NEW!! At the Japan Foundation Library
At the Japan Foundation Toronto Library, we have selected exciting titles from our latest acquisitions from all genres - novels, manga, art, language materials, just to name a few - for readers of all ages. Please take some time to enjoy these new titles the next time you are at the JFT Library. You may also ask our staff for more titles in our latest collection.
English and French materials are covered in this list, with brief descriptions.
NOVELS
LANGUAGE MATERIALS
TRAVEL
COOKBOOKS
MANGA
OTHER NONFICTION
CHILDREN'S BOOKS
NOVELS
Botandoro – Stories, Fables, Parables and Allegories: a Miscellany
Richie, Donald
Printed Matter Press, Tokyo, Japan
895.635 R52 B67 2008
Language: English
This collection features collected short musings by the renowned Japanese scholar and writer, Donald Richie. Inspired to write fiction thanks to his life in Japan between 1941 and 2005, Richie plays with literary form, ranging from the very traditional to the experimental in this overview of a modernist icon.
The Diving Pool – Three Novellas
Ogawa, Yoko
Picador, New York, USA.
895.635 O32 D58 2008.
Language: English.
A collection of three haunting short works from one of Japan’s celebrated and prestigious young authors, each containing subtle yet provocative looks at uneasy—even disturbing—events in the lives of seemingly normal people. Included are The Diving Pool, Pregnancy Diary, and Dormitory.
The Housekeeper and the Professor
Ogawa, Yoko
Picador, New York, USA
895.635 O32 H68 2009.
Language: English.
This is a beautiful story about unusual friendship and family. He is a professor who, although brilliant with numbers, has a short-term memory of only eighty minutes. She is the housekeeper hired to care for him. Each day, they meet each other for the first time.
Journal d’un Prisonnier de GuerreOoka, Shohei
Translated by Francois Compoint
Belin, Paris, France.
894.635 O54 J68 2007.
Language: French/Francais.
This celebrated journal tells the true story of Shohei Ooka as he is captured and held prisoner by American soldiers during World War II. By turns touching, poignant, and thought-provoking, it includes observations on survival, and profound reflections on the generosity of the human spirit.
Manazuru
Kawakami, Hiromi
Translated by Elisabeth Suetsugu
Bungei Shunju, Tokyo, Japan
895.635 K38 M36 2009
Language: French/Francais.
A story of romance in which an imaginary world seems to blend and merge with everyday life, as a woman struggles with her daughter and an unhappy marriage. Scenes of nature are imbued with a mysterious and magical aura, and the word Manazaru is written in a journal…
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LANGUAGE
Learning 300 Kanji through Stories
Kurosio, Tokyo, Japan.
495.611 S87 2008.
Languages: English, Indonesian, Thai, Vietnamese.
When learning the Japanese language, everyone knows that remembering all those kanji characters is one of the trickiest parts. Presented simultaneously in four different languages, this book provides a memorable
Live from Tokyo
Asano, Yoko
The Japan Times, Ltd., Tokyo, Japan
KIT 495.6811 A82 2009
Languages: English, Korean, Chinese
Learn Japanese the way it’s spoken and written by real Japanese people with this book and CD set. You’re provided breakdowns of useful situations such as taking the train, or finding your way around the city, all in natural, everyday Japanese. It’s the perfect solution for learners who are tired of the same old boring textbook approach.
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TRAVEL
Tokyo 2008 Restaurants & Hotels
Michelin, Japan.
915.2135 T64 2007
Language: English
The Michelin guide is one of the world’s most trusted resources when deciding where to dine. Whether you’re looking for world-class French cuisine or a casual izakaya, this guide will ensure that your next visit to Tokyo is an unforgettable culinary experience.
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COOKBOOKS
501 Bento Box Lunches – 501 Unique Recipes for Brilliant Bento
Graffito Books, London, UK
641.5952 B46 2009.
Language: English
Bento is the traditional—and extremely popular—boxed lunch consumed by millions of people everyday in Japan. This fun and compact book will give you the recipes you need for art bento, cute bento, stylish bento, and much more. It’s guaranteed to make your lunch hour a lot more interesting.
Cute Yummy Time – 70 Recipes for the Cutest Food You’ll Ever Eat
Yuen, Carmen
Penguin Group, New York, USA.
641.5952 Y83 2009.
Language: English
In Japan, kawaii (or “cute”) is everywhere—even in your lunchbox! With this book, you’ll learn how to make food that’s so adorable, you might not even be able to bring yourself to eat it. Let’s Love Bunny Muffins, anyone?
Izakaya – the Japanese Pub Cookbook
Kodansha International, Tokyo, Japan
641.5 R62 2008.
Language: English.
Izakaya, Japan’s vibrant and dynamic hallmark of casual dining, is at your fingertips with this book. Included are 60 recipes, ranging from staples to more daring fare, as well as Izakaya history and culture, with beautiful photography and illustrations.
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MANGA
Black Jack.
Tezuka, Osamu
Vertical, New York, USA.
Manga_E TEZ BLA 2008.
Language: English
From Osamu Tezuka, the “God of Manga” comes this lavish, hardcover reprint of one of his most important, enduring works. Black Jack is a surgeon-for-hire who performs medical miracles with superhuman ability. This edition contains special extras.
(Volumes 1 – 3 in hardcover are available in English; 20+ volumes of the original Japanese are also available!)
Graphic Novels – A Genre Guide to Comic Books, Manga, and More
Pawuk, Michael
Libraries Unlimited, Wesport, CT, USA
741.5 P39 2007
Language: English
Including more than 2,400 titles, this is a comprehensive guidebook covering the best in graphic fiction from Japan, America, and the world. Whether you are a librarian or bookstore owner adding to your collection, or a collector or fan wondering what to read next, this is an invaluable resource.
Kaze Hikaru
Watanabe, Taeko
VIZ Media, San Francisco, USA.
MANGA_WATA KAZ 2005.
Language: English
This shojo manga is a historical romance set in 1863, a time when samurai were faced with tremendous social upheaval. Kamiya Seizaburo is a young man who desperately wants to join the ranks of the samurai, but who also harbours one important secret: Kamiya Seizaburo is actually a young girl named Tominaga Sei!
Street Fighter Tribute
Udon Entertainment, Hong Kong.
794.8 S67 2008.
Language: English
This gorgeous art book is a collaborative effort by visual artists from around the world, all to pay full-colour tribute to the legendary videogame franchise, Street Fighter. A wide range of graphical styles is represented, and several of the artists involved hail from Toronto.
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OTHER NONFICTION
Japan Through the Looking Glass
Macfarlane, Alan
Profile Books, London, UK
306.0952 M32 2008
Language: English
Alan Macfarlane was sent to Japan by the British Council as a Visiting Scholar. This book is his thorough account of that experience, and his attempt to give readers an understanding of the complexities of Japanese culture and customs. Common assumptions are challenged and Japan is brought to light in exciting new ways.
The Story of Sushi
Corson, Trevor
HarperCollins Publishers, New York, USA
Language: English
From the only “sushi concierge” in the United States comes this surprising and revealing account of the history of one of Japan’s most popular exports. Corson explains it all, from sushi’s origins, to its journey overseas and around the world, and even delves into the eccentric lives of some of the greatest sushi chefs.
The Ramen King and I
Raskin, Andy
Penguin Group, New York, USA
813.54 R37 2009
Language: English
Momofuku Ando, the 93-year-old inventor of instant noodles, provides Raskin with sage advice for his troubled love life. This unlikely memoir explains how the two met, and eventually became friends, amid adventures in Japanese fast-food restaurants and Kmart headquarters.
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CHILDREN'S BOOKS
Japan – the Land, the Culture, the People Series
Kalman, Bobbie
Crabtree Publishing Company,
St. Catharines, Canada
YP 952 K34 2009 Vol. 1-3
Language: English
A series of three attractive, informative books designed to introduce young people to the finer points of Japanese society. Descriptions are easy to read, yet full of insight. These books include lots of interesting photos, illustrations, as well as glossaries of new terminology.
Ponyo – Picture Book
Miyazaki, Hayao (story & screenplay)
VIZ Media, San Francisco, USA
YP 895.635 M59 2009
Language: English
For fans of Ponyo, Miyazaki’s latest masterpiece, comes this recreation of the film as a 150-page picture book, featuring stills of actual animation from the film along with text to recreate the story. It’s a magical tale about childhood friendship and an adorable underwater creature who transforms into a little girl.
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