This is The Makioka Sisters by Junichirō Tanizaki.
It is set in 1930s Japan and follows the lives and fortunes (and misfortunes) of four sisters living between the cities of Osaka and Ashiya.
It is one of those kinds of books where one could say 'nothing happens' but everything happens...life happens. It is my favourite style of book, one that doesn't have a distinct middle or any character journeys but you still end up missing characters when you finish the last page as you're left wondering what are they up too now.
The story perhaps has a little motivation in the 2 older sisters trying to find a suitor for their third sister, Yukiko. But it doesn't get grounded in that and you're given all the stories and inner thoughts of all the cities.
It gave me, someone who was ignorant of Japanese culture a gorgeous insight to the food, family structures and fashions of the country (at least in that time period).
One of my favourite bits of the novel was when the sisters would, once a year, visit Kyoto for the cherry blossom season and help each other dress in their traditional kimonos. Whilst I obviously read the English translation it was interesting how familiar the Japanese terms for different parts of the kimono dress became to me.
Writing this I couldn't help but think of the recent tragic events in America. Appreciating other cultures art and literature is the best way to teach tolerance and understanding, allowing us to celebrate difference. #StopAsianHate
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