Japan Books

John Gauntner's "Sake Handbook" is the perfect guide to those who want to explore the art and science of sake. I feel more confident when I am choosing sake for a gift or for my own entertaining. A 'must' for those that want to expand their knowledge of sake.

John really knows his stuff. I live in Tokyo and I run a Liquor shop here. I have studied for years about sake and I go once a year to make sake at a friends family brewery. I got so much insight and new information from John's wonderful book that I only wish he'd written it five years ago! If you already have several books on sake, this is a must to add to your collection, if this is the first book on sake that your going to buy, consider your self lucky that such an informitive and well written book is around to buy. Thanks to John Gauntner for sharing this informaion with all of us.

Ah, sake. This rice wine has been around for thousands of years, and is part of many traditions in Japan. As Japanese food styles have become popular across the globe, so has this fine drink, which can be served both warm and cold. To learn more about the history of sake, and to learn how to choose a good brand, this book is invaluable.

To start with, The Sake Handbook goes over each step involved in making sake. Reading through the intricate processes involved helps you understand why there are so many varieties of sake, and why each one has a different flavor. One key step, for example, is the polishing step. The inner part of the rice generally is of higher quality than the outer portion, so the more 'extra' that is polished away, the finer the sake.

Next, Gauntner goes over the various types of sake, and how each is unique. Some of these terms are:

* Junmai-shu is pure rice sake. Only rice, water, and the koji mold are used to produce this top level sake. It ends up tasting heavier and fuller than other types of sake. It uses less than 70% polished rice - this means they have `ground away' the other 30% of impurities.

* Honjozo-shu has a small amount of distilled ethyl alcohol added during the final stages. They then add water later so the alcohol content stays the same. This sake is lighter and dryer than other types. It can be served warm.

* Ginjo-shu uses 60% polished rice. It is also fermented for longer periods of time, giving a complex and delicate flavor.

* Daiginjo-shu is just like Ginjo-shu, but polished to 50% of the original size. It takes even longer to brew and complete. Futsuu-shu - any sake which does not fall into one of the above four categories.

Gauntner describes how sake is tasted, and how an individual can learn to distinguish between various sakes, and figure out the 'type' best suited for his or her palate. To help with this, the entire second half of the book is dedicated to a brand-by-brand evaluation of the best sakes on the market. This is invaluable! No matter if you're in Tokyo or Chicago, you can bring this book in with you to a store or restaurant and compare with ease the various sakes available.

There even is a section towards the back listing the best sake restaurants in Japan. If you're going on a trip to Japan, bring this book along, and know what to order and any special rules about each location.

Having lived in Japan for 7 years and spent many a Saturday night at local pubs, John's book is the best guide you will find bar none on how to find, decide and thoroughly enjoy Japanese sake'.

This book is excellent. It's main sections on How Sake is Made, Drinking and Where to Buy are very detailed. Most of the terminology will be new to those unfamiliar with sake, the author takes the time to explain them in detail. There is the history, the people and some of the ritual of sake as well.

With each of the sake detailed, the author provides tasting notes and information about other sakes from the same brewer.

As a side note of the detail of the book, one of my Japanese friend's found her favourite sake in the book. I went to my local bottle shop with the book, pointed to the picture of the label and found we found it, leading to a night of entertaining drinking.

I was born in San Francisco and know the beauty of this city. I recently visited my cousin who lives in Italy. She was teasing me that she wanted to come home with me to San Francisco so I did the next best thing and purchased this book for her. I understand from her emails that she treasures it and hopes to come here one day

San Francisco is one of the most stunning cities in the world and if you look inside this book it's not hard to see why. Morton Beebe brings it to life in this beautifully presented colourful book. Not only are there beautiful photos and pictures, but essays and interesting reading material and information about this gorgeous Northern Californian city.
If you have been fortunate enough to travel to San Fran and enjoyed it, then you'll love this book, - and if you haven't yet been, then this might be just the inspiration you are looking for to convince you to travel there. This book is well worth it's price and makes either a great gift or a nice treat for yourself. I really loved reading through this book.

