Audiobooks of Japanese Literature in Translation

Kobo Abe

• The Woman in the Dunes
  • Translated by E. Dale Saunders
  • Narrated by Julian Cihi

Hiro Arikawa

• The Traveling Cat Chronicles
  • Translated by Philip Gabriel
  • Narrated by George Bladden

Yukito Ayatsuji

• The Decagon House Murders
  • Translated by Ho-Ling Wong
  • Narrated by P. J. Ochlan

Chesil

• The Color of the Sky Is the Shape of My Heart
  • Translated by Takami Nieda
  • Narrated by Greta Jung

Osamu Dazai

• Early Light
  • Translated by Donald Keene and Ralph McCarthy
  • Narrated by Brian Nishii
  • Read my review of Early Light.
• No Longer Human
  • Translated by Donald Keene
  • Narrated by David Shih
  • Listen to RJL episode 11: The I-Novel, Osamu Dazai, and No Longer Human.
• The Setting Sun
  • Translated by Donald Keene
  • Narrated by June Angela
• Wish Fulfilled: A Vignette
  • Translated by Reiko Seri and Doc Kane
  • Narrated by Doc Kane

Shusaku Endo

• Deep River
  • Translated by Van C. Gessel
  • Narrated by David Holt
• The Samurai
  • Translated by Van C. Gessel
  • Narrated by David Holt
• Silence
  • Translated by William Johnston
  • Narrated by David Holt

Seishu Hase

• The Boy and the Dog
  • Translated by Alison Watts
  • Narrated by Akie Kotabe
  • Read my review of The Boy and the Dog.

Keigo Higashino

• A Death in Tokyo (Detective Kaga #3)
  • Translated by Giles Murray
  • Narrated by P. J. Ochlan
• The Devotion of Suspect X (Detective Galileo #1)
  • Translated by Alexander O. Smith
  • Narrated by David Pittu
• Malice (Detective Kaga #1)
  • Translated by Alexander O. Smith
  • Narrated by Jeff Woodman
• A Midsummer’s Equation
  • Translated by Alexander O. Smith
  • Narrated by P. J. Ochlan
• The Miracles of the Namiya General Store
  • Translated by Sam Bett
  • Narrator Brian Nishii, Sura Siu, Kyle Omori
• Newcomer (Detective Kaga #2)
  • Translated by Giles Murray
  • Narrated by P. J. Ochlan
• Salvation of a Saint (Detective Galileo #2)
  • Translated by Alexander O. Smith
  • Narrated by David Pittu
• Silent Parade (Detective Galileo #4)
  • Translated by Giles Murray
  • Narrated by David Shih
• Under the Midnight Sun
  • Translated by Joseph Reeder
  • Narrated by David Shih

Keiichiro Hirano

• At the End of the Matinee
  • Translated by Juliet Winters Carpenter
  • Narrated by Brian Nishii
• A Man
  • Translated by Eli K. P. William
  • Narrated by Brian Nishii

Tomoyuki Hoshino

• ME
  • Translated by Charles de Wolf
  • Narrated by David Shih

Natsuko Imamura

• The Woman in the Purple Skirt
  • Translated by Lucy North
  • Narrated by Jennifer Ikeda
  • Read my review of The Woman in the Purple Skirt.

Kotaro Isaka

• Bullet Train
  • Translated by Sam Malissa
  • Narrated by Pun Bandhu
• Three Assassins
  • Translation by Sam Malissa
  • Narrated by Adam Sims

Kazuki Kaneshiro

• Go
  • Translated by Takami Nieda
  • Narrated by Brian Nishii

Yasunari Kawabata

• Beauty and Sadness
  • Translated by Howard Hibbett
  • Narrated by Brian Nishii
• Snow Country
  • Translated by Edward Seidensticker
  • Narrated by Brian Nishii
• The Rainbow (also Beyond the Rainbow) (expected summer 2023)
  • Translated by Haydn Trowell
  • Narrator TBD
• Thousand Cranes
  • Translated by Edward Seidensticker
  • Narrated by Brian Nishii

Toshikazu Kawaguchi

• Before the Coffee Gets Cold (Cafe #1)
  • Translated by Geoffrey Trousselot
  • Narrated by Arina Li
  • Read more about Before the Coffee Gets Cold
• Before Your Memory Fades (Cafe #3)
  • Translated by Geoffrey Trousselot
  • Narrated by Kevin Shen
• Tales from the Cafe (Cafe #2)
  • Translated by Geoffrey Trousselot
  • Narrated by Kevin Shen

