[Book Guide] 15 Recommended Novels and Essays That Will Make You Hungry
Have you ever been reading a book and suddenly realized your stomach was growling? The scent of food described with skillful prose, the steam, the sounds, and the happiness of taking a bite—books about food have a power to stir the five senses that is quite different from that of a cookbook.
In this article, we will introduce 15 novels and essays that will make you want to stand in the kitchen or wander off to find a delicious restaurant just by reading them. We have selected a variety of eras and genres, from Showa-era literary masters to popular contemporary authors. Please enjoy a blissful reading experience that will stimulate your appetite with every turn of the page.
"Under the Paris Sky, the Scent of Omelets Flows" by Yoshiko Ishii (Kawade Shobo Shinsha)
This is a classic food essay by Yoshiko Ishii, who lived in Paris in the 1950s as a chanson singer, documenting the various dishes she encountered in a foreign land. The omelet made by her landlady, the onion gratin soup eaten late at night after work—every dish is deeply infused with the memories of her youth and the atmosphere of the place.
Her writing, which is unadorned yet elegant, and concise yet rich in aroma, has been read for over half a century. Since recipes are naturally woven into the text, you will surely want to reach for butter and eggs as soon as you finish reading.
"Dan-ryu Cooking" by Kazuo Dan (Chuokoron-Shinsha)
Beginning with the sentence, "There is no work I love more on this earth than grocery shopping," this book is an essay in which the rogue writer Kazuo Dan introduces 92 dishes he cooked himself after wandering through markets around the world. The measurements and procedures are rough, but the boldness and affection contained within them fiercely stir the reader's appetite.
From Portuguese fish dishes to Hakata mizutaki and Okinawan chanpuru, his attitude of lightly leaping over borders and frameworks is nothing short of thrilling. It is a monument of cooking essays that teaches the fundamental joy of standing in the kitchen.
"The Sound of the Kitchen (New Edition)" by Aya Koda (Kodansha)
The title story, "The Sound of the Kitchen," is a short story that begins with a chef named Sakichi, who is bedridden, noticing a change in the sound of his wife's kitchen knife. The sound of the cutting board being struck, the sound of a pot boiling, the sound of running water—Aya Koda's unique, delicate prose shines as she depicts the atmosphere of the dining table through "sound" rather than the food itself.
All the short stories included depict a world where eating and living are inseparably linked. Even though the word "delicious" is never loudly proclaimed, it is a mysterious book that, for some reason, makes you crave a warm bowl of miso soup after reading.
"Father's Apology Letter" by Kuniko Mukoda (Bungeishunju)
Known as the first essay collection by screenwriter Kuniko Mukoda, this book is a masterpiece that vividly captures the landscape of a Showa-era household. A father who acted bossy at home, a father who would wake his children up after returning from a banquet to feed them souvenirs—the scenes of the dining table live on in every corner of those memories.
The food depicted by Kuniko Mukoda is not high-end cuisine, but rather things rooted in the daily life of a family. The smell of rice cooking, New Year's feasts, porridge served when sick. Casual memories of food melt into the family's story, gently stirring the "taste of home" deep within the reader's heart.
"The Last Supper" by Takeshi Kaiko (Bungeishunju)
Centered on the question, "If you were to die tomorrow, what would you want to eat last?", this is an essay that exhaustively discusses various aspects of food from all times and places. From the magnificent world of French cuisine to Chinese shojin ryori (vegetarian cuisine), and even the history of cannibalism, one is overwhelmed by Takeshi Kaiko's vast erudition.
However, the reason this book is more than just food trivia is not unrelated to the author's experience on the battlefields of the Vietnam War. The message that "to eat is to live," which can only be written by someone who knows the extreme state of being side-by-side with death, is the undercurrent of every page.
"The Traveler's Breakfast" by Mari Yonehara (Bungeishunju)
This is a collection of essays in which Mari Yonehara, who traveled the world as a Russian interpreter, writes with a light touch about episodes related to food she encountered in various places. The "Traveler's Breakfast," which is also the title, is a story about a mysterious canned food that was circulating during the Soviet era. You will be drawn into the mysterious narrative surrounding its true identity.
Episodes such as the pursuit of the phantom Turkish honey candy "Turkish Delight" show a perfect balance of insatiable curiosity about food, supported by intellect and humor. By the time you finish reading, you will surely be driven by the urge to eat unknown food from an unknown country.
"Kamome Diner" by Yoko Ogawa (Gentosha)
This is the story of Sachie, a Japanese woman who opens a small diner in Helsinki, Finland. Her signature dish is "onigiri" (rice balls) made with love. At first, days go by without any customers, but eventually, people begin to gather one by one, and the diner becomes a place filled with quiet warmth.
The charm of this work, which also became a popular film, is that the descriptions of the food are incredibly meticulous. It is surprising how delicious simple onigiri and cinnamon rolls can be made to sound. It is a gentle novel that you can read with your guard down, and after finishing it, you will want to cook a meal for someone.
"BUTTER" by Asako Yuzuki (Shinchosha)
Inspired by the Kanae Kijima case, this story follows Rika, a weekly magazine reporter, as she makes repeated visits to Manako Kajii, a woman arrested on suspicion of stealing money and lives from men. The "recipes for delicious things" that Kajii talks about from prison are all rich dishes using plenty of butter. Those sensual descriptions of food gradually shake Rika's values.
