8 essays by leading Japanese writers (including Banana Yoshimoto and Haruki Murakami) presented in vertical format with translation on facing page and a series of notes that elucidate nuance, grammar, culture. At the back is a Japanese-English dictionary tailor-made to cover all the words included in the essays, and the book comes with a free audio download that contains a professional nar ration of all the works, to familiarise you with the sound, rhythm and speed at which the language is spoken. By turns humorous, serious, beautiful and biting, all have been selected on the basis of their appeal. They are stimulating works that will motivate readers to want more.