Hiromi Kawakami

• The Nakano Thrift Shop
  • Translated by Allison Markin Powell
  • Narrated by Alexandra Bailey
• Strange Weather in Tokyo
  • Translated by Allison Markin Powell
  • Narrated by Allison Hiroto
• The Ten Loves of Nishino
  • Translated by Allison Markin Powell
  • Narrated by Cindy Kay

Mieko Kawakami

• All the Lovers in the Night
  • Translated by Sam Bett and David Boy
  • Narrated by Mirai
  • Read my review of All the Lovers in the Night.
• Breasts and Eggs
  • Translated by Sam Bett and David Boyd
  • Narrated by Emily Woo Zeller and Jeena Yi
  • Read more about Breasts and Eggs
• Heaven
  • Translated by Sam Bett and David Boyd
  • Narrated by Scott Keiji Takeda
  • Read my review of Heaven

Genki Kawamura

• If Cats Disappeared from the World
  • Translated by Eric Selland
  • Narrated by Brian Nishii

Erika Kobayashi

• Trinity, Trinity, Trinity
  • Translated by Brian Bergstrom
  • Narrated by Emily Woo Zeller
  • Read my review of Trinity, Trinity, Trinity.

Aoko Matsuda

• Where the Wild Ladies Are
  • Translated by Polly Barton
  • Narrated by Sarah Skaer

Kanae Minato

• Confessions
  • Translated by Stephen Snyder
  • Narrated by Elaina Erika Davis and Noah Galvin
• Penance
  • Translated by Stephen Snyder
  • Narrated by Karissa Vacker

Tomihiko Morimi

• The Tatami Galaxy
  • Translated by Emily Balistrieri
  • Narrated by Andrew Grace

Yukio Mishima

• Life for Sale
  • Translated by Stephen Dodd
  • Narrated by Kotaro Watanabe
• The Sailor Who Feel from Grace with the Sea
  • Translated by John Nathan
  • Narrated by Brian Nishii
• Spring Snow
  • Translated by Michael Gallagher
  • Narrated by Brian Nishii
• The Sound of Waves
  • Translated by Meredith Weatherby
  • Narrated by Brian Nishii
• The Temple of the Golden Pavilion
  • Translated by Ivan Morris
  • Narrated by Brian Nishii

Shion Miura

• The Easy Life in Kamusari (Forest #1)
  • Translated by Juliet Winters Carpenter
  • Narrated by Brian Nishii
• The Great Passage
  • Translated by Juliet Winters Carpenter
  • Narrated by Brian Nishii
• Kamusari Tales Told at Night (Forest #2)
  • Translated by Juliet Winters Carpenter
  • Narrated by Brian Nishii

Minae Mizumura

• An Inheritance from Mother
  • Translated by Juliet Winters Carpenter
  • Narrated by Allison Hiroto

Eto Mori

• Colorful
  • Translated by Jocelynne Allen
  • Narrated by Brian Nishii

Yukiko Motoya

• The Lonesome Bodybuilder (stories)
  • Translated by Asa Yoneda
  • Narrated by Natalie Naudus, et al.

Haruki Murakami

• 1Q84
  • Translated by Jay Rubin and Philip Gabriel
  • Narrated by Allison Hiroto, Marc Vietor, and Mark Boyett
• After Dark
  • Translated by Jay Rubin
  • Narrated by Janet Song
• After the Quake (stories)
  • Translated by Jay Rubin
  • Narrated by Rupert Degas, Teresa Gallagher, and Adam Sims
• After the Quake (stories)
  • Translated by Jay Rubin
  • Narrated by Rupert Degas, Teresa Gallagher, and Adam Sims
  • Not available for purchase in the US
• Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman (stories)
  • Translated by Philip Gabriel and Jay Rubin
  • Narrated by Patrick Lawlor and Ellen Archer
• Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage
  • Translated by Philip Gabriel
  • Narrated by Bruce Locke
• Dance Dance Dance (Rat #4)
  • Translated by Alfred Birnbaum
  • Narrated by Josh Bloomberg
• Dance Dance Dance (Rat #4)
  • Translated by Alfred Birnbaum
  • Narrated by Rupert Degas
  • Not available for purchase in the US
• The Elephant Vanishes (stories)
  • Translated by Alfred Birnbaum and Jay Rubin
  • Narrated by Teresa Gallager, et al.
• First Person Singular (stories)
  • Translated by Philip Gabriel
  • Narrated by Kotaro Watanabe
• Kafka on the Shore
  • Translated by Philip Gabriel
  • Narrated by Sean Barrett and Oliver Le Sueur
• Killing Commendatore
  • Translated by Philip Gabriel and Ted Goossen
  • Narrated by Kirby Heyborne
• Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the Land of the World
  • Translated by Alfred Birbaum
  • Narrated by Adam Sims
• Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World
  • Translated by Alfred Birbaum
  • Narrated by Kirby Heyborne
  • Not available for purchase in the US
• Hear the Wind Sing (Rat #1)
  • Translated by Ted Goossen
  • Narrated by Kirby Heborne
  • Also available as a two-novel set, Wind/Pinball
• Men without Women (stories)
  • Translated by Philip Gabriel and Ted Goossen
  • Narrated by Kirby Heyborne
• Men without Women (stories)
  • Translated by Philip Gabriel and Ted Goossen
  • Narrated by Bruno Roubicek
  • Not available for purchase in the US
• Norwegian Wood
  • Translated by Jay Rubin
  • Narrated by John Chancer
• Pinball, 1973 (Rat #2)
  • Translated by Alfred Birnbaum
  • Narrated by Kirby Heyborne
  • Also available as a two-novel set, Wind/Pinball
• South of the Border, West of the Sun
  • Translated by Philip Gabriel
  • Narrated by Eric Loren
• Sputnik Sweetheart
  • Translated by Philip Gabriel
  • Narrated by Adam Sims
• The Strange Library
  • Translated by Ted Goossen
  • Narrated by Kirby Heyborne
• The Strange Library
  • Translated by Ted Goossen
  • Narrated by Kirby Heyborne
  • Not available for purchase in the US
• Wind/Pinball (2 novels)
  • Translated by Ted Goossen
  • Narrated by Kirby Heyborne
• A Wild Sheep Chase (Rat #3)
  • Translated by Alfred Birnbaum
  • Narrated by Rupert Degas
• The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle
  • Translated by Jay Rubin
  • Narrated by Rupert Degas
• The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle
  • Translated by Jay Rubin
  • Narrated by Rupert Degas
  • Not available for purchase in the US

Ryu Murakami

• Audition
  • Translated by Ralph McCarthy
  • Narrated by David Shih

Sayaka Murata

• Convenience Store Woman
  • Translated by Ginny Tapley Takemori
  • Narrated by Nancy Wu
  • Listen to RJL episode 15: Translating Japanese Women, with a closer look at Convenience Store Woman.
• Earthlings
  • Translated by Ginny Tapley Takemori
  • Narrated by Nancy Wu
• Life Ceremony
  • Translated by Ginny Tapley Takemori
  • Narrated by Emily Woo Zeller, Jeena Yi, Nancy Wu, Natalie Naudus, Eunice Wong, Pun Bandu
  • Read my review of Life Ceremony.

Fuminori Nakamura

• The Boy in the Earth
  • Translated by Allison Markin Powell
  • Narrated by Brian Nishii
• Cult X
  • Translated by Kalau Almony
  • Narrated by Brian Nishii
• Evil and the Mask
  • Translated by Satoko Izumo and Stephen Coates
  • Narrated by Kirby Heyborne
• The Gun
  • Translated by Allison Markin Powell
  • Narrated Brian Nishii
• The Kingdom
  • Translated by Kalau Almony
  • Narrated by Lucie Kondo
• Last Winter, We Parted
  • Translated by Allison Markin Powell
  • Narrated by Feodor Chin, Richard Powers, and P. J. Ochlan
• My Annihilation
  • Translated by Sam Bett
  • Narrated by Brian Nishii
• The Thief
  • Translated by Satoko Izumo
  • Narrated by Charlie Thurston

Sosuke Natsukawa

• The Cat Who Saved Books
  • Translated by Louise Heal Kawai
  • Narrated by Kevin Shen

Kirino Natsuo

• Out
  • Translated by Rebecca Copleand
  • Translated by Emily Woo Zeller

Kenzaburo Oe

• Death by Water
  • Translated by Deborah Boliver Boehm
  • Narrated by Paul Boehmer
• Nip the Buds, Shoot the Kids
  • Translated by Maki Sugiyama and Paul St. Mackintosh
  • Narrated by Edoardo Ballerini
• A Personal Matter
  • Translated by John Nathan
  • Narrated by Eric Michael Summerer

Mimei Ogawa

• Classic Japanese Fairy Tales, Volume 1: Mimei Ogawa
  • Translated by J. D. Wisgo
  • Narrated by Masato Ouchida

