I received an ARC copy of this from Net Galley and was predisposed to like it when I read it was set in Mie Prefecture. Then I realized this was written by the same author as The Great Passage, and expected to hate the book. Instead, I found myself totally absorbed by the author's wonderful descriptions of daily life in Kamusari. Yuki's tales about learning more about forestry, his awe of nature, and the vivid cast of characters in his life make for very pleasant reading. Kamusari Tales Told at Night is second in the Forest duology, but it's very accessible for people like me who didn't read the Easy Life in Kamusari.

Yuki tells the reader, "it's not a novel. It's a record, for the record." And it is. There's really no plot. Normally that would turn me off to the book, but the author absolutely pulls off the slice-of-life narrative structure. Yuki's conversational tone makes you feel like you're listening to a friend tell you about a series of anecdotes about a year in his life. The more I read, the more I liked learning about the people in Kamusari,.

Although I really enjoyed this book, it's not perfect. Yuki himself is a very believable 20: winsome and kind at times, selfish and self-absorbed at times. Love interest Nao is fairly flat. Yuki is pursuing her even though he knows she's carrying a torch for someone else, and she's very hot and cold with him. Also, I just personally don't like characters that never give straight answers. Mostly we just get told about how much Yuki likes her and we don't see much about just what is so likeable. Maybe that was in the first book?

There are a few odd translation choices, mostly about what to leave in Japanese and what to put in English. "Red bean-jam bun" is awkward and misleading. It's a sweet, bready dumpling filled with sweetened bean paste. It's not filled with jam. The Japanese word would have been good enough since the important part was explained in the novel. Conversely, there's no need to use "onigiri" when "rice ball" is self-explanatory. On the other hand, I thought the translator did a good job indicating a local dialect without making the people sound hokey.

I really just fell into this book and enjoyed the feel. At some point I definitely want to go and buy the first one.

Cultural points you should know when reading:
1) Mie prefecture, where Kamusari is located, is sort of the Idaho of Japan. If you visit Tokyo and tell people there that you're living or staying in Mie, they will say one of two things: 1) "Where?" or 2) "Why?" Mie also has one of the most important shrines in all of Japan. So it's sort of like if part of the Vatican was in Idaho.
2) A large number of people in Japan consider themselves secular or not overly religious, but nearly everyone participates in religious activities. Doing things like praying at shrines, going to religious festivals, and making offerings is considered to be part of Japanese culture. This is why Yuki, coming from a big city, finds the village very superstitious but still participates in everything he learns about.

"Kamusari Tales Told at Night" by Shion Miura provides a rare look into life in untouched rural Japan. Although the book is fiction, the location and culture is based on reality. This book is written as a diary of a 20 year old boy from Yokohama who is working as a logger-in-training deep in the mountains. The writing style is entertaining and does feel authentically immature as apparently intended by the author. The translation is very accessible and understandable. I recommend this for people who are looking for the side of Japan that can not be found in the cities.

I thank the author and publisher for kindly providing a temporary electronic review copy of this work.

I didn't realize this was a second book, but now it makes sense why the story just kind of starts without preamble.

I'm not sure what I was expecting with this little novel. I love slice of life manga/anime, so to read a slice of life novel was an enjoyable experience. I loved Grandma Shige's stories and Yuki is an entertaining narrator, even when it feels like he's rambling. Definitely recommend for a nice light read.

Kamusari Tales Told at Night follows Shion Miura's The Easy Life in Kamusari which was adapted into my favourite Japanese feelgood movie Wood Job!

This book is equally delightful and joyful, humorous and shows respect for nature and traditions of village life. It was a great pleasure to spend more time with Yuki and his fellow forestry workers.

