JFT Book Club (Hybrid) – With Silent Reading Time – Share Your Favourite Books from JFT Library
August 15 @ 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm EDT
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Share Your Favourite Book. Celebrate Our Library Collection. Cultivate Cultural Exchange.
Before our physical library concludes operations in conjunction with our office relocation, join us for a special book club celebrating our library collection, the memories it has inspired, and the community that have grown around it. Whether you’re a long-time library patron or a first-time visitor, everyone is welcome! No assigned reading or prior knowledge is required. You can attend in person at the library or join online from anywhere in the world.
On the day of the event, we invite you to bring a favourite book from our physical or digital collection (in English, Japanese, or French) and briefly share why it is meaningful to you or a memory associated with it. Then, enjoy a relaxing hour of silent reading together; you can either revisit your own pick or read a book recommended by another participant. We’ll wrap up with an informal discussion in English, where you’re welcome to share your thoughts on what you read, or simply listen to fellow participants. This is a friendly, low-pressure space where curiosity is encouraged, different viewpoints are celebrated, and every level of participation is valued.
As one of the last opportunities to gather in our current physical library before its relocation, we hope this special session helps you cultivate meaningful connections with readers from diverse backgrounds through books and (re-)discover Japanese literature, manga, nonfiction, and culture through fresh perspectives.
This book club is part of our special event series, Journey onto JFT’s Next Chapter, celebrating our community, expressing our sincere appreciation to everyone who has supported us, reflecting on our history together, and sharing our vision for the future as we embark on this new chapter. Participants are warmly encouraged to explore our full program and make the most of this opportunity to enjoy our current public spaces and programming together!
If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact us in person, by phone, email, or via our contact form.
P.S. The final day to borrow physical materials from our library will be Saturday, August 22, and all borrowed items must be returned by Friday, October 9. JF Canada Digital Library will remain available during and after the relocation.
Show WHY JOIN JFT BOOK CLUB “WITH SILENT READING TIME”? Many of us simply want more time to read but cannot squeeze the time in, as we have too many distractions and interruptions in our daily lives to concentrate on reading. JFT Book Club with Silent Reading Time offers a sanctuary to indulge in the simple pleasure of reading, surrounded by fellow book enthusiasts who share your love for literature. In addition, we provide an optional space for those who wish to connect and discuss their reading experiences with others. Engage in conversations at your comfort level and learn new perspectives from other book lovers from different cultural backgrounds that you wouldn’t gain from reading alone! It’s a safe space where your thoughts and impressions are valued, regardless of whether you choose to actively participate or quietly absorb the conversations around you. We welcome both seasoned book club members and first-time participants to discover the joy of silent reading without the pressures of finishing an assigned book on time and/or participating in mandatory discussions. Show HOW DOES THE UPCOMING JFT BOOK CLUB WORK? *There is no right or wrong answer. Different perspectives make the discussion more fun and vibrant! A book to bring can be either a physical book, ebook, or audiobook (excluding DVDs & Blu-rays) that meets the following criteria: *You can either borrow a book from the JFT Library’s collection, or bring your own copy from home. *You can check whether the book is part of our collection by searching on our online catalogue (*to search physical & digital items) or JF Canada/USA Digital Library (*to search and read ebooks & audiobooks). Please