Red Circle Bookworm

02/10/2024

"it is no dry-as-dust academic tome… a delightful wander through Japan's literary wealth, with witty digressions and anecdotes that reveal new facets even to seasoned readers… not one that should be swallowed in one gulp…it should be taken in sips over a long period, as you would enjoy a vintage Suntory Yamazaki...”

Nathan's book offers a delightful wander through Japan's literary wealth, with witty digressions and anecdotes that reveal new facets even to seasoned readers.

23/09/2024

"I want to bring to your attention a really cool new book about Japanese literature, Kaleidoscope Japan: A nation through the lens of literature by Richard Nathan. This isn’t a review as I have skin in the game here: I was Richard’s editor on this project and therefore I think only Richard can be more biased than me. Still, I think it’s pretty awesome".

A totally biased recommendation...

09/05/2024

Wanda Pictures, one of China’s leading film producers and the owner of the largest chain of cinemas in China, has finally announced the team that will bring Takuji Ichikawa’s 2003 novel, Ima Ai ni Yukimasu (Be With You), to cinemas across China. Congrats to all involved!

Wanda Pictures, one of China’s leading film producers and the owner of the largest chain of cinemas in China, has finally announced the team that will br...

12/01/2024

"The Chronicles of Lord Asunaro is a fun twist on historical fiction, with nods in the direction of writers such as Fumiko Enchi (A Tale of False Fortunes) and Jun’ichirō Tanizaki (Captain Shigemoto’s Mother)."

While the first of the new Red Circle Minis took us into a dystopian future, today’s selection, the second of these additions to the series, sees us visiting the past. We’re heading ba…

05/01/2024

In 1968 two years before Yukio Mishima killed himself astrological predictions about the fate of five popular Japanese writers, Shintaro Ishihara, Kenzaburo Oe, Toshiyuki Kajiyama, Jugo Kuroiwa and Mishima were published ... in Pl***oy Custom.

In 1968 two years before Yukio Mishima (1925-1970) killed himself astrological predictions about the fate of five popular Japanese writers, Shintaro Ishiha...

07/02/2022

Great to see another fab and very thoughtful review of Takuji Ichikawa's 'Monkey Man' (translation Lisa & Daniel Lilley)! This time from Kris Kosaka in The Japan Times: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2022/02/05/books/book-reviews/monkey-man/

Takuji Ichikawa’s novella presents a fully realized world within its short span, with connections and contrasts to our world that are at turns bold and subtle.

28/10/2021

"The breezy first person style and the sheer uncanny verve are warmly familiar in the manner of the best of Murakami's short story collections...Ichikawa's knack for imagination, thought-provoking plot gambits and parable-like tales has made him one of Japan's most unusual authors..." Check out this fabulous and rather wonderfully thoughtful review from the Japan Society of by Takuji Ichikawa the 7th title on the series!

'Kids like us who have been picked on; we all share that same desire to become heroes. Hideto calls it Peter Parker Syndrome’.

18/10/2021

"This is the second book by Takuji Ichikawa (first, being The Refugees’ Daughter) that I have read and it is becoming clear that Takuji Ichikawa is not only going to be an auto-buy author for me but also a new favourite author of mine. I was so impressed by this book. Takuji Ichikawa really does have a way with words..." Thanks Lauren for the fab review in Where There's Ink There's Paper!

Whether a mountain, a rock, a tree or a flower – spirits reside within everything. Grandpa said everything was precious, everything has soul.Monkey Man, Takuji Ichikawa, P.25 First of all I w…

04/10/2021

Excellent to see (published last month) by
Takuji Ichikawa (trans. Lisa and Daniel Lilley) with the other titles in our expanding series on sale at Books Kinokuniya Tokyo (BKT). Huge thanks to everyone at for the amazing support and for helping make travel even further!

22/09/2021

A very Happy Publication Day to Takuji Ichikawa & Lisa & Daniel Lilley (his translators) on publication of from all of us at Red Circle Authors!!! Congratulations on, to quote one reviewer: a story that "blends a world of science with poetry and philosophy to create something stunning”. From today everyone can read this gripping fantasy tale grounded in "contemporary concerns about environmental degradation, excessive corporate power and alienated youth", the 7th in our series of short books by Japan's finest contemporary writers, Get your orders in!!!

A world on the brink of disaster, where children with new attitudes are awakening with strange new abilities – but can they change the course of history ...

17/09/2021

Takuji Ichikawa's world "isn’t the future: the dystopia is now. Monkey Man is a story about fighting for what’s worth protecting: “we can’t just wait for the world to disintegrate, can we”?" Alison Fincher thanks for the delightfully honest & insightful review for the Asian Review of Books .... "Monkey Man has something classic YA dystopian novels like Feed or The Hunger Games don’t: hope.”