Absolutely gorgeous pictures, great for San Francisco lovers. New edition has several new pictures and essays. It serves as a great gift if you are visiting someone and want to show off the city you live in

Bring together an elegant top-quality publishing company, a gifted photographer, superb essayists and you have all the makings for a good book. Let the subject be San Francisco, though, and you have a great book.

This is the 3rd edition of this best seller with 218 full color images by Morton Beebe as well as essays by Herb Caen, Tom Cole, Barnaby Conrad, Herbert Gold, John Hart, Allen Pastron, Miguel Pendás, and Kevin Starr. Together, they provide an intimate portrayal of the City by the Bay. This stunning collection of photographs captures the contrasts, the energy, and the vitality of San Francisco. As do the essays.

Tom Cole takes us back to the beginning and provides an historical review of the raucous town that suddenly grew up overnight in its feverish bid for gold. Barnaby Conrad leads us into the night with anecdotes witty, clever, and sensuous from an eclectic mix including, to name just a few, Graham Green, Frank Sinatra, and Eva Gabor.

"Bahnaby tells me you haf a vooden leg, vitch vun iz it?"
"Eva, I never thought I'd have to tell a Gabor what a man's leg feels like."
"Vell, dahling, ve vass never in zee lumber business!"

In a final essay, Allen Pastron walks us through much of the city beneath our feet. Here, we discover the world's finest anchorage being dug up and, therein, its archaeological heritage. Penned a "worm's-eye-view," the essay provides some wonderful insights into what was once the bawdy Barbary Coast - particularly, the story of the discovery of the buried ship General Harrison.

Rudyard Kipling opined San Francisco was "a mad city inhabited by perfectly insane people." So it lives on! Multi-faceted lifestyles unfold with each page, the images capturing the curious joie de vivre that reigns over The City. Other pictures highlight the unmistakable landmarks: the skyline with its Pyramid Building, the Golden Gate, and my favorite, the Palace of Fine Arts in the gentle light of dusk below a full moon glowing. The photos speak volumes in this book. Each offers a glimpse as to why the city Herbert Gold called "America's last great metropolitan village" has won the most coveted travel destination award in the world - now ten years in a row - the Condé Nast Traveler's annual Readers' Choice Awards.

San Francisco, City by the Bay, was first published in 1985. This edition features ninety new images and three new essays. The publisher, Abrams, boasts that Beebe's book is their longest running best seller. Not surprisingly. It is said that San Francisco is a city full of people that want to be here. Morton Beebe, a 3rd generation San Franciscan, reminds us of why this is so.

Beebe's images have truly captured the many diverse flavors and charms that make San Francisco the unique city that it is. Combined with the entertaining and informative essays, the beatifully printed images in this book bring a reader as close as one can come to walking through the streets of San Francisco itself. I throughly enjoyed this book.

This is an old classic as far as I am concerned. As you read through the book, it gives you an insight into the elegant and committed life style of the Japanese culture. I've read this book at least 4 times and decided to get a copy for keepsake as I lost a previous copy in one of my travels.

James Clavell has written many books. This book is my favorite. I picked this book up and couldn't put it down. Clavell has a way with words that make it seem as if you are there in Japan with the characters. Be warned though. This book is intense. Once you start it, you will want to finish it. They made a movie out of this book, but it just wasn't the same.
If you have the time, pick up this book and journey to the land and culture of Japan. Learn what it takes to become a Shogun! What a masterpiece.

one of the richest and entrancing books I've ever read. A historical work of fiction that reflects the cultural clash between East and feudal Japan. When Master pilot Blackthorne and his crew are shipwrecked off the coast of Japan the odyssey begins. Adventure abounds, deeply layered characters and a story that makes this a very difficult book to put down. On my Top Ten List of All Time Favorite Books.

