Get the works of renowned Japanese authors in English at little expense

For more or less the price of a hamburger you can start (if you have not already begun) collecting a treasure trove of the works of renowned Japanese authors.

They will take readers off on fascinating journeys of Japan's past, from its villages of diving women to Tokyo's bustling Shinjuku area, from the 18th century to the post-World War II economic boom years.

There are also futuristic science fiction stories, songs of the geisha and a haiku (Japanese-style poetry) collection.

Dig into the boxes of books on sale, such as at Gramedia bookstores or enjoy the revolving display stands of classic works there.

In between the racks of Shakespeare and John Hardy, there are novels or short story collections bearing the names of Yukio Mishima, Shusaku Endo, Yasunari Kawabata and several others, with their beautiful covers and haunting titles -- The Sound of Waves, Sea and Poison, Thousand Cranes ...

Obviously appealing to non-Japanese readers and those still unfamiliar with the country's literary scene, are the exotic sounding names of these authors and the interesting bios on them.

Mishima, for one, shocked Japan and the literary world with his suicide death over 20 years ago. A website is dedicated to a "cyber museum" of the author and his work. Mishima, you'll find, is not even his real name.

The love story of young fisherman Shinji and his heart throb Hatsue is the main theme of Mishima's The Sound of Waves and is one of his works that brings us to villages of coastal Japan in detailed description.

Even if you are unable to locate Ujatima island on a map it is, nonetheless, intriguing to imagine the spot where a vendor holds a contest for the abalone divers who are traditionally women, or the house of Hatsue's rich father who quietly makes arrangements to find out who is the better among his daughter's suitors -- the poor Shinji or his wealthy rival.

One also becomes curious to find out, through these discounted translations (Rp 10,000 to Rp 35,000) published by Tuttle and others, why several works by these authors were once banned in Japan.

In any case, these stories are a lovely way to learn a little more about Japan -- a former occupier to elderly Indonesians, and the land which brought to the younger ones the manga comics, sushi and rebellious grunge wear. --JP/Ati Nurbaiti