Japan once again! The first time it was through the books Murakami, Kiga Higashino, Ryu Murakami to name a few… These books showcased the simplicity of the locals and the dark side of the city and that’s one of the reasons Japan fascinated me as a place to travel and explore so in June 2018 was the first time, A time where everyone questioned us Why Japan? To answer it’s a place so little we know about.. The first time was a touristy visit going to the temples, streets and viewing the towers of each city we visited. Japan was coming alive through the pages I had read, the streets sounded familiar and some streets I specifically visited since they were mentioned and described in the books. The recent Trip to Japan was being an exploration of what all does the city has to offer besides the tourist sights and the humanity the people showcase in the country. The food was and still is the best in Osaka. The city was buzzing and full of tourists even closer to midnight, unlike Tokyo which seemed busy with people chasing their dreams.. Kyoto is still a small town where you can walk around and still discover the city. The vintage shops and the second-hand Market seem to be thriving in the country with more than 80% population that has aged over the age of 70 and living a minimalistic life. Retail was thriving with American, British and Asian tourists shopping at malls and brands that are relatively cheaper in Japan from countries like the US & India. The Osaka Expo was an experience like no other, an endless Snake line on a hot afternoon, which tested not just ours but quite a few people’s patience too. Since we had to register and get specific slots for pavilions we managed to only get one the Blue Dome, the others were long queues to enter and waitlists, The magnitude of the whole expo was huge 130+ countries participated and the tourism it brought to the city and country has been huge. The designs and the sustainable options used to create them were interesting. This was the first time we visited an expo abroad that had so many cultural influences on just design but food too the expo offered.
The moment had arrived when we were not just thinking about Japan!
But, had actioned our vacation in 2018!
The flights were getting booked! The hotel, Train Tickets and Visa process had begun.
The countdown was inching closer!
Japan was happening!
The first stop of our Journey was Singapore! We travelled by Singapore Airlines which gave us the option of exploring Singapore City while we had a layover at Changi Airport.
The flight landed at Haneda Airport. We Did not choose Narita. As Haneda was closer to the city!
Tokyo! Huge! One of the largest cities in the world! With millions of people staying in MatchBox homes.
We passed by the Tokyo Tower! And soon reached our hotel! The Prince Tower Hotel Tokyo! A centrally located hotel for major tourist attractions and landmarks neighbourhood.
The first night we explored our surroundings the Roppongi a buzzing neighbourhood with nightlife and walked through the Meguro River a prominent river of Tokyo!
Oh! We witnessed the city landscape from the rooftop bar at the hotel before we called it a night.
Next, we explored the city’s sightseeing landmarks Meiji Jingu, Imperial Palace and Senso Ji temples and the Tsukiji market the largest fish market in the world.
They also have a tuna auction daily at 5:30 am. Since it’s limited seating you need to be there as early as 3 am to get in.
We explored the Akasaku neighbourhood which is traditional cultural side of Tokyo.
The neighbourhood had a very interesting hostel Bed & Books Tokyo! That was a cute little place filled with books and bunk beds!
On another day we visited Harjaku & Shinjuku which was filled with restaurants and shopping stores! While going Banana in Tokyo! I visited a Pokemon Store! Had relived those childhood moments. And little did I know I had entered the Animated neighbourhood of Tokyo Akihabara
While exploring ourselves and the city we were sometimes naturally lost! When the locals not just helped us but held us through to our final destination. Ginza! Felt like the futuristic side of Japan with Nissan cars armed with robotic gizmos and Ginza is also known as the Haute couture neighbourhood of Tokyo.
Omestando another neighbourhood about the luxuries of Japan with Architectural buildings and interiors you wouldn’t get enough of.
One of the stores worth visiting is Nicole Bergman’s Floral store in the neighbourhood.
