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China Barbarians and the Birth of Chinese Identity (vol. 3) Jing Liu This fun, comic-style series that explores China's relationship with its barbarian neighbors. The Mongols! Read More China Survival Guide Larry and Qin Herzberg This updated edition of the best-selling travel guide to China is your ticket to the trip of a lifetime. Read More Foundations of Chinese Civilization (vol. 1) Jing Liu A fun way to learn about China in a visual, informative comic-style history. Read More The Making of Modern China (vol. 4) Jing Liu The fourth volume in this fun, comic-style series that explores China's move to modernization! Read More Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar Larry and Qin Herzberg Speak and write with confidence while avoiding common mistakes! Read More Chinese Proverbs and Popular Sayings Larry and Qin Herzberg A collection of 600 proverbs in Chinese and English, capturing the enduring wisdom of China, for travelers and language students. Read More Sacred Sanskrit Words Leza Lowitz A simple guide to over 160 key spiritual concepts behind yoga and other branches of Eastern wisdom. Read More The Pearl Jacket and Other Stories Shouhua Qi China's hottest literary genre brings together the traditional, the experimental, and the avant-garde. Read More Bird Talk and Other Stories by Xu Xu Xu Xu Works of a major Chinese writer--liberal, cosmopolitan, and lyrically exotic--once banned but now embraced... Read More Division to Unification in Imperial China (vol. 2) Jing Liu The second volume in this fun, comic-style series that explores China's transition from the Three Kingdoms to the Tang Dynasty. Read More Speak and Read Chinese Larry and Qin Herzberg A handy supplement to studying characters in class or independently that teaches useful tricks for remembering words and tones. Read More The Understanding China Through Comics Series Jing Liu Who founded China? Who are the Chinese people? What is Chinese culture and how has it changed over time? Read More China Smart Larry and Qin Herzberg Essential essays on all things Chinese that inform and entertain travelers, students, and anyone working or living in China. Read More Epochs of Chinese and Japanese Art Ernest F. Fenollosa Two volumes of the essential and definitive survey of Chinese and Japanese art in one book. Read More The Buddhist Swastika and Hitler's Cross T.K. Nakagaki A remarkable cross-cultural history that rescues the swastika, an ancient Buddhist symbol, from its deployment by the forces of hate. Read More The Way Forward (vol. 5) Jing Liu How China became the China we know today, through war and societal transformation. Read More Load More Titles Collections JAPAN JAPAN LANGUAGE LANGUAGE CHINA CHINA LITERATURE LITERATURE TRAVEL TRAVEL CULTURE FOOD & DESIGN CULTURE FOOD & DESIGN FILM ANIME & MANGA FILM ANIME & MANGA PHILOSOPHY & RELGION PHILOSOPHY& RELIGION

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New Books A Bridge of Words Hiroaki Sato Prolific, award-winning translator of classical and modern Japanese poetry Hiroaki Sato recorded his thoughts on American society in mainly two columns across 30-plus years, collected here for the first time. Read More Dragon Palace Hiromi Kawakami Stories from a Japanese master of transformative fiction, where reality, myth, and human foibles meet shifting dimensions of gender, biology, and destiny. Read More Japanese Cinema Peter Cowie An informal yet informed journey through the classic works of Japanese cinema and their visionary directors. Read More My Heart Sutra Frederik L. Schodt A cultural and personal journey into the famous sutra that teaches "form is emptiness; and emptiness is form." Read More Sharing a House with the Never-Ending Man Steve Alpert A unique behind-the-scenes look at Japanese business and how the animated films of Hayao Miyazaki were introduced to the world. Read More The Thorn Puller Hiromi Ito Introducing Hiromi Ito, an award-winning Japanese author who has been compared to Haruki Murakami and Yoko Tawada. Read More Basho's Haiku Journeys Freeman Ng & Cassandra Rockwood Ghanem Haiku tell the story of the poet Basho and the diaries he wrote while walking throughout Japan in the 1600s. Read More Eating Wild Japan Winifred Bird A delicious collection