Kamusari Tales at Night is the second and final installment in the Forest series by Shion Miura. We revisit Yuki Hirano, who after a year of studying forestry in Kamusari has gained a lot of confidence, and has acclimated well to his rural surroundings. Just like the first novel “The Easy Life in Kamusari” we are treated to more slice of life backstories on the cast of characters from the first book. Yuki also continues to patiently wait for Nao to come around a realize he isn’t a “little kid. ”

While the forestry was one of the main focuses in the first book, in this book more of the focus was on the characters and their relationships. I enjoyed hearing more about the myths and traditions in Kamusari as well as more backstory on characters from the previous book. One of my favorite moments of the book was reading about the characters putting together a “Christmas” celebration for Santa. I loved the visuals of the Christmas tree decorated with Origami paper in shapes that one would usually decorate bamboo with for Tanabata. While I enjoyed the first book, I think I enjoyed the second book more than as it focused more on Yuki’s relationships with the other villagers, as opposed to his own self-transformation as he learns forestry practices.

I still can recommend both books to anyone who loves more slice of life literature and wants to learn more about rural Japanese life and its traditions.


Thank you to Netgalley and Amazon Crossing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

While Kamusari Tales Told at night is a story about the romance between city-dweller turned forester Yuki and schoolteacher Nao, it also recounts village goings-on through the lens of local tales, legends, and remedies, which shed some light on the behaviors and motivations of the foresters and their families. Just as a master storyteller performs stories for an audience, so too, does Yuki. Reading the book is like listening to him tell local stories, layering them with his own—and sometimes even reflecting on the overall work itself—resulting in a mise en abyme. Be sure to read Forest Book 1, The Easy Life in Kamusari, also written by Shion Miura and translated from Japanese by Juliet Winters Carpenter.

This was such a cute, sweet read. The MC is a young man trying to court the only other single girl in his town. The story flowed well and was interesting. I would definitely recommend this book if you are look for a book that is short and light on drama. Overall, a fun read!

It was great to return to the world of Kamusari in this second book, Kamusari Tales Told at Night. In this volume, we learn more about the the customs of the villagers and we see the continuation of Yuki's courtship of Nao. Like the first book, this is a quick, light read that will make you smile, even if the humour gets a bit cheesy at times. If you haven't read The Easy Life in Kamusari, I would recommend starting with that one before picking up this one, to give you the background of Yuki's arrival in the village. I think the first book was a bit more impactful than this second instalment--certainly there was more 'action' in the plot--but Kamusari Tales Told at Night was enjoyable nonetheless.

Rating: 4.5*

In this, the second (and probably final) book in the Forest Books series, we follow Yuki in his second year in Kamusari. We get to see more of the folklore and customs of the village, watch more of the characters' shenangians and follow Yuki on his "quest for love", all in Shion Miura's charming, funny prose.

I gave this a slightly lower rating than the first because there are a few moments where the humour gets too close to cheesy cringe, and I'm not totally sold on the 4th wall breaking "Hey readers!" thing Yuki feels the need to start each chapter with. But I'm so in love with Kamusari and the cast of characters that I can overlook those and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one... Enough to dig myself out of my hole and write a post, shock.

For fans of: Relaxing vibes, vivid descriptions, rural life, comedy, slice-of-life, mild magical realism, folklore/traditions.

Thank you to @NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book.

Many thanks to NetGalley and AmazonCrossing for the ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Kamusari Tales Told at Night is a really peaceful, heartwarming, and cute sequel to The Easy Life in Kamusari. I was once again very happy to dive into Yuki's narration describing the laid-back attitude of the Kamusari people, the gorgeous mountains and forests as well as the legends, beliefs, and superstitions of Kamusari, and the heartwarming and honest relationships among the characters.

As you can guess from the title of the novel, this sequel has fewer forestry lessons (probably because by now Yuki is a full-fledged member of the Seichii forestry team and more capable and confident in what he does) and more tales, mostly told at night. Hearing the tale of Kamusari gods from Granny Shige one night, Yuki decides to record it and the other supernatural tales, along with the personal stories/memories, belong to the people Yuki now has come to love. In contrast to his negative attitude at the beginning of The Easy Life in Kamusari, in this book, we see that the people and the mountains of Kamusari have changed Yuki's worldview dramatically. As he feels he has finally found his place on earth and loves everything about his life, Yuki makes us love everything about his simple life too (I'm ready to move to Kamusari if someone shows me the way tomorrow). I'm only hoping that there will be a third, fourth and even fifth book in the near future that would help me to escape reality and indulge myself in the simple joys that Kamusari has to offer.