{"title":"Umami Mart Book Club","description":"","products":[{"product_id":"water-wood-and-wild-things-by-hannah-kirshner","title":"Water, Wood, and Wild Things by Hannah Kirshner","description":"\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"mobile-about-the-book\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"seemore-0\" class=\"slot product-about 9780593135372 isbn-related seemoreenable show opened\" target-height=\"607\" height-fold=\"377\"\u003e\n\u003csection class=\"overview\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-italic\"\u003eWater, Wood, and Wild Things\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e invites readers to see what goes into making a fine bowl, a cup of tea, or a harvest of rice and introduces the masters who dedicate their lives to this work. \u003cspan\u003eWe thoroughly enjoyed the detailed approach to Kirshner's journaling of her experiences in Yamanaka, a town nestled in the mountains of Ishikawa Prefecture.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKirshner describes traditional activities of the town by introducing memorable characters such as Nakajima-san, an outspoken wood turner who makes delicate sake cups, to a band of fearless \u003cem\u003esaka-ami\u003c\/em\u003e (duck hunting by net) hunters. Acknowledging her privilege as an outsider to learn from these masters, Kirshner's spirit to go \"all-in\" and live amongst this small community is both inspiring and entertaining.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003ePart travelogue, part meditation on the meaning of work, and full of her own drawings and recipes, Kirshner's refreshing book is an ode to a place and its people, as well as a profound examination of what it means to sustain traditions and find purpose in cultivation and craft.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFeatures:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c\/section\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAuthor: Hannah Kirshner\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePages: 370\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePaperback\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePublished by Penguin Books\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePrinted in USA\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Penguin Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":39991424778319,"sku":"14-100-0085","price":19.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0212\/1922\/products\/wwwt_kirshner_book_90b7a7c4-396c-49e8-a884-febc4381e3e5.jpg?v=1652814551"},{"product_id":"butter-by-asako-yuzuki","title":"Butter by Asako Yuzuki","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/umamimart.pro\/products\/um-book-club-butter-by-asako-yuzuki\"\u003eUmami Mart Book Club\u003c\/a\u003e selection!\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe cult Japanese bestseller about a female gourmet cook and serial killer, and the journalist intent on cracking her case, inspired by a true story.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThere are two things that I simply cannot tolerate: feminists and margarine.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/em\u003eGourmet cook Manako Kajii sits in the Tokyo Detention House convicted of the serial murders of lonely businessmen, whom she is said to have seduced with her delicious home cooking. The case has captured the nation’s imagination, but Kajii refuses to speak with the press, entertaining no visitors. That is until journalist Rika Machida writes a letter asking for her recipe for beef stew, and Kajii can’t resist writing back.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRika, the only woman in her news office, works late each night, rarely cooking more than ramen. As the visits unfold between her and the steely Kajii, they are closer to a master class in food than journalistic research. Rika hopes this gastronomic exchange will help her soften Kajii, but it seems that Rika might be the one changing. Do she and Kajii have more in common than she once thought?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInspired by the real case of a convicted con woman and serial killer—the “Konkatsu Killer”—Asako Yuzuki’s\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eButter\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eis a vivid, unsettling exploration of misogyny, obsession, romance, and the transgressive pleasures of food in Japan.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"mobile-about-the-book\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"slot product-about 9780593135372 isbn-related seemoreenable show opened\" id=\"seemore-0\"\u003e\n\u003csection class=\"overview\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFeatures:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c\/section\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAuthor: Asako Yuzuki\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePages: 452\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRelease year: 2017\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePaperback\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePublished by: Ecco \/ HarperCollins\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePrinted in USA\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"HarperCollins","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42709929263183,"sku":"14-200-0086","price":20.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0212\/1922\/files\/51Ps07G3DdL._AC_UF1000_1000_QL80.jpg?v=1745966868"},{"product_id":"hunchback-by-saou-ichikawa","title":"Hunchback by Saou Ichikawa","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLONGLISTED FOR THE INTERNATIONAL BOOKER PRIZE\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"A literary phenomenon in Japan, Hunchback is an extraordinary and thrilling debut novel about sex, disability and power.\"—International Booker Prize Judges\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"Unforgettable . . . a thriller of the body . . . [a] miracle.