of essays, recipes, and practical plant information exploring Japan's thriving culture of foraged foods. Read More Just Enough Azby Brown How the mindset of traditional Japanese society can guide our own efforts to lead a green lifestyle today. Read More Naikan, Anniversary Edition Gregg Krech This new edition marks the 20th anniversary of this important and influential book with new and updated materials. Read More Takaoka's Travels Tatsuhiko Shibusawa Introducing Tatsuhiko Shibusawa—Japan’s Italo Calvino—in this fantastical tale of a Japanese prince who encounters both beauty and danger on a pilgrimage to India. Read More The Way Forward (vol. 5) Jing Liu How China became the China we know today, through war and societal transformation. Read More Bird Talk and Other Stories by Xu Xu Xu Xu Works of a major Chinese writer--liberal, cosmopolitan, and lyrically exotic--once banned but now embraced... Read More Illusory Dwellings Allen S. Weiss Essays on the nature, creation, and presentation of art, craft , and architecture in Japan, springing from the author’s experiences in Kyoto. Read More Kanazawa David Joiner In Kanazawa, Japan, Emmitt and his wife Mirai clash over how to pursue their future together until a 30-year-old mystery reveals a way forward. Read More Of Arcs and Circles Marc Peter Keane A renowned designer of Japanese gardens contemplates wildness, humanity, beauty, the liquid state of the world. Read More The Heron Catchers David Joiner Joiner's second novel set in the fabled Kanazawa area is an intimate yet understated look at an American who seeks recovery after his marriage to a Japanese woman has failed. Read More Tokyo Junkie Robert Whiting 60 years of observation: an American journalist’s memoir about Tokyo’s modern urban transformation, its criminal underworld and, oh yes, baseball. Read More Discovering Yamaguchi Sake Jim Rion A new and remarkable look at the sake produced in Japan’s Yamaguchi Prefecture Read More Japan from Anime to Zen David Watts Barton An accessible compendium of the most important aspects of Japanese arts, culture and history, for quick reference or a longer, in-depth read, for actual and armchair travelers alike. Read More Kyoto Stories Steve Alpert An American student in 1970s Kyoto rambles among the city’s beauties and traditions, learning as he goes. Read More Off the Beaten Tracks in Japan John Dougill Observations on the people, culture, and history of Japan from a long-time resident riding the rails along the less-traveled western coastline. Read More The Minamata Story Sean Michael Wilson and Akiko Shimojima The true story of how one Japanese village suffered and survived the mercury poisoning of its waters. Read More Tokyo Stroll Gilles Poitras The ultimate guidebook to walking the streets of Tokyo that Japan lovers and the curious have been waiting for. Read More Load More Titles Collections JAPAN JAPAN LANGUAGE LANGUAGE CHINA CHINA LITERATURE LITERATURE TRAVEL TRAVEL CULTURE FOOD & DESIGN CULTURE FOOD & DESIGN FILM ANIME & MANGA FILM ANIME & MANGA PHILOSOPHY & RELGION PHILOSOPHY& RELIGION

Featured Books Dragon Palace Hiromi Kawakami Stories from a Japanese master of transformative fiction, where reality, myth, and human foibles meet shifting dimensions of gender, biology, and destiny. Read More Sharing a House with the Never-Ending Man Steve Alpert A unique behind-the-scenes look at Japanese business and how the animated films of Hayao Miyazaki were introduced to the world. Read More Foundations of Chinese Civilization (vol. 1) Jing Liu A fun way to learn about China in a visual, informative comic-style history. Read More Tokyo Stroll Gilles Poitras The ultimate guidebook to walking the streets of Tokyo that Japan lovers and the curious have been waiting for. Read More Japanese the Manga Way Wayne P. Lammers A "real manga, real Japanese" study guide and resource for language students and teachers. Read More Of Arcs and Circles Marc Peter Keane A renowned designer of Japanese gardens contemplates wildness, humanity, beauty, the liquid state of the world. Read More Load More Titles Collections JAPAN JAPAN LANGUAGE LANGUAGE CHINA CHINA LITERATURE LITERATURE TRAVEL TRAVEL CULTURE FOOD & DESIGN CULTURE FOOD & DESIGN FILM ANIME & MANGA FILM ANIME & MANGA PHILOSOPHY & RELGION PHILOSOPHY& RELIGION

