"Kitsune-Wana" by KITAMORI Kou

Mr. KITAMORI was born in 1961 at Shimonoseki in Japan.

The heroin of this story is a shop-less antique dealer whose name is USAMI Touko. Though she has no shop, her style name on business is Touko-dou, which means Winter Fox Hall. Though her business scale is small, she has been doing good business. But one day she had gotten an imitation of glass by Mr. Tachibana of Kikun-dou. Then a man whose name is TEI appeared, and she decided to do the revenge. But an murder case occurred, and police began the investigation...

This story contains lots of antique knowledge, antique business, and so on, and very exciting story!

The title of the book means Fox Trap, but we cannot decide whether Fox's Trap or Trap to capture Fox. Of course here the Fox means Touko. This book seems to be the first book of a series called 'USAMI Touko series'. I'd like to continue to read the series!

(Finished reading on Dec.24, 2007)


The more detailed Japanese version of this article is here!

Japanese character(s) (kanji)
* KITAMORI Kou : 北森鴻
* Kitsune-Wana : 狐罠

"Romajin-no Monogatari (VII)" by SHIONO Nanami

This seventh book of the "Roma-jin no Monogatari" series is written about four emperors after the first emperor Augustus. The second emperor Tiberius Caesar Augustus (Reign: 14 Sep.14 - 16 Mar.37) was an economist, the third emperor Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus who is known as Caligula (Reign: 18 Mar.37 - 24 Jan.41) was a lavish spender, the fourth emperor Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (Reign: 24 Jan.41 - 13 Oct.54) was a historian, and the fifth emperor Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (Reign: 13 Oct.54 - 9 Jun.68) was an artist. They all have relationship to Augustus, but after them the relation was disconnected. The historians of the Roman Empire, Tacitus and Svetonius, wrote these emperors very badly in their writings, and the subtitle of this book is "Akumei-takaki Koutei-tachi" or Emperors of Ill Fame.

(Finished reading on Dec.22, 2007)


The more detailed Japanese version of this article is here!

Japanese character(s) (kanji)
* SHIONO Nanami : 塩野七生
* Roma-jin no Monogatari : ローマ人の物語
* Akumei-takaki Koutei-tachi : 悪名高き皇帝たち

"Zaisei-no Shikumi-ga Wakaru-Hon" by JIN'NO Naohiko

The author is a professor of Tokyo University, and the title means "A book to understand public budgets".

This book is one of 'Iwanami Junior New Books' series, so I expected that the contents are written easily. (Iwanami is a big publishing company in Japan.) However, it was not true at least for me. Many difficult things are written in difficult way! (^_^;;;

Anyway the insistence of the author is very clear: (1) contradictory against privatization of national projects like life lines, communications, and power supplies, (2) contradictory against the reformation of the public budgets, (3) approval for the tax increase, and (4) approval for the decentralization. These are very interesting, though I don't agree some of these.

(Finished reading on Dec.10, 2007)


The more detailed Japanese version of this article is here!

Japanese character(s) (kanji)
* JIN'NO Naohiko : 神野直彦
* Zaisei-no Shikumi-ga Wakaru-Hon : 財政のしくみがわかる本

"Utyouten Kazoku" by MORIMI Tomihiko

Mr. MORIMI is a young Japanese writer whose writing style has an unique taste.

This story, whose title means 'The rapturous family', is a fantasy... maybe. There lives one third of human beings, one third of Japanese long-nosed goblins (tengu) and one third of raccoon dogs in Kyoto. The third son of a historic family of raccoon dogs, Yasaburou, lives with his family... Yes, this is the story of raccoon dogs!

Anyway, this story is very interesting, that's surely right! (^_^)

(Finished reading on Dec.9, 2007)


The more detailed Japanese version of this article is here!

Japanese character(s) (kanji)
* MORIMI Tomihiko : 森見登美彦
* Utyouten Kazoku : 有頂天家族

"Chocolate Beast" by KATOU Miaki

Ms. KATOU is a Japanese writer, and one of her stories is broadcasting on TV as a TV drama, though I have not watched it yet. (^_^;;; Anyway this book is the second one of a series, and the previous and the first one is "Indigo-no Yoru". I read the book this summer, so here you cannot find the description of it. m(_ _)m

An editor SHIOYA made a night spot 'Club Indigo' after a murmur of a free-writer TAKAHARA Akira, and they are now owners of the shop. Around this night spot, various events or problems occur, and they solve them with the hosts of the shop...

This book contains four stories. The titles are 'Henpou-sya', 'Minority/Majority', 'Chocolate Beast', and 'Mayonaka-no daring'.

(Finished reading on Dec.6, 2007)


The more detailed Japanese version of this article is here!

Japanese character(s) (kanji)
* KATOU Miaki : 加藤実秋
* Chocolate Beast : チョコレートビースト
* Henpu-sya : 返報者
* Minority/Majority : マイノリティ／マジョリティ
* Mayonaka-no daring : 真夜中のダーリン

"Romajin-no Monogatari (VI)" by SHIONO Nanami

This sixth book of the "Roma-jin no Monogatari" series is written about Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus, who is the first Roman emperor and called Augustus. By defeating Antony and Cleopatra at the Battle of Actium, he succeeded to finish the Civil War, and that was the beginning of 'Pax Romana' or the Roman Peace which is the subtitle of this book. He was not a great soldier, but he has a good cooperator Agrippa. He also has a good speaker Maecenas. They changed the Rome Republic to the Roman Empire before people know it. This book contains until the death of Augustus.

(Finished reading on Dec.5, 2007)


The more detailed Japanese version of this article is here!

Japanese character(s) (kanji)
* SHIONO Nanami : 塩野七生
* Roma-jin no Monogatari : ローマ人の物語
* Pax Romana : パクス・ロマーナ

"1950-nen-no bakkutosu" by KITAMURA Kaoru

This book contains 23 short stories published in various magazines etc. from 1995 to 2007. The title is one of them. You can easily read one by one at any chopped free time. Please check the detailed titles listed below with Japanese one.

(Finished reading on Nov.29, 2007)


The more detailed Japanese version of this article is here!

Japanese character(s) (kanji)
* KITAMURA Kaoru : 北村薫
* Hyaku-Monogatari : 百物語 (100 stories)
* Mangekyou : 万華鏡 (Kaleidoscope)
* Kari-no Tayori : 雁の便り (News spread by wild geese)
* Houtyou : 包丁 (Kitchen knife)
* Mayonaka-no Daffuru-Ko-to : 真夜中のダッフルコート (A daffel coat on midnight)
* Mukashi-machi : 昔町 (Old towns)
* Kyoufu Eiga : 恐怖映画 (Horror Movies)
* Syare Komachi : 洒落小町 (Rakish small town)
* Gaisen : 凱旋 (A return in triumph)
* Me : 眼 (An eye)
* Aki : 秋 (Autumn)
* Te-wo Hiyasu : 手を冷やす (Let cold the fingers)
* Karukaya : かるかや (Cut thaches)
* Yuki-ga futte kimashita : 雪が降って来ました (It has began to snow)
* Yuriko-hime, Kaiki-Doku-haki On'na : 百合子姫・怪奇毒吐き女 (Princess Yuriko, Grotesque poison-spread female)
* Fukkura-to : ふっくらと (Plump)
* Ookina Tyokore-to : 大きなチョコレート (Large chocolate)
* Ishidan, Ookina Ki-no Shita-de : 石段・大きな木の下で (Stone steps, Under a large tree)
* Amontira-do-no Yubiwa : アモンチラードの指輪 (Amontillado Ring)
* Kosyougatsu : 小正月 (Small new year's day)
* 1950-nen-no bakkutosu : １９５０年のバックトス (Back-toss in 1950)
* Ringo-no Ka : 林檎の香 (Smell of apples)
* Hotate-ste-ki-to Unagi : ほたてステーキと鰻 (Stake of scallops and eels)

"Boku-to 1-rupee-no Kamisama" by Vikas Swarup

Vikas Swarup is an Indian diplomat. He wrote this book, while he worked in England. The original title is "Q and A", but the Japanese version has a completely different title; "Boku-to 1-rupee-no Kamisama" or "God's 1 rupee and I" if we directly translate it back into English.

The Lam Muhammad Thomas(?), who works as a waiter in Mumbai, got the prize of 1 billion rupees in a popular TV program. But since he has never studied in any school, he was doubted, and he was arrested...

This story contains many problems occurring in India, and is planned to be a movie.

(Finished reading on Nov.25, 2007)


The more detailed Japanese version of this article is here!

Japanese character(s) (kanji)
* Vikas Swarup : ヴィカス・スワラップ
* Boku-to 1-rupee-no Kamisama : 僕と１ルピーの神様

"Syo toha douiu geijyutsu ka?" by ISHIKAWA Kyuuyou

ISHIKAWA Kyuuyou is a professional artist and a historical researcher of 'Syo', which is hand-writings with a brush and ink. In this book he describes the history of 'Kanji' or Japanese (or Chinese) characters in old China and says that the origin of art in 'Syo' is 'Hissyoku' or how the characters were written on a paper.

Sorry, it is very difficult for me to explain the words of 'Syo' in English...

(Finished reading on Nov.23, 2007)


The more detailed Japanese version of this article is here!

Japanese character(s) (kanji)
* ISHIKAWA Kyuuyou : 石川九楊
* Syo toha douiu geijyutsu ka? : 書とはどういう芸術か
* Kanji : 漢字
* Hissyoku : 筆蝕

"Romajin-no Monogatari (V)" by SHIONO Nanami

This fifth book of the "Roma-jin no Monogatari" series is also about Gaius Julius Caesar like the fourth one. The subtitle is "Julius Caesar - after the Rubicon", and it contains his history after crossing the Rubicon river in 49 BC and the events occurred after his assassination on March 15 in 44 BC. After he destroyed Pompey and his fellows in the Civil War, he tried to change the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire, but before he succeeded to do this, he was assassinated. But his grand-nephew, Gaius Octavius, continued to have the Caesar's will, and succeeded to change.

(Finished reading on Nov.21, 2007)


The more detailed Japanese version of this article is here!

Japanese character(s) (kanji)
* Julius Caesar - after the Rubicon : ユリウス・カエサル　ルビコン以後

"Kamogawa Holmoo" by MAKIME Manabu

This is the first time for me to read the book by Mr. Makime, who is a young new writer in Japan. The hero of this story, who is a new student of Kyoto university, drew a cow carriage for a part-time job during the Aoi-Matsuri, which is one of three largest festivals in Kyoto city. After that he was invited to a party, which was the beginning of a historical strange horrible matches called 'Holmoo'...

(Finished reading on Nov.19, 2007)


The more detailed Japanese version of this article is here!

Japanese character(s) (kanji)
* Kamogawa Holmoo : 鴨川ホルモー
* MAKIME Manabu : 万城目学

"Romajin-no Monogatari (IV)" by SHIONO Nanami

The fourth and fifth books of the "Roma-jin no Monogatari" series is about Gaius Julius Caesar, and this fourth one, which has the subtitle of "Julius Caesar - before the Rubicon", describes his history before he crossed the Rubicon river in 49 BC. This means that the Gallic War is mainly written.

(Finished reading on Nov.11, 2007)


The more detailed Japanese version of this article is here!

Japanese character(s) (kanji)
* Julius Caesar - before the Rubicon : ユリウス・カエサル　ルビコン以前

"Syo no Mikata" by KOMATSU Shigemi

The author, KOMATSU Shigemi, is a famous scholar of 'Syo', though I did not know about him (^_^;;; The Japanese word 'Syo' means calligraphy - writing characters especially using brush on papers. This contains not only a method of communication but also a part of arts.

The oldest 'Syo' present in Japanese was written in the 1st century by SYOUTOKU Taishi, whose portrait is printed in old Japanese bills (The present bills does not contain his...) From then many 'Syo' has been reserved, and this book introduces some famous ones among these using pictures.

(Finished reading on Nov.7, 2007)


The more detailed Japanese version of this article is here!

Japanese character(s) (kanji)
* KOMATSU Shigemi : 小松茂美
* Syo no Mikata : 書のみかた
* SYOUTOKU Taishi : 聖徳太子

"Nakaniwa no Dekigoto" by ONDA Riku

This story has an extremely complicated structure; a drama played in another drama played in another drama played in ... Please check how many times dramas are nested by reading this book by your self! (^_^;;;

The meaning of the title is "An occurrence in a courtyard", and a person dies by taking poison. Is it a murder case? or a self-suicide? or an accident?

Many mysteries are presented: some of which are given answers and others are left unsolved. And at the end of this story all will be combined into one!

(Finished reading on Nov.3, 2007)


The more detailed Japanese version of this article is here!

Japanese character(s) (kanji)
* Nakaniwa no Dekigoto : 中庭の出来事

"Romajin-no Monogatari (III)" by SHIONO Nanami

The third book of the "Roma-jin no Monogatari" series is about the struggles after the establishment of a large country around the Mediterranean Sea. There are some famous people in this period including Gaius Gracchus (154-121 BC), Gaius Sempronius Gracchus (153-121 BC), Gaius Marius (157-86 BC), Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix (138-78 BC), and Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus (106-48 BC). The enemy in this period is mainly in Rome as the subtitle of this book 'Syousya no Konmei (Confusion of the winner)' shows. After them the famous Gaius Julius Caesar (100-44 BC) appears, but that is written in the next book.

(Finished reading on Oct.31, 2007)


The more detailed Japanese version of this article is here!

