Delving into Japan's literary history, 'Kojiki' stands out as the country's first book, published in 712 AD. It's a treasure trove of Shinto myths and imperial lineage, written in a blend of Chinese characters and early Japanese script. What I love is how it captures the essence of Japan's cultural spirit—raw, poetic, and deeply connected to nature. The 'Manyoshu,' a later work, further enriched this legacy with its emotive poetry. These texts remind me of how foundational stories are, much like the lore in 'Ghost of Tsushima' or 'The Tale of the Princess Kaguya.'
I find the origins of Japan's first book fascinating. The oldest known Japanese book is 'Kojiki' (Record of Ancient Matters), completed in 712 AD. It's a mix of myths, legends, and historical accounts, compiled under Empress Genmei's order. This work laid the foundation for Japanese literature and Shinto beliefs.
Another early masterpiece is 'Nihon Shoki' (Chronicles of Japan), finished in 720 AD, which further documents Japan's creation myths and early emperors. These texts weren't just books—they were cultural cornerstones, blending poetry, history, and spirituality. Their influence echoes even in modern manga and anime, like 'Noragami,' which draws from Shinto themes. The meticulous preservation of these works reflects Japan's reverence for storytelling.
I've always been curious about Japan's literary roots, and the answer takes us back over 1,300 years. 'Kojiki,' written in 712 AD, is considered Japan's first book. It's a captivating compilation of myths, like the tale of Izanagi and Izanami creating the islands of Japan. What's intriguing is how these stories shaped Japan's identity. Later, 'Manyoshu,' an 8th-century poetry anthology, added another layer to early literature. These works weren't just read—they were performed, blending oral and written traditions. It's amazing to see how these ancient texts inspire modern creators, from Studio Ghibli's films to games like 'Okami.'
Japan's first book, 'Kojiki,' appeared in 712 AD. It chronicles myths like the sun goddess Amaterasu, blending history and folklore. Its companion, 'Nihon Shoki,' followed in 720 AD. Both reflect Japan's early identity and remain influential today, inspiring everything from traditional theater to modern media like 'Demon Slayer,' which echoes Shinto themes.
Taking a shortcut through a dark and remote alley on Halloween night proved to be a life changing decision of research scientist, Jasper Greene.
Bitten by a zombie and brutally attacked by a group of werewolves, he was left for dead only to be discovered and rescued by a vampire king who took him home to heal. Delighted to discover that Jasper's research was on genetics with a focus on elongating life (for which he often used himself as a test subject due to lack of money), the vampire king assigned him the task of shifting the vampire DNA so that it was less obvious what they were when in the company of humans. With his assistant, Lila, in tow he was provided a lab and set to work. With toxins from werewolves and zombies mingling with the vampire blood he was provided during his healing time, Jasper struggled to adjust to his new body while he did his best to accommodate the vampires until the opportunity to escape presented itself. But, where does a man who has vampire, werewolf and zombie traits go?
"The Beginning", is book 1 of the Jasper series.
Johnny Simmons thrives on competition—whether in the pool, in playful bets, or in charming his way through life. He’s used to being in control, but when Jane Shepherd enters his world, she proves to be an unexpected challenge.
Assigned to his study group, Jane is sharp, unfiltered, and unimpressed by his usual charm. Their first real interaction is filled with witty banter, subtle tension, and a clash of personalities that leaves Johnny both frustrated and intrigued.
A fiercely competitive swimmer meets his match in a sharp-witted girl who challenges him at every turn, winning unexpected bets and forcing him to rethink what it truly means to win—not just in competition, but in love and life.
Jenny & Jay - Volume 1 is the first installment in a five-novel New Adult series, following the lives of five childhood friends—Johnny Simmons, Paul, Brian, Aaron, and Daryl—all competitive swimmers bound by their deep friendship and relentless drive to win. While romance plays a central role, this is not a simple on-again, off-again love story; instead, the series explores the evolving relationships, rivalries, and personal growth of these young men as they navigate life, love, and ambition.
The novel is mainly about the forgotten British poet/writer named C. J Richards who lived in Burma/Myanmar in colonial times and he believed himself as a Burmophile. He served as I.C.S (Indian Civil Servant) and when he retired from I.C.S service, he was a D.C (District Commissioner) and he left for England a year before Burma gained its independence in 1948. He came to Burma in 1920 to work in civil service after passing the hardest I.C.S examination. He wrote several books on Burma and contributed many monthly articles to Guardian Magazine published in Burma from 1953 to 1974 or 1975. Though he wrote several books which had much literary merit to both communities, Britain and Burma (Myanmar), people failed to recognize him.
The story has two parts: one part is set in the contemporary Yangon (then called Rangoon) in 2016 context and a young literary enthusiast named “Lin” found out unexpectedly the forgotten writer’s poetry book and there is surely a good deal of time gap that led him into a quest to know more about the author’s life. The setting is quite different comparing to colonial Burma and independence Myanmar (Burma), early twentieth century and 2016 which is a transitional period in Myanmar.
