BJA - Events - BJA Friendship Committee Book Club

BJA Friendship Committee Book Club

Sunday 17 August 2025 - Brussels

Are you a book-lover interested in exploring and chatting about modern Japanese literature in a relaxed and welcoming environment? Then come join the first book club hosted by the BJA Friendship Committee on August 17.

Our first Book Club meeting will take place at La Fleur en Papier doré - Het Goudblommeke in Papier, a historic Brussels tavern with deep artistic roots. This charming venue has long served as a gathering place for artists, writers, and creatives, including figures from the surrealist movement like René Magritte. We'll be meeting in a separate private room to keep things cozy and conducive to discussion.

This time, we'll discuss the 2016 Akutagawa Prize winning book, Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata (「コンビニ人間」村田沙耶香), a quirky and nuanced story about a socially-awkward convenience store worker in her 30s, exploring the themes of conformity, societal norms, and gendered expectations. This book has been translated into English, Dutch, French, Italian, Spanish etc., so feel free to read the book in whatever language you prefer. The Japanese version of this book is suitable for anyone with a JLPT N2 or upper intermediate level of Japanese, since the book is short and its prose are fairly simple making it a good book to challenge yourself with.

You’re welcome to join even if you don’t finish the book—just come for the good conversation and company!

When:

Sunday 17 August 2025, 14:00 to 16:00

Where:

La Fleur en Papier doré - Het Goudblommeke in Papier
Rue des Alexiens 55 - 1000 Brussels
(easily accessible via train, metro or bus)

Meeting point:

At 14:00, inside the tavern

Participation fee:

BJA Members: Free of charge
Non-members: 15€
Make your reservation quickly as this event is limited in capacity.

The first drink is offered by the Friendship Committee then participants can purchase their own drinks and finger food

Program:

14:00 Meeting inside tavern
14:10 Start of the book club discussion
16:00 End of the event

Contact or questions:

Please make your reservation latest by 8 August.
Registration may be closed before this date once it is full.
Registrations are made automatically upon completion of the online form, on a first come, first served basis, with limited capacity.
Cancellations with refund are accepted until 12 August.