Book cover of The Lost Wolves of Japan

Book description

Many Japanese once revered the wolf as Oguchi no Magami, or Large-Mouthed Pure God, but as Japan began its modern transformation wolves lost their otherworldly status and became noxious animals that needed to be killed. By 1905 they had disappeared from the country. In this spirited and absorbing narrative, Brett…

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

Why read it?

1 author picked The Lost Wolves of Japan as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

I grew up in the beautiful Pacific Northwest and developed a love of nature at an early age.

I always found it sad that timber wolves had been hunted to extinction in the region. (Thankfully, they have made a comeback in recent years.) Later, as a historian, I was fascinated to learn that wolves had similarly been driven extinct in the Japanese islands. 

This book is the definitive account of how that happened. Yes, it’s an academic work written by a professor, but it is also extremely well written and tells a clear story that anyone interested in human impact…

From Bruce's list on Japanese environmental history.

If you love The Lost Wolves of Japan...

Book cover of These Blue Mountains

These Blue Mountains by Sarah Loudin Thomas,

A moving story of love, betrayal, and the enduring power of hope in the face of darkness.

German pianist Hedda Schlagel's world collapsed when her fiancé, Fritz, vanished after being sent to an enemy alien camp in the United States during the Great War. Fifteen years later, in 1932, Hedda…

Want books like The Lost Wolves of Japan?

Our community of 12,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like The Lost Wolves of Japan.

Browse books like The Lost Wolves of Japan

Book cover of Ghosts of the Tsunami: Death and Life in Japan's Disaster Zone
Book cover of Paradise in the Sea of Sorrow
Book cover of The Orphan Tsunami of 1700

Share your top 3 reads of 2025!

And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.

1,290

readers submitted
so far, will you?

📚 If you like The Lost Wolves of Japan, you might also like...

Book cover of Katy: The Woman Who Signed the Declaration of Independence

Katy: The Woman Who Signed the Declaration of Independence by Betty Bolté,

One woman, Mary Katharine Goddard, signed the Declaration of Independence and risked hanging by doing so.

She was supposed to marry and have children, living the ‘normal’ life of an 18th-century woman. Destiny said otherwise. Instead, at the behest of her impulsive brother, she moved from one colony to another,…

Book cover of Stella's Special Recipe

Stella's Special Recipe by Melissa Stoller,

It’s Rosh Hashanah, and Stella is finally old enough to make her family’s famous stuffed cabbage rolls. The recipe has been passed down from her Bubbe Sophie to her Nana to her Mama, with each adding their own special ingredient and a little bit of love. Now it’s Stella’s turn.…

5 book lists we think you will like!