In this episode of Book Talk with Yuko, Noriko and Yuko talk about several Japanese books they have recently read or want to recommend.
First, Yuko introduces the novel “アナログ” by Beat Takeshi. It is a romantic story about a man and a woman who decide not to exchange contact information and instead meet at the same restaurant every Thursday. The story feels very “analog” in a digital age.
Next, Noriko talks about “Schoolgirl” by Kudan Rie, a short story connected to Dazai Osamu’s “女生徒.” The story explores relationships between three generations of women and touches on modern topics like social media and environmental activism.
Yuko then introduces the “An-chan series” by Sakaki Tsukasa, which takes place in a department store food basement (depachika) and features traditional Japanese sweets. The story focuses on everyday life, human relationships, and personal growth.
Noriko also shares her thoughts about “世界 99” by Sayaka Murata, a dystopian novel that explores society, gender roles, and a mysterious new creature called “Pyokorun.” The book is intense and thought-provoking.
For a calmer reading experience, Yuko recommends “Yakusoku no Kawa” by photographer Hoshino Michio, a book that beautifully describes nature and life in northern regions.
Finally, Noriko talks about the essay “Toki wo Kakeru Yutori” by Asai Ryo, which made her laugh a lot because of its humorous stories about everyday life.
They conclude by encouraging listeners to choose books depending on their mood—sometimes relaxing books, sometimes challenging ones—and invite listeners to join their Japanese Together book club.
恋愛小説 — れんあいしょうせつ — romance novel
連絡先 — れんらくさき — contact information
現代 — げんだい — modern times
会話 — かいわ — conversation
表現 — ひょうげん — expression
読書体験 — どくしょたいけん — reading experience
世代 — せだい — generation
母と娘の関係 —ははとむすめのかんけい — mother-daughter relationship
環境問題 — かんきょうもんだい — environmental issues
和菓子 — わがし — Japanese traditional sweets
デパ地下 — でぱちか — department store food basement
主人公 — しゅじんこう — protagonist
成長 — せいちょう — personal growth
社会 — しゃかい — society
価値観 — かちかん — values
生きづらさ — いきづらさ — difficulty of living / social pressure
自然 — しぜん — nature
写真家 — しゃしんか — photographer
描写 — びょうしゃ — description
癒し — いやし — healing / comfort
エッセイ — えっせい — essay
日常 — にちじょう — everyday life
失敗談 — しっぱいだん — story about a mistake