by Yu Miri: A poignant novel that follows the life of a homeless man, Kazu, who was born in 1933 and worked as a laborer for the Tokyo 1964 Olympics.

by Kyoko Nakajima: A fictionalized memoir, this novel is the diary of a former maid, Taki, who moves to Tokyo in 1930 to work for a rich family.

by Natsume Sōseki: A classic novel that explores the themes of loneliness and isolation in the rapidly modernizing city of Tokyo.

by Nick Bradley: A debut novel that follows the adventures of a stray cat in Tokyo who brushes up against a wide variety of characters.

by Jake Adelstein: A memoir by a former crime reporter for the Yomiuri Shinbun newspaper. The book provides a fascinating insight

by Yoko Ogawa: A heartwarming novel that tells the story of a brilliant mathematician who suffers from a brain injury that limits his memory to only 80 minutes.