Culture, Food & Design A Lateral View Donald Richie A revealing look at contemporary Japanese culture. Read More Being Japanese American Gil Asakawa A celebration of JA culture: facts, recipes, songs, words, and memories that every JA will want to share. Read More Epochs of Chinese and Japanese Art Ernest F. Fenollosa Two volumes of the essential and definitive survey of Chinese and Japanese art in one book. Read More Illusory Dwellings Allen S. Weiss Essays on the nature, creation, and presentation of art, craft , and architecture in Japan, springing from the author’s experiences in Kyoto. Read More Just Enough Azby Brown How the mindset of traditional Japanese society can guide our own efforts to lead a green lifestyle today. Read More Sake Confidential John Gauntner An American sake expert takes you to a whole new level of insider knowledge and expertise. Read More A Tractate on Japanese Aesthetics Donald Richie Sure to be a classic, Donald Richie's concise, profound insights into the mysteries of Japanese Aesthetics. Read More China Smart Larry and Qin Herzberg Essential essays on all things Chinese that inform and entertain travelers, students, and anyone working or living in China. Read More Family Crests of Japan ​ Find the beauty and meaning of over 850 family crests found in Japanese tradition. Read More Japan from Anime to Zen David Watts Barton An accessible compendium of the most important aspects of Japanese arts, culture and history, for quick reference or a longer, in-depth read, for actual and armchair travelers alike. Read More Native American in the Land of the Shogun Frederik L. Schodt The true story of a half-Chinook, half-Scot adventurer who entered feudal Japan in 1848 and helped pave the way for its modernization. Read More Tabemasho! Let’s Eat! Gil Asakawa Your favorite Japanese foods, home-cooked, packaged, or served in restaurants, and how they came to delight the American palate. Read More Amy’s Guide to Best Behavior in Japan Amy Chavez Going to Japan? This unfussy modern guide guarantees you keep it polite and get it right! Read More Discovering Yamaguchi Sake Jim Rion A new and remarkable look at the sake produced in Japan’s Yamaguchi Prefecture Read More Green Tea Living Toshimi A. Kayaki Homespun wisdom from Japan updated for today's "green lifestyle" choices. Read More Japanese Garden Notes Marc Peter Keane Marc Peter Keane's personal journey through 100 Japanese gardens, looking at them with a designer’s eye. Read More Of Arcs and Circles Marc Peter Keane A renowned designer of Japanese gardens contemplates wildness, humanity, beauty, the liquid state of the world. Read More Tenryu-ji Norris Brock Johnson A beloved Japanese Zen temple, viewed through its monks, gardens, prayers, and art. Read More Basho's Haiku Journeys Freeman Ng & Cassandra Rockwood Ghanem Haiku tell the story of the poet Basho and the diaries he wrote while walking throughout Japan in the 1600s. Read More Eating Wild Japan Winifred Bird A delicious collection of essays, recipes, and practical plant information exploring Japan's thriving culture of foraged foods. Read More How to Take a Japanese Bath Leonard Koren An intoxicating, illustrated guide to Japan's ritual of hot-tub bathing. Read More Japaneseness Yoji Yamakuse Can traditional Japanese life concepts--like loyalty, harmony, meticulousness--make sense in Western societies? Read More Off the Beaten Tracks in Japan John Dougill Observations on the people, culture, and history of Japan from a long-time resident riding the rails along the less-traveled western coastline. Read More The Art of Setting Stones Marc Peter Keane Philosophical essays on the beauty and meaning of traditional Japanese gardens. Read More Load More Titles Collections JAPAN JAPAN LANGUAGE LANGUAGE CHINA CHINA LITERATURE LITERATURE TRAVEL TRAVEL CULTURE FOOD & DESIGN CULTURE FOOD & DESIGN FILM ANIME & MANGA FILM ANIME & MANGA PHILOSOPHY & RELGION PHILOSOPHY& RELIGION

