Books on Japan

For anyone who is interested in the Pacfic War, their reading collection cannot be complete without “Midway: The Japanese Story”.

The Battle of Midway (June 5th – 6th 1942) was a very decisive battle in the Pacific War, that after a few short minutes saw the Imperial Japanese Navy’s strength reduced drasticallyRead more…

It is a shame but I must admit that I know nothing about Japan, especially it’s history, politics, government….which I should know. And if I had not have any chances to go outside of Japan, I doubt that I wouldn’t have even known of this fact. I think I am a typical, regular Japanese female and I guess this fact would be applied most of the people in my generation. I have heard so many times from the people who stayed in other countries long enough to be able to notice how we are blind and careless about our own country.Read more…

I have just recently added a couple of new book reviews to the Book Review area.

The first one is “The Japan Journals” by which is a collection of journal entries by Donald Richie (longtime resident of Tokyo, film critic and write) spanning from 1947 to 2004.

The second book is “The Japan We Never Knew” by David Suzuki and Keibo Oiwa. This book covers the pilgrimage of David and Keibo to the side of Japan few people know about; the environmentalists, the artists, the Okinawans, the Ainu, the Burakumin, The Koreans. The Japan We Never Knew is an excellent book that I am sure you will enjoy too!

Donald Richie has been in Japan forever…well actually since the US occupation after the Pacific War (WWII). He has literally “been there and done that”. Donald is a preeminent authority on Japanese films, prolific author and “Gaikokujin at Large” in Japan.

The Japan Journals comprise his thoughts (diary) over the last 57 years or so and anyone who has spent anytime in Japan should enjoy most parts of this book.Read more…

This coffee table book is a collection of essays from many “Native English Teachers” living and working in Japan.

The book contains accounts of English Teaching from both the University and Language (Ekaiwa or English Conversation) School levels.Read more…

Speed Tribes is an interesting look into the youth of 90’s Japan. Greenfeld finding himself bored with the usual stories in Japan is nearly run over by a Bosozoku (a motorcycle gang member [Bosozoku: literally translates as a tribe who drives violently against the law]) and there in the street he decided to tell not only their story but the story of youth in Japan in general.Read more…

Alex Kerr’s deconstruction of Japan. In it he seeks to shed light into how the world’s second largest economy could have the greatest debt and how in a country known to be lovers of nature they could manifest this “trait” by concreting over thier rivers and coastlines at break neck speed.Read more…

Alex Kerr was unknown to me until I read Lost Japan shortly after arriving in Japan with Kana. Lost Japan was a great education for me on just what things have been changing in Japan over the last few decades. I enjoyed Lost Japan because it went into a lot of the “behind the scenes” areas that foreigners normally would not know about (Iya Valley, Kabuki, Art etc). It is also just great to know that the book was written to a Japanese audience.Read more…

Harry Niles is a man on a mission, to get the last plane out of Japan before all hell breaks loose (aka the Pacific War begun with the sneak attack on Pearl Harbour).

The setting is Tokyo, December 6th, the eve of the attack on Pearl Harbour. Harry, having been born to Baptist Missionaries and grown up in Japan is at odds. On the one hand he speaks, eats and lives Japanese. He has a Japanese girlfriend and owns a little bar known as the “Happy Paris”. On the other hand thoughRead more…