\"—New York Times Book Review\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBorn with a congenital muscle disorder, Shaka spends her days in her room in a care home outside Tokyo, relying on an electric wheelchair to get around and a ventilator to breathe. But if Shaka’s physical life is limited, her quick, mischievous mind has no boundaries: She takes e-learning courses on her iPad, publishes explicit fantasies on websites, and anonymously troll-tweets to see if anyone is paying attention (“In another life, I’d like to work as a high-class prostitute”). One day, she tweets into the void an offer of an enormous sum of money for a sperm donor. To Shaka’s surprise, her new nurse accepts the dare, unleashing a series of events that will forever change Shaka’s sense of herself as a woman in the world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHunchback has shaken Japanese literary culture with its skillful depiction of the physical body and its unrepentant humor. Winner of the prestigious Akutagawa Prize, it’s a feminist story about the dignity of an individual who insists on her right to make choices for herself, no matter the consequences. Formally creative and refreshingly unsentimental, Hunchback depicts the joy, anger, and desires of a woman demanding autonomy in a world that doesn’t always grant it to people like her. Full of wit, bite, and heart, this unforgettable novel reminds us all of the full potential of our lives, regardless of the limitations we experience.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"mobile-about-the-book\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"slot product-about 9780593135372 isbn-related seemoreenable show opened\" id=\"seemore-0\"\u003e\n\u003csection class=\"overview\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFeatures:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c\/section\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAuthor: Saou Ichikawa, translated by Polly Barton\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePages: 112\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRelease year: 2023; 2025 in English\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHardcover\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePublished by: Hogarth (Penguin Random House)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePrinted in Canada\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Umami Mart","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43845179179087,"sku":"14-100-0102","price":22.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0212\/1922\/files\/hunchback_web.jpg?v=1767914317"},{"product_id":"audition-by-katie-kitamura","title":"Audition by Katie Kitamura","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eShortlisted for the 2025 Booker Prize + Obama's Favorite Books of 2025\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKatie Kitamura, author of \u003cem\u003eIntimacies\u003c\/em\u003e, is all about subtle yet spectacular drama and she's back at it again in \u003cem\u003eAudition\u003c\/em\u003e, weaving us back into a hypnotic, contained world full of intricate human relations in eloquent prose. Cinematic and noir-like in style, Kitamura uses Manhattan as its stage in classic Woody Allen and Paul Auster style. Dynamic, moody, and quietly manic – a complete 180 from the insanity-driven, mid-life crisis cry for help we read in Miranda July's \u003cem\u003eAll Fours, \u003c\/em\u003eyet perhaps two sides of the same coin.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePublisher synopsis:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTwo people meet for lunch in a Manhattan restaurant. She’s an accomplished actress in rehearsals for an upcoming premiere. He’s attractive, troubling, young—young enough to be her son. Who is he to her, and who is she to him? In this compulsively readable, brilliantly constructed novel, two competing narratives unspool, rewriting our understanding of the roles we play every day – partner, parent, creator, muse – and the truths every performance masks, especially from those who think they know us most intimately. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTaut and hypnotic, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eAudition\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is Katie Kitamura at her virtuosic best.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"mobile-about-the-book\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"seemore-0\" class=\"slot product-about 9780593135372 isbn-related seemoreenable show opened\"\u003e\n\u003csection class=\"overview\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFeatures:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c\/section\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAuthor: Katie Kitamura\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePages: 197\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRelease year: 2025\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHardcover\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePublished by: Riverhead (Penguin Random House)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePrinted in the USA\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44484953407567,"sku":"14-100-0104","price":28.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0212\/1922\/files\/audition_katie_kitamura.jpg?v=1772216692"},{"product_id":"um-book-club-audition-by-katie-kitamura","title":"UM Book Club: Audition by Katie Kitamura","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eJoin us for our quarterly book club meeting at Umami Mart to discuss Katie Kitamura's \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/umamimart.pro\/products\/audition-by-katie-kitamura\"\u003enewest novel\u003c\/a\u003e, one of Obama's faves! The book is compact yet highly dramatic – fueled by manic mid-life crisis behavior, which reminded us of Miranda July's \u003cem\u003eAll Fours\u003c\/em\u003e (but in a more discreet way).\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOur lively discussion will take place at our bar, where you can order tea, sake, and cocktails.