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DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260416T200000
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UID:3858-1776369600-1776373200@ija.ie
SUMMARY:IJA Japanese Book Club
DESCRIPTION:We are delighted to announce the launch of the IJA Japanese Book Club! Our purpose is to create a vibrant community of book lovers who share a passion for Japanese literature\, culture\, philosophy\, business\, history\, and more.\n.\nWe are dedicated to exploring a diverse range of books each month\, engaging in thoughtful discussions\, expanding our knowledge\, and fostering friendships among members. What’s more\, we won’t limit ourselves to just Japanese authors; we’ll also delve into the works of Irish authors with connections to Japan.\n.\n\n\n\n. \nWith our official launch scheduled for September\, we have conducted two trial runs with a small group of participants during the summer break. It was truly fascinating to see how different perspectives and insights emerge\, even when reading the same book. We believe that sharing our reading experiences with others can deepen our understanding and appreciation of literature.\n.\nWouldn’t you like to be a part of this exciting literary journey with us? Whether you’re a seasoned reader or just starting to explore the world of books\, our book club welcomes everyone. Together\, we’ll embark on a fascinating exploration of Japanese literature and beyond.\n.\nHOW TO REGISTER\n\nPlease let us know if you are interested in joining our book club and send us an email to: info@ija.ie. We look forward to having you as a fellow book enthusiast and a valued member of our growing community. Open to the IJA members only.\n.\nMeetings take place once every quarter and the date\, time and Zoom link is shared with registered club members via email. The meetings are conducted in English\, and all selected books can be read in either Japanese or English.\n\n\n\n\nAPRIL 2026\n.\nWe are delighted to announce that the next meeting of the IJA Japanese Book Club will take place on Thursday\, 16th April\, and warmly invite you to join us online.\n.\nApril 2026 Japanese Book Club Meeting\nDate: Thursday\, 16th April 2026\nTime: 8 – 9 PM\nFormat: Online Talk & Discussion – Zoom link will be shared with all registered participants closer to the date)\n.\nBook of the Month | Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata\nPublishers: Grove Atlantic | Granta\n.\n\n.\n.\nAbout the Book\n\nConvenience Store Woman is the heartwarming and surprising story of thirty-six-year-old Tokyo resident Keiko Furukura. Keiko has never fit in\, neither in her family\, nor in school\, but when\, at the age of eighteen\, she begins working at the Hiiromachi branch of “Smile Mart\,” she finds peace and purpose in her life. \nIn the store\, unlike anywhere else\, she understands the rules of social interaction – many are laid out line by line in the store’s manual – and she does her best to copy the dress\, mannerisms\, and speech of her colleagues\, playing the part of a “normal” person excellently\, more or less. Keiko is very happy\, but the people close to her\, from her family to her coworkers\, increasingly pressure her to find a husband\, and to start a proper career\, prompting her to take desperate action… \nA brilliant depiction of a world hidden from view\, Convenience Store Woman is an ironic and sharp-eyed look at contemporary work culture and the pressures we all feel to conform\, as well as a charming and completely fresh portrait of an unforgettable heroine. \n. \nAbout Sayaka Murata \nSayaka Murata is one of the most exciting up-and-coming writers in Japan today. She herself still works part-time in a convenience store\, which gave her the inspiration to write Convenience Store Woman. She debuted in 2003 with Junyu (Breastfeeding)\, which won the Gunzo Prize for new writers. In 2009\, she won the Noma Prize for New Writers with Gin iro no uta (Silver Song)\, and in 2013 the Mishima Yukio Prize for Shiro-oro no machi no\, sono hone no taion no (Of Bones\, of Body Heat\, of Whitening City). Convenience Store Woman won the 2016 Akutagawa Award. Murata has two short stories published in English (both translated by Ginny Tapley Takemori): “Lover on the Breeze” (Ruptured Fiction(s) of the Earthquake\, Waseda Bungaku\, 2011) and “A Clean Marriage” (Granta 127: Japan\, 2014). \n\n\n\nAfter studying Spanish and Russian at the University of Bath\, he lived in Madrid and Moscow\, immersing himself in local culture and developing his craft as a storyteller. He published his first book\, The Sun Struck Upwards\, in 2010\, followed by El Camino in 2015. His latest novel\, Hikikomori: Journey From Darkness\, continues his exploration of cultural connection and narrative adventure. \nIn addition to his writing\, Luke co-owns Madrid & Darracott\, a wine shop and tasting space in Madrid. A WSET Level 3 wine expert and certified Kikisake-shi sake specialist\, he is dedicated to sharing the joy of wine\, sake\, and spirits through engaging and accessible education. \n\n\n.\nRead a review here!\n.\n.\n.
URL:https://ija.ie/event/ija-japanese-book-club/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:Cultural
ORGANIZER;CN="IJA":MAILTO:info@ija.ie
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