historical fiction japan

Exploring the Rich Tapestry of Historical Fiction Set in Japan

If you are a fan of historical fiction and have a deep fascination with Japan, you are in for a treat. Japan has a rich and captivating history that has inspired numerous compelling novels set in different time periods. Whether you are interested in samurais, geishas, or the tumultuous era of feudal Japan, there is a wealth of literature waiting to transport you to this ancient land. In this article, we will delve into the world of historical fiction set in Japan, introducing you to some remarkable novels and authors that you won't want to miss.

1. "Shogun" by James Clavell:
For those seeking an epic tale set in feudal Japan, "Shogun" is an absolute must-read. This gripping novel follows the adventures of John Blackthorne, an English sailor who finds himself caught in a power struggle between warlords in 17th century Japan. James Clavell's meticulous research, combined with his masterful storytelling, paints a vivid picture of Japanese culture and samurai honor.

2. "Memoirs of a Geisha" by Arthur Golden:
Arthur Golden's "Memoirs of a Geisha" offers a mesmerizing glimpse into the secretive and alluring world of geishas. Set in the 1930s and 1940s, the novel follows the life of Chiyo Sakamoto, who navigates the intricate hierarchy of geisha houses, love, and survival during a time of great social change in Japan. Golden's lyrical prose and deep understanding of Japanese customs make this an unforgettable tale.

3. "Musashi" by Eiji Yoshikawa:
If you are interested in legendary samurais, "Musashi" is a remarkable novel that should be on your reading list. Eiji Yoshikawa's masterpiece is a fictionalized account of the life of Miyamoto Musashi, an iconic swordsman in Japanese history. Set in the 17th century, the novel takes readers on an epic journey of self-discovery and martial arts.

4. "Pachinko" by Min Jin Lee:
Moving towards a more modern setting, "Pachinko" by Min Jin Lee is a sweeping family saga that spans several generations of a Korean family in Japan. This compelling novel explores themes of identity, discrimination, and the struggle for acceptance in a society that is often unwelcoming. With its richly drawn characters and immersive storytelling, "Pachinko" is a poignant and thought-provoking read.

In addition to these outstanding novels, there are various online platforms and websites dedicated to Japanese historical fiction that can further enhance your reading experience. Goodreads and Reddit, for instance, host communities where readers discuss their favorite Japanese historical fiction novels and recommend hidden gems. Furthermore, websites like "Historical Japan" offer a treasure trove of information about Japanese history, culture, and literature, providing valuable context to enhance your understanding and enjoyment of these novels.

In conclusion, the world of historical fiction set in Japan is a captivating one, offering a diverse range of stories and characters that will transport you to a different time and place. Whether you are drawn to feudal Japan, the geisha world, or the lives of samurais, there is a vast selection of novels waiting to be discovered. So sit back, immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of Japanese history, and let these captivating stories transport you to a world of wonder and intrigue.
Time travel to 1853. Fiction
Time travel to 1853.

In the 19th century, it was a time when Western powers divided the world and also the beginning of the downfall of the Chinese nation. If a time traveler were to come to 19th century China, could he change China's fate? In the spring of that year, the Taiping Army attacked Nanjing. Secret agent Wang Feng, in the moment of life and death, resolutely opened the city gates and surrendered, gaining the appreciation of Yang Xiuqing, the Eastern King, and becoming one of his attendants. However, their differing ideologies and the corruption of the top brass of the Taiping Army gradually distanced him from them, and he embarked on his own entrepreneurial path. Throughout his life, he made countless enemies, including Hong Xiuquan, Yang Xiuqing, Wei Changhui, Zeng Guofan, Zuo Zongtang, Li Hongzhang, Sengge Rinchen, Xianfeng, Lincoln, Victoria, Nicholas Yevgenyevich, Louis Bonaparte, Toshimichi Okubo, and Nogi Maresuke. But he also had friends all over the world, including Shi Dakai, Chen Yucheng, Sheng Xuanhuai, Hu Xueyan, the Commander-in-Chief of the Confederate Army, the Ottoman Sultan, the Tokugawa Shogunate, Nobel, and Bismarck. Lincoln: I strongly condemn Wang Feng's barbaric acts of dividing nations by force! Commander-in-Chief of the Confederate Army: Oh! Wang Feng is the most sincere friend of the people of the American South!

