On April 23rd, 2022, Brookline Booksmith hosted the Japan Society of Boston at the front of their store to greet book browsers and buyers alike in celebration of a month long collaboration between JSB and the Booksmith in honor of the Honya Taisho (本屋大賞), or the Japanese Booksellers Award.

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Every year in Japan, the Nation's Booksellers come together to decide on their absolute favorite book to recommend to book buyers. Ten books are nominated for the award, and one book is picked at the start of April. In 2022, the winner of the Honya Taisho was "同志少女よ、敵を撃て" (Depicted Below).

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The Japan Society of Boston worked with the Booksmith to curate a list of 30 books to represent contemporary Japanese literature and genre fiction. Ranging from thrilling crime mysteries to magical realism dreamscapes to literary novels, the collection represents all forms of fiction writing across Japan.

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The in-store event on the 23rd also marked the first time Japanese Language Books were sold at Brookline Booksmith. The Japan Society of Boston worked with its partner at Kinokuniya, New York to bring Japanese Language Books into Brookline Booksmith and offer the Japanese Speaking Community of Boston the first opportunity to find books in their native language within reach.