What to Read and Watch Before You go to Japan
by Laura Studarus
Books, and movies, and television shows, oh my!
Studies have shown that we derive nearly as much pleasure from anticipating a vacation as we do actually going on it. So why not double your enjoyment? Whether you’re indulging before or during your trip, books, television and movies are a great way to spark curiosity, get a sense of social cues, and even discover new landmarks and regions you’d like to visit. And after a trip, a reading and viewing list is a great way to extend the joy of discovery.
While by no means an exhaustive list, here’s a few of our favorite Japanese books, television shows, and movies to get you started.
Books:
Convenience Store Woman, by Sayaka Murata
In Japan, convenience stores act as community hubs. But for Keiko Furukura, the 36-year-old hero of Sayaka Murata’s satire Convenience Store Woman, her place of employment is an oasis. It’s here where she can hide the fact she’s “different” by emulating the dress, hairstyles, and mannerisms of her coworkers. That is, until she meets Shiraha, a man who can’t hold down a job because like her, he sees himself as a bit of an oddball. The two start a loveless relationship of, well—convenience. The characters grapple with heavy topics. But with Murata’s light-hearted touch, Furukura’s struggle reads like the ultimate, unexpected freedom fable.
Sweet Bean Paste, Durian Sukegawa
Sentaro has drank away his dreams of becoming a writer. Instead, he now spends his days in a shop selling dorayaki—Japanese pancakes filled with sweet bean paste. But when an elderly woman with a flair for baking and a checkered past of her own comes into his life, he finally gets the companionship he craves. However, if he’s not careful his closely held secret might destroy it all. Bonus: there’s also a charming movie adaptation.
A Tale for the Time Being, by Ruth Ozeki
Nao is a depressed sixteen-year-old documenting what she believes are the last days of her life. Ruth is a novelist who finds a Hello Kitty lunch box filled with mysterious artifacts. From their opposite sides of the Pacific, a mystery unfolds the two share an unlikely bond—one with the power to change Ruth’s future.
The Pillow Book, by Sei Shōnagon
The Pillow Book is a collection of poems, descriptive passages, and essays that describe life in Japan around the year 1002. While largely unconnected entries, Sei Shōnagon tends to dwell on the idea of beauty and pleasure. (“To wash your hair, apply your makeup and put on clothes that are well-scented with incense,” she says, “Even if you’re somewhere where no one special will see you, you still feel a heady sense of pleasure inside.”) Dip into it while traveling around historical sites in Kyoto for an insider’s look at ancient aristocracy.
Movies:
Literally any movie by Hayao Miyazaki
When making lists like this, specificity is key. However, when it comes to the work of animation director Hayao Miyazaki, it’s impossible to recommend just one of his films—particularly with the opening of Ghibli Park in November of 2022. There’s simply no wrong entry point to his lush animation and gentle storylines about love, friendship, and magic. Curious about Japanese spiritual traditions? Get wrapped up in the ghostly world of Spirited Away. Keen to explore the countryside? Time to meet My Neighbor Totoro. Ready to explore the wonders of Shodoshima Island? You’ll see the real-life windmill that inspired Kiki’s Delivery Service. Adventuring to Yakushima island? Make Princess Mononoke your travel partner.
Departures
When his orchestra is suspended, cellist Daigo Kobayashi and his wife are forced to move back to his hometown in Northern Japan. Despite the taboos surrounded with working with the dead, he finds employment as a ritual mortician, and leans into his true calling. While it may sound dark, the movie’s humor and honesty won it an Academy Award for best foreign film in 2008.
Swing Girls
In a bid to avoid summer math class, a group of delinquent school girls end up replacing the school brass band after accidentally poisoning them. (Don’t worry, it’s a comedy.) After discovering they actually have a passion for their accidently craft, the crew double down to buy instruments of their own on a madcap adventure that leads them to the top…or at least somewhere nearby.
Television:
Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories
Available on Netflix in the United States, Midnight Diner tells a deceptively simple story. Every night Master opens up his Tokyo-based diner at midnight until seven am, and makes patrons anything they want to eat, as long as he has the ingredients. The night-owls come from everywhere in the city, including an absent-minded scientist, a gossipy trio of friends, and a bachelor haunted by his mother’s ghost, who worries that she’s judging him for his collection of vintage erotica. Lives collide and change, and throughout their drama, Master proves to be the ultimate judgmental listener. Even if you’re in it for the lush shots of food preparation, you’ll fall in love with the show’s sweetly meditative rhythm.
Good Morning Call
When high school student Yoshikawa Nao finally rents her own apartment, she figures that she has it made. That is, until thanks to a fraudulent real estate agent she has to share it with Uehara Hisahi, aka the hottest boy in school. If you think you know where this opposites/enemies to lovers setup is going…you’re absolutely right. However, this lighthearted romance also shows a fairly decent slice of life for teenagers in Japan. And bonus: if Netflix binging really isn’t your thing, it’s also available in manga form.
Terrace House
Terrace House is a Japanese reality show were three men and three women live together. Yes, this sounds like the setup for a hundred other like-minded shows, where participants are manipulated to the point they end up naked or in tears. But therein lies the twist—it’s exactly what it advertises. They’re still allowed to work their day jobs, hang out with non-cast member friends, and date anyone inside or outside the residence. They even watch episodes of the show together and check reactions on Twitter. However, their interactions (and fights…after all, it is six young people living together) are examined and hilariously dissected by the show’s secondary cast of comedians, models, and musicians turned reality show pundits.