257.78 Million words | 2021-09-22 20:06Update

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Young Lord of the Great Song Fiction
Young Lord of the Great Song

Once a bank employee, now reborn into the world as a person, unexpectedly finding himself in the great Song Dynasty! With an empty home and living in abject poverty, how can he survive? With countless strategies in his heart and a carriage full of poetry and books, unfortunately, his handwriting resembles that of a crawling dog and is simply unsightly... He competes for fame with courtesans, fights for beautiful women, and faces persecution from wicked tyrants; he joins the army under a renowned teacher and learns everything from him. He forms brotherhood bonds, sharing life and death, and repeatedly turns danger into safety; he seduces women, exuding charm and elegance, always winding through countless twists and turns... With the Khitan on the north horizon, Tibetans causing chaos in the west, domestic ministers oppressing the people, and regional lords coveting power, since he has arrived in this great Song Dynasty, he will restore peace to this land and create a prosperous era for the people! As the wheels of history roll forward, can he fulfill his aspirations? Let's witness the unveiling of this historical scroll in "The Young Lord of the Great Song."

29.19 Million words | 2023-04-07 04:45Update

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Snow handsome. Fiction
Snow handsome.

They were originally members of the Municipal Bureau of Garbage Classification, but under the call of "General's Order," they transformed into capable soldiers defending Youzhou in the battle. Resisting foreign invasions, exploring peace and justice, confronting power struggles, pondering the universe, and life. Humor, fortitude, war, fighting, passion, tenderness, yin and yang... everything you want to know, everything you don't know, it will all be in the book!

248.66 Million words | 2022-02-13 19:50Update

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The Rise of the New Empire Era Fiction
The Rise of the New Empire Era

Special forces soldier Lin Yiqing completed his mission and returned to the helicopter. However, he was struck by a ball of lightning and lost consciousness. When he woke up, he found himself in a parallel timeline, in an unfamiliar dynasty called the Qian Dynasty. This dynasty, once prosperous, had now declined and was on the verge of a tumultuous change. It had just made contact with Western industrial civilization and was facing internal and external troubles. In order to realize his dream of a strong nation, Lin Yiqing resolutely led this ancient country forward, and created a glorious era of his own.

46.27 Million words | 2023-05-30 20:41Update

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Han Moon Mountains and Rivers Fiction
Han Moon Mountains and Rivers

Three Emperors and Five Sovereigns, Xia, Shang, and Zhou, The ancestors whipped their reins across ten thousand li. Heroic Emperor Wu of Han established his dominance, And the elegance of the Jian'an period swept through. Iron-clad cavalry laughed for a thousand years at the barbarians, While the Trojan horse adorned in robes brought centuries of worry. Separated by white bones, the two shores stand, When will the smoke of war cease its cry for peace? Following the Han and Jin dynasties, through the Southern and Northern Dynasties, Opening the path for the Sui and Tang dynasties, gathering brilliant talents, the struggle for supremacy knows no rest. This is an era more intense than the Three Kingdoms, offering no room for concessions, This is a splendid era that gave birth to the Great Tang Empire. What if this colorful and magnificent history were to encounter some variables? A fortuitous encounter, a crossover through time and space, in a chaotic era of the North and South, Bringing together brilliant individuals, the tide of history ebbs and flows, The Han heritage, revamped through bloodlines, Countless withered bones turn to ashes, and an era of greatness that is beyond measure. The grandeur of the Han Dynasty, displaying its elegance in full!

77.85 Million words | 2023-04-22 14:07Update

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The Grand Plan of the Late Jin Dynasty Fiction
The Grand Plan of the Late Jin Dynasty

In the late years of the Western Jin Dynasty, turmoil reigned supreme. The divine land sank into chaos, as various northern tribes bared their fangs, brandished their claws, and scrambled to devour the Central Plains. They captured and killed countless innocent people. The sound of wailing flutes and barbaric horns lingered, while the hooves of warhorses filled the air with smoke. It was during this time that a young man from another time and space emerged, his passion and determination transformed into a mighty sword. He stood against the northern invaders, ceaselessly fighting. In the midst of the Five Barbarians, amidst the sorrow of a chaotic era, through a hundred battles in the yellow sand, he sought to restore peace to the land...

