Books from Japan

Set in Japan in the summer of 1982, Summer at Mount Asama follows Tōru Sakanishi, a recent university graduate who joins a prestigious architectural practice in Tokyo. Founded by Shunsuke Murai, a distinguished architect and former student of Frank Lloyd Wright, the firm is known for its thoughtful designs and quiet devotion to craftsmanship. When the team relocates to a mountain retreat near Mount Asama, they begin work on a competition to design the National Library of Modern Literature. As Tōru observes the creative process and the relationships among his colleagues, he encounters four remarkable women whose presence gradually transforms his understanding of love, ambition and adulthood. The tranquil mountain setting, with its changing light and natural beauty, offers a counterpoint to the professional rivalries and personal uncertainties unfolding around him. Through its subtle portrayal of architecture, memory and human relationships, Matsuie’s novel explores how places shape our lives and how the smallest encounters can influence the course of a future.