[Digital ARC provided by NetGalley and Stone Bridge Press. Thank you! -- This is a late review developed and edited from my reading journal.]

This is a translated collection of short stories, poems, essays, excerpts, etc. from Japanese writers/writings based around the subject of "travel." Published annually by Stone Bridge Press, it serves as a glimpse into the culture, climate, environment and history of Japan through contemporary works vetted and chosen by editors who have a clear love of and for the country. The work itself is very well laid out and aesthetically pleasing, even in digital form. Of all the works included in this collection, I'd say my favorite was “Hell” by Kikuko Tsumura, which tells the story of an author's (after)life in a section of hell dedicated to the gluttony of, and I kid you not, reading to much (to put it in the most humorous, basic of terms).

Definitely recommend this series of publications if you're looking to explore a variety of Japanese literary and expository works.

Unfortunately, at the time I requested the book, I was new to NetGalley and downloaded the acsm file. I didn't know how to open such files and also did not know that they would expire (I didn't have a kindle at the time). All I can say is that I loved cover and was very much looking forward to reading the different works from Japan inside.

Thank you for the opportunity!

p.s. the rating is purely based on the cover.

3.5. This was really kind of a mixed bag, with some stories leaving quite an impact, like "Kurozuka", "Decline of the Aliens", and "Sheep After Sheep), and other being more disappointing. The timing at which I read "A Woman Hears an Announcement <...>" was really inconvenient, as it coincided with the war starting in Ukraine but even setting that aside I didn't really like the short story. Funnily enough, this was also my first introduction to Murakami and I wouldn't say it was a particularly impressive one. Overall, the variety of quality and things I enjoyed and didn't enjoy as much was to be expected. At the end of the day, I'm glad to have had a chance to explore more contemporary Japanese literature.

Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

I enjoy writing from Mieko Kawakami and Haruki Murakami so it was great to read more from them and their other japanese writing contemporaries.

3 stars

A mix of drama, poetry, short stories, & creative non-fiction, some in translation & some written in English. Visually appealing & great variety of topic & genre, the quality of the pieces unfortunately varies. There were some I liked a lot, some I found a bit tedious, & one in particular I could not finish (see below).

[What I liked:]

•The story “Hell” is delightful! Sort of a Buddhist reimagining of Dante’s Inferno, with much irony and witty writing.

•I also enjoyed the first story, about an immortal mermaid torn between her longing to return to the sea and her desire to remain on land to care for her half-human children. It is wistful and lovely.

[What I didn’t like as much:]

•In the story “The Dugong” (actually the first chapter excerpted from the novel Takaoka’s Travels), there is a description of child molestation. The writer says that since the child enjoyed it & felt no “disgust”, surely the abuse was okay & not a bad thing. How the heck did this get published? Not okay.

CW: CSA, r*pe, domestic violence

[I received an ARC ebook copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you for the book!]

A beautiful anthology filled with beautiful selections of fiction and poetry from the most talented authors of contemporary Japanese literature. It's purely amazing to have access to the great works of Japanese authors such as Haruki Murakami, Hiromi Kawakami, Aoko Matsuda, Mieko Kawakami, Hideo Furukawa, and so on, thanks to this anthology, since a non-Japanese speaker/reader may not have access to them anywhere else. A beautiful treat for contemporary Japanese Lit lovers everywhere.

Many thanks to Stone Bridge Press and Netgalley for the advance copy of the anthology in exchange for an honest review.

A really wonderful collection of short stories and essays. Sometimes I would have chosen different art to go with the stories, but overall the quality of the production is exemplary. With thanks to NetGalley and Stone Bridge Press for the eARC.

This was an unexpected collection. The variety and volume of it was wider than expected. I made a later start to it than I would have liked and was unable to complete it in the window provided. It is an eclectic collection that provides a window into a different culture and styles of writing!
Since I did not peruse the entire collection before my access to the book was gone, I cannot review it in further detail than to state that it is something that will intrigue the more adventurous reader

Love that this magazine exists. The writing is always fascinating and gives a perspective of Japanese writers and Japan itself that one wouldn't normally see.

Beautiful! I am a big fan of Japanese Monkey as well, and this issue was particularly a delight for me as there is a lot of poetry on it as well as exquisite short stories. It's great being able to access Japanese literature and fantastic translation.

My thanks to Stonebridge Press and Netgalley for a review copy of this magazine.

Monkey is a literary magazine that showcases a wide range of Japanese writing translated into English. This, the second volume, edited by Ted Goossen, Motoyuki Shibata, and Meg Taylor focuses on ‘travel’.

