All the Japanese Books I Read in 2025 (Must Read Novels & Hidden Gems)

With the year slowly coming to a close, I’ve been reflecting a lot on my reading journey, especially after hitting a major milestone of reading over 100 books in 2025.

That’s something I’m incredibly proud of, and naturally, I’ve been sharing many of the standout books I’ve come across this year. But one category that deserves its own spotlight is Japanese literature.

So in this list, I’m sharing all the Japanese books I read in 2025.

If you haven’t picked up a Japanese novel yet, this is your sign to change that.

There’s something uniquely special about Japanese literature. It doesn’t matter what genre you usually gravitate toward, whether it’s mystery, sci-fi, romance, or literary fiction, there’s a Japanese novel out there that will completely pull you in.

And once you start reading them, it’s hard to stop.

Why Japanese Literature Feels Different

I got into Japanese novels the same way many readers do, by stumbling across them in bookstores and seeing them pop up on online recommendation lists.

But over the past few years, something has shifted.

More Japanese books are being translated into English than ever before. And because of that, international readers are finally getting access to stories that were once much harder to find.

What we’re seeing now is a mix of rediscovered classics and modern hits making their way onto the global stage.

Some of these books have been beloved in Japan for years. Others are newer works that are quickly gaining recognition worldwide. Either way, they all bring something fresh to the table.

One of the biggest differences I’ve noticed is how Japanese novels approach storytelling.

There’s a subtlety to them. A quietness. Even when they deal with heavy or emotional topics, they do it with a kind of restraint that makes the impact even stronger.

And then there are the “comfort reads,” a style of storytelling that feels incredibly distinct from Western literature.

Series like The Kamogawa Food Detectives by Hisashi Kashiwai and Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa fall into this category. These are stories that center around everyday life: cafés, bookstores, food, relationships, and yet they manage to hit you emotionally in ways you don’t expect.

It’s a subgenre that doesn’t really have a direct equivalent in Western fiction.

And it’s one I’ve come to love.

Japanese Books I Read in 2025

Here’s the full list of Japanese books I read this year:

• The Kamogawa Food Detectives by Hisashi Kashiwai
• Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa, Eric Ozawa (Translator)
• More Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa, Eric Ozawa (Translator)
• Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi 
• The Restaurant of Lost Recipes (A Kamogawa Food Detectives Novel) by Hisashi Kashiwai, Jesse Kirkwood (Translator)
• The Memory Police bv Yōko Ogawa, Stephen Snyder (Translator)
• Hunchback by Saou Ichikawa, Polly Barton (Translator)
• The Devil’s Flute Murders by Seishi Yokomizo, Jim Rion (Translator)

The Kamogawa Food Detectives Series

If there’s one series that stood out the most to me this year, it’s The Kamogawa Food Detectives.

I recommend this to anyone who loves food, travel, or just deeply human stories.

At first glance, these books might seem like simple love letters to Japanese cuisine and in some ways, they are. But they go much deeper than that.

Each story revolves around a “food mystery,” where characters come to a small Kyoto restaurant hoping to recreate a meaningful dish from their past. It could be something tied to a lost loved one, a forgotten moment, or a piece of their identity.

And through that process, the novel explores something bigger.

Food becomes a way to reconnect, with people, with memories, and with yourself.

Reading this series genuinely changed the way I think about food. It made me realize how every dish has a story behind it, whether we recognize it or not.

It’s comforting, emotional, and incredibly satisfying to read.

Morisaki Bookshop & Before the Coffee Gets Cold

Another set of books that had a huge impact on me were Days at the Morisaki Bookshop, its sequel, and Before the Coffee Gets Cold.

These fall perfectly into that “comfort read” category but don’t mistake that for being light or forgettable.

These books hit hard.

As someone who loves bookstores and cafés, these stories felt tailor made for me. There’s something about the setting alone that pulls you in. But what really makes them special is the emotional depth.

They deal with grief, regret, second chances, and the passage of time but in a way that feels gentle rather than overwhelming.

And yes, they made me tear up more than once.

If you’re looking for books that feel like a warm atmosphere but still leave a lasting impact, these are perfect.

The Restaurant of Lost Recipes

As part of The Kamogawa Food Detectives series, The Restaurant of Lost Recipes deserves its own mention.

By the time I got to this one, I was already invested in the series and it didn’t disappoint.

It builds on everything that makes the first book great while continuing to deliver those emotional, food centered stories that define the series.

It’s the kind of book that makes you want to travel. To explore new cultures. To try dishes you’ve never heard of.

But more importantly, it makes you reflect on your own memories tied to food.

And that’s what makes it stick with you.

The Memory Police by Yōko Ogawa

Not all Japanese novels fall into the “comfort read” category and The Memory Police is the perfect example of that.

This is a dystopian sci-fi novel that feels both surreal and deeply unsettling.

The premise alone is enough to hook you: objects disappear from the world, and soon after, people lose all memory of them. But not everyone forgets and those who don’t are hunted.

It’s a story that feels reminiscent of 1984, but with a quieter, more haunting tone.

What really stands out is how the novel makes you think.

It’s not just about the plot it’s about what memory means, how it shapes identity, and what happens when it’s taken away.

It’s no surprise that this book was nominated for the International Booker Prize.

Hunchback by Saou Ichikawa

Hunchback is one of the most powerful and important books I read this year.

It’s a short novella, but it leaves a lasting impact.

The story follows a protagonist living with myotubular myopathy, a congenital muscle disorder, and offers a perspective that is rarely explored in literature.

What makes this book stand out is its honesty.

It doesn’t shy away from uncomfortable truths, particularly when it comes to accessibility and the lived experiences of disabled individuals in Japan.

It’s been widely recognized as one of the most important works of Japanese literature in recent years, and after reading it, it’s easy to see why.

This is the kind of book that challenges you, stays with you, and makes you think long after you’ve finished it.

The Devil’s Flute Murders

Lastly, I read The Devil’s Flute Murders, part of the Detective Kindaichi Mysteries series.

This is a classic style mystery that has recently been translated into English, giving new readers a chance to experience it.

And while I appreciate the historical significance and the popularity of the series, this one didn’t quite work for me.

Not every book is going to be a hit and that’s part of reading.

Even so, I’m still glad I gave it a chance. Exploring different styles and eras of Japanese literature is part of what makes this journey so interesting.

Conclusion

These are all the Japanese books I’ve read in 2025 at least so far.

Knowing me, I might squeeze in a few more before the year officially ends. And if I do, I’ll definitely update this list.

Overall, diving into Japanese literature has been one of the most rewarding parts of my reading journey this year.

I discovered new favorite series, explored different genres, and experienced storytelling styles that feel completely distinct from what I’m used to.

And the best part?

There are still so many more Japanese books out there waiting to be translated and discovered.

If you haven’t read one yet, start now.

You might just find your next favorite book.

How many Japanese books have you read this year? Let me know I’m always looking to add more to my list. Until next time, happy reading!

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook