#tuttle publishing

Strange Tales From Japan : 99 Chilling Stories of Yokai, Ghosts, Demons and the Supernatural

I like how to book starts with the author storytelling how his hiking and pilgrimage experience in the countryside of Japan lead him into writing this book.

Hearing tales from the locals sparks his interest and curiosity into knowing more about them as he discovers that each prefecture has its own unique tales.

So he began curating and translating various stories he heard and documents he acquired, consolidating them into 99 short stories, complete with illustrations and paintings.

What’s unique and interesting about Japanese folktales is that the ghosts are like humans. Some are good, some are bad. The problem is knowing which is which.

So the stories have a mix of variety. Some are tragic that it breaks your heart, some are funny or wholesome that it makes you smile, some are terrifying that it freaks you out.

Despite of how the stories are categorised based on its genre, I still can’t tell how each story goes and how it will end until i finish each chapter. The outcome is always unexpected.

Sometimes it’s good, with a happy or satisfying ending. Sometimes it’s bad, with a sad ending. Sometimes it even end with a cliffhanger leaving you to your own conclusion.

But nonetheless, it’s an enjoyable read as it also provides insight into the unique culture of each prefecture in Japan, making you understand why some customs are that way.

I feel like a Ronin traveling across Japan reading this, with each chapter taking me to a different town, with different characters, ghosts and stories as I try to figure out what’s going on.

Book Recommendation : JAPAN JOURNEYS

Unlike today where you can post countless travel photos on social media for all to see, in Edo Period Japan, people share pictures of beautiful travel destinations via woodblock art.

After years of civil wars and restrictions on individual mobility, travel became a popular leisure activity in Japan, thanks to the development of a network of well built and fairly safe roads.

Like today, traveling provides opportunities to experience culinary and cultural specialties. This enjoyment was reflected vividly in woodblock prints for those who did not get to travel.

These prints were sold or displayed at marketplaces or festivals where people get to see beautiful sceneries of places they had never been to before, which encouraged more to travel.

The historic views of Japan have been preserved over the generations, offering a fascinating perspective on familiar locations for tourists both domestic and foreign today.

In this book, art historian, Andreas Marks, has gathered a selection of detailed woodblock prints depicting scenic spots and cultural icons that still delight visitors today in Japan.

You’ll see what places like Kyoto, Osaka and Tokyo looked like in the 19th century. And you’ll be surprised to see how the temples and castles look the same but not the background.

Buildings and architectures that have withstood the test of time, being rebuilt or preserved from Edo Period till today, which makes Japan one of the most unique travel destinations.

For those who read widely and take an interest in Asia — likely readers of this article — chances are they will have picked up a book put out by Tuttle Publishing at one time or another.

History of Tuttle Publishing

While the Tuttle family business can be traced back to 1832, making it one of the oldest American publishers still in operation, according to the company, the Japan presence was established in 1948 when Charles Tuttle, noticed a gap in the market.

Initially arriving in Japan to work in the newspaper industry as part of the American Occupation, Tuttle later began importing American books for U.S. troops stationed in the country, and ferrying Japanese books back to the United States for interested readers.

He later opened what was reportedly Tokyo's first English-language bookstore, before publishing thousands of Asia-focused books himself. Before his death, Tuttle was awarded the Order of the Sacred Treasure by Emperor Showa for his work.

Tuttle Publishing and Japan

Tuttle’s longtime presence in the market means it has an extensive back catalog that is now in high demand, fueled by the current boom in interest in Japanese culture. As interest in Japanese authors has grown, so has demand for Tuttle's early print editions.

“Because they’re hard to get hold of ... they can go for silly prices sometimes, because people collect them or tourists want Japanese literature,” he said. Tourists in particular go straight for them, as they’re hungry for Japanese stories to take home as souvenirs.

Prints vs Digital and AI

Despite people long decrying the death of print or the end of books, the publishing industry is growing stronger. During the pandemic in 2020, Tuttle saw a surge in book sales, and while this has subsided somewhat, “book sales are now higher than before the pandemic.”

Personally, although reading digitally on tablets is much more convenient and save space on bookshelf, the feeling of holding something physical, the smell of books and the sense of detachment from the world in going offline is something that readers love.

Below are 10 books that I have read from Tuttle Publishing that I would recommend those who are interested in Japanese culture.

A Brief History of Japan

The perfect book to understand Japan's history as it sums up everything concisely, not too brief and not too detailed.

A History of Japan in Manga

If you're not into reading books full of texts and more of a visual reader, then this one is for you as it's explained with manga.

The Heikei Story

The defining moment in history where the warrior class Samurai began to rise to its prominence to overthrow the Imperials.

Hiroshige's Japan

Join a French artist as he explores the old Tokaido Road that once connected Edo (Tokyo) and Kyoto as he shares his illustrations.

Japan Journeys

A collection of woodblock printing art which journals the travelers experience in Edo Period moving from one prefecture to the other.

My Travels in Japan

A cute travel diary which accounts her travel experience in modern Japan which consists of illustrations of places she visited.

Japan in 100 Words

Everything you need to know about Japan, from its culture, tradition, philosophy, food and pop culture, categorised into 100 sections.

Samurai Castles

History and design of the architecture of the iconic castles, which shows the uniqueness of each castle with photos and drawings.

Manga Yokai Stories

The short stories of Yokai and how they came to be, which are meant to demonstrate the humanity and tragedy of life.

Lady Murasaki's Tale of Genji

Manga Yokai Stories: Ghostly Tales from Japan

JAPAN IN 100 WORDS

HIROSHIGE’S JAPAN

A HISTORY OF JAPAN IN MANGA

A cute story of Japan which makes you feel like you’re watching anime. The long and complex history which are summarised, focusing on key events and people that shaped the country to what it is today.

From the ancient times, when Japan was ruled by a Queen to the feudal era of Samurai, the rise of Imperialism to the modern day Japan that we know of today. Includes portraits, photos, maps and trivia.

It shows the hardship and resilience they went through since ancient times, faced with countless civil wars and natural disasters. How they cling to religion like Shintoism and Buddhism to ease the burden and suffering.

It is a good attempt to get people to be interested in reading history, especially the young, through visual reading that is simple enough to understand with the explanations and illustrations for every events.

It is a good read for someone with zero knowledge of history and wants to have an idea of the timeline. It is not as comprehensive as books but it is enough to equip you with basic knowledge.

The places that inspires the artists ateliersento of their new graphic novel, “Festival of Shadows” by Tuttle Publishing

“Most of ‘Festival of Shadows’ takes place in the countryside, in the valley where Naoko - the main protagonist - lives. The place is fictional but the backgrounds are inspired by the region of Niigata where we lived, on the west coast of Japan: old wooden houses, rice fields and mountains, etc.⁠⁠