Travelers, adventurers, academics and dreamers: come to one of our events Japanese Writers Conference and you know the expat community is brimming with writers of all stripes, but breaking into the industry can be a tricky business.
Too many of my friends and acquaintances in Japan fall under the self-proclaimed label of “aspiring writers”: people who write privately but have not yet successfully pitched and published an article, short story, or—most formidably—a full-fledged book. And yet, from fiction novelist Karen Hill Anton for memoirist Florentyna Leow (both previous contributors to The Japan Times), it is clear that non-Japanese writers can flourish in Japan. Some find career stability in teaching, translating, or corporate work, which frees up time to write, while others find the culture and vibrancy of this country inspires their imagination and world-building.
I spoke to three authors with books coming out in 2024 – Ellen McGinty, Ambika Nagino And Kristin Osani – to discuss the ups and downs of the publishing industry and the long (and very different) paths each of them took to see their books in print.
