Today’s post comes to you from Arthur Reiji Morris:

The Forest of Wool and Steel by Natsu Miyashita / Translated by Philip Gabriel (Black Swan Books, 2020) 

The protagonist of The Forest of Wool and Steel is Toyama, a young man with an unconventional dream: to become a piano tuner. Of course, this isn’t the most straightforward of paths and inevitably Toyama requires the help of his seniors in the profession. Unfortunately, like many of us, Toyama is plagued by self-doubt and through it all has to ponder a question that only he can answer: do I have what it takes?

Although piano tuning might seem like a solitary profession, the expression that “no man is an island” applies here just as it does to anyone who is honing a craft. Under the tutelage of three unique piano tuners, Toyama is guided on his path as he learns the ropes. Along the way, he also meets with his clients as he is allowed glimpses into the worlds of these people he would never have met otherwise.

It is easy to forget that relationships aren’t just with our friends or family—sometimes the most precious relationships come from passing down skills or knowledge to enrich the lives of those around us. This coming-of-age tale is sure to encourage anyone who might feel they aren’t enough.

Lost Souls Meet Under a Full Moon by Mizuki Tsujimura, translated by Yuki Tejima (Scribner, 2025)

What would you do if it were possible to talk to someone even after they had passed away? In Lost Souls Meet Under a Full Moon this impossibility is made possible thanks to an individual known as the “go-between”. In exchange for nothing apart from an honest review, he can set up a meeting with someone who has passed on. Of course, there is a catch: 1) You can only meet them for one night. 2) They have to agree to the meeting too.

The novel introduces us to four lost souls who all have someone they wish to meet for their own personal reasons—some wish to make peace; some wish to simply see a loved person one more time. In real life, we don’t get a second chance to meet with people after they’ve passed on (no matter how much we may want to) and so this quiet and charming novel is a wonderful depiction of human struggles as it tries to show us how to live our lives without regret. 

In a similar vein to the popular Before the Coffee Gets Cold series, Lost Souls Meet Under a Full Moon is a heartwarming reminder to treasure those close to us.

Tokyo Ueno Station by Yu Miri / Translated by Morgan Giles (Tilted Axis Press, 2019 and Riverhead Books, 2021)

Everyone has their own story. It can feel overwhelming at times to think about how each and every person in the world has lived a life that is just as full and multifaceted as our own. While most of us might occasionally think about those we pass by in our day to day lives, we are just as likely to not pay attention to people who are living on the streets.

Tokyo Ueno Station tells the life story of Kazu. It is easy to simply describe him as a “homeless man”, but this only serves to erase the nuance of his situation. What life did he lead until now? How did he end up living in this way? The novel is a sobering portrayal of a man’s life as well as the societal systems that do little to support people like him. A short novel, less than two hundred pages, Tokyo Ueno Station is a powerful reminder to consider our relationships with those that we may have no relation to.

Solo Dance by Li Kotomi /  Translated by Arthur Reiji Morris (World Editions, 2022)

Life can be difficult. Even when we have people who love us, it can still be difficult. Solo Dance is a story about a young woman who is plagued by thoughts of death even with dear friends who love her.

Without verging into spoiler territory, the novel reminds us of the power that our friendships have. When the protagonist is alone at school, it is a shared interest that leads to one of her closest and precious relationships. And, later on in her adult life when she hits rock bottom, it is this same relationship that allows her to put her feet on solid ground once again.

Relationships persist. Although it can be easy to assign different relationships to different periods of our lives, people can return to our lives in unexpected ways. One of the messages of Solo Dance is the simple reminder of the importance of relying on those we love every now and then.

Arthur Reiji Morris is a translator from Japanese to English. His translation of Li Kotomi’s novel Solo Dance was published in 2022 with World Editions. He was shortlisted for English PEN’s PEN Presents scheme in May 2023 and was awarded a PEN/Heim Translation Fund Grant in 2025. His translation of Shigehiko Toyama’s The Art of Organizing Thoughts is forthcoming with Penguin Life.