The writer’s life is fictionalized in the novel and most of the facts are taken from his personal stories and other reference books. It is a kind of historical novel with a twist and it has comparatively constructed the two different periods in Myanmar history to convince readers, locally and abroad more about history, authorship, humanity, colonialism, and transitional development in Myanmar today.
In 1940 Hitler gifted a Mercedes car to the then monarch of Nepal, Tribhuvan Bir Bikram Shah Dev. The story revolves around this historical fact; however the main plot of the novel is the romance between a Nepal princess and a man from Kerala, a South Indian state. Both these characters are real people.
The man from Kerala is the protagonist of the story. He was in Kathmandu in 1989 to pursue his post-graduate studies. One of his classmates at Tribhuvan University was a princess, a relative of the then monarch, King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev.
One day she showed him the Mercedes car, which at that time had been abandoned by the royal family and was resting at the Nepal Engineering College compound. The protagonist was a bit skeptical of Hitler's motive in gifting the car to the Nepal king, but since the princess could not give him a credible reason disregarded the matter.
After about 22 years the protagonist and the princess come together and travel to Mt. Everest to unearth Hitler's motive in gifting the car to the Nepal king. On the scary and freezing slope of the highest peak in the world they come to know about many unknown facets of Hitler and the main reason behind the fall of the Nepal kingdom. Along with that they also come to know about their past lives, which was scarily excruciating, at the same time thrilling. It is this revelation about the past lives of the protagonist and the princess that binds the story together.
A bloody resistance against colonial invasion that tears Seme's indigenous leadership apart marks the entry of a strange culture into the clan. Osayo, the priest, seeks to protect the clan's religious system from erosion by the Blue-eyed (colonists). He, however, has to face off with a few loose canons, including his own son who escapes to a mission center far from home and ends up falling in love with a convert. In the meantime, a terrible plague breaks out in the clan, killing animals and people and leaving the land barren. Coupled by a misunderstanding of concepts in the new faith propagated by the Blue-eyed, a longstanding rift and blame game emerge between the converts and the conservatives, and spuns into a cutural marriage. Soon afterward, Osayo dies and his son, Okayo, realizes he has a greater role to play. The supernormal powers of the clan's aboriginal religious tree are stolen by a witch in line with a prophetic myth. And in a painful and tumultous mission to reunite the two conflicting religions of Seme Clan and limit the Blue-eyed's influence, Okayo puts his front foot forward in combating witchcraft so as to have the tree's powers in safe custody, and protect good from being superseded by evil.
I'm born with a curse, so I never speak another word since I'm old enough to be understanding.
Since my six-year-old daughter, Jada Westfield, accidentally knocks over my sick older brother, Cain Westfield, my wife, Serena Harlow, sends her to a dog-training facility immediately.
Jada has gotten bitten by dogs in the past, so she's extremely terrified of them. I do everything I can to stop Serena from sending Jada there—even resorting to groveling in front of her, my forehead sticky with blood—yet Serena never spares a glance in my direction.
Instead, she helps Cain up to his feet and gently pats the dust off his pants. But the moment she speaks up, her voice is glacial and ruthless.
"Don't think I can't tell that Jada did this because you've been secretly grooming her to do so. You're an extremely manipulative mute, after all. Your dirty blood courses through Jada's veins as well. If I don't start teaching her a lesson at an early age, she will eventually grow up as a pathetic loser.
"I'm sending her to the facility so that she can learn the rules of this world. She will learn that seniority takes precedence over everything. This also serves as a lesson for you to never harm the person you aren't supposed to engage with!"
I finally find Jada, who has gotten trapped in a cage filled with a dozen rabid mutts. Her body has already been torn into pieces.
I suppress the pain in my heart as I put pieces of Jada together like a jigsaw puzzle. After more than 20 years, I finally utter my first sentence.
"Serena Harlow, I want you to pay the price with your blood, and I want you to lose everything you have in life."
I always make it a point to check the publisher details. The series is published by Kodansha, one of the biggest names in Japanese publishing. They're known for their high-quality prints and fantastic editorial standards. Kodansha has a reputation for bringing some of the best manga and light novels to the global market, and 'Japa' is no exception. Their attention to detail in translations and adaptations really makes the series stand out. If you're into Japanese literature, you'll definitely recognize their logo on the spine. It's a mark of quality that fans trust.
As a longtime fan of Japanese literature and light novels, I've come across many series that span multiple volumes. For instance, 'Monogatari' by Nisio Isin has over 20 volumes, each diving deeper into the supernatural and psychological twists that make it so captivating. Another example is 'Sword Art Online', which started as a web novel and now has more than 25 volumes, expanding its virtual world with each installment.
Long-running series like 'Toaru Majutsu no Index' boast over 50 volumes, blending science and magic in a way that keeps readers hooked for years. Even shorter series, like 'The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya', manage to pack a punch with around 12 volumes. The number of volumes varies widely, but the depth and creativity in each make the journey worthwhile.