contact us if you wish to confirm the availability with us. To get a new JFT library card or to renew your existing card, please follow the instructions found here. July 13 @ 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm EDT You may have noticed an increasing number of Japanese titles appearing on bestseller lists and displayed at your local bookstores and libraries. Behind this growing popularity and access to Japanese voices are literary translators, whose work helps to shape how Japanese literature is read, understood, and enjoyed around the world. To celebrate the vital yet often unrecognized work of translators who bring Japanese voices to the world, three Canada-based translators of Japanese literature will gather onstage at the Japan Foundation. The conversation will be moderated by an editor of Japanese literature in translation, and together they will reflect on the work of translation, sharing insights into the creative process, the opportunities and challenges facing translators today, and the evolving landscape of Japanese literature in translation. The speakers will also discuss the dynamic role of the literary magazine MONKEY: New Writing from Japan*(formerly Monkey Business) in bridging languages, cultures, and literary traditions to bring Japanese literature to English readers. JFT Book Club (Hybrid) – Manga: Run Away With Me, Girl by Battan [Pride Month Pick!] — Tue, Jun 30, 2026 JFT Book Club (Hybrid) : Sakura by NISHI Kanako – April 16, 2026 JFT Book Club (Hybrid) – With Silent Reading Time –Books Adapted into Film – February 24, 2026 JFT Book Club (Hybrid) – Seesaw Monster by ISAKA Kotaro – Nov 8, 2025 JFT Book Club (Hybrid) – With Silent Reading Time – Food in Japan – Sep 25, 2025 JFT Book Club (Hybrid) – Manga: Look Back by FUJIMOTO Tatsuki – Jun 10, 2025 JFT Book Club (Hybrid) – With Silent Reading Time – Japanese Architecture, Civil Engineering, and Landscapes – April 15, 2025 JFT Book Club (Hybrid) – First Love by SHIMAMOTO Rio – February 8, 2025 JFT Book Club (Hybrid) – With Silent Reading Time – Yōkai – November 21, 2024 Japanese Tadoku Book Club – October 26, 2024 JFT Book Club (Hybrid) – Before the Coffee Gets Cold by KAWAGUCHI Toshikazu – September 4, 2024 JFT Book Club (Hybrid) – With Silent Reading Time – Japanese Ceramics & Life in the Edo to Meiji Periods – June 18, 2024 JFT Book Club (Hybrid) – Manga: BL Metamorphosis by TSURUTANI Kaori – April 18, 2024 JFT Book Club (Hybrid): Mild Vertigo by KANAI Mieko – February 13, 2024 JFT Book Club (Hybrid) – With Silent Reading Time – Holiday Reading Recommendations – November 16, 2023 JFT Book Club (Hybrid) – Manga: Planetes by YUKIMURA Makoto – September 28, 2023 JFT Book Club (Hybrid) – With Silent Reading Time – LGBTQIA+ Books -June 20, 2023 JFT Book Club Online – Manga: After the Rain by MAYUZUKI Jun -April 24, 2023 JFT Book Club Online – Three Short Works by NISHI Kanako: On beauty, the Female Experience and Othering – February 8, 2023 JFT Book Club Online: Temple Alley Summer by KASHIWABA Sachiko – September 15, 2022 JFT Book Club Online: Manga – June 15, 2022 JFT Book Club Online: Bring Your Own Book – April 13, 2022 JFT Book Club Online: The Woman in the Purple Skirt by Natsuko Imamura JFT Book Club Online: JFT Book Club Online: Heaven by Mieko Kawakami – August 12, 2021 JFT Book Club Online: Manga – June 10, 2021 JFT Book Club Online: Bring Your Own Book – April 8, 2021 JFT Book Club Online: The Memory Police – February 11, 2021 JFT Book Club Online: Breasts and Egg – November 5, 2020 JFT Book Club Online: Travel Japan – August 20, 2020 JFT Book Club Online – June 11, 2020 Memoirs of a Polar Bear – February 20, 2020 The Little House – December 12, 2019 Mystery Book Club – October 10, 2019 Movies and Books – August 8, 2019 Books and Tea – June 6, 2019WHY JOIN JFT BOOK CLUB “WITH SILENT READING TIME”?
HOW DOES THE UPCOMING JFT BOOK CLUB WORK?
WHAT BOOK TO READ?
i.e., Japan-related fiction, nonfiction, or manga about Japan
OR fiction, nonfiction, or manga by Japanese author(s)
Related Programming
The Canadian Connection: How literary translators bring Japanese voices to the world
Register Here
Previous Book Clubs
– February 9, 2022
Colorful by Eto Mori
– November 10, 2021
