The DOD / SOFA personnel on island are lucky to have free access to a great library system. Both Kadena and Foster libraries have an excellent selection of Japanese movies (anime, Kurosawa, Shindo, etc) in addition to a surprising array of foreign/art house movies (many part of the Criterion collection). The libraries also feature lots of new book releases and do not shy away from titles critical of US domestic and foreign policy (like "The Secret History of the American Empire"). The selection of cookbooks is vast and includes lots of information on Japanese cuisine. There is a decent although not comprehensive selection of titles on Asian history (Japan = Dewey 940-950). Unfortunately, most of the travel books are outdated but both libraries seem to have recently purchased newer editions of many countries - even Iran! At Foster there is a collection of titles specific to Okinawa which are kept behind the desk as reference books. The librarian will grant you access to look at them but not to check out. There are two books in that collection on local dive sites. Best of all, should you desire a particular title that is not on the shelves, you may submit a request for its purchase to the librarian.
Worthwhile reading on Japan:
Memoirs / fiction
Alex Kerr - Lost Japan
Our favorite title on Japan. Kerr manages to cover a lot of material in few words - Japanese history, religion, art & artists/intellectuals, politics, daily life, and his own autobiography. Elegant and captivating, a book you can read several times in a row and pick up something new each time.
Peter Carey - Wrong about Japan
An Australian writer living in New York goes to Tokyo after discovering his son loves anime. A quick and entertaining read mostly useful for a brief review of anime for those previously unexposed.
Simon May - Atomic Sushi
Dr. May spent a year as a visiting philosophy professor at Tokyo University, and his book is a series of anecdotes on the strange ways of the Japanese. Those familiar with Japan have read similar material before, but perhaps not from someone with such a critical (as opposed to adoring) eye. There are some hilarious moments, especially on Japanese bureaucracy, which make for good beach reading.
Non-fiction
Robert Whiting - Tokyo Underworld: The Fast Times and Hard Life of an American Gangster in Japan
Although an academic site reports most of this story is "rehashed" from prior works on the subject, it is a fascinating discussion of the corrupt interconnection between Japanese politicians and businessmen, yakuza, and General MacArthur's occupation government in post-war Japan.
George Weller - First Into Nagasaki
The primary source material (interviews with GIs) can get a bit old, but this book betrays a lot about MacArthur and the pervasiveness of censorship / propaganda in framing history for the American people. Also a sad review of various brutalities committed by the Japanese military against POWs.
Haruko and Theodore Cook - Japan at War: an oral history
Professors Cook spent years interviewing Japanese people from all walks of life about their personal experiences of the war. Soldiers, dissidents, war criminals, artists - they all have their say. Interspersed is brief commentary on the war, helpful for those not that familiar with Japan's activities in China, the South Pacific, and Southeast Asia. The results is totally absorbing, especially for those interested in what makes ordinary people do horrible things.
Japan Travel Bureau - Eating in Japan (Vol 3 of JTB's illustrated book series)
The smallest and most helpful review of the different types of restaurants in Japan. Describes the specialty dish (ie sushi, unagi, oden, soba), the typical appearance, decor, and clientele of that type of restaurant, seasonal and regional specialties, and even has a few recipes. Mochi wa mochi ya = If you want rice-cakes, go to the rice-cake maker. Words to live by.
