Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. The novel’s title, Japanese Gothic, points to its blending of Western and Japanese horror traditions. How effectively do you think the story wove together the architectural horror of the West with the psychological dread of J-horror?

2. The guide compares the novel to classics like Horace Walpole’s The Castle of Otranto (1764) and novels like Koji Suzuki’s Ring (1991). How did this mix of traditions shape your reading experience, and which elements stood out to you the most?

3. What was your reaction to the final reveal that Hina is the sea goddess Otohime? Did this twist change your interpretation of the events that came before, and did you find it to be a satisfying conclusion?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Lee and Sen are both trapped by a powerful, if toxic, sense of loyalty to their fathers. Think about a time you felt a strong sense of duty to someone else or to something bigger than you. How does that experience help you understand the impossible choices these characters face?

2. Sen dedicates her life to meeting her father’s expectations of a samurai. Have you ever felt intense pressure to live up to a specific role or expectation set by others? How did you navigate that, and what did you learn about yourself in the process?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. The Author’s Note recasts the Shimazu clan as colonizers, which reframes the entire samurai narrative. How did learning this historical context affect your perception of Sen’s family and their obsession with honor?

2. Sen’s father desperately clings to the obsolete samurai code after the Satsuma Rebellion fails. Where in our contemporary world do you see groups or individuals holding onto outdated ideologies? What parallels can you draw between their motivations and those of Iwasaki Itaro?

3. How does the novel’s use of the Urashima Tarō folktale as a framework deepen its exploration of fate, time, and inescapable tragedy? Do you feel that grounding the story in this ancient legend gave it more weight?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. What role does the house itself play in the story? How does it transform from a physical setting into a character that actively reflects the psychological states of Lee and Sen?

2. The bloodstain on the kitchen wall is a persistent motif. How does this small detail connect the two timelines and symbolize the inescapable nature of past violence?

3. How is the sea used as a symbol throughout the book? In what ways do the changing tides reflect the instability of time, memory, and the barrier between the two worlds?

4. The katana is a central symbol in the novel. How does the story contrast Sen’s idealized vision of the sword with the brutal reality of how her father wields it?

5. For readers who are familiar with Kylie Lee Baker’s other work, like The Keeper of Night (2021) or Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng (2025), how does this novel’s use of Japanese folklore and history compare? What signature elements of her storytelling did you recognize?

6. Lee’s fabrication of his roommate “James Baldridge” is a key element of his unreliable narration. How does the construction of this false identity reveal deeper truths about Lee’s relationship with his father, whose name is also James?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Imagine you are designing the movie poster for an adaptation of Japanese Gothic. What central image would you use to capture the novel’s blend of horror, history, and tragedy? Would you focus on a character, a symbol, or the house itself?

2. If you could add one more chapter from the perspective of a minor character, like Sen’s brother, Seijiro, or Lee’s roommate, Matt Baldridge, who would you choose? What new insights might their point of view provide?

3. Sen’s final letter asks Lee to find her again. Let’s brainstorm what happens in the next loop of the story. Does anything change now that Lee remembers everything from the start?