5 Japanese comfort novels that will reconnect you to reading, imagination

Add these Japanese titles to your reading list

• The Japanese term "Tsonduku" means piling up unread books, seen as positive.
• Article lists Japanese novels to help readers overcome reading slumps.
• Titles: Blanket Cats, Kamogawa Food Detectives, Days at Morisaki Bookshop.

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Is your bookshelf also increasing at a higher pace than you are able to read? Do you keep buying (or hoarding) books and later feeling guilty for not giving them the time and attention they require?

There exists a word in the Japanese language, called “Tsonduku”. It refers to acquiring books and allowing them to pile up unread. Instead of guilt-tripping one for not reading, this word indicates a positive sign of potential knowledge and love for books.

Some Japanese novels are popular for steering clear of excessive conflicts, and focusing on everyday life, and reflective story-telling.

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5 Japanese books to give you a fresh start

If you are a bookworm who claims to adore books, and yet, are unable to get out of your reading slump, here are some Japanese novels that may provide a fresh start into your dusty reading habits, and must be added to your new year’s reading list:

The Blanket Cats

Authored by Kiyoshi Shigematsu, this book is a collection of short, interconnected tales, with a pet-rental service at its crux. This service pairs different cats with people, (not sans conditions), and the cats, in turn, may not always be what the person wanted, but they certainly turn out to be what they need at that point in their lives.

Kamogawa Food Detectives

Hisashi Kashiwai weaves a story around a father-daughter duo, who run a peculiar detective agency, which prides itself in recreating lost dishes that are tied to cherished memories. Through food, the clients are able to have a chance to reconnect with forgotten emotions.

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Howl’s Moving Castle

While this book was originally written by a British author, Diana Wynne Jones, it gained immense popularity after being turned into a movie by Studio Ghibli (Japan). It is a serene blend of whimsy and fantasy, and follows Sophie, a young woman, and an eccentric wizard named Howl. The storytelling is soothing, and makes for a great read before bed.

Days at the Morisaki Bookshop

The protagonist of this Satoshi Yagisawa novel, Takako, is a woman facing multiple adversities and personal setbacks, who learns to find comfort in her uncle’s second-hand bookshop. It brings out the charm of old bookstores, and acts a peaceful escape from modern stress.

We’ll Prescribe You a Cat

Syou Ishida, the author, brings a charming novel that revolves around a mysterious clinic where cats are prescribed, instead of medication. It brings out how animal companionship can slowly lead to personal rediscovery, and focuses on the therapeutic presence of kindness in small ways.