Meet Mitsy: For the Love of Translated Books

Meet this Bookstagrammer of the Week Mitsy! On her page @mitsy_reads, you can enjoy countless recommendations, read her insightful reviews, and get inspired.

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A three-paneled image depicts Bookstagrammer Mitsy_Reads and her content. In the middle box, Mitsy stands wearing a gray sweat and holding two books, one in each hand. She has medium length brown hair, and is smiling with an open mouth. On the left, is a copy of Lonely Castle in the Mirror by Mizuki Tsujimura. It is a pink book cover with a drawing of a woman wearing a wolf mask. On the right is the book Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren. The cover depicts a partly cloudy sky, where the blue peaks out from behind, and two figures sit back to back from each other, looking up. In the right box, a colorful spread of books is laid out. In the left box, Mitsy's hands cradle three blue books. The outline to each box is pink with small leaves encroaching on the design.

Get to know the UK-based Bookstagrammer Mitsy @Mitsy_Reads! She supplies us with endless clean book spreads and stacks of recommendations. Explore countless different genres of books, with a special focus on translated works! Mitsy’s read list spans the globe and is often filled with impeccable female authors. If that sounds like a brilliant Bookstagram to you, carry on with this installment of Bookstagrammer of the Week to learn more about her through our interview.

A photo of Mitsy sitting cross-legged on her bed, holding two books by Madeline Miller. The first is The Song of Achilles, a blue book that is held to cover her face. The second is Circe, an orange book held underneath by her side.
IMAGE VIA MITSY @MITSY_READS

Mitsy of @mitsy_reads

Instagram | Goodreads | TikTok

Thank you for the chat, Mitsy. Let’s move on to the interview!

Why did you start your Bookstagram?

I started it during a lockdown. I was already following some bookstagrammers and enjoying the community. As I had more time and missed socialisation, I decided to give it a go. One of the best decisions I have made!

Smiling photo of Mitsy holding two books. In one hand, she is holding a copy of the book Lonely Castle in the Mirror by Mizuki Tsujimura, a pink bok cover with a woman wearing a white wold mask. In her other hand, she is holding a copy of the book Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren, a white book cover with parts of a blue sky.
IMAGE VIA MITSY @MITSY_READS

Where are you from?

I was born and grew up in Japan. I went to high school and university in the US, went back to Japan, and worked there until I moved to the UK with my British husband.

A stack of books laid spine facing upwards on a sheet. The books get smaller the higher on the stack they get. The focus of the image is on the first two books: Circe by Madeline Miller and Iron Flame by Rebecca Tarros.
IMAGE VIA MITSY @MITSY_READS

What do you want your Instagram to bring to the world?

Positivity and happiness. And if I can influence some people to read more translated books, that’s great.

A close up image of Mitsy's hands cradling four books in her arms. She is wearing a soft gray sweater with white stars on it. The books are various shades of blue to match.
IMAGE VIA MITSY @MITSY_READS

Favorite Books and Authors:

Any book by Mieko Kawakami, my favourite Japanese author. The Song of Achilles and Circe by Madeline Miller. I’m also a fan of Elif Shafak and RF Kuang.

Image of a few books laid out. Four books are half in frame, with the center of the image being There Are Rivers In The Sky by Elif Shafak. It is a blue book with a teardrop shape in the middle.
IMAGE VIA MITSY @MITSY_READS

What’s Your Special Approach to Content?

I don’t spend too much time on editing to prevent burnout. Keep it positive and respectful.

Spread of 9 books on a sheet. The top row of books from left to right is The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois by Honorée Fanonne Jeffers, Yellowface by R.F. Kuang, Bellies by Nicola Dinan, and Penance by Eliza Clark. The bottom row has five books, the first two show only their spines while the rest show their covers. From left to right the books are Fourth Wing and Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros, Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter, Almond by Sohn Won-pyung, and Foster by Claire Keegan.
IMAGE VIA MITSY @MITSY_READS

How often do you post?

3 times a week, sometimes 4 times if I have more books to share than usual, but not more than that.

Sideways stack of 14 different books, all blue, on a sheet. It is split into two stacks of seven.
IMAGE VIA MITSY @MITSY_READS

What does your Bookstagram mean to you?

A safe place I can discuss books endlessly with people from all over the world who share the same passion.

A spread of eight books on a sheet split into two rows of four. The top row from left to right has Babel by R.F. Kuang, Circe by Madeline Miller, Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami, and Kafka on the Shore also by Murakami.
IMAGE VIA MITSY @MITSY_READS

Favorite Bookstores:

Foyles, Daunt Books (Marylborne) and London Review Bookshops, BookBar in London.

Image of Mitsy in a sleeveless gray shirt holding a stack of four books. The image is a close up of her hands holding the books. They are all salmon and pink covers.
IMAGE VIA MITSY @MITSY_READS

Advice for aspiring Bookstagrammers:

Don’t stress over numbers. Your content doesn’t have to be perfect. Enjoy connecting with other bookworms!

Image of a spread of eight books on a sheet, split into two rows of four. The row on top from left to right has: What You Are Looking For Is In The Library by Michiko Aoyama, The Lantern Of Lost Memories by Sanaka Hiiragi, The Chibineko Kitchen by Yuta Takahashi, and Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa. The bottom row from left to right has Before Your Memory Fades, Before We Say Goodnye. Takes From The Cake, and Before The Coffee Gets Cold, all by Toshikazu Kawaguchi.
IMAGE VIA MITSY @MITSY_READS

What a wonderful message! Thank you again Mitsy for letting us learn all about you and your Bookstagram. Don’t forget to follow her @Mitsy_Reads and be sure to check out her other accounts on Goodreads and TikTok too!

Take a look at other amazing Bookstagrammers here.

Want to get an even longer list of Women’s voices in literature? Check out our bookshelf: Author’s Corner Spotlight: Female Authors.

INTERVIEW VIA BOOKSTR / SANJANA PATEL
FEATURED IMAGE VIA BOOKSTR / LINDSEY WELCH