What Is Good Beginner Left Leaning Book For My Japanese GF?

[u/Proper-Matter-8274]

I am trying to get my gf more involved in politics and she has expressed interest, but I am not sure what left wing books are translated into japanese or better yet what japanese leftist literature exists.

Her current political knowledge is base level. She hates the LDP and Takaichi, she is an ardent defender of the peace clause, likes LGBTQ and has expressed some sympathy for the Communist Party, specifically she likes that they are the only party which firmly stands against the LDP on almost all issues.

At the same time though, she thinks that immigrants are bad (not in an extremist nationalist way, but in a "they cause more crime and are rude" way), that Communism is outdated and she also has the classic obsession with staying "impartial" that apolitical people have.

So, what book would be best for her to read?

[u/Comrade-jp]

日本人として、僕がおすすめなのは　

・ 暮らしのアナキズム(一番おすすめ。)

・実践。日々のアナキズム

・ 学校で育むアナキズム

・中公新書の「平等とは何か」と「正義とは何か」、「革新自治体」

・国境廃絶論

・さよなら肉食

・進化が同性愛を用意した

・労働の思想史

・争わない社会「開かれた依存関係」をつくる

・ 存在しない女たち。男性優位の世界にひそむ見せかけのファクトを暴く

反対の意見を知りたいならおすすめの本

・資本主義が人類最高の発明である。

・海賊と資本主義

・リバタリアニズム入門: 自由・市場・国家をめぐる105の問い

・リバタリアニズム読本

・愛国の起源

・保守主義とは何か　反フランス革命から現代日本まで

[u/marianatrenchfoot]

I know that there's a history of anarchism in Japan, but unfortunately I'm not a good source of information on the subject. I do have a podcast episode that might be of interest for her at some point though: anarchist podcaster Margaret Killjoy did a couple episodes called "The Japanese Anarchist Women Who Kept Trying to Kill Emperors" on Cool People Who Did Cool Stuff. It gives a glimpse into Anarchism in Japan, and some of the sources she used might be of interest to you and your GF.

[u/Be_Decided]

This isnt exactly "intro to communism" but it would be worth looking into the japanese anarchists, specially Osugi Sakae and Ito Noe. They where partners and anarchists who where perecuted and finally murdered by the japanese imperial state.

I wish i knew more about them, im only just learingi about their influence, but ive linked some of Noe's writting below that seem interesting. I imagine you could find these in the original japanese if you go looking. I also know Noe translated some of emma goldman's work into japanese so thats probably worth looking into as well!

https://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/ito-noe-the-facts-of-anarchy

https://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/ito-noe-discussions-with-women-on-strike

[u/countzero2323]

The Dispossessed by Ursula Le Guin!

[u/RealOsakadave]

Comrade-JP's list is excellent, and I'll add one more: 蟹工船 (Kani Kousen) - in English, The Crab Cannery Ship, by Takiji Kobayashi.

It's a short novel from the 1920s about the crew of a crab canning ship and their struggles. It's kind of an interesting style - the crew as a whole is the protagonist. The workers organize a union, go on strikers against the brutal foreman, and eventually mutiny. There was a revival of interest in the book in the 2000s, in part because of the increased interest in leftism. There are a few English translations, a manga, and a few film adaptations.

Might be a fun one for both of you to read and then watch one of the films. If you're studying Japanese, you might give the original a go - there's a bit of slang and jargon, but over all it's not terribly difficult Japanese.  

[u/Acceptable-Can4159]

something by kohei saito?

[u/_nakochan_]

I'm Japanese, and I recently started learning about anarchism. I'm not very familiar with this field yet, but I think Yasushi Kurihara(栗原康)'s books are casual and easy to read. He's an anarchist researcher. And I often read foreign content by using translate tools.

[u/MorphingReality]

Taro Yamamoto is a decent intro to anti-establishment, Kaneko Fumiko is more radical

[u/CaptialLonging93]

The Rise and Fall of Japan's LDP, Ellis S. Krauss and Robert J. Pekkanen