Philosophy & Religion A Dictionary of Japanese Buddhist Terms Hisao Inagaki A vital resource for students of Buddhism and Japanese Culture, revised and expanded. Read More Hojoki Kamo-no-Chomei A luminous translation of the classic Buddhist poem. Read More Of Arcs and Circles Marc Peter Keane A renowned designer of Japanese gardens contemplates wildness, humanity, beauty, the liquid state of the world. Read More The Buddhist Swastika and Hitler's Cross T.K. Nakagaki A remarkable cross-cultural history that rescues the swastika, an ancient Buddhist symbol, from its deployment by the forces of hate. Read More A Glossary of Zen Terms Hisao Inagaki Of special interest to scholars and students of Zen classics, a glossary of specialized vocabulary to aid understanding and practice. Read More Japaneseness Yoji Yamakuse Can traditional Japanese life concepts--like loyalty, harmony, meticulousness--make sense in Western societies? Read More Sacred Sanskrit Words Leza Lowitz A simple guide to over 160 key spiritual concepts behind yoga and other branches of Eastern wisdom. Read More Yamamba Rebecca Copeland and Linda C. Ehrlich Women, Magic, Wisdom: Explore a Japanese myth through the words and images of key scholars and artists. Read More A Straight Road with 99 Curves Gregory Shepherd & Ruben LF Habito From fascination to disillusionment and back, a memoir of one man's quest for Zen and spirituality in America and Japan. Read More My Heart Sutra Frederik L. Schodt A cultural and personal journey into the famous sutra that teaches "form is emptiness; and emptiness is form." Read More Shinto Meditations for Revering the Earth Stuart D. B. Picken The first book in English to apply ancient Japanese Shinto traditions to daily spiritual fulfillment. Read More Yoga Heart Leza Lowitz The much-anticipated follow-up to the author's highly popular Yoga Poems: Lines to Unfold By. Read More Chinese Proverbs and Popular Sayings Larry and Qin Herzberg A collection of 600 proverbs in Chinese and English, capturing the enduring wisdom of China, for travelers and language students. Read More Naikan, Anniversary Edition Gregg Krech This new edition marks the 20th anniversary of this important and influential book with new and updated materials. Read More The Art of Setting Stones Marc Peter Keane Philosophical essays on the beauty and meaning of traditional Japanese gardens. Read More Load More Titles Collections JAPAN JAPAN LANGUAGE LANGUAGE CHINA CHINA LITERATURE LITERATURE TRAVEL TRAVEL CULTURE FOOD & DESIGN CULTURE FOOD & DESIGN FILM ANIME & MANGA FILM ANIME & MANGA PHILOSOPHY & RELGION PHILOSOPHY& RELIGION

Literature From literature in translation to compelling stories set in Japan, China, and beyond--start your journey through rich cultural landscapes and engaging narratives here. Browse New Releases & Featured Titles Dragon Palace Hiromi Kawakami Stories from a Japanese master of transformative fiction, where reality, myth, and human foibles meet shifting dimensions of gender, biology, and destiny. Read More Of Arcs and Circles Marc Peter Keane A renowned designer of Japanese gardens contemplates wildness, humanity, beauty, the liquid state of the world. Read More Foundations of Chinese Civilization (vol. 1) Jing Liu A fun way to learn about China in a visual, informative comic-style history. Read More Japanese the Manga Way Wayne P. Lammers A "real manga, real Japanese" study guide and resource for language students and teachers. Read More Sharing a House with the Never-Ending Man Steve Alpert A unique behind-the-scenes look at Japanese business and how the animated films of Hayao Miyazaki were introduced to the world. Read More Tokyo Stroll Gilles Poitras The ultimate guidebook to walking the streets of Tokyo that Japan lovers and the curious have been waiting for. Read More View All New Titles Collections JAPAN JAPAN CHINA CHINA LITERATURE LITERATURE TRAVEL TRAVEL LANGUAGE LANGUAGE CULTURE FOOD & DESIGN CULTURE FOOD & DESIGN FILM, ANIME & MANGA FILM ANIME & MANGA PHILOSOPHY & RELGION PHILOSOPHY& RELIGION SBP News How to understand Journey to the West Over the past month a coincidence of events has occasioned me to think about Journey to the West: reading our new translation of... Literature across languages Part 2: From Japanese to English This is a follow up to our previous post on the history of literary exchange between Japanese and... Literature across languages Part 1: From English to Japanese It’s easy to take for granted today the porousness of national boundaries and the effortless... More Posts

