I basically spent the 1990s in Japan, eight years in-country and the rest of the time traveling. I had the leisure to read as much as I chose, much of it pure frivolity like the humorous essays of Munenori Harada and classic comedy like Shank’s Mare. Just as in English, though, I always found myself wandering off into dark corners of the bookstore.

Here are five books of mystery and imagination that changed the way I thought of Japan.

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