Japan: A Longform Reading List of Longform Writing longreads.com

Some gaijin, like Kelly Luce and Pico Iyer, had been touched by Japanese culture deeply enough to write about it.
As we all mourned our imminent return to American toilets with their archaic toilet paper, she told us about the essay she’d written about the marvels of Japanese toilets.
Her mix of absorbing narrative and thoughtful analysis reveal fascinating aspects about Japanese culture and Western ideas and business practices.
Steinberg explores the origins of kawaii, what cute things do to the human brain neurologically, and why it’s so central to Japanese culture.
Colin’s story — and this whole reading list — shows that Japan is so much more than that.