New Japanese Great Reads titles have arrived! Check out latest award-winning novels, thought-provoking nonfiction selections, fascinating manga offerings, and more. Come to Asian Library’s Upper Floor and browse the new arrivals of leisure reading titles. The 2022/23 Great Reads collection was curated by Nobu Kawaguchi, Asian Library Student Librarian and MLIS student at UBC School of Information. The following is a list of this year’s highlights:
The 167th NAOKI PRIZE Winner
夜に星を放つ / 窪美澄 / 東京 : 文芸春秋, 2022
PL872.5 U26 Y67 2022
http://resolve.library.ubc.ca/cgi-bin/catsearch?bid=12413566
A collection of short stories that questions whether those who have lost precious relationships and have been hurt are capable of connecting with someone again.
The 167th AKUTAGAWA PRIZE Winner
おいしいごはんが食べられますように / 高瀬隼子 / 東京 : 講談社, 2022
PL876 A413 O37 2022
http://resolve.library.ubc.ca/cgi-bin/catsearch?bid=12371172
Through the theme of “food,” the story depicts the complicated human relationships that cannot be easily managed.
2022 SHINSHO TAISHO Nominee
生物はなぜ死ぬのか / 小林武彦著 / 東京 : 講談社, 2021
QH530 K63 2021
http://resolve.library.ubc.ca/cgi-bin/catsearch?bid=12413614
The death of life has an important meaning. What is the “death program” embedded in genes? An introduction to biology for all of us who live in this contemporary world.
The 167th AKUTAGAWA PRIZE Nominee
N/A / 年森瑛 / 東京 : 文藝春秋, 2022
PL876 O764 N3 2022
http://resolve.library.ubc.ca/cgi-bin/catsearch?bid=12370949
Madoka, a teenager attending a girl’s high school, feels strange when people label her as someone belonging to a “sexual minority” and show empathy without knowing her true self. A story about a girl who is looking for “irreplaceable someone” beyond gender, social status and background.
2022 MANGA TAISHO Winner
ダーウィン事変 / うめざわしゅん / 東京 : 講談社, 2020
PN6790 J33 U449 2020
http://resolve.library.ubc.ca/cgi-bin/catsearch?bid=12413681
A “humanzee” named Charlie is half human and half chimpanzee. Charlie was raised by his human parents for 15 years and is about to enter high school.
2022 MANGA TAISHO Nominee
ルックバック / 藤本タツキ / 東京 : 集英社, 2021
PN6790 J33 F85 2021
http://resolve.library.ubc.ca/cgi-bin/catsearch?bid=12413684
A one-shot story revolving around Fujino, who has absolute confidence in her talent, and Kyomoto, who is a “hikikomori” [someone severely withdrawn from society]. Their dedication to drawing manga brought them together and united them. By Tatsuki Fujimoto, the author of Chainsaw Man.
2021 HONYA TAISHO Winner
52ヘルツのクジラたち / 町田そのこ / 東京 : 中央公論新社, 2020
PL873 A254 A615 2020
http://resolve.library.ubc.ca/cgi-bin/catsearch?bid=11962043
52-hertz whale is the loneliest whale in the world. A woman whose life has been exploited by her family, and a boy who has been abused by his mother. When they find each other, a new story begins.
2022 HONYA TAISHO Nominee
スモールワールズ / 一穂ミチ / 東京 : 講談社, 2021
PL871.5 C544 S86 2021
http://resolve.library.ubc.ca/cgi-bin/catsearch?bid=12413589
A collection of six short stories that are inter-connected in some way, starting with a housewife who pretends to be in a happy relationship and continuing to another story featuring a boy who is not blessed with a close knit family.
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