Support RJL. Check out our Bookshop.org page. Learn more about Japanese apocalyptic fiction with the RJL podcast. (Coming soon.) — • 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami (translated by Jay Rubin and Phili…
Apr 1, 2024 • Subscribe
More like this
2024 New and Upcoming Japanese Fiction Releases
“The Courtesan Hanazome of the Ogiya Reading a Letter and Grinding Ink” by Kikukawa Eizan (c. 1810-1815) Titles from Japan translated into English for publication in 2024. Does…
2023 Upcoming Japanese Fiction Releases
“Woman Reading a Letter” by Utamaro (c. 1750-1806) Listed released dates listed are tentative. Descriptions are excerpted from book sellers’ or publishers’ websites. Transla…
2022 Upcoming Japanese Fiction Releases
2022 translated Japanese novels
Episode 21: Sexlessness in Japanese Fiction
Check out Episode 21 of the Read Literature podcast. Transcript available. This episode is marked mature. Today we’ll explore two trends in contemporary Japanese fiction: Protagonists who don…
Episode 24: SF! Japanese Science Fiction
Check out Episode 24 of the Read Literature podcast. Transcript available. In this episode, we’re talking about Japanese science fiction. The history of the genre. SF in Japan.…
Transcript of Episode 21: Sexlessness in Japanese Fiction
Find out more about episode 21 of the Read Literature podcast on the episode page. Link to listen Notes and sources Ways to support the podcast This is…
Transcript of Episode 24: SF! Japanese Science Fiction
Find out more about Episode 24 of the Read Literature podcast on the episode page. Link to listen Notes and sources Ways to support the podcast Hi. This…
Drowning in fiction and fantasy
Fair warning, a lot of personal stuff here. I try to separate this out from the regular fare. I even considered not posting this since I wrote it…
SF! A Booklist of Japanese Science Fiction in Translation
Support RJL. Check out our Bookshop.org page. Anthologies The Best Japanese Science Fiction Stories ed. John Apostolou and Martin Greenberg The Future is Japanese: Science Fiction Futures and…
Our Post(processed)-Apocalyptic Future
Jinrui wa Suitai Shimashita (lit. “Mankind has Declined”) certainly would have gone underneath my radar this season if not for that little clip there. But scathing social commentary…
Review: Netghost — A Dystopian Computer Thriller
In this day and age, AI has been on the rise, so we went searching for computer-themed VN and a thrilling, mystery-driven plot!
86 – 17 – A Certain Apocalyptic Railgun
The episode begins at San Magnolia’s darkest and most desperate hour. While most of the military forces are presumably turning tail along with the civilians, Lena is standing…
ID: INVADED and Serial Killers in Fiction
It took me a while to finally get around to watching ID: INVADED. Psychological crime thrillers are some of my favourite stories so expectations were high.
Different Expectations on Fiction and Free Speech
As the Japanese cute girl anime/manga art style becomes evermore popular overseas, I feel a major cultural clash is unfolding. Anime, manga, and video games from Japan were…
Sabikui Bisco Episode 1 – Post Apocalyptic Mayhem
Post sponsored by Crow's World of Anime. Sabikui Bisco brings us a post-apocalyptic Japan where the wind is a carrying a plague that pretty much turns everything into…
Flowers, Expectations, and the Perils of Interactive Fiction
I had a variety of subtopics in mind for my return to Flowers, and we’ll probably get to a few of them, but at the moment, I can…
Webtoon Adaptations and the Challenges of Serial Fiction
Anime fans all over have most likely heard of the two recent Crunchyroll vehicles based on popular Webtoons. Namely last season’s Tower of God and the brand new…
Humanity is Screwed: Dystopian Visions in Psycho-Pass and Shin Sekai Yori (Colloquium)
Since I somewhat recently finished Shin Sekai Yori (SSY), Josh and I were talking (bickering) about it — as we are wont to do whenever I finish a show that…
Madoka Penguindrum: Conflating reality into fiction, conflating fiction into reality.
As an unrelated note, I’m sad to say the notes for Last Exile S2 were left in California, so I’ll be unable to do either of the posts…
Review: GIANT SPIDER & ME: A POST-APOCALYPTIC TALE
Never has a post-apocalyptic story been so fluffy. GIANT SPIDER & ME: A POST-APOCALYPTIC TALE ( Owari Nochi, Asanagi Kurashi ), by Kikori M...
Update: Gloomy Bear: Apocalyptic Love Has Been Delayed
Gloomy Bear: Apocalyptic Love will be delayed until further notice. We hope fans who were looking forward to reading this manga on April 4th will stick around as…
Japan to Lead the Way in Singularity Dystopian Future
Looks like the inevitable robot invasion may be coming sooner rather than later. A Japanese private security company by the name of Secom has begun...
Neon Genesis Evangelion 3.0 + 1.0: Deho Gallery and Tatsuya Kushida’s post-apocalyptic Eden
Let's dive into the staff working under Tatsuya Kushida at Deho Gallery and why their contributions to the final Evangelion were so meaningful.