MONKEY Imprint Books Dragon Palace Hiromi Kawakami Stories from a Japanese master of transformative fiction, where reality, myth, and human foibles meet shifting dimensions of gender, biology, and destiny. Read More Takaoka's Travels Tatsuhiko Shibusawa Introducing Tatsuhiko Shibusawa—Japan’s Italo Calvino—in this fantastical tale of a Japanese prince who encounters both beauty and danger on a pilgrimage to India. Read More The Thorn Puller Hiromi Ito Introducing Hiromi Ito, an award-winning Japanese author who has been compared to Haruki Murakami and Yoko Tawada. Read More Load More Titles Collections JAPAN JAPAN LANGUAGE LANGUAGE CHINA CHINA LITERATURE LITERATURE TRAVEL TRAVEL CULTURE FOOD & DESIGN CULTURE FOOD & DESIGN FILM ANIME & MANGA FILM ANIME & MANGA PHILOSOPHY & RELGION PHILOSOPHY& RELIGION

Literature A Bridge of Words Hiroaki Sato Prolific, award-winning translator of classical and modern Japanese poetry Hiroaki Sato recorded his thoughts on American society in mainly two columns across 30-plus years, collected here for the first time. Read More A Tractate on Japanese Aesthetics Donald Richie Sure to be a classic, Donald Richie's concise, profound insights into the mysteries of Japanese Aesthetics. Read More Dragon Palace Hiromi Kawakami Stories from a Japanese master of transformative fiction, where reality, myth, and human foibles meet shifting dimensions of gender, biology, and destiny. Read More Hojoki Kamo-no-Chomei A luminous translation of the classic Buddhist poem. Read More Japan from Anime to Zen David Watts Barton An accessible compendium of the most important aspects of Japanese arts, culture and history, for quick reference or a longer, in-depth read, for actual and armchair travelers alike. Read More Kyoto Stories Steve Alpert An American student in 1970s Kyoto rambles among the city’s beauties and traditions, learning as he goes. Read More A Diplomat in Japan Sir Ernest Satow The classic historical account of Japan’s first encounters with the West. Read More Amorous Woman Donna George Storey An American woman's sexual awakening in Japan, testing the limits of love and sensual pleasure. Read More Dreamland Japan Frederik L. Schodt The classic text by renowned manga expert in a beautiful new casebound edition, with a new foreword and afterword by the author. Read More I Wait For The Moon Momoko Kuroda Momoko Kuroda (b. 1938) is a remarkable haiku spirit and a powerfully independent Japanese woman. Read More Japanese Girl at the Siege of Changchun Homare Endo An unforgettable memoir of the horrors suffered by a Japanese family trapped in Changchun, China, at the end of WW2. Read More Milky Way Railroad Kenji Miyazawa One night, alone on a hilltop, a young boy is swept aboard a magical train bound for the Milky Way. Read More A Lateral View Donald Richie A revealing look at contemporary Japanese culture. Read More Basho's Narrow Road Matsuo Basho A stimulating exploration of the haiku masterpiece. Read More Evening Clouds Junzo Shono A masterpiece of quiet lyricism set against a backdrop of change and renewal in suburban Tokyo. Read More In the Woods of Memory Shun Medoruma A powerful and thought-provoking novel that raises important questions about World War II, war memory, and US imperialism and blowback. Read More Kanazawa David Joiner In Kanazawa, Japan, Emmitt and his wife Mirai clash over how to pursue their future together until a 30-year-old mystery reveals a way forward. Read More Mobile Suit Gundam Frederik L. Schodt The Gundam creator's own vision of his spectacularly successful cult franchise, in a new edition for hungry fans. Read More A Shameful Life Osamu Dazai A new, definitive translation of the postwar classic know to the west as No Longer Human—a tortured vision inspiring the likes of Junji Ito and Bungo Stray Dogs Read More Bird Talk and Other Stories by Xu Xu Xu Xu Works of a major Chinese writer--liberal, cosmopolitan, and lyrically exotic--once banned but now embraced... Read More Forty-Seven Samurai Hiroaki Sato One of the most spectacular vendettas ever: the history and haiku behind the mass-suicide featured in the 2013 film 47 Ronin. Read More Innovating Out Of Crisis Shigetaka Komori CEO Shigetaka Komori's own story of why Fujifilm succeeded where Kodak failed... Read More Kwaidan Lafcadio Hearn Twenty unusual tales from Japan collected by one of the greatest writers on the country. Read More My Year of Dirt and Water Tracy Franz Married to a Zen monk in training, an American woman in Japan chronicles her own year of growth and discovery. Read More Load More Titles Collections JAPAN JAPAN LANGUAGE LANGUAGE CHINA CHINA LITERATURE LITERATURE TRAVEL TRAVEL CULTURE FOOD & DESIGN CULTURE FOOD & DESIGN FILM ANIME & MANGA FILM ANIME & MANGA PHILOSOPHY & RELGION PHILOSOPHY& RELIGION