This is the novel that introduced the Samurai's bushido, daimyos rivalries and the bakufu Shogunate to the average westerner. Through the eyes of a shipwrecked navigator, Blackthorn, a previously hermetically closed world is revealed.

From battle ethics and sepuku to hygiene and tea ceremonies, the interwoven narrative lines flow harmonically, like carps in a Zen rock garden pool. Beautiful, economical and seamless, Clavell's insights on human nature have produced another Masterpiece.

Like most of James Clavell's novels, SHOGUN is a thinly veiled historical story. There was a "Blackthorn" (English pilot William Adams), as well as a "Torenaga" (Shogun Tokugawa whose dynasty ruled Japan for over 200 years). However, like most James Clavell's novels, the story comes alive in some many ways it is pure enjoyment!

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

PS:
There is a 1980 TV mini series based on this book - of comparable merit. Casting Toshiro Mifune and Richard Chamberlain was just the tip of the iceberg. Truly beautiful production. Nevertheless, my advice is to first read the book and only THEN watch the TV version.

When I was a kid, we owned this really abstract game for our Commodore 64 called "Shogun". None of us had any idea how to play it, but we liked the music and thought the characters were funny looking. Fast-forward about 21 years and I am at a book fair and I come across this gem. I got it for like, a buck I think. This is a HUGE book. Something like 1,500 pages. I was always curious what it was that inspired such a crummy game. Well, this book is GREAT. Extremely well-written, it plays out like a movie. Some of it is confusing - as I have trouble remember who is who aside from a few key characters. But, it's a great read. I only recently learned this was a made-for-TV thing back in the day, and thanks to netflix, I'm going to watch that next. Good book. You'll like it.

I'm the type of person who enjoys the chase, the slow build up to what you know is going to be a memorable climax. For me, Shout out loud has this formula, it doesn't rush into things, but has enough spice and innuendo to let you know that things will heat up.
It's Boy Love with a plot. I kid you not. Seeing as it spans five books though, I'd guess it would want to.

The main character of this series is Shino, a baby faced anime voice actor who has just been reunited with his son. To make ends meet he accepts any voice acting jobs thrown at him. The majority being yoai. The scenes where they are recording the Yaoi drama CD's are just adorable.

I don't really want to say much ,more for fear of spoiling the plot, but i'm hoping people will give this manga a chance, even though it's cover is less then appatizing. The artwork is beautiful and the comical sides of the story are refreshing, book two has a bit more action then book one, with a second person vying for Shino's affection.

First of what is apparently a five volume series. The first three parts are now available in English translation; the remaining two parts are scheduled for release in April and August.

Orphaned 17-year-old Nakaya goes looking for long-last father, expecting to find a burnt-out salaryman, and instead gets a baby-faced 33-year-old who makes a living as an anime voice actor. Finding himself with an unexpected son to support just as his current series is finishing, Shino tells his agency he'll take any job. What he gets offered is roles in boys love audio dramas -- and as becomes clear to the reader and eventually Nakaya, but not (yet) Shino, two of Shino's co-workers are gay and have the hots for Shino.

There's a good story in this book; the primary focus in the first volume is father and son getting to know each other (no, not in that way). Nakaya's mother fell pregnant when she and Shino were teenagers, and she chose to leave Shino to stop him sacrificing his education to look after them. Now they have to build a relationship, at a time when both are grieving, and Nakaya is having to make decisions about his own education. It doesn't help that Nakaya's grandmother has never forgiven Shino for getting her daughter pregnant, and doesn't want Nakaya living with Shino.

Along with this, there's a look at the voice acting industry, and Shino's developing relationships with two of his fellow actors -- platonic on Shino's side, but not on theirs. And then there's Nakaya's teacher, who is also gay and has a thing for nice voices...