The other side of Tokyo that we witnessed was the industrial side where all hospitality-related goods were available and to spot that there is a life-size chef Cap that you need to watch out for. And so we crossed over to Shibuya the busiest crossing neighbourhood in Tokyo whose sight can be enjoyed from a Starbucks across from the crossing and Hachi statue a dog that waited for his owner to return at the same spot over the years until the Hachi had passed away.
Before we left Tokyo we enjoyed the glimpses of Central Tokyo Station while it started to pour and we got ready for the next few journeys across the country.
The long-awaited Bullet Train shin-shaken to Kyoto had sped away.
Kyoto felt like a mystical small town in Japan that preserved the Japan of the past with temples like the Golden Temple that was surrounded by trees. The day trip to Nara Deer Park was unbelievable getting clicked and witnessing so many Deers under one roof.
The evening we enjoyed at another temple that was surrounded by trees.
Kobe! A destination that’s not on tourist Radar while visiting Japan!
But, the city had one of the oldest traditional cafe Nishimura that’s popular for its setting and Coffee Jelly a dessert that’s made of coffee and is also known for Wayu Steak! A popular beef-style steak from Japan.
Osaka! AKA The Food Capital of Japan!!
We got a taste of the Okonomiyaki traditional Japanese pancakes that are cooked live on your tables.
Amerika- Mura a neighbourhood in Japan that’s very youthful and inspired by American
Dotobori is the Shinjuku neighbourhood of Osaka that has a landmark icon of a runner.
Shinabasi an entertainment hub of Osaka that that would remind you of Times Square.
Tseutanku Tower which is sponsored by Hitachi is a sight that can be enjoyed from a rooftop space & Osaka Castle is the sightseeing to go for.
Also, Osaka the city that has a Japanese Liquor store based allow only one miniature of Yamazaki to be bought and carried by a tourist.
Important things:
Book your JR Pass at least two weeks before you travel.
To travel within Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka buy metro/Subway tickets from the station or airport.
Download the Google Translate app.
Eat in Japan:
Tokyo Banana
Ramen from Ippudo
Coffee Jelly Nishimura Kobe
Tiger Gyoza in Tokyo for Japanese Raw Food
Okonomiyaki in Osaka
Wagyu Beef in Kobe
Senbei Rice Crackers
Seaweed Potato Chips
Mochi
Matcha Tea
Cheese Tart from Secret Tokyo
Japanese Cheesecake.
Shashimi
Experience :
Tokyo Hands departmental store
Conveyor Belt Sushi
Nerman Bergman Store
Shibuya Crossing from Starbucks
Cheese Garden Store
Stay:
Prince Tower Hotel Tokyo
Westin Osaka.
Sightseeing:
Tokyo Tower & SkyTree
Imperial Palace, Tokyo
Osaka Castle
Arashiyama bamboo grove, Kyoto
Fushimi Inari Shrine, Kyoto
Kobe Port Tower
Deer Park, Nara
Hachi Statue
Cafes:
Starbucks Reserve Tokyo
Here cafe in Kyoto
%Arabica Kyoto
Nishimura Kobe.
Hoshino Cafe Tokyo
Read:
Haruki Murakami -Colourless Tsukuru Tazaki
Sayaka Murata – The Convenience Store
Meiko Kawakami – All the lovers in the night
Hiro Kawakami – Strange Weather in Tokyo
Toshikazu Kawaguchi – Before the Coffee Gets Cold series.
It’s very difficult to find thriller books, that keep you engrossed till the last page. And if you have found it by the same author twice, it couldn’t be better.
Keigo Higashino a Japanese Author! Ah! Yes another Japanese author.
Journey under the midnight sun is about A group of children playing inside the building have found the body of a pawnshop owner,
Detective Sasagaki’s investigation unearths more questions, but never reaches any conclusions. One of his chief suspects, the partner of a woman who the pawnshop owner visited on the day of his death, dies in a car crash soon afterwards.
Though Sasagaki’s suspects there is more to the deaths, the case is abandoned.But, Twenty years later there are some leads that hints sasagaski that he could finally solve the mystery.