A summer 2021 report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change predicted thirty years of worsening climate impacts—and that nothing can be done to stop it. Heat waves. Droughts. Wildfires. F…

16/09/2021

"a fantasy tale, but one clearly grounded in contemporary concerns about environmental degradation, excessive corporate power and alienated youth..." Thanks Peter Tasker for your lovely and thoughtful review of by Takuji Ichikawa - "clearly a writer who understands the zeitgeist" - for Japan Forward!(Translated by Lisa and Daniel Lilley). https://japan-forward.com/book-review-monkey-man-by-takuji-ichikawa/

An absorbing read in its own right with some of the charm of a Hayao Miyazaki anime film, Monkey Man provides an intriguing picture of an ethical outlook that currently seems to command widespread

14/09/2021

"pulses with energy and positivity, and we need more, much more of that in the world...a gripping mix of the fantastical and the everyday”. Thanks Iain Maloney for your fab review for Metropolis Magazine of Takuji Ichikawa's latest novella, out on the 22nd Sept. The 7th title in our expanding series, !
https://metropolisjapan.com/whats-newly-translated/

Japan-based authors share with Metropolis which newly released translated books should be on your reading radar this autumn.

10/09/2021

“Monkey Man” is a short but exciting read, with the young people up against powerful forces...although the publisher hints that the book is aimed at a Young Adult audience it certainly made fascinating reading for me, and I’m miles away from being young...Works like this, as well as being good reads, are vital in reminding us to try to take back control of our lives every day – if we all did that..." Thanks Kaggsys Book Bookish Ramblings for the lovely and thoughtful review of Takuji Ichikawa's latest work 'Monkey Man' - the 7th tittle in our growing series - coming out later this month on the 22nd!

It’s been a little while since I wrote about the Red Circle Minis; a series of short works by Japanese authors but published first in English translation, I’ve read and covered the firs…

24/08/2021

Wow! Reviews of Takuji Ichikawa's (translated by Lisa & Daniel Lilley) are already arriving! And they're fab! "It reads a bit like a young-adult book, but it is so well-written that surely everyone will like it...”! Thanks Elif the Reader - delighted you enjoyed this newly penned slice of in our expanding series of short and original Japanese books, !Thanks for keeping reading and reviewing our titles! https://elifthereader.com/books/monkey-man-takuji-ichikawa/

Monkey Man is the second book I read by the Japanese author Takuji Ichikawa after The Refugees' Daughter. I like this book as well as his first book, and I

23/08/2021

In just under 1 month (22nd Sept) our critically acclaimed series of short Japanese books in English will become a magnificent 7! So stop monkeying around on social media & check out, or even better pre-order, our forthcoming title by Takuji Ichikawa, translated by Lisa and Daniel Lilley! https://bit.ly/2W9GZT6

20/08/2021

"The Red Circle Mini series is a series of commissioned stories from Japanese writers released in English first, and from this example it looks like I may have to get the whole series"... "great characters and well thought out premise makes this a really enjoyable"... "Now looking forward to getting more books in this series and reading more by Takuji Ichikawa" Major THANK YOU Stephen Baird for your review - all of us at Red Circle are delighted you enjoyed this novella so much!

I received this from Red Circle Authors after Richard from the press thought this might be of interest to me, after looking at it I agreed as it had so many ticks on my interest list. Speculative f…

19/08/2021

Bloggers & Instagramers! 1st batch of proof copies of have been dispatched - mostly arriving this week or next! Takuji Ichikawa's new is on its way! So get geared up for the Insta Book Tours' & help us make travel even further!

18/08/2021

Popped into Brick Lane Bookshop today who are stocking up again on our series of short Japanese books in English - as according to Kalina Dimitrova (brilliant bookseller & cellist) our books have sold out! A MASSIVE THANK YOU from all of us at Red Circle for the wonderful and enthusiastic support. are a magical and amazing combination!

16/08/2021

"I couldn’t really say no as I can’t think of anymore boxes it could have ticked for me personally...” Thanks for publishing a profile of us and our series and you enthusiastic support and encouragement!

I was approached by Richard from Red Circle Authors to see if I was interested in reading one of the Red Circle Minis, and it being literary fiction with a speculative bent translated from the Japa…

10/08/2021

Check out Red Circle in this double page spread in Strong Words Magazine- a UK magazine that believes of "all the appetites, a passion for reading is one of the most rewarding”. It features our series , an interview with our co-founder & much more beside! is travelling further!

09/08/2021

"Flying-Feet & Relays: Creating Winds that Run through Japanese Fiction"!

Some nations have running in their blood. Japan is known for its discipline, long hours and endurance, as well as its respect for hard work. Long-distance ...

06/08/2021

Great to see us, Red Circle Authors, on this list with so many wonderful and prestigious presses and "homes" for writers . Thanks so much for continuing read and review our books and capturing our essence: "that idea of a home, in true Japanese fashion, comes through in the quality of their authors’ writing, the translations, and even the aesthetics and feel of the books themselves".

Get to know some of the most exciting publishing houses operating in the UK right now pushing boundaries and diversifying literature.

15/07/2021

18/01/2021

Why I translated 'The Refugees' Daughter' by Takuji Ichikawa: "I read the story and found it really compelling. I like the build up a lot. And it’s just so different from the light novels I’m usually working on. My mom really liked this book, which makes me happy. Most of the stuff I have done so far I can’t recommend to my mom".

Today’s Meet the Translator post is a follow up to my blog post where I reviewed The Refugees’ Daughter by Takuji Ichikawa and translated by Emily Balistrieri. I thought I would take th…