This year marked increased recognition for female Japanese authors, while Japan-based stories provided the inspiration for Hollywood adaptations such as "Bullet Train" and "Tokyo Vice."
Culture in 2022: Good books, outdoor art and Tokyo Vice japantimes.co.jp - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from japantimes.co.jp Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Junko Takase's short novel "Oishii Gohan ga Taberaremasuyoni" won the Akutagawa Prize for up-and-coming authors after women took all five spots on the prize's shortlist for the first time.
The winners of Japan's prestigious Akutagawa and Naoki literary prizes were revealed on July 20, with female writers scooping the honors for works exploring themes of food and working relationships, and expectation for new encounters after emotional trauma.