124.40 Million words | 2021-03-31 10:25Update

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The Supreme Monarch Fiction
The Supreme Monarch

"We cannot abandon our responsibilities. We are professional warriors, and we must fight against the Emperor till the end," said the spit-spattering members of the Professional Cockfighting Squad of the Ming Dynasty Civil Official Group. "These fools! With just two fingers, I can defeat them easily. Leave them to me. You focus on fighting against external enemies," said the high-spirited Ming Emperor to the military officials who had black lines on their faces. He was the most accomplished ruler of our Great Ming Empire, a monarch whose achievements outshone countless emperors in Chinese history. Without him, there

115.81 Million words | 2021-03-23 23:29Update

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The Boss of the Sui Dynasty Fiction
The Boss of the Sui Dynasty

A businessman, he achieves wealth through inferior goods, power through moderate means, and dominates the world! He is the ultimate boss.

419.32 Million words | 2021-04-15 12:12Update

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Become the Reigning Tea Master in Tokyo. Fiction
Become the Reigning Tea Master in Tokyo.

Lu Ya, a descendant of the incompetent Tang Dynasty tea master Lu Yu, is reborn as Qian Li Yu, the descendant of the renowned Japanese tea master Sen no Rikyu, and the inheritor of Tokyo's Wudai An. This year, at the age of__, he is on the brink of bankruptcy. Just before he is forced to sell his tea house, he awakens to something strange...

96.25 Million words | 2020-08-27 08:22Update

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The General's Everyday Rebellion. Fiction
The General's Everyday Rebellion.

General Xiaoyi, the commander-in-chief, has been in a bad mood lately, causing great concerns among the civil and military officials who fear that he may rebel if he's unhappy. No one can understand Xiaoyi's troubles, as the young emperor, his own, keeps growing more handsome, which brings him more joy. Yet, Xiaoyi, you need to calm down, the young emperor is a man! This thought crosses his mind, but his gaze can't help but linger on the increasingly charming face of the young emperor. General Xiaoyi, feeling that he has slapped himself in the face, his expression becomes even colder. Never mind, he won't make things difficult for himself; since he feels good about it, then it's fine. He will help him conquer the world and offer this picturesque kingdom to him. But what does the young emperor mean? Is he charging ahead while Xiaoyi attracts admirers from behind? The female general who likes him, the princess from the neighboring country who admires him, now

128.35 Million words | 2021-02-23 23:11Update

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Great Talent of the Tang Dynasty Fiction
Great Talent of the Tang Dynasty

Wang Ke, a small business owner of a decoration company, was sent to the Tang Dynasty due to a car accident while on his way to a new construction site. In order to establish himself in this era, he utilized his knowledge from over a thousand years ahead to make significant changes in the course of history within the Tang Empire. He was hailed as the "Talented One of the Great Tang". A QQ group has been created for this book, with the group's QQ number: Strongly recommended is a masterpiece known as "The Worry-Free Doctor" with the book number: Link: http://www.k.com/book/.html. There is also a new book by Murong Xiaoxiang titled "The City of the Sky: The Epic of the Six Gods", with the book number: Link: http://www.k.com/book/.html.

563.42 Million words | 2022-08-27 23:27Update

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Ming Dynasty nobility Fiction
Ming Dynasty nobility

Is the son-in-law of a merchant who married into the family useless? Time-traveler Xiao Fan is a clear exception. In the 29th year of the Hongwu reign of the Great Ming Dynasty, Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang was elderly, and his heir apparent was weak, while the King of Yan was plotting. In this year, Xiao Fan arrived. The world was stirred because of him. (This book has successfully completed, and a new book titled "The False Gentleman of the Ming Dynasty" has been published. Please support and cast your votes.)

148.83 Million words | 2021-12-20 13:54Update

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Tyrant Liu Zhang Fiction
Tyrant Liu Zhang

One hates the cold state of the world, two hates people losing their morals. Three hates the corrupt state of the nation, four hates the suffering of the common people. Five hates the ignorance of the masses, six hates the hypocrisy of the gentlemen. Seven hates the rise of treacherous individuals, eight hates the clamor of foreign invaders. ... ............................................................ The tyrant Liu Zhang from the Three Kingdoms era. ************************************************************* New book "Martial Hero".