Despite the suspenseful plot where the disparate elements of murder and gourmet food are thickly intertwined, you can enjoy a strange reading experience where the scent of butter seems to drift from the pages. This is a masterpiece by Asako Yuzuki that sharply depicts women's desires and social oppression.
"Eat This First" by Hikari Harada (Futabasha)
A blunt housekeeper named Minori Kakei arrives at a busy venture company where 30-year-old Kosetsu and her colleagues work. She tidies up the messy office and serves the employees carefully prepared lunches. This series of short stories follows how those meals gradually change the bleak atmosphere within the company.
Simple home-cooked meals like nikujaga (meat and potato stew), pork miso soup, and takikomi gohan (seasoned rice) appear one after another, and every one of them is a heart-touching dish that makes you think, "This is exactly what I wanted to eat." If you flip through the pages on a night when you are tired from work, you will feel like cooking a proper meal tomorrow.
"Beloved Food" by Noriko Morishita (Bungeishunju)
This is a collection of essays by Noriko Morishita, author of "Every Day is a Good Day," in which she writes about memories related to food, accompanied by her own heartwarming illustrations. The moment you take a bite, memories sleeping in the corners of your heart gently awaken—this experience is condensed into 23 pieces.
Croquettes, Neapolitan pasta, cream soda—the foods featured are all somewhat nostalgic and common. However, each one is carefully layered with landscapes from childhood and the warmth of family, and as you read, you cannot help but recall your own "beloved foods."
"Sandwiches in Ginza" by Yoko Hiramatsu (Bungeishunju)
This is a food essay by food journalist Yoko Hiramatsu, who walked around Tokyo and other places in search of "the taste of now." In the paperback edition, which includes illustrations by manga artist Jiro Taniguchi, the deliciousness of the art is added to the deliciousness of the writing, making your stomach growl every time you turn a page.
Comparing company cafeterias, searching for the flavors of Northeast China in Ikebukuro, or biting into a sandwich at a long-established shop in Ginza. Hiramatsu's writing depicts not only the taste itself but also the atmosphere of the place and the expressions of the people eating there, so reading it makes you feel as if you are sitting at the table yourself.
"Bad Food" by Akane Chihaya (Homesha)
A slightly edgy food essay by Naoki Prize-winning author Akane Chihaya. From the shocking memory of "sea urchin" experienced in Africa to the story of ordering a healthy menu at a stylish cafe in Omotesando only to find it looked like "bird feed," her trademark is a refreshing boldness that kicks aside social pretenses.
This is a book I want people who feel somewhat stifled by words like "healthy" or "mindful living" to read. Eat what you like, as much as you like. Because it affirms that honest desire, you will strangely find your appetite piqued after reading, and you will feel a desire to be honest with your own "likes." Please also check out the sequels in the series, "Persistently Bad Food" and "Unrepentantly Bad Food."
"Thanks for the Meal Today" by Mitsuyo Kakuta (Shinchosha)
This is an essay detailing a major transformation in the eating habits of Mitsuyo Kakuta, who was a self-confessed "meat lover." There is a dynamic emotional journey in the process of the author, who was surrounded by things she "couldn't eat," gradually expanding her world of "eating." Whether she was heartbroken or ill, her consistent stance of eating proper meals at 7 AM, 12 PM, and 7 PM reflects her trust in the act of eating.
Mitsuyo Kakuta's writing, which is unpretentious and straightforward about what is 'delicious' or 'not so good,' feels as comfortable as listening to a friend talk about their dining table. As you read, you will find yourself becoming uncontrollably hungry, with a growing urge to cook something to eat or to share a meal with someone.
"Goodnight, Holding a Still-Warm Pot" by Maru Ayase (Shodensha)
"Eating is amazing, isn't it? It makes you want to live." This is a linked short story collection containing six tales about food, featuring an impressive blurb. It carefully depicts characters exhausted by work, parenting, and human relationships as they find the strength to move forward again, triggered by a single, simple 'bite'.
Maru Ayase's writing has a delicacy that allows you to feel the temperature of the food and the wavering of the steam. If you read this late at night, you will undoubtedly be driven by the urge to stand in the kitchen and make something warm. As the title suggests, a gentle aftertaste awaits you, like falling asleep while holding a warm pot.
"Lunch no Akko-chan" by Asako Yuzuki (Futabasha)
This is a linked short story collection that begins when Michiko, a temporary employee depressed after being dumped by her boyfriend, is suddenly asked by her boss, Atsuko Kurokawa—known as 'Ms. Akko'—to 'swap lunches for a week.' The lunches Akko-san designates are all worlds Michiko never knew, such as mobile food trucks and famous local shops in the downtown area. Every time she eats something delicious, her perspective and heart expand rapidly.
This is truly a novel that makes you 'energized by eating,' and it will make you look forward to lunchtime more than ever. When you are a little tired of work or relationships, Akko-san's hearty smile and her attitude of 'first, eat this and cheer up' will give you a push.
Conclusion
The charm of books about food lies in how they connect to the memories and experiences of each reader. Some may associate Yoshiko Ishii's omelet with their own time studying abroad, while others may recall their childhood kitchen through Noriko Morishita's croquettes.
The 15 books introduced here cover a wide range, from essays to novels, and from lighthearted to profound works. There is no set order in which to read them. Please pick up a book that catches your interest and enjoy it with your favorite drink. However, please be very careful when reading on an empty stomach—once you start, you might find yourself unable to resist opening the refrigerator.