Want a manual for life? Read How Do You Live by Yoshino (the inspiration for The Boy and the Heron) 

I bought this book when the movie was announced. Yes, I bought the book because Hayao Miyazaki was going to make a movie based on it! I’m glad this book is getting the attention it is because ethics is NOT taught as it should.

I own this book and am glad to hear you enjoyed it so much! It was helpful to hear what you shared about the historical context. I always question the translation quality as well, but I heard that this translation is very good!

Sounds like you feel much the same way about this book as I do about Kurt Vonnegut's various collections of essays and speeches. It's great when you can connect that deeply with philosophical writing!

This book sounds very interesting indeed. Thanks for sharing your review of it! They can get very surreal, but if you haven't read any of Sayaka Murata's novels, I recommend Convenience Store Woman as a good place to start.

I don't know if you've read The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yoko Ogawa, but if you haven't that'd be my japanese literature recommendation (and honestly anything else by that author). It has found family vibes and it shows people been passionate about the things they love (in this case maths and baseball).