Japanese character(s) (kanji)
* Syousya no Konmei : 勝者の混迷

"Kaze ga Tsuyoku Fuiteiru" by MIURA Shiwon

MIURA Shiwon is a famous Japanese writer. So far I read some essays but a few novels. This is one of her novels, and I enjoyed very much.

The meaning of the title is "It's blowing hard", and it is about 'Ekiden' or a long-distance relay road race. In Japan there are many 'Ekiden' races especially in winter. One of the most famous ones is 'Hakone Ekiden', which is held in 2 and 3 January every year. In that race universities in Kanto area (Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba, Gunma, Tochigi, and Yamanashi prefectures) compete each other. On 2 January the runners start from Tokyo, five runners connect their 'Tasuki' or sash and went to Hakone, about 110km away from Tokyo. The second day (3 January) is the return trip. So total ten runners for each group run in this race. We can see on TV and it is one of popular amusements in New Year's holidays in Japan.

The heros of this book is ten students of Kansei Univ. who lives in an old apartment 'Chikusei-sou'. Most of them are amateurs of 'Ekiden' and/or marathon, but they aim to run the 'Hakone Ekiden'. Of course there are many difficulties: getting the right to run the trial race, get a good score in the trial race, and so on...

P.S.
The trial race of this year (2007) seems to be held on 20 October!

(Finished reading on Oct.28, 2007)


The more detailed Japanese version of this article is here!

Japanese character(s) (kanji)
* MIURA Shiwon : 三浦しをん
* Kaze ga Tsuyoku Fuiteiru : 風が強く吹いている

"Komorebi ni Oyogu Sakana" by ONDA Riku

The author, ONDA Riku, is also one of my favorite writers. Her description of human minds is very nice!

This story is relatively normal in her books. A young man and a woman are spending the last night in their room before they will separate in the next morning. The trigger to separate is a hiking in a low mountain, during which a guide for them died... They talk about the short trip and find various new things.

(Finished reading on Oct.25, 2007)


The more detailed Japanese version of this article is here!

Japanese character(s) (kanji)
* ONDA Riku : 恩田陸
* Komorebi ni Oyogu Sakana : 木洩れ日に泳ぐ魚

"Hari no Ten" by KITAMURA Kaoru

The author, KITAMURA Kaoru, is one of my favorite writers. His first book was the key to start reading books for me.

This book contains three consecutive stories; "Maboroshi no Hashi" (illusion of a bridge), "Soufuren" (a song played by old instruments of Japanese style), and "Hari no Ten" (glass ceiling) - the title one. And this is the second book of Bekki-san's series. It is in the early Syouwa period (around 1933), and Bekki-san is a nickname of Ms. Bekku - a driver of Hanamura family. She takes Eiko - the daughter of Hanamura family - to her school every day, and sometimes makes a good advice for various mysterious things which happen around Eiko. And at last the origin of Bekki-san appears at the end of this book!

(Finished reading on Oct.23, 2007)


The more detailed Japanese version of this article is here!

Japanese character(s) (kanji)
* KITAMURA Kaoru : 北村薫
* Hari no Ten : 玻璃の天
* Maboroshi no Hashi : 幻の橋
* Soufuren : 想夫恋

"Mou Jibun-Nenkin wo Tsukurushikanai!!" by ASAI Takashi

The author, Mr. ASAI, constructed a company called 'Daini Kaientai', and it is known to fan the public fear of the national collapse. The title of this book means 'We have to make our pensions by ourselves'.

I agree that the national financial situation of Japan is extremely bad, but cannot agree that the national collapse occurs soon. After I started reading this book, I noticed that this is the third book of a series... but now I don't need to read other ones (^_^;;;

(Finished reading on Oct.21, 2007)


The more detailed Japanese version of this article is here!

Japanese character(s) (kanji)
* ASAI Takashi : 浅井隆
* Mou Jibun-Nenkin wo Tsukurushikanai!! : もう、自分年金を作るしかない！！

"Kazu ni Tsuyokunaru" by HATAMURA Youtarou

The author Mr. Hatamura was a professor of Tokyo University, and the title of this book means "To be strong to numbers". He is trying to explain how to be strong to numbers, how to be sensitive to numbers, how to get the messages from numbers, and how to use the numbers. The target of this book is those who dislike numbers, business person, householders, students, and teachers of mathematics. But of course, those who likes math also enjoy reading this book. This book also contains many unnecessary things (^_^;;;

(Finished reading on Oct.21, 2007)


The more detailed Japanese version of this article is here!

Japanese character(s) (kanji)
* HATAMURA Youtarou : 畑村洋太郎
* Kazu ni Tsuyokunaru : 数に強くなる