More Than Manga! Read 5 Japanese Diaspora Authors in 2025

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1 participant (135 books)

01 Jan 2025—31 Dec 2025

Overview

Welcome to the More Than Manga challenge! 

The goal is to read 5 books by 5 different Japanese diaspora authors between January 1, 2025 and December 31, 2025. 

Author guidelines: 

For the purposes of this challenge, 'Japanese diaspora' refers to authors of Japanese ancestry who did not primarily grow up in Japan. Multiracial or multiethnic authors are OK as long as they are of Japanese ancestry. 

Book guidelines: 

Books of any genre or format (EXCEPT manga!) and for any age group are OK. Books can be in any language - remember, the Japanese diaspora is not just in North America! 

For the purposes of this challenge, 'manga' refers only to manga from Japan (or translations of it). Graphic novels and comic books originally published outside Japan are OK.

Why More Than Manga? 

Manga is great, and as a Japanese diaspora reader myself, I've read more than my fair share. That said, many of the Japanese diaspora authors writing today are NOT writing manga, and it's important to recognize that Japanese books as a whole are More Than Manga! 

Let's show some love for Japanese diaspora authors! Happy reading!

Challenge Books

All books added
Citizen 13660 by Miné Okubo

Citizen 13660

Miné Okubo

209 pages • 1946 • 5 editions

nonfiction history memoir challenging informative reflective fast-paced
Asian Settler Colonialism: From Local Governance to the Habits of Everyday Life in Hawaii by Candace Fujikane, Jonathan Y. Okamura

Asian Settler Colonialism: From Local Governance to the Habits of Everyday Life in Hawaii

Candace Fujikane, Jonathan Y. Okamura

334 pages • 2008 • 2 editions

nonfiction history challenging informative reflective medium-paced
No-No Boy by John Okada

No-No Boy

John Okada

260 pages • 1957 • 11 editions

fiction classics historical emotional reflective sad slow-paced
We Hereby Refuse: Japanese American Acts of Resistance During World War II by Tamiko Nimura, Frank Abe

We Hereby Refuse: Japanese American Acts of Resistance During World War II

Tamiko Nimura, Frank Abe

160 pages • 2021 • 2 editions

nonfiction graphic novel history informative reflective medium-paced
The Lost Souls of Benzaiten by Kelly Murashige

The Lost Souls of Benzaiten

Kelly Murashige

304 pages • 2024 • 3 editions

fiction fantasy young adult emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced
The Keeper of Night by Kylie Lee Baker

The Keeper of Night #1

The Keeper of Night

Kylie Lee Baker

393 pages • 2021 • 15 editions

fiction fantasy historical young adult adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced
The Color of Air by Gail Tsukiyama

The Color of Air

Gail Tsukiyama

320 pages • 2020 • 11 editions

fiction historical emotional reflective slow-paced
The Hunger by Alma Katsu

The Hunger

Alma Katsu

416 pages • 2018 • 39 editions

fiction historical horror dark mysterious slow-paced
The Lost Ryū by Emi Watanabe Cohen

The Lost Ryū

Emi Watanabe Cohen

208 pages • 2022 • 4 editions

fiction fantasy historical middle grade emotional hopeful sad medium-paced
The Fervor by Alma Katsu

The Fervor

Alma Katsu

309 pages • 2022 • 12 editions

fiction horror thriller dark mysterious sad medium-paced