The erotic content in this volume is mostly in the scripts Shino and his colleagues are working on, though there's one very nice kiss. If you're looking for hardcore you'll be disappointed, but fans of UST should enjoy this one.

The cover's a bit disappointing, but don't let that put you off, as the interior art is much more attractive. Note that it's a lot less bishounen in style than many (which matches my own preferences).

I liked this a lot. There's an interesting story with relationships that develop over time, there's a lot of gentle humour, it's nicely drawn, and the guys are hot.

I own all 5 volumes in Japanese! But now that it is in English, even better. The story does get better and becomes very endearing too.

Vol 1 starts out kind of slow introducing almost all of the key players. Although the art style aren't as bishounen as most beloved series, the facial features and body proportions are well done. What makes this series a keeper are the story and character interaction. It is very mild BL not full-fledge Yaoi.

Not yet Yaoi in Vol 1, but a BL teaser. Be patient!
However, the entertaining story line, unique set-up, interesting characters and great interaction among the characters more than make up for it in Vol 1. I am pleasantly surprised by how much I like this.
The father (Shino) and son (Nakaya) relationship is a winner and Shino is one endearing character. The plot is a teaser too, as we have 3 gay men (1 of them maybe?) trying to get close to Shino (a straight at this point but soon to evolve as this is BL, right!). The story is also sprinkled with comical moments and I found myself laughing out aloud several times.
This mangaka's artwork is great. Her guys are simply gorgeous and their facial expressions amazingly alive.
I am surprised this manga has not attacted many readers as it certainly deserves it. And yes, it is a soft Yaoi by vol 2 and who know what will happen by vol 3. Could hardly wait!
If you are looking for a Yaoi/BL series with great characterization and promising story line get this!

Who said it is not Yaoi...This is definitely Yaoi .I rather call it BL besides the Japanese writers prefer it called that way.It is soft core ,thats all. I really like this one.I didnt know what to expect when I picked this up at the BLU booth.
I was surprised that I got interested in the story right away and could not wait for the next volume.
Story develops well, the characters are introduced and gets a bit interesting as the story goes.
If you are into hard core,then dont bother .Nothing of that nature is shown in Vol 1.I like the drawings as well.

As previously noted, Site 18 details the experiences of a young radio operator in post-WWII Japan- during the height of the Cold War.

Mr. Waldron authentically recreates both time and place, introducing and bringing to life a likeable assortment of characters. Memorably etched in anecdotes featuring- among other things- fake birth announcements, "Mohawks," and Horseback Inspections!

You don't have to be ex-military to appreciate this interesting and enjoyable book!

This book is highly recommended reading for both former military and for those who may wonder what military life was like 10,000 miles from home a long time ago.

Dick Waldron's "Site 18" masterfully relates military life at a very remote radar ouitpost located on the most northern tip of Japan during the Korean War. The book evokes many memories - most of them good, and some not so good - of my 14 month tour there in 1952-53.

When my grown children read "Site 18" they finally understood why, after 53 years, I still have such close ties with my Wakkanai comrades. After 28 years in the Air Force and 8 overseas tours, Site 18 remains my most memorable overseas station. My thanks to the author for capturing that spirit in this book.

Tony Ocampo
Fairfield, CA

I spent the winter of 52/53 in Nemuro,Japan at site 26. Richard Waldrons' book is one of the only written accounts of our contribution to the Korean War effort that I've read. Thanks Dick for remembering us and putting it down in book form....
Well Done.......Paul (US ARMY)

Having been on Hokkaido radar sites, I can vouch for the authenticity of this account. The author managed to describe his experiences in a very entertaining way -- and I couldn't put the book down before going cover-to-cover.

Wish more veterans would take the time to preserve this sort of material. For a brief moment, I considering doing a book myself. Then sanity intervened, and I realize that Mr Waldron is an excellent writer -- and I am NOT. So I hope he writes another book, and MY function (and pleasure) will be to read it...