199.92 Million words | 2021-11-03 18:37Update

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Lurking at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty. Fiction
Lurking at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty.

The Growth History of a Dominant King! Little did the mighty Liu Xiu, with his indomitable spirit, know that when he arrived in this world, thrilled by this strange and powerful body, the wheels of Han Dynasty's history had already undergone irreversible changes. Hero? Tyrant? Cunning strategist? With a sword in hand, who dares to challenge his dominance! ... Yuan Shao had tears of helplessness: "This lad is not merely a

286.34 Million words | 2022-09-25 19:41Update

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Guardian on the blacklist. Fiction
Guardian on the blacklist.

Who can prevail in the battle between the special forces and the special police? When the older brother is a retired special forces soldier and the younger brother is an active duty special police officer, who will hesitate due to family ties? If he is not bribed, it means the price offered is not high enough! In the face of huge profits, who can still uphold their bottom line? For the sake of interests, the gangsters, drug enforcement, special police, loved ones, mistresses, and behind-the-scenes bosses all make their appearances, playing their respective roles in this extravagant feast. In the darkness, what will those silently guarding people gain?

192.22 Million words | 2022-02-03 18:51Update

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Hanwa Fiction
Hanwa

The once mighty Han Empire has reached its desperate end. The glorious Han ethnicity is about to plummet into the depths of darkness. The curtain of chaos slowly unveils, marking an era of blood and fire, a time belonging to heroes, yet also a tragic era... By my blood, I offer the soul of Xuanyuan, protecting the multitude of Han commoners! By my body, I transform Qin bricks and Han tiles, constructing the Great Wall spanning thousands of miles for our Huaxia! I am Liu Ze, and here I come. This is my story: Witness how an underdog rises in the Three Kingdoms! In the hearts of a thousand people, there lie a thousand Three Kingdoms. Under the pen of Lao Feng, perhaps the most perfect Three Kingdoms cannot be written, but it will definitely not disappoint. Amidst the ruins of Han, we shall reshape a dream of end-of-Han China, shining brightly.

379.18 Million words | 2022-10-22 13:47Update

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Super Soldier Empire Fiction
Super Soldier Empire

Weapon industry specialist Xiao Weiguo was transported through time during a test of a new power system for future main battle tanks. He found himself in Germany in the year 1930, and became a distant relative of the Krupp family. Witness how weapon expert Xiao Weiguo establishes a super weapon empire in that era filled with smoke. Jet fighters, flying wing bombers, howitzers, rocket launchers, steam catapult aircraft carriers, AIP submarines, and various missile weapons are all part of the super weapon empire!

83.58 Million words | 2022-04-10 18:43Update

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Strong man Fiction
Strong man

[Contracted Work by Fourth Editing Group] Conquering the Xiongnu on horseback, the flames of war rage under Emperor Han Wu, as the army of the reborn soldier leads hundreds of thousands of iron cavalry through countless bloody battles, forging a legendary feat that belongs to the Han ethnic group for ages.

453.64 Million words | 2023-03-15 01:51Update

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The Legend of Steel Backbone in the Late Ming Dynasty Fiction
The Legend of Steel Backbone in the Late Ming Dynasty

The bloody battle on the Hun River in Shenyang during the later period of the Ming Dynasty saw the last brave soldiers of the Qi Family Army, Zhejiang Army, and White Pole Army fighting against the ten thousand Jurchen cavalry. In the end, the Ming army was defeated and destroyed. In this battle, the Ming army killed over ten thousand Jurchen soldiers, leaving behind the last pride of the Great Ming. Our protagonist, Zhang Dou, woke up to find himself a member of this army. Can he survive the perilous battle on the Hun River? Will he lead his troops to defeat the Jurchen and become the indomitable backbone of China? Stay tuned

490.54 Million words | 2022-03-23 20:56Update

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Super Military Overlord Fiction
Super Military Overlord

Born as a hero, even in death a valiant spirit. How can I not avenge the nation's enmity and family grievances? With the divine weapon, the Nine Heavens Meritorious Tower in hand, let's see how Yue Weihua, after the New Year, unleashes a wave of unconventional bloodshed, and stirs up a storm of carnage in history!

306.13 Million words | 2021-01-30 00:40Update

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