'I don’t believe in chasing trends': Japanese novelist Satoshi Yagisawa

Quietly influential, Japanese novelist Satoshi Yagisawa has built an international readership through intimate, understated stories rooted in everyday life. Best known for ‘Days at the Morisaki Bookshop’, his work favours warmth and reflection over spectacle. In an interview with DHoS, Yagisawa, who was recently in Bengaluru, discusses his deliberately unhurried writing style, his resistance to chasing literary trends, and his desire to use fiction as a gentle bridge — inviting readers worldwide to encounter Japanese culture through small moments and ordinary places.

Excerpts

Many of your stories focus on the emotional lives of ordinary people. How do you think everyday experiences in Japan and India differ, and have you noticed any cultural similarities?

I’m not well-versed enough to comment on Indian society or the patriarchal nature of it, but things are rapidly changing in Japan. While some patriarchal tendencies remain in rural areas, cities have moved away from them to a large extent. This is a shift that is happening globally, and it’s happening for good. 

More than the similarities, I’m having fun and learning more by noticing the differences between the two cultures. For example, the Japanese do not often visit places of worship to offer prayers. On the contrary, seeing Indians so devotedly visiting temples felt like a novel experience. 

Indian and Japanese literature often share a sensitivity to inner life and spiritual reflection. What similarities do you see between the two literary traditions?

Unfortunately, Indian literature is not widely available in Japan. Not many books by Indian authors have been translated into Japanese, and as I don’t read English, I haven’t been able to explore Indian literature. I’ve heard there are quite a few similarities between Japanese and Indian literature, so I’m very interested in exploring it. Recently, in Chennai, I was recommended to check out the works of Arundhati Roy, which have been translated into Japanese. It looks like a heavy read, but I’m looking forward to it. 

Books and reading communities play a central role in your work. Why is that? 

When you talk about people’s feelings and emotions, and dive deep into their internal thoughts, the topic inevitably becomes heavy. I was afraid that if I were to write about heavy emotions, the younger crowd might shy away from picking up the book. I wanted my book to be accessible to people of all ages. I wanted them to be easy reads, without taking away the soul of the book. This is why I chose settings for books which provide a soothing, cosy atmosphere. The atmosphere in bookshops and cafes is so soft that your heart desires to be a part of them. 

What major literary trends do you see in contemporary Japanese literature today? 

Japan doesn’t stick to one particular genre of books for long. There are different genres that become popular randomly from time to time, but they have a short life span and end up falling in popularity just as quickly. This is why I tend to stay away from trends. Following trends takes away from the author’s creativity. For quite some time now, the genre which we call ‘healing fiction’ has been pretty popular. There has been a surge in such comforting books across Asia. 

With the growing popularity of your books among international readers, do you now consciously think about a global audience?

My primary goal is to ensure the reader is able to delve into the story as easily as possible. I would also be happy if readers abroad would get to know more about Japanese culture through my books. So, once I learnt about my international readership, I have been keeping that in mind while writing. Now I do think about how to make it easier for people abroad to interact with Japanese culture. My way of writing has slightly changed now, as I make more of an effort to introduce Japanese culture and way of thinking into my books. While the feelings and personal conflicts remain the main dish, I sprinkle a bit of Japanese culture on top as a seasoning. 

What about your future projects? Are you interested in exploring new themes, forms, or settings?

I don’t pay much heed to themes. I begin writing, and the theme comes up along the way. I will continue to write about all the emotions brewing in the human heart. I do have some ideas, though, for books revolving around an inn and the bathhouse culture in Japan.