What I loved about this was its very wide coverage on many levels. There are pieces from various genres from fantasy and science fiction to stories exploring more real-life themes like war and the bonds one forms, loss, small acts of compassion in daily life. These include both short fiction and excerpts from longer pieces. There is poetry including haiku, a short piece in the graphic-novel format, and some whimsical pieces. There is nonfiction from travel experiences (for instance a piece by Murakami on how going on his daily jog in different countries in Southern Europe was perceived by locals, to different authors reminiscing on their very first journeys—usually as children) to an exploration of what a journey really is to what travel became in pandemic times. The selections are also wide ranging in terms of the time they were written at, from pieces 30 or more years old to those written during the pandemic. And of course, also a number of authors including names both familiar to me like Haruki Murakami, Yasunari Kawabata and Meiko Kawakami to those new to me like Kikuko Tsumura, Hiromi Ito, and Jun'ichi Raima. There is something for every kind of reader to enjoy.

Travel is of course the theme that most of the pieces explore, whether it is journeys that some seem to have made without realising it (like a sea horse in human form in one story, who has lost connect with her home, and faces the lot of human women), or journeys due to circumstances (a woman and her children going to stay with her relative when war breaks), for pleasure, or as a pilgrimage (like a monk-prince travelling to Hindustan where Buddhism came from, or another man’s journey to a hot spring with a friend who is ill which turns out to stand in for a pilgrimage). In the nonfiction pieces too, there are reflections on what the travellers take away from these journeys (inspiration for their music, for instance) or what at the end of the day a journey really means. Yet, within this general theme of travel, various other aspects are explored from women's position in society and problems they face at home or in their careers, to loss and loneliness, relationships (including with friends and family) and everyday dilemmas.

There are far too many pieces in this volume to write about individually but I will write of a few that a particularly enjoyed (broadly speaking I enjoyed the almost all the pieces). There is ‘Hell’ which explores a fun sort (well, at least for the reader) of hell for a glutton who has binged not on food but on books and crime thrillers on TV; ‘The Overcoat’, a heart-rending story in graphic-novel format of a coat looking for its lost owner; and Murakami’s account of jogging in different countries and how people reacted to him. I also loved the whimsical ‘Toad’ which was a deal of fun. The Dugong, an excerpt from a longer novel which follows a monk-prince on his journey to Hindustan in search of the roots of Buddhism was another piece of interest, and with the preceding illustration seemed a Japanese equivalent of the Journey to the West story. I also enjoyed getting an idea of a traditional Noh play. ‘The Trial’ was another quite thought-provoking piece on the more base instincts that might be closer to our surface than we think.

Another interesting feature is a section from the various translators of the volume discussing aspects they struggled with like words and phrases that have no English equivalents, or conveying subtle differences in homophonic names, or sentence endings.

The magazine also has some lovely artwork and illustrations between the different pieces—some were not final in the proof copy I have but I enjoyed them all the same.

While I have read and enjoyed some works of Japanese literature in the past, reading Monkey really gave me a look into the sheer range of writing that I have yet to explore, and left me with a list of authors and genres that I want to explore, as well as some books I’d like to read the rest of. In itself, Monkey is a great way to experience Japanese writing.

4.25 stars

This is a magazine primarily about contemporary Japanese Fiction in Translation, including Haiku and Noh plays. It also includes some other contemporary works that have been translated to Japanese (in English in the English edition). There is also a section on the difficulties faced by translators, because for example of the uniqueness of certain words to one language.
I really enjoyed the story by Eric McCormack, I wasn’t aware of his work and will seek it out.
Haruki Murakami is always a joy to read, and this issue includes an update to and old story of his.
The theme of the issue is travel.

Japanese writing is becoming increasingly popular in the West, partly due to the improvement in translations becoming available. There have also been many excellent Japanese writers winning awards in the West.
We are now becoming aware of some aspects of the Japanese culture and mind, and so better understand the meaning of the Japanese writings.

I enjoyed this experience overall and recommend all open-minded readers to try this volume or any of the others.

The more I read Literary magazines the more I realize what people lose when they are only into books.

MONKEY - New Writing from Japan Volume 2. is exceptional in every way.
Professionally edited with gorgeous design and art throughout the whole volume.

Short, bite-sized stories keep you company as you travel along because it is supposed to feel like you are on a journey.

It was refreshing and nostalgic to read about travelling in a time when we had to stay home for a long time. I do feel like as long as I am free to think anything I want I am also able to travel and imagine absolutely everything and anything. On the other hand, once you had a taste of physically travelling, to meet the people, to taste their food discover their culture and learn from them (because there is always something to learn anywhere you go on this Blue Marble) you will miss it more than you think in a time when it is impossible to go as a tourist.

