Botchan by Natsume Sōseki

As the most widely-read piece of modern Japanese literature, Botchan captures a society caught between modernist impulses and traditional culture, the divide between urban and rural life, and the tension sincerity and pretension. It is the story of a brash, big city Tokyoite who leaves for the 'uncivilized' countryside for a teaching post. Like its protagonist, Botchan is a gem of unembellished refinement: down-to-earth, multifaceted, and laugh-out-loud funny.