over the world of anime during the past few years. Some of it is good, some great, but much of it is bad. That said, even the bad stuff can be enjoyed as a guilty pleasure. Most of the isekai anime …
The medium of manga (and comic books in general) is in a unique position to deliver horror to its readers like no other medium can, blurring the lines between prose that fuels the imagination and films that fling the terror at you in full force. You only need to flick through some of the best …
If there’s one nation that loves its cats, it’s… well, probably Ancient Egypt, but they’re gone. So, now, it’s Japan. Japan and cats go together like Murakami and Kafka. In Japanese culture and mythology, cats have been revered for centuries. The most famous example of this is the maneki-neko or beckoning cat — a statue, often …
If you’re wondering where to start with Japanese literature, these are the best Japanese books across sci-fi, mystery, literary fiction, and more. Japanese literature is everywhere. The nation’s stories and novels get turned into manga, anime, and movies. Their authors are as famous and legendary as Hollywood’s actors and directors. And Japanese literature is big …