The book "Site 18" written by Richard E. Waldron is, in my opinion, nothing short of a masterpiece. In the short stories he tells you can almost see the characters as well as smell the seaweed, the fish, the crabs and the honeybuckets.

The book tells how life on a remote radar site during the Korean War and the Cold War was, and how miserable the remoteness and the winters at the radar sites on Hokkaido were.

What I remember most is how the young men in that place and at that time made the most of it. They did not question why they were there; they just did their job - just like the young men did in all the wars before Korea and all the wars after Korea. There were some tragic times and there were some good times; there were some sad times and some happy times.

I for one enjoyed the book. I was there.

Al Setting
Novato, California

One of the most beautifull books I have. Very clear and encouraging. Lovely to the eye and for the mood... =)

By all means, buy the book and try it. This is the official textbook. But if you really want to learn this art seriously, you need to get a certified teacher. Check japaneseembroidery.com for pictures and a list of teachers.

This book is great if you want to learn Japanese Embroidery, and are already a decent stitcher. I would not recommend it to a complete novice - it is a difficult method of embroidery that can easily overwhelm the new stitcher. The pictures are clear and the text is easy to read.

I highly recommend this book.

The book is full color with BIG diagrams and closeups of the stitches. There are also many gorgeous pictures of completed works to inspire one. There are some very impressive looking techniques in this book, yet because of the clear explanations it was very easy for me to pick up the idea, start and finish my projects (and they came out pretty well for a beginner like me, if I do say so myself. Some of my past embroidery attempts were pretty pathetic). In short, it makes a lot of sense and isn't hard to understand at all.

The explanation of tools and necessary materials is very complete, yet I could still accomplish the various techniques with a cheap embroidery hoop, an embroidery needle, cotton cloth, and floss (rayon seems to work better at filling in large areas than cotton. Rayon looks more like the silk in the book). Still, it's nice to know about the other tools. I am sure they would be helpful for larger projects.

The pages are heavy enough that the book will stay open to the pages while one is embroidering (believe me this helps). I've used it in many projects and it's still in great shape (some of my other paperback "how to" craft books have fallen apart at the binding after similar use).

There is a little bit of history and some explanation of symbols and motifs (from pages 9-25). I found this fascinating. It's nice to know more than just "how to."

I think this is a great book! I especially liked the "weaving stitches" and his examples of layering stitches on top of stitches. They really make my projects look really fancy!

I purchased this book for my wife who is learning this technique and her words were, 'the best book I have ever seen on this subject'. She says that this book gives more advice and is more easily followed than any other books she has seen. It is meant for the beginner who is new to the technique and is therefore invaluable.

I'm the author of this book, so I'll refrain from reviewing it! Mainly, I want to invite you to visit my web site: http//www.author4kids.com to find out more about me and my books. You'll also find my photo album, tips for writers, and lesson plans for teachers. Thanks so much for stopping by! Warmly, Kimiko Kajikawa :-)

My boys have no more favorite book than this. The outrageous illustrations are well-matched to the clever story-line, a modern rendition of an age-old Japanese fable. No reader would be disappointed.

Tonight I was washing the dishes and my daughter suddenly started chanting "chin chin jara jara"; it made me want to grab a box of coins and start to dance! This book has a wonderful message of caring about and respecting others. It also is entertaining for children so they'll sit still and actually LISTEN to the wonderful message. Yoshi's Feast is a sumptuously illustrated, high quality picture book that I recommend without reservation.

My 5-year-old daughter loves this book. The story is apparently based on a Japanese classic. It should be especially appealing for anyone who likes unagi (eel).

