In this episode, we take a look at the Japanese cell phone novel and the classic story of Train Man.

We’re going to start today by explaining the Japanese cell phone novel, including some relevant background like the history of serialized publishing in Japan and the rise of Japanese cell phone culture.

We’ll spend some time on the early 2000s internet culture, especially on-line message boards.

And today’s focus text is Train Man, attributed to Hitori Nakano and translated into English by Bonnie Elliott.

content warnings: rape as a trope in romance novels, online misogyny

Transcript, notes and sources at the podcast episode website.

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Correction: Please note that this episode incorrectly calls the 2channel thread in which Train Man originally appeared Doko Otoko. The thread was actually called Doku Otoko. Doku is a play on words, meaning both "single" (独) and "poison" (毒).

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In this episode, we explore the enduring legacy of Greek/English/Irish/American/Japanese author Lafcadio Hearn and the ghost story The Peony Lantern.

We'll start out by looking at Hearn's life. We'll discuss the long history of the story Boton Doro, more commonly known as The Peony Lantern, including its most famous incarnation under Hearn's pen. And then we'll look at two modern adaptations of the story by Aoko Matsuda and Kyoko Nakajima.

Notes and sources on the episode page. Transcript available.

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Get in touch at www.readjapaneseliterature.com.
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All content © 2025 Read Japanese Literature.

In this episode, we look at bullying in Japanese literature.

We'll start out by defining bullying and looking at bullying in Japanese schools as well as the Japanese workplace. We'll see some examples in Japanese novels. And then we'll talk about Mizuki Tsujimura's Lonely Castle in the Mirror, translated into English by Philip Gabriel.

This episode is rated mature. CW: bullying and suicide

If you're thinking about suicide, please get help. Open Counseling hosts a list of international suicide hotlines.

Notes and sources on the episode page. Transcript available. Be sure to check out the new and improved RJL website!

Let RJL know what you think! (Contact us through the website if you want a response.)

Please note that text messages are for feedback only. RJL can't respond directly.
Get in touch at www.readjapaneseliterature.com.
Support RJL on Patreon.com.
Buy your books from Bookshop.org.
All content © 2025 Read Japanese Literature.