This is where this magazine made a beautiful imaginary bridge based on imagination and our memories of going out and experiencing the resonations of the land underneath our feet.

With names like Hideo Furukawa, Hiromi Ito, Seiko Ito, Hiromi Kawakami, Mieko Kawakami, Satoshi Kitamura, Jun’ichi Konuma, Aoko Matsuda, Taki Monma, Haruki Murakami, Hiroko Oyamada, Kyohei Sakaguchi, Tomoka Shibasaki and more you can’t be in better hands.

I truly enjoyed this journey and I also learned a lot. Can’t wait to go and see Japan again after all these years.

I would like to thank Stone Bridge Press for my free copy, you truly made my day.

Note: There are also amazing advertisements in the magazine about international books that don’t get as much hype as they should. I highly recommend it to check it out if you would like to read something that hasn’t been chewed to the bone by social media.

I received an ARC of the book from the publisher, via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

It's my first time coming across this magazine and my god was my mind blown. Not only were the stories engaging and exciting (personal favourite is the fantastical Dugong and the hilarious The Most Boring Red on Earth), the selection was also incredibly diverse (the Noh play was particularly eye-opening). Needless to say, this is perfect for anyone who is interested in Japan and literature but it is also an absolute must-read for anyone who is interested in translation studies. On that note, the topic of 'Travel' really lends itself to this topic as the purpose of a translated text is to after all, move one text from one source culture to another. But as someone who is interested in translation, I thought the use of chapters from a novel as short stories was also particularly illuminating. Of course, the translator notes at the end was also a joy to read as it shed light on the intricacies behind the process.

I really enjoyed a lot of the short stories and poetry that I found in this. However, I find the Netgalley phone app a bit unwieldy and it detracts from the overall enjoyment of what I'm reading.

What was especially enjoyable about this was the five poets whose work was featured. When we think of haiku and tanka, we tend to think of older poets, ignoring recent work that is touching. That alone is worth the reason to check this out and I hope it continues.

Really enjoyed reading this anthology of writing by a mix of Japanese writers, some whose work I’ve been wanting to read for a while. Loved the artwork included in the volume too, which I could appreciate via screen, but I imagine might look even better in print! The section collating the experience of translators when translating ‘untranslatable’/difficult to translate words from the Japanese language was also a highlight to read! Definitely keen to read more from this series, and will plan to check out the first volume of Monkey as well.

One of the things I've noticed about Japanese writings is how much work is involved in the translations, to make it more delectable for the English-reading world. This collection of writings didn't all catch my attention; I particularly enjoyed the one about the two friends who ended up in different versions of Hell, but the long and droney ones were forgettable. I liked the art interludes in between the stories, which gave the book a more artistic feel though nothing more.

An absolute must-read for fans of Japanese translated fiction. Hats off to the translator for conveying everything so well!

Let me begin my writing by saying how thankful I am to @NetGalley and Stone Bridge Press for allowing me to read this magazine.

One of the parts I like about Monkey volume 2 is the section when it's published the translator's remarks on their experience and struggle to find the best words; easy to understand, not awkward sentence so that it's still attaching the feelings and emotions from the original language and not lost in translation. It's so that readers can get the best experience in reading.

I didn't sure at first whether I'll enjoy or dislike this magazine because I almost give up and already DNF one story after reading it halfway at the beginning after not being able to connect with it – so one way or another I need to construct a backup plan.

I do at times feel like the stories were neverending; I can't force myself to read when I didn't feel like it. Plus the size of the ebook font on the NetGalley app is really small to my eyes. In the end, I read in no particular order – starting from the back and just scrolling until I found a title that entice me. Believe me, there's no harm in doing so, after all, there's always another story waiting for you.

The other good things about this magazine are the number of stories and authors it featured. Some wrote about personal life's experience, grief, while some even wrote stories with hidden meanings. The stories are sometimes weird, does not make sense, relatable, unique, serene, laughable, hilarious in their way, melancholic or to put it simply – it was packed with emotions.

My personal favourite is The Coat by Satoshi Kitamura, Jogging in Southern Europe by Haruki Murakami, Cardboard Boxes and Their Use by Taki Monma, Flying Squirrel by Yuko Tsushima, A Report on Travel by Brian Everson, etc. Some of the stories didn't end just like that as it's an excerpt, so I would love to get my hand on a copy of The Trail by Eric McCormack when it's available.

I would recommend this to anyone who loves to read just about anything and try out new authors.