This is one Book, I came across after enjoying reading “Midsummer Equation by Keigo Higanshino”
and what surprises me most about the author and his books is that when you are searching for “Best Thriller Books” You only come across American authors & British Authors, but none of the Japanese authors, in the first few links and in the first few reviews. And I wonder why ? “Japanese authors” are really underrated. This whole curiosity for “Japan” For me grew after I visited the country, it was a place I wanted to know more about?
Keigo Higanshio is best known for his book “The Devotion of Suspect X”
Yasuko Hanaoka accidentally kills her ex-husband, when circumstances rose to an unendurable level of ghastly behaviour from him. What follows is an elongated and witty brain-game between the investigator and her accomplice, Ishigami, who aided Yasuko in covering up the murder. The Devotion Of Suspect X is the story about an ingenious plotter, and clever Dr Manabu Yukawa, who helps in solving the case.
Incase you are looking to read a nice page turner and are finding it difficult which one to start with you could surely start with “Journey Under The Midnight Sun by Keigo Higashino”
Salivation Of A Saint By Keigo Higanshino.
My 3rd Book from Keigo Higanshino, 2nd one of the year and two and half days of another page tuner from Keigo Higanshino.The Writing is so engrossing. Murder has already being committed in the first thirty pages and You might have the hint of who the murderer might me. But How it actually happens remains a mystery…Until Detective Galileo works around the theory with the Police officers and comes to the conclusion. A Book & author you wouldn’t want to miss reading, Who surprises you with a perfect Murder Crime that you wouldn’t in your wildest thought, imagined to take place like the one mentioned in the books and with logical backstory and supporting evidence, This book is all the more enjoyable where you just want to read more stories like these from Keigo Higanshino one of my new favourite Crime/Thriller who doesn’t disappoint. Now the next one I want to read is his bestseller “The Devotion of Suspect X”
Newcomer by Keigo Keigo Higashino.
Yes! I am enjoying reading thriller. Yes! Haven’t be able to stop reading Keigo Higanshino at all. Newcomer is the 3rd one I have read this year so far from the same author . And If you have even read a single Keigo Higanshino You will know why his books are so good. First of all they involve – Murder,Mystery and crime which would interest anyone who is looking and enjoy’s a thriller.written in such a way that you can not stop reading them… The conclusion, the way an investigator looks Into the crime and the probably reasons and how they come into conclusion are so logically and something so surprising. You wonder how!!!! Newcomer is about a murder that’s happened in Tokyo and this time unlike the other two books salivation of Saint & Journey under the midnight sun where Detective Sasagaki’s & Detective Galileo have solved the cases here we have Detective Kaga who is pretty new to handling a region of Nihonbashi in Tokyo and how he uses his past experience in handling a case that’s pretty clearly an murder.. But the motive behind isn’t unusual yet an interesting read from the one of the best thriller writers today. Detective Kyochiro Kaga of the Tokyo Police Department has just been transferred to a new precinct in the Nihonbashi area of Tokyo. Newly arrived, but with a great deal of experience, Kaga is promptly assigned to the team investigating the murder of a woman. But the more he investigates, the greater number of potential suspects emerges. It isn’t long before it seems nearly all the people living and working in the business district of Nihonbashi have a motive for murder. To prevent the murderer from eluding justice, Kaga must unravel all the secrets surrounding a complicated life. Buried somewhere in the woman’s past, in her family history, and the last few days of her life is the clue that will lead to the murderer
Malice By Keigo Higashino Ok! This has been my 4th Consecutive read from Keigo Higanshino this year. And though I knew Malice & Devotion of suspect X were his bestsellers and best works, I intentionally decided to keep them last rather than reading them first. Malice! Yes has all the elements of a Keigo Higashino story. Right from The murder taking place in the first in the first chapter and then revealing the murderer and his motive behind the activity. This book had clear chapters – Murder,Suspicion, Resolution ,Pursuit Confession, Past and Truth behind all the stories doing the round. Which you realise are the truest elements when solving or planning to do a Murder. And Malice was first book, Where Keigo Higashino introduces Detective Kyochiro Kaga in his thriller. If You are looking to read thrillers with twist, Turns and an amazing resolution this is the one or rather Keigo Higashino is the one you should be reading now!! A Story about about an established novelist Kuniko Hidaka who is found murder in his own home, a night before he is planning to leave Japan and move to Vancouver and his body is found in his office, in a locked room within the house. By his Wife and his friend. Both of whom have alibis. And the story continues how Detective Kaga investigates and comes to the conclusion who the murder of Kuniko Hidaka the novelist who was found murdered.