This book is a must buy! Perfect for reading aloud. I can't wait to share this with my second graders next year! I purchased an autographed copy at my local Borders tonite and couldn't wait to get on here and "plug" this picturebook! Reminding me a bit of Demi's picturebooks (ie., The Empty Pot), this book has more! The onomatopoeia throughout the lively text really lends itself to reading aloud! The illustrations work very well with the text! Another Melanie Kroupa masterpiece! (see Steamboat, The Big Cheese)Outstanding literature! Even the author's bio on the dust jacket flap is interesting!

Since I am a librarian, usually I don't buy books that I can check out from the library. However, this book is definitely an exception. The first copy of this book I bought in the '80's. Since then, I have bought at least 8 copies. The first copy I let a friend borrow. They liked it so much that I let them keep it as a gift. After this happened with my next copy, I ordered 5 copies all of which I have given away. This last copy that I purchased I promised myself that I would keep. Every time that I didn't have one, I missed being able to look up all the information that I wanted to know. He very clearly connects the accu-pressure points with the yoga positions. As you can see, I love this book.

I'd agree that Gach writes a very straight forward and simple book. If you are a beginner to the acupressure/kinesiology world, you will easily understand the basics [with the aid of this book]. The book gives many useful points, but for general problems most of the time. His knowledge in some promblematic areas goes into more depth than others. So, if you are looking for help with a specific problem, little information might be given or non at all. For example, the book gives great explanations and cures for colds, indegestion, depression and headache, however, it explains very little about allergies and sinuses. Gach backs his explanations with a strong facts and basic common sense.

I think that the book could give a better explanation on how to stimulate points. The diagrams of the locations of points are very useful and understandable. Overall, the book is well organized and convienent. If done correctly, the Yoga exercises are very powerful. With just a couple of exercises you can be healed instantly. This book left me curious buy more books on acupressure and is great reference to find quick cures.

This is the one book that I recommend for anyone interested in yoga and overall health. By combining postures with meridians, (flows of energy thruout the body)and specific organs of the body, the information gives the yoga practitioner a more complete sense of the benefits of that posture. This also allows for a better focus, more mindfulness of the posture and intent. The photos and essays are clear and easy to view. Enjoy!

This is by far my favorite Yoga book. I have been practicing Hatha Yoga for years (Hatha Yoga is the physical Yoga that is the most common form in the Western world), but have discovered that many of the techniques and sets of asanas (exercises) described in Yoga books were not very tuned in to Westerners. Acu-Yoga combines Acupressure and Hatha Yoga into a very palatable form for the common Westerner. It is the best book I've seen as of yet for anyone suffering an acute or chronic disease or symptom. There are symptomatic exercises for such discomforts as the common cold, sinus problems, menstrual tension to exercises for more serious problems such as hypertension and spinal disorders. I have often warded off an oncoming flu or cold by following some of the advice in Acu-Yoga. There is additional supplemental advice from Michael Gach, in terms of lifestyle and nutritional imbalances - and very effective solutions to bring our bodies back into a state of harmony.

For instance, on our natural resistance to illness, Gach writes: "An ancient Indian method for maintaining resistance against illness is to swing a thick branch or club back and forth. The Yogis would do this when they felt any illness about to come on, since it was common knowledge that the tensions which accumulate between the shoulder blades contribute to illness. The swinging motion helped break down this tension. Swinging a baseball bat around moves and stretches the shoulder blades to release the tensions that collect there."

He goes on to describe the exact acupressure points around the tips of the shoulder blades, and then delves into a Yoga asana to help alleviate the oncoming flu or cold. Every exercise is complete with both a photo and an illustration, which details precisely his written directions. I have a terrible time learning physical things from books, even when they have illustrations and photos, but I have never had difficulty from Acu-Yoga.

Even if you aren't prone to illness or a symptomatic approach isn't for you, Acu-Yoga is split into 5 parts: a general introduction to the philosophies and practices of yoga and acupressure, a series of exercises based on the meridians (channels) of acupressure, a whole-body self-treatment emphasizing flexibility of the spine, a series of exercises that balance the chakras, and then the Acu-Yoga postures that benefit specific conditions.

