Shion Miura Books In Order

Publication Order of Forest Books

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Shion Miura is a Japanese historical fiction novelist and essayist who is known for her exploration of modern themes and insightful storytelling. She was born to a man who was one of the most respected scholars of classical Japanese literature. Her father was one of the most significant influences as he exposed her to literature early on and fostered a deep-seated passion for reading in the young Shion Miura. Miura went to Waseda University for her higher education and specialized in drama. Initially, she intended to be an editor but shifted to writing in her senior year when an agent told her that she had a lot of writing talent. This pivotal moment would be the catalyst for her career as a columnist writing weekly online book reviews she called Shion’s Bookmark even before she graduated. A year after graduating from college, Miura published her debut novel, drawing from her experiences during the job hunting process.

Miura’s literary career would rocket off in 2006 when The Handymen in Mahoro Town, her story collection, won the prestigious Naoki Prize. What was even more notable was that she got the award before she turned 30. Over the years, Shion has become known for literary work that encompasses a diverse range of narratives and themes. The Wind Blows Hard, which she published in 2006, explores the world of long-distance racing with a particular focus on the Ekiden competition, which is held every year among universities. In 2009, the work was made into a live-action film, and nine years later, it was adapted into a TV series, which just speaks to its popularity over the years. The Easy Life in Kamusari, which she published in 2009, would also become a very popular novel that resonated with audiences for its vivid depiction of traditional customers and rural life. This was the novel that would then become Wood Job, the 2014-released film. The work was translated into English in 2021, and this was the first time Miura’s engaging storytelling came to the notice of a broader English audience.
Even though Shion Miura is mostly known for her novels, she happens to be a very versatile author who has also published more than 15 collections of essays that reflect her literary prowess and keen observations. Many of her essays showcase her deep appreciation for boys love manga subgenres. This shows that she is also engaged with many other facets of Japanese pop culture. Given her many contributions to Japanese literature, she has been the recipient of many accolades over the years. She won the Oda Sakunosuke prize, the Japan Booksellers Award, and the Naoki Prize. After achieving much success writing in Japanese, Miura has also achieved significant traction in other languages. Her novels, which resonate with global audiences, have been translated into Vietnamese, English, Indonesian, German, Korean, Chinese, and Italian. Her ability to combine traditional Japanese themes and settings with modern issues has made her one of the most significant voices in contemporary Japanese literary circles.

Beyond her writing of essays and novels, Shion Miura has also been a juror for a variety of literary awards to recognize and promote literary talent. She keeps an ongoing engagement with her readers and the literary community, which she continues to enrich. This reflects her commitment to the exploration of human experiences and storytelling in the modern cultural landscape. Her journey to literary stardom is an example of the perfect blend of cultural narrative and personal passion. By doing this, she provides readers with deep perspectives into the universal themes that connect humanity, even as she also delves into the nuances of Japanese life.

Shion Miura wrote his first novel, which was translated into English The Easy Life in Kamusari in 2009. This is a brilliant work of fiction in which the traditional meets the modern in the background of the splendor of the mountain life in Japan. The lead is Yuki Hirano, who just graduated from high school only to be forced into a forestry training program by his parents. This means that he has to head to Kamusari, a remote mountain village with no shopping, no internet, and no phone. It is just an inviting but small community where most of the residents are just all about taking it easy. Initially, he is exhausted, feels like an outcast, asks silly questions, and fumbles with the tools. The village is the last place a Yokohama city boy wants to live for a year. But even though he was resistant at first, the staggering beauty and scent of cedars soon grew on him. He learns to plant saplings and fell trees even as he gets into local festivals and learns all about the legends of the village in the mountains. As he learns to respect the forest on the mountain for how majestic it is and its secrets which he sometimes finds inexplicable, he begins to appreciate the village’s harmonious relationship with its ancient traditions and nature. It is a lively and warm story in which we go along with the lead as he goes from the trappings of the city to the delights and mysteries of a mountain forest.

Kamusari Tales Told at Night is a beautiful story of ancient lore, first love, and tradition in a mythical mountain village in Japan. It has been about a year since Yuki Hirano moved to Kamusari, the mountain village, to study forestry. He never imagined that he would one day be a woodsman, even though the meaning of his name is courage, and he hopes that he can live up to it. Yuki is learning constantly and adapting to his job even as he records local legends, which are stories with wondrous gods, passion, and life. But the mountain village comes with other charms too, and one of these is Nao. Yuki has a massive crush on Nao, who happens to be the only other young and single person in Kamusari. But the problem is that he is five years younger, makes less money than her, and believes there is no way she would be impressed with him. What is even worse is that she is with another man even though Yuki believes that Nao is the missing piece in his new life full of camaraderie and adventure.