SBP 2023-2024 Catalog A Shameful Life (Ningen Shikkaku) Author Osamu Dazai Translator Mark Gibeau Recipient of the 2018 William F. Sibley Memorial Subvention Award for Japanese Translation A new, definitive translation of the postwar classic known to the west as No Longer Human —a tortured vision inspiring the likes of Junji Ito and Bungo Stray Dogs Osamu Dazai is one of the most famous—and infamous—writers of 20th-century Japan. A Shameful Life (Ningen Shikkaku ) is his final published work and has become a bestselling classic for its depiction of the tortured struggle of a young man to survive in a world that he cannot comprehend. Paralleling the life and death of Dazai himself, the delicate weaving of fact and fiction remorselessly documents via journals the life of Yozo, a university student who spends his time in increasing isolation and debauchery. His doomed love affairs, suicide attempts, and constant fear of revealing his true self haunt the pages of the book and reveal a slow descent into madness. This dark tale nevertheless conveys something authentic about the human heart and its inability to find its true bearing. Gibeau's translation cements A Shameful Life's place in the existentialist literary canon from Dostoevsky to Camus. Fans of Bungo Stray Dogs will recognize Osamu Dazai as one of the characters named after the giants of Japanese literature. Those familiar with the numerous adaptations in graphic novels and animation can experience the source material in faithful, modern prose. Preview Goodreads Details PUBLISH DATE 11/13/18 PISBN PRICE 9781611720440 $14.95 GENRE Literary Fiction EISBN PRICE 9781611729320 $9.95 DIMENSIONS 7 x 5" HARDCOVER ISBN PRICE NA NA # OF PAGES 144 AUDIOBOOK ISBN PRICE NA NA Praise Recipient of the 2018 William F. Sibley Memorial Subvention Award for Japanese Translation "Dazai is the ultimate bad boy of Japanese literature and Ningen Shikkaku is his supreme masterpiece, a novel that still shocks today with its brutal honesty and unflinching, strangely thrilling pessimism. Nothing remotely like it had been seen in Japanese literature before." —The Japan Times "A refreshing and interesting reconstruction of this Japanese classic... 70 years on, Gibeau’s translation shows that this captivating novel is still as relevant and powerful as it was on the day of its initial release." —The Japan Society UK Review “Powerful… a fascinating psychological portrait, of someone trying (or rather, constantly failing) to come to terms with a self they find unbearable.” —The Complete Review "An all-new translation of Osamu Dazai's bleak masterwork brings fresh clarity and immediacy to a staple of modern Japanese literature." —Ganriki.org "Oba Yozo, the central character and anti-hero of Dazai Osamu’s Ningen Shikkaku , is as familiar to Japanese readers as Holden Caulfield is to English readers. The Catcher in the Rye still sells a million copies per year... Catcher, however, pales beside Ningen as a literary achievement." —Asian Review of Books "Dazai's novel is unrelentingly bleak.... but the joylessness here is unique, yet still strangely readable. It's a grim portrait of post-war ennui and failure of nerve." — The Pacific Rim Review of Books "5/5 Osamu Dazai is one of the giants of 20th-century Japanese literature. He became even more of a cult-like figure when he committed suicide with his supposed lover in 1948. What we get is his last, and most autobiographical, work. One in which you ask yourself whether you are really reading a piece of fiction or something that the author wanted the world to know before he committed suicide." —Manhattan Book Review "Dazai's book is a challenging, important part of Japanese culture." —Japan Visitor "Dazai's reputation has not waned a bit in seventy years. Reading Mark Gibeau's brilliant translation will show you why." —Roger Pulvers, award-winning translator, film director, and author of LIV "This new translation brings fresh skill and sensitivity to the