Devotion of Suspect X by Keigo Higashino
Devotion of suspect X has been the last book that I have read from Keigo Higashino books that are available in English translation in india Right from the “ A Midsummer equation” to “Journey in the midnight sun” to A Salivation of a saint” to being a “Newcomer” and a “Malice” occasionally before it became a “devotion of Suspect X” and towards Keigo Higashino after reading all the books. The elements of a Keigo Higashino are usually a Murder and obviously an extra marital affairs is a common subject and a story that supports not only the motive behind the murder, but also coming to the conclusion of not just suspecting the murderer , but also having evidence and logical explanation in getting hold of the murderer. Also having read most of his works. Their are three detectives that have been characterised in a way where Yukuwa who is also known as “detective Galileo” turns out to be your most favourite because of him having a physicist background that makes it interesting to know about his conclusions. He is part of “A salivation of a saint, “A Mid-summer equation” and “Devotion of suspect X” Then there is Detective Kaga that was the second detective character who is a typical Detective in the first book “Malice” and “Newcomer” how he solves the mystery by connecting dots that need to be keenly observed by someone who observes details. Detective Sasagaki’s who is part of the “Journey under the midnight sun” is a detective who isn’t satisfied until he gets a closure from a murder, even though time has passed by…The case still haunts him and years later he does get a closure ,a persistent detective, who wouldn’t get peace until he has concluded the case Keigo Higashino is author you should be reading, If you still haven’t read any of his works.
My 3rd Book from Keigo Higashino, 2nd one of the year and two and half days of another page tuner from Keigo Higashino.
The Writing is so engrossing. Murder has already being committed in the first thirty pages and You might have the hint of who the murderer might me. But How it actually happens remains a mystery…Until Detective Galileo works around the theory with the Police officers and comes to the conclusion. A Book & author you wouldn’t want to miss reading, Who surprises you with a perfect Murder Crime that you wouldn’t in your wildest thought, imagined to take place like the one mentioned in the books and with logical backstory and supporting evidence, This book is all the more enjoyable where you just want to read more stories like these from Keigo Higashino one of my new favourite Crime/Thriller who doesn’t disappoint. Now the next one I want to read is his bestseller “The Devotion of Suspect X”
Seventeen by Hideo Yokoyama
A Story about a plane Crash that took place in 1985 and How the piece is reported by
Kazumasa Yuuki, a reporter at the North Kanto Times who is responsible for covering the news of the Plane Crash. The Story revolves around the daily battles of the power struggles and office politics in the Print Media and Media as a field .
Itself ,But in 2003 Seventeen years later, Yuuki remembers the adrenaline-fueled, emotionally charged seven days that changed his and his colleagues’ lives. He does making on a promise he made that fateful week—one that holds the key to its last solved mystery and represents Yuuki’s final, unconquered fear.
Though I picked up this book for the story. What I enjoyed the most was the way it was written,The Writing and setting was just like how internal politics & power takes over.
When it comes to reporting & publishing news. If you are looking to read a nice Investigate Journalism book on reporting a disaster. This one you should be reading.
