Bob Dylan ― 2026/08/28 18:12
Book Report Dylan's Speech! (Hatakeyama Yuji, 2019)
Bob Dylan won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2016. English teacher and rock fan Hatakeyama Yuji explains Dylan’s speech at the 2016 Nobel Banquet in detail for English learners.
Readers can learn about Dylan’s cultural background, including references to Shakespeare’s plays, as well as improve their understanding of his English speech.
I also wonder whether Dylan could have said something about Israel’s ongoing attack on Gaza.
History of the U.S. ― 2026/08/10 04:18
Book Report History of the United States (Muto Kazuya & Kato Kazuki, 2017)
From the Mayflower to the 9/11 terrorist attacks, this book depicts a concise history of the United States.
I relearned both the upsides of America—such as American democracy and great technological inventions like electric power systems—and the downsides, including the treatment of Native Americans and the history of slavery.
The first immigrants from the U.K. were people seeking religious freedom from the state church. If the king at that time had not established a new church in order to divorce his wife and marry another, those immigrants might not have needed to move to America. In that case, America could have become a very different place.
The thought amused me.
The book is designed for English learners, so it is easy to read.
Agatha Christie ― 2026/08/08 20:41
Book Report Agatha Christie: Woman of Mystery (John Escott, 1997)
This book is a biography of the “Woman of Mystery.”
I learned how Agatha Christie gained the expertise in poisons that she needed for writing her detective stories, as well as how her experiences in Egypt became the inspiration for one of her favorite crime settings.
I also discovered the source of her archaeological knowledge. And, of course, the account of her disappearance was fascinating.
This book is part of the Oxford Bookworms series, probably aimed at younger readers, so it is easy to read even for non‑native English speakers.
May I Say... ― 2026/07/27 01:18
Book Report “May I say my present life is the result of the former life?” 「この人生、前世のせいってことにしていいですか」 Nameko Shinsan, 2026
This book is a collection of essays on spiritualism.
The author participated in various spiritual events, including lectures by spiritualists, gatherings of UFO enthusiasts, fortune‑telling sessions, and exhibitions of power stones.
Her accounts of these experiences are humorous and engaging.
Although it is hard to tell whether she is a devoted believer, her affection for power stones is interesting.
Ludwig II ― 2026/04/12 18:56
Book Report
Ludwig II, The King of the Holy Grail – Ripple of Materia Prima - (聖杯王ルードヴィヒ ― マテリアプリマの漣 ―)
Yuichiro Sato, 2026
Yuichiro Sato, 2026
A relative of my friend wrote this narrative. It partly reads like the author’s own pilgrimage report to Neuschwanstein Castle. I especially like the image of a swan pulling Lohengrin’s boat in the story.
Street Piano ― 2026/03/31 20:55
Book Report
A Street Piano in the Sun （陽だまりのストリート・ピアノ）
Toru Kawabe, 2026
This book presents five stories centered around a street piano placed in a sunlit hall of a shopping mall. Various people—an ambitious high school boy, a lonely wife, a heartbroken elderly man, an independent young woman, and others—take turns playing the piano, each carrying their own hopes and wishes.
The piano responds to the players and the listeners with warm, uplifting tones that gently encourage everyone.
A collection of quietly moving stories.
Nude to Aikoku ― 2026/03/29 03:11
Book Review
Nude to Aikoku (Nudes and Patriotism)
Ikekawa Reiko, 2014
This book explores the representation of the nude in modern Japanese art, including painting, photography, film, and advertising posters.
Ranging from the three beauties depicted in Kuroda Seiki’s Meiji‑era oil paintings to contemporary PARCO posters directed by Ishioka Eiko, the author analyzes numerous examples from social and cultural perspectives.
The findings suggest that modern Japanese depictions of the nude often share an image of sacred femininity, exemplified by the iconic figure Chieko in Selection of Wisdom. Although regimes have attempted to use the nude for political purposes, beauty ultimately proves stronger than dogma.
The Cult ― 2026/03/06 20:53
Book Report:
The Truth of the Cult（新興宗教ぶっちゃけ話）
Fumiaki Tada, 2025
This book is an insider account of the former Unification Church written by an ex-believer. Although the author’s experience was tragic, readers may sometimes find it almost comedic. Yet every episode is a true story.
The government has ordered the Church to be stripped of its status as a legally recognized religious organization.
Astronauci ― 2026/02/22 03:22
Book Review
No Reply from Venus / Astronauci (Stanisław Herman Lem, 1951) This 75‑year‑old science‑fiction novel remains fascinating thanks to its enduring theme: “Encounter with the Unknown.”
Humanity discovers that the Tunguska explosion was caused by an AI probe from Venus, and a crew of astronauts sets out on an atomic powered spaceship to investigate.
When they finally reach the planet, however, they find no alien civilization—Venusian had already perished long before their arrival.
From today’s perspective, the description of the planet is clearly outdated, yet the sense of wonder that permeates the novel feels remarkably fresh. Lem’s faith in human potential and cooperation still resonates strongly even now.
Kobikicho no Adauchi ― 2026/01/26 17:52
Kobikicho no Adauchi (Nagai, Sayako 2023)
A mystery set in the Edo period.
A mystery set in the Edo period.
A young samurai successfully avenges his father by killing the villain in front of the public in Kobikichō, the actors’ district. Behind this officially sanctioned act of revenge, however, lie many intertwined human dramas.
The unexpectedly heartwarming ending left me feeling genuinely happy. A film based on the novel will be released this coming February. I’m eager to see it.
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