Episode 433, "Pan Fiction"
On this week's live-recorded episode of The One Piece Podcast we go through One Piece Chapter 837, "Luffy vs. Cracker The General" and a double Anime Recap for…
Episode 22: Fukushima Fiction
Check out Episode 22 of the Read Literature podcast. Transcript available. On March 11, 2011, at 2:46pm, one tectonic plate forced its way on top of another 45…
Episode 433, "Pan Fiction"
On this week's live-recorded episode of The One Piece Podcast we go through One Piece Chapter 837, "Luffy vs. Cracker The General" and a double Anime Recap for…
Natsuhiko Kyougoku and the tradition of Honkaku mystery fiction
“There’s no such thing in this world as an uninteresting book. Any book is interesting; and not just when it’s new. Even books you’ve already read can be…
Minmaxer Fiction: The Intersection Between Dungeons & Dragons and Isekai
I saw a tweet recently from someone complaining about isekai series that introduce and highlight stats and numbers the way an RPG would despite ostensibly being set in…
A Midsummer Night’s Maze: Interactive Fiction and Narrative Design
Possible video game plot and summary for an interactive fiction based on “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”: Title: “A Midsummer Night’s Maze” Synopsis In the magical l…
Nicholas Andriani Storyteller, Game Designer, ELearning Specialist
From Mythical Fishermen to Space Cowboys: Tracing the Evolution of Japanese Science Fiction in “Urashima Tarō” and “Cowboy Bebop
From Mythical Fishermen to Space Cowboys: Tracing the Evolution of Japanese Science Fiction in “Urashima Tarō” and “Cowboy Bebop
You Know What I Mean? On Translating Japanese Fiction (Allison Markin Powell Part 2)
On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, translator Allison Markin Powell talks about translating Japanese fiction.
The NEW Apocalyptic Anime You Haven't Seen... (Heavenly Delusion)
Heavenly Delusion / Tengoku Daimakyō episode 1 came out yesterday and it is a definitely a unique approach to anime, if you enjoy apocalyptic anime/tv shows this one…
Gloomy Bear: Apocalyptic Love is ALIVE now on Azuki!
Azuki is teaming up with Gloomy Bear to release a new manga one-shot! Gloomy Bear: Apocalyptic Love is ALIVE and available to read right now on Azuki. Check…
“An Inner Revolution Of The Japanese Women”: The Rose of Versailles As Feminist Historical Fiction
The Rose of Versailles makes the argument that women’s lives and the romance genre can be radical and revolutionary—and, in fact, they were always central to revolutionary movements.
REVISITING KOIMONOGATARI AND THE WAYS WE CAN ENGAGE WITH FICTION
Some time ago, I have received a question about one of my super old posts on Tumblr. It was a post I’ve been meaning ro revisit for reasons…
Science Fiction Movies Streamed on Amazon and Netflix 2019 - 2022
The last 2 and a half years have had a slow, steady stream of science fiction films emerge on streaming services, rather than in the theater...
Fiction, Reality, and Escapism (Or How I Disagree with Evangelion)
There is often an underlying thought where consumption of fiction, be it in the form of watching TV, reading books, or playing video games, is thought of as…
Sword Art Online Episode 3 : When fiction and reality collide
I found this episode pretty interesting, I don't really get why so many people seemed to dislike it. Now you should know that unless I hav...
Mechanized Monsters, Poké-Pulp Fiction, and Advancing Attitudes About Anime
At various times over the past couple of years, a 1999 Wall Street Journal article titled “Violent Japanese Cartoon Show Draws Kids’ Eyes, Parents’ Scorn” by Sally Beatty…
Digimon: Digital Monsters, Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, One Piece, Tenchi Muyo!
The “Baccano” of Pulp Fiction
“Hey, Isaac?” “What’s that, Miria my dear?” “What do you suppose they call the Quarter Pounder with Cheese in Paris?” “Hmm…well, Miria, I believe they’d call it a…
Facts of Fiction: Demon Slayer
Exploring Demon Slayer's creation, production, and legacy with some trivia facts
Vinland Saga: Historical Viking Fiction
Vinland Saga is a mid to late 2019 anime based off of an ongoing manga that began publication in early 2005. The manga was created by Yukimura Makoto…
Burning Sky Short Fiction #1
The time has finally come for the first foray into the world of Burning Sky. Welcome to Gaea – a world in which conflict between the ten human Creeds…
One Piece – Not Peak Fiction
Hey guys what is up welcome back to my blog I’m so thankful that you guys took the time out of your day to read my blog post.…
The Widow’s Call and the Toad: An Interactive Fiction Southern Gothic
Hailed as a journey through grief, isolation, and the human experience, The Widow’s Call and the Toad is a choose-your-own-adventure in which you’re actions drive a plot that…
Japanese Talk 02 – Yotsuba and Ore Monogatari Japanese for Beginners
In this episode we look at why よつばと! (Yotsubato) and 俺物語!!(Ore Monogatari) are two GREAT manga for beginners! What can beginners expect when they read manga in Japanese for…
Transcript of Episode 22: Fukushima Fiction
Find out more about Episode 22 of the Read Literature podcast on the episode page. Link to listen Notes and sources Ways to support the podcast This is…
The “Baccano” of Pulp Fiction: Omake
This was my original first chapter for “The ‘Baccano’ of Pulp Fiction,” detailing how both Baccano! and Pulp Fiction are descendants of pulp magazines. I’m pleased wit…
Toradora is Peak Fiction. No, Seriously.
Talking about how good Toradora really is.
Science Fiction Has Always Been Political
It always seems like every time something major happens in a video game or media recently, there is always a complaint of “how did this become so political”.…