A Story written by a writer who has been in the journalism field for years working with Jōmō Shimbun the largest general circulation daily newspaper based in Gunma prefecture, Japan. The same region where apparently the Aeroplane Crash takes place.
Seventeen, is a slow burn but a very interesting. Battles, arguments over departments who feel they contribute & our more important for publishing business are well written. I guess writing a setting one knows, does truly bring out the authenticity in the writer while writing his story. Hideo is best known for six- four a murder thriller.
After Dark by Murakami
Yes! This year I have read more than a couple of books from Murakami. Ranging from his Bestseller “Kafka on The Shore”to “After Dark” Though the style remains the same in the writing,The ideas that are shared in the writing by the writer are amusing to immediately get you interested in wanting to read the book. The same thing happened After Dark. After Dark is story that’s written describing the dreams and psychology of a person while in sleep, the thoughts, the nightmares etc. Coincidentally just like After Dark being Murakami’s Eleventh novel. This also happens to be my Eleventh read from his collection.
The Story revolves around a night in Tokyo where two college students bump into each other after a long time.
And Mari one of the protagonist in the story is approached by the manger of a restaurant as Mari is fluent in Chinese and the manager isn’t and request her to act as a translator for her. Soon both open up about their feeling within Mari opens about how she became fluent in the language and her feeling and comparison with Eri who is sister.
Meanwhile, strange things have been happening at the sister Eri’s place. Eri has already gone to bed by the time the events of the novel take place, but as she asleep strange things happens around which the writer narrates in his writing.
The Novel like most of the authors works ends abruptly, without any definitive answers to its many mysteries.
Incase you haven’t read any of the works by the authors and are considering starting of. Please don’t read this book first read a couple of his other works first.
The author Ryu Murakami is another author from Japan and is no way related to Haruki Murakami who has had many well known books written to his name, and have also been adapted to movies.
Ryu Murakami has written quite a few books “Audition” and “Piercing” are two of his other popular books apart from “in the miso soup” written by Ryu Murakami.
The other two books too like the”In the miso soup” are centred around the dark backdrop of Japan, disillusion, drug use and Murder
The book titled “In the Miso soup “ is a apt title for two reasons – One because the character compares his life with the miso soup and phara phrase the quote “I’m in the miso soup myself- Just like those bits of vegetable. I’m floating around in this giant bowl of it, and that’s good enough for me.
And the other the book is titled “In the miso soup” because the character’s purpose to visit Japan was to find out what the people who eat the miso soup on daily basis might be like.Again to Quote from the book. As he once ordered it in an America restaurant and was intrigued about it. He decided travel to Japan.
The moment I read the title of the book and turned over to read the blurb mentioned below,I was interested in reading this book. .
It’s just before New Year, Frank an overweight American tourist, has hired kenji to take him on a guided tour of Tokyo’s nightlife.
But, Franks behaviour is so odd that Kenji begins to entertain a horrible suspicion : His client may in fact have murderous desires.
Although, Kenji is far from innocent himself, he unwillingly descends with frank into an inferno of evil, from which only his sixteen year old girlfriend, Jun, can possibly save him.
Yeah, It’s a coincidence that this is my second book in a row from a Japanese author. But,The Japanese authors have such interesting storylines ,written in a captivating way that you become so engrossed in the storytelling, you only want more and more of it.
The book is written in three chapters.
Chapter 1 – Describes and establishes what the story is about – The beginning of how the characters meet.
Chapter 2 – The relationship between the two and why Kenji becomes suspicious about his client.
Chapter 3 – Is the reason behind why one should read the book.
The Book highlights the American and Japanese culture,What makes each different and similarities amongst the two. The ideology between the two nations amongst the locals and the identities each of the nation has created for itself.
Since the book was written long back ago, You might agree/disagree about some of the points discussed.
“In the miso soup” Is a crisp, well written physiological thriller set in the dark backdrop of Japan,that you will only put the book down once you read it.
A K H I L N A N D A 