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWHAT: \u003c\/strong\u003eUM Book Club: \u003cem\u003eAudition\u003c\/em\u003e by Katie Kitamura\u003cbr\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eGet your book \u003ca rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/umamimart.pro\/products\/audition-by-katie-kitamura\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ehere\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWHEN:\u003c\/strong\u003e Wednesday, May 13, 4:30pm\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWHERE:\u003c\/strong\u003e Umami Mart\u003cbr\u003e4027 Broadway \u003cbr\u003eOakland CA 94611\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eADMISSION\u003c\/strong\u003e: Free with a drink purchase at the bar.\u003cbr\u003eRSVP to shop@umamimart.pro\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":null,"offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44961044267087,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0212\/1922\/files\/IMG_6687_85b34fd2-c12c-4c28-9c80-d1f28a5b6511.jpg?v=1774384908"},{"product_id":"everyday-sake-pub-day-party","title":"Everyday Sake Release Party: Oakland","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe time has come to get our book, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/umamimart.pro\/products\/everyday-sake\"\u003eEveryday Sake\u003c\/a\u003e, into your hands!!! After three long years, from the start of our book proposal, through the grueling rewrites, and the design process with our illustrator Anders Arhoj (of Studio Arhoj of course), the book will be released on May 26. So let's party together!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eMay 26: it's what industry folks would call \"Pub Day\" (date of publication) and we'll be celebrating in THE TOWN, you know it! Be there or be square, bro! We will be your host at our humble abode at 4027 Broadway. DO NOT MISS THIS!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJoin us for\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eKagami-biraki (sake barrel breaking ceremony) with a complimentary pour of Umami Mart Junmai (21+ only)\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eRaffle ticket (with purchase of book)\u003cbr\u003eCasa de Kei popup\u003cbr\u003e...and yes, balloons!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe're also super excited to launch a\u003cstrong\u003e limited collection of Everyday Sake merch\u003c\/strong\u003e, all co-designed with Anders of Studio Arhoj – sales start at the party.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLast but not least, Yoko and Kayoko will be there to lovingly sign your book! \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWHAT:\u003c\/strong\u003e Everyday Sake Release Party: Oakland\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eGet your book \u003ca rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/umamimart.pro\/products\/everyday-sake\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ehere\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWHEN:\u003c\/strong\u003e Tuesday, May 26, 4-7pm\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWHERE:\u003c\/strong\u003e Umami Mart\u003cbr\u003e4027 Broadway \u003cbr\u003eOakland CA 94611\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eADMISSION\u003c\/strong\u003e: Open to all!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":null,"offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45154413936719,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0212\/1922\/files\/052626_ES_launch_oakland.jpg?v=1778176223"},{"product_id":"everyday-sake-ny-launch-party","title":"Everyday Sake Release Party: Brooklyn","description":"\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHELLOOOO NYC! Did you know that Umami Mart started as a blog in 2007 in Brooklyn (technically it was umamimart.blogspot.com)? We are so happy to come home and celebrate our book with y'all!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe time has come to get our book, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/umamimart.pro\/products\/everyday-sake\"\u003eEveryday Sake\u003c\/a\u003e, into your hands!!! After three long years, from the start of our book proposal, through the grueling rewrites, and the design process with our illustrator Anders Arhoj (of Studio Arhoj of course), the book will be released on May 26 and we are headed to NYC on June 29 to see you!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDon't miss our epic Everyday Sake celebration at the very awesome Brooklyn Kura!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTicket includes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSake flight\u003cbr\u003eBrewery tour\u003cbr\u003eRaffle ticket\u003cbr\u003eSnack: \u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eCandied Togarashi Nuts, Housemade French Fries + Sake Kasu Donut Holes\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003eAnd YES, Yoko and Kayoko will be there to sign your book with love. We can't wait to see you all on the east coast!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlease note that the book will be sold separately\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWHAT\u003c\/strong\u003e: Everyday Sake Release Party: Brooklyn\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eGet your book \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/umamimart.pro\/products\/everyday-sake\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ehere\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWHEN:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMonday, June 29, 6-8p\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWHERE:\u003c\/strong\u003e Brooklyn Kura, 34 34th St, Brooklyn, NY 11232\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eADMISSION\u003c\/strong\u003e: $60, 21+ only\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eTickets are non-refundable \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":null,"offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45154539634767,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0212\/1922\/files\/052626_ES_launch_brooklyn_a45fd3df-c799-4bb8-9d12-0de93735a5b4.jpg?v=1778197367"}],"url":"https:\/\/umamimart.pro\/collections\/umami-mart-book-club.oembed","provider":"Umami Mart","version":"1.0","type":"link"}