Audiobooks Narrated by Mark Takeshi Ota

The Practice of Not Reacting: The secret to a stress-free life

"Don’t let negative emotions rule your life; learn the skills to take back control Imagine how much lighter life would be if there was no more becoming angry, buckling under pressure, feeling nervous around others, regretting the past or fretting about the future. In The Practice of Not Reacting, renowned Buddhist monk Ryushun Kusanagi draws on his deep wisdom to teach us the transformative art of non-reaction. By developing the skills to let our reactions go, we free ourselves up to focus on what matters most – and happiness naturally follows. Whether you worry too much about what people think, struggle to stay calm when life throws you a curveball or feel low when things don’t work out, let this book teach you the single most important habit for a peaceful life. © Ryushun Kusanagi 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026"

Ryushun Kusanagi (Author), Mark Takeshi Ota (Narrator)

Audiobook

Play Sample Listen For Free

Grave of the Fireflies

"Brought to you by Penguin. The heartbreaking Japanese classic telling the story of two orphans fighting for survival at the end of World War Two, published in English for the first time In the dying days of the War, Seita and Setsuko must fend for themselves. Firebombs have obliterated their home in Kobe, leaving them searching for shelter and scrambling to survive in the depths of the countryside. But, as their suffering becomes a constant companion, so do the lights of the fireflies – shining from the bomber planes, and the insects glowing by the lake at night. This unforgettable semi-autobiographical tale by Akiyuki Nosaka won him the Naoki Prize, cementing his place in the Japanese cultural canon. Published here for the first time as a standalone story, Grave of the Fireflies illuminates the untold sorrows of normal people who live in the shadow of war. 'A fragile, haunting novella... this book is a profoundly sad and precious gift' Phelim McDermott, director of My Neighbour Totoro 'Nosaka reminds us of the small lives that are lost in the churn of war and who are left without even a memorial' Rowan Hisayo Buchanan 'A beautiful and sensitive translation... I wish stories like this were unnecessary, but that is sadly not the case' Tom Morton-Smith, playwright and writer of My Neighbour Totoro © Akiyuki Nosaka 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026"

Akiyuki Nosaka (Author), Mark Takeshi Ota (Narrator)

Audiobook

Play Sample Listen For Free

I Am a Cat: A new translation of the original Japanese cat classic

"Brought to you by Penguin. Discover the original Japanese Cat classic, now in a vibrant new translation by Nick Bradley, author of The Cat and the City. 'I am a Cat. But I still don't have a name...' Once a stray kitten, I Am a Cat’s narrator finds himself adopted by a local scholar and thrown headfirst into the absurd upper middle-class world of Meiji-era Japan. Now a noble but somewhat world-weary observer, he has ample opportunity to dissect the strange ways and convoluted conversations of the human race. First published at the turn of the 20th century, and regarded as one of Japan’s most iconic classics, I Am a Cat is a captivating exploration of identity, society, and the often bewildering nature of the human condition—all seen through the eyes of a very special, uncompromising cat. ‘A biting satire of Meiji-era Japan' Jessie Burton, Guardian ‘Soseki is the representative modern Japanese novelist, a figure of truly national stature’ Haruki Murakami © Natsume Soseki 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026"

Natsume Soseki (Author), Mark Takeshi Ota (Narrator)

Audiobook

Play Sample Listen For Free

Jackson Alone: From the winner of the Akutagawa Prize

"A short, blistering gut punch of a novel, Jackson Alone is at turns satirical and deadpan, angry and tender - a frank exploration of identity, race, and queerness in contemporary Japan. Nobody at the corporate offices of Athletius Japan knows much about the massage therapist, Jackson, but rumours abound. He used to work as a model. He likes to party. He's mixed race: half-Japanese, half-somewhere-in-Africa-n. He might be gay. Fuelling the gossip is the sudden appearance of a violent, pornographic video featuring a man who looks like a lot like Jackson. When Jackson serendipitously meets three other queer mixed-race guys, he learns he's not the only one being targeted. Together they concoct a plan: find out who's responsible and, in the meantime, exploit the fact that nobody can seem to tell them apart to trick people who've wronged them. From an Akutagawa prize winning author, Jackson Alone asks complex questions about how we see ourselves and how we see others, as well as what it really means to get revenge."

Jose Ando (Author), Mark Takeshi Ota (Narrator)

Audiobook

Play Sample Listen For Free

One Hundred Flowers: FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE JAPANESE BESTSELLER IF CATS DISAPPEARED FROM THE WORLD

"'A tender med­ita­tion on memory, familial bonds, and the evan­es­cence of every­ day moments ... a profoundly affect­ing read' - Storizen Magazine 'A believable slice-of-life window into human nature that resonates on multiple levels' - The Japan Times FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE JAPANESE BESTSELLER IF CATS DISAPPEARED FROM THE WORLD WHICH HAS SOLD OVER TWO MILLION COPIES The fragrance of a single stem in a vase. The shimmering reflection of fireworks in a lake. The quiet of a bookshop as evening falls. The feeling of opening a brand-new diary and beginning to write ... Moments of beauty endure. But what happens when you begin to forget? Yuriko leads a quiet, orderly life as a piano teacher. It's New Year's Eve and her grown-up son Izumi comes to visit. Yuriko makes him his favourite meal: omelette and hayashi rice. Together, they look like a normal family. But Yuriko has a secret. Many years earlier, when Izumi was a boy, Yuriko suddenly disappeared for an entire year. She returned, but the lost year was never discussed. Now as Yuriko begins to lose her memory, Izumi is forced to race against time as he seeks the truth behind this long-buried mystery. Will he learn to understand the woman his mother once was, before it is too late? And is he ready to become a father himself? One Hundred Flowers is a story about the preciousness of every moment, the beauty and pain of family love, and the healing power of letting go. Translated by Cathy Hirano."

Genki Kawamura (Author), Mark Takeshi Ota, Susan Momoko Hingley (Narrator)

Audiobook

Play Sample Listen For Free