, has just been published. is a coming-of-age story set in the 1990s and early 2000s amidst the ever-changing landscapes of India and Japan. One of its protagonists, Kavya, undertakes a journey of self-discovery to uncover the traumatic truth of her troubled past.  draws on Sarayu’s experiences of studying architecture in Japan, and of appreciating Zen philosophy, which focuses on finding joy and beauty in simplicity. It explores the idea of connections between people, places, and nature, and how Indian and Japanese cultures are intertwined. Kavya can never truly call one place home. Here ..read more

is a column by WWII historical fiction author  . The column regularly features hot new releases and noteworthy indie-published books, and popular authors who have found success in the new creative world of independent publishing ..read more

In 2022, Kristine and Eiraku collaborated once again to bring you the second book in the rakugo series, Talking About Rakugo 2: The Stories Behind the Storytellers . The book is officially scheduled to be released on February 7, 2022, which happens to be Eiraku’s birthday ..read more

 Shanghai between the world wars is a fascination of Westerns, the Chinese themselves, but also the Japanese. The zeitgeist of 1920s Shanghai is reflected in the appropriately named ..read more

 The Japanese immigrant experience in America is often ignored, which makes works like an invaluable record, both as history and as art ..read more

Since it’s Halloween season I decided to review a Japanese horror novel. by the writer Ryu Murakami, is a story about a man finding a perfect woman, only to discover he’s fallen for a mask ..read more

is a toxic love story, set in 1920s Japan, and one that is surprisingly relevant today. The novel is a classic of Japanese literature by Junichiro Tanizaki and a perfect snapshot of the Taisho Era ..read more

World War I in the Far East was a sideshow in the grand scheme of things, but it had long-reaching implications, setting up further conflict in the region. Nevertheless, the main action, the Battle of Tsingtau, was full of drama, bravery, and suffering, which is covered in the book – The Siege of Tsingtau: The German-Japanese War 1914 ..read more

World War I in the Far East was a sideshow in the grand scheme of things, but it had long-reaching implications, setting up further conflict in the region. Nevertheless, the main action, the Battle of Tsingtau, was full of drama, bravery, and suffering, which is covered in the book – The Siege of Tsingtau: The German-Japanese War 1914 ..read more