Portrait of Takizawa Bakin

Takizawa Bakin books in order

Japanese novelist in the late Edo period

Lived
1767–1848
Country
Tokugawa shogunate
Books
2
Also writes as
笠翁, 篁民

Takizawa Bakin published 2 novels, beginning with Nansō Satomi Hakkenden (1814).

Updated September 2026

Where to start with Takizawa Bakin

Takizawa Bakin books in order of publication

  1. Nansō Satomi Hakkenden (1814)

  2. Chinsetsu Yumiharizuki (Nov 1969), with Yukio Mishima

About Takizawa Bakin

Takizawa Bakin , born Takizawa Okikuni , was a Japanese novelist of the Edo period, who wrote under the pen name Kyokutei Bakin . Later in life he took the pen name Toku (解). Modern scholarship generally refers to him as Kyokutei Bakin, or just as Bakin. He is regarded as one of, if not the, leading author of early 19th century Japanese literature. He was the third surviving son of a samurai family of low rank. After numerous deaths in his family, he relinquished his samurai status, married a merchant's widow, and became an Edo townsperson. He was able to support his family with his prolific writing of gesaku, primarily didactic historical romances, though he always wanted to restore his family to the samurai social class. Some of his best known works are Nansō satomi hakkenden consisting of 106 books and Chinsetsu yumiharizuki. Bakin published more than 200 works in his life, including literary critiques, diaries, and historical novels.

Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.

Takizawa Bakin FAQ

How many books has Takizawa Bakin written?
Takizawa Bakin published 2 novels that we list, as of September 2026.
What order should I read Takizawa Bakin's books in?
Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with Nansō Satomi Hakkenden.
What is Takizawa Bakin's last book?
Nansō Satomi Hakkenden (1814).
What is Takizawa Bakin's most famous book?
Nansō Satomi Hakkenden (1814) is Takizawa Bakin's most widely read book.
Does Takizawa Bakin write under a pen name?
Yes: Takizawa Bakin has also published as 笠翁 and 篁民.

Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.