Yoko Ogawa

• The Housekeeper and the Professor
  • Translated by Stephen Synder
  • Narrated by Cassandra Campbell
• The Memory Police
  • Translated by Stephen Snyder
  • Narrated by Traci Kato-Kiriyama
• Revenge: Eleven Dark Tales (stories)
  • Translated by Stephen Snyder
  • Narrated by Kaleo Griffith and Johanna Parker

Hiroko Oyamada

• The Hole
  • Translated by David Boyd
  • Narrated by Brianna Ishibashi

Makoto Shinkai

• She and Her Cat (co-written by Naruki Nagakawa)
  • Translated by Ginny Tapley Takemori
  • Narrated by Winson Ting, Julia Strowski, Jacqui Bardelang, Hana Teraie-Wood, Nile Farue-Bryan

Natsume Soseki

• I Am a Cat
  • Translated by Aiko Ito and Graeme Wilson
  • Narrated by David Shih
  • Listen to RJL episode 8: Meiji Literature and Japan’s Most Famous Literary Cat.
• Kusamakura [Grass Pillow]
  • Translated by Meredith McKinney
  • Narrated by Kotaro Watanabe and Elizabeth Jasicki
• Kokoro [Heart]
  • Translated by Edwin McClellan
  • Narrated by Matt Shea
• Kokoro [Heart]
  • Translated by Meredith McKinney
  • Narrated by Kotaro Watanabe and Elizabeth Jasicki
• Sanshiro
  • Translated by Jay Rubin
  • Narrated by Andrew Koji

Durian Sukegawa

• Sweet Bean Paste
  • Translated by Alison Watts
  • Narrated by Cindy Cay

Kaoru Takamura

• Lady Joker, Vol. 1
  • Translated by Marie Iida and Allison Markin Powell
  • Narrated by Brian Nishii
• Lady Joker, Vol. 2
  • Translated by Marie Iida and Allison Markin Powell
  • Narrated by Brian Nishii

Yoko Tawada

• The Emissary
  • Translated by Margaret Misutani
  • Narrated by Julian Cihi
• Memoirs of a Polar Bear (originally in German)
  • Translated by Susan Bernofsky
  • Narrated by Christa Lewis and Paul Woodson
• Scatted All over the Earth (expected spring 2022)
  • Translated by Margaret Mitsutani
  • Narrated by Cindy Kay

Kikuo Tsumura

• There’s No Such Thing as an Easy Job
  • Translated by Polly Barton
  • Narrated by Cindy Kay

Rin Usami

• Idol, Burning
  • Translated by Asa Yoneda
  • Narrated by Mirai

Emi Yagi

• Diary of a Void
  • Translated by David Boyd and Lucy North
  • Narrated by Nancy Wu
  • Read my review of Diary of a Void.

Seishi Yokomizo

• Death on Gokumon Island
  • Translated by Louise Heal Kawai
  • Narrated by Akira Matsumoto
• The Honjin Murders
  • Translated by Louise Heal Kawai
  • Narrated by Akira Matsumoto
• The Inugami Curse (Honjin Murders #2)
  • Translated by Louise Heal Kawai
  • Narrated by Akira Matsumoto
• The Village of Eight Graves (Honjin Murders #3)
  • Translated by Louise Heal Kawai
  • Narrated by Akira Matsumoto

Banana Yoshimoto

• Amrita
  • Translated by Megan Backus
  • Narrated by Alexandra Bailey
• Asleep
  • Translated by Megan Backus
  • Narrated by Emily Zeller
• Dead-End Memories
  • Translated by Asa Yoneda
  • Narrated by Kathleen Li
  • Read my review of Dead-End Memories.
• Kitchen
  • Narrated by Emily Zeller
  • Translated by Megan Backus
• Lizard
  • Narrated by Emily Zeller
  • Translated by Megan Backus
• Moshi Moshi
  • Translated by Asa Yoneda
  • Narrated by Kathleen Li
• N.P.
  • Narrated by Emily Zeller
  • Translated by Megan Backus
• Listen to RJL episode 14: Banana and the Bubble.

Eiji Yoshikawa

• Musashi
  • Translated by Charles S. Terry
  • Narrated by Brian Nishii

Genzaburo Yoshino

• How Do You Live?
  • Translated  by Bruno Navasky
  • Narrated by Brian Nishii
  • Read my review of How Do You Live?

Miri Yu

• Tokyo Ueno Station
  • Translated by Morgan Giles
  • Narrated by Johnny Heller
  • Listen to RJL episode 16: Writing about Japan’s “Have-Nots”, including a closer look at Tokyo Ueno Station.

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