task of interpreting one of modern Japanese literature’s most endearing classics. It gives us Dazai in all his quirky hilarity and pathos, and deepens our understanding of this complex and brilliant writer." —Dr. Meredith McKinney, award winning translator of Sei Shônagon's The Pillow Book "Certain novels evoke such a vivid sense of a character that it almost hurts to reach the end. This nuanced, engaging translation of Dazai Osamu's masterpiece A Shameful Life is just such a work: subtle and complex, it pulls the reader in and refuses to let go. Indeed, Mark Gibeau's helpful afterword left me wanting to turn right back to the first page and dig into the book again. A Shameful Life has that kind of power: it is Dazai at his finest." —Michael Emmerich, Associate Professor of Japanese Literature at UCLA "A fluent new translation of a postwar classic by the brilliant and controversial writer Osamu Dazai. Most readers will feel that the life of the protagonist of this semi-autobiographical novel is indeed "shameful," but they will be taken aback by the very different view expressed in its final lines." —Paul McCarthy, prize-winning translator of works by Tanizaki Jun'ichiro, Nakajima Atsushi, and Kanai Mieko Video Book Photos Retail Outlets Books sold at E-Books sold at Audiobooks sold at About the Author(s) Osamu Dazai Retains an enormous following today. He is as famous for his darkly introspective novels as for the light-hearted children’s stories that are a staple of many Japanese textbooks. Learn More Mark Gibeau A literary translator and scholar of postwar Japanese literature. Learn More

Japan A Bridge of Words Hiroaki Sato Prolific, award-winning translator of classical and modern Japanese poetry Hiroaki Sato recorded his thoughts on American society in mainly two columns across 30-plus years, collected here for the first time. Read More A Glossary of Zen Terms Hisao Inagaki Of special interest to scholars and students of Zen classics, a glossary of specialized vocabulary to aid understanding and practice. Read More A Tractate on Japanese Aesthetics Donald Richie Sure to be a classic, Donald Richie's concise, profound insights into the mysteries of Japanese Aesthetics. Read More Basho's Haiku Journeys Freeman Ng & Cassandra Rockwood Ghanem Haiku tell the story of the poet Basho and the diaries he wrote while walking throughout Japan in the 1600s. Read More Discovering Yamaguchi Sake Jim Rion A new and remarkable look at the sake produced in Japan’s Yamaguchi Prefecture Read More Easy and Fun Katakana Kiyomi Ogawa & Orrin Cummins Learn the second key Japanese syllabary from every angle: reading, writing, and real-world examples. Read More A Critical Handbook of Japanese Film Directors Alexander Jacoby A comprehensive volume on major directors in the history of Japanese film. Read More A Lateral View Donald Richie A revealing look at contemporary Japanese culture. Read More Amorous Woman Donna George Storey An American woman's sexual awakening in Japan, testing the limits of love and sensual pleasure. Read More Basho's Narrow Road Matsuo Basho A stimulating exploration of the haiku masterpiece. Read More Dragon Palace Hiromi Kawakami Stories from a Japanese master of transformative fiction, where reality, myth, and human foibles meet shifting dimensions of gender, biology, and destiny. Read More Eating Wild Japan Winifred Bird A delicious collection of essays, recipes, and practical plant information exploring Japan's thriving culture of foraged foods. Read More A Dictionary of Japanese Buddhist Terms Hisao Inagaki A vital resource for students of Buddhism and Japanese Culture, revised and expanded. Read More A Shameful Life Osamu Dazai A new, definitive translation of the postwar classic know to the west as No Longer Human—a tortured vision inspiring the likes of Junji Ito and Bungo Stray Dogs Read More Amy’s Guide to Best Behavior in Japan Amy Chavez Going to Japan? This unfussy modern guide guarantees you keep it polite and get it right! Read More Being Japanese American Gil Asakawa A celebration of JA culture: facts, recipes, songs, words, and memories that every JA will want to share. Read More Dreamland Japan Frederik L. Schodt The classic text by renowned manga expert in a beautiful new casebound edition, with a new foreword and afterword by the author. Read More Epochs of Chinese and Japanese Art Ernest F. Fenollosa Two volumes of the essential and definitive survey of Chinese and Japanese art in one book. Read More A Diplomat in Japan Sir Ernest Satow The classic historical account of Japan’s first encounters with the West. Read More A Straight Road with 99 Curves Gregory Shepherd & Ruben LF Habito From fascination to disillusionment and back, a memoir of one man's quest for Zen and spirituality in America and Japan. Read More Anime Explosion! Patrick Drazen A fascinating guide to themes and films in the expanding Japanese megaverse. Read More Crazy for Kanji Eve Kushner A passionate and playful guide to kanji that examines characters from every angle for an in-depth understanding. Read More Easy and Fun Hiragana Kiyomi Ogawa & Orrin Cummins Learn the basic Japanese syllabary from every angle: reading, writing, and real-world examples. Read More Evening Clouds Junzo Shono A masterpiece of quiet lyricism set against a backdrop of change and renewal in suburban Tokyo. Read More Load More Titles Collections JAPAN JAPAN LANGUAGE LANGUAGE CHINA CHINA LITERATURE LITERATURE TRAVEL TRAVEL CULTURE FOOD & DESIGN CULTURE FOOD & DESIGN FILM ANIME & MANGA FILM ANIME & MANGA PHILOSOPHY & RELGION PHILOSOPHY& RELIGION

Travel A Diplomat in Japan Sir Ernest Satow The classic historical account of Japan’s first encounters with the West. Read More Discovering Yamaguchi Sake Jim Rion A new and remarkable look at the sake produced in Japan’s Yamaguchi Prefecture Read More Kyoto Machiya Restaurant Guide Judith Clancy Enjoy delicious Japanese food in some of Kyoto's most tucked-away and spectacular townhouses. Read More The Forgotten Japanese Miyamoto Tsuneichi, translated by Jeffrey Irish A revealing look at rural lives and lifestyles that have all but disappeared today. Read More Tokyo Stroll Gilles Poitras The ultimate guidebook to walking the streets of Tokyo that Japan lovers and the curious have been waiting for. Read More Amy’s Guide to Best Behavior in Japan Amy Chavez Going to Japan? This unfussy modern guide guarantees you keep it polite and get it right! Read More Eating Wild Japan Winifred Bird A delicious collection of essays, recipes, and practical plant information exploring Japan's thriving culture of foraged foods. Read More Kyoto Stories Steve Alpert An American student in 1970s Kyoto rambles among the city’s beauties and traditions, learning as he goes. Read More The Inland Sea Donald Richie The complete version of the travel writing classic with photography by Yoichi Midorikawa. Read More Unbeaten Tracks in Japan Isabella L. Bird The first-hand account of an intrepid woman's exploration of Japan's interior in 1878. Read More China Smart Larry and Qin Herzberg Essential essays on all things Chinese that inform and entertain travelers, students, and anyone working or living in China. Read More Exploring Kyoto Judith Clancy The Japan travel classic and cultural guide gets you wandering from downtown quarters to remote mountaintop temples.... Read More Off the Beaten Tracks in Japan John Dougill Observations on the people, culture, and history of Japan from a long-time resident riding the rails along the less-traveled western coastline. Read More The Mikado's Empire William Elliot Griffis In its day the most popular book on the culture and history of then-mysterious Japan. Read More China Survival Guide Larry and Qin Herzberg This updated edition of the best-selling travel guide to China is your ticket to the trip of a lifetime. Read More Japan from Anime to Zen David Watts Barton An accessible compendium of the most important aspects of Japanese arts, culture and history, for quick reference or a longer, in-depth read, for actual and armchair travelers alike. Read More Tenryu-ji Norris Brock Johnson A beloved Japanese Zen temple, viewed through its monks, gardens, prayers, and art. Read More Tokyo Junkie Robert Whiting 60 years of observation: an American journalist’s memoir about Tokyo’s modern urban transformation, its criminal underworld and, oh yes, baseball. Read More Load More Titles Collections JAPAN JAPAN LANGUAGE LANGUAGE CHINA CHINA LITERATURE LITERATURE TRAVEL TRAVEL CULTURE FOOD & DESIGN CULTURE FOOD & DESIGN FILM ANIME & MANGA FILM ANIME & MANGA PHILOSOPHY & RELGION PHILOSOPHY& RELIGION