This is a perfect book for the Westerner just beginning to practice Yoga, and for anyone who has an interest in expanding their current horizons of Hatha Yoga and Acupressure.

Acu-Yoga is a well-written introduction to the use of basic yoga techniques to stimulate acupuncture points throughout the body, acupressure. 13 years ago, I cracked a vertebra and have had chronic low back pain ever since. The spinal flexibility series (among others) in Mr. Reed's book helped me control the pain caused by muscle spasm and return to normal function within a few weeks. Acu-Yoga also provides information about the chakras, the organ meridians and the eight regulatory channels, and how these energetic systems work to restore and preserve internal balance. For someone who is interested in using gentle, self-paced exercise to relieve pain and improve in overall health and vitality, this is an excellent resource.

Barefoot Gen Volume Two picks up where volume one leaves Gen just after the explosion of the atomic bomb over Hiroshima. It a gripping and very painful story of survival in the fist terrible time after the bomb devastated Hiroshima. For those that survived the bomb and the deadly radiation, life has now become a desperate fight for survival in a harsh and brutal world. If you have read Volume One, you cannot skip this one, just as you have to read Volume three and four too.

Volume 1 & 2 of Nakazawa's famous comic series about a boy called 'Gen' and his life in Hiroshima during the WWII and soon after the atomic bomb. The first two volumes of this series are probably the most important ones. After I read the first two volumes, I just had to lend them to everyone I knew. If you read this story, you'll realise how silly to hear some popular opiniton 'Dropping two atomic bombs in Japan was necessary to end the war'. Nakazawa says that each and every event is true. You'll see, for example, that two young brothers fight against each other for a little grain of rice. The bombs were dropped onto civilians in the middle of the two cities, and, in Hiroshima alone, 100,000 people, including western prisoners of war, were killed instantly, and the pain they suffered from afterwords was tremendous. The way some of Gen's family members, including a new born baby sister, were slowly dying is simply too sad to look at. But the reality is that it actually took place and was caused by human hands.
I sincerely hope that many people will find an opportunity to read this book at least once in their life-time, and I strongly believe that this book will enlighten the whole world with its message: 'what really happens when a nuclear bomb is dropped onto humanity', which hasn't really been talked about in history books for some reason. But I think it's time to face reality.

Keiji Nakazawa, Barefoot Gen: The Day After (New Society, 1988)

The story of Barefoot Gen, spunky atomic bomb survivor, continues in this second volume of the four-part series. It's not a stretch to predict that how you feel about The Day After will probably reflect how you felt about Barefoot Gen, without much variance.

The Day After (which, in fact, covers the next two days) opens just after the end of Barefoot Gen, and is concerned entirely with the survival of Gen, his mother, and his baby sister Tomoko. Gen's task during this time is to find food for the family, and this quest takes him on a number of small side adventures the present a much larger picture of the greater Hiroshima area after the bomb than the first book provided of Hiroshima before the bomb. Gen meets a number of different people, helps some, and learns that even after the bomb, when everyone around him is shrouded in misery and horror, the banality and prejudice around him doesn't disappear-- in fact, people are worse than they were beforehand. Nakazawa, as is his wont, tells us all this in his stories, and never allows his messages to get in the way of his storytelling. Ironically, Barbara Reynolds' introduction to this edition is a perfect contrast to Nakazawa's story; it's awfully-written, ham-handed, flat-out wrong (Reynolds harps on about American denial of responsibility for Hiroshima, and she's writing ten years or more after the release, and vast popularity, of John Hersey's Hiroshima) polemic whose sole purpose in inclusion, it seems, is to highlight how subtle Nakazawa is. Skip the introduction. Or, if you're a completist, read the book first and come back to the introduction afterwards, so it won't taint you.

This is very good stuff. Well worth your time. *** ½

Barefoot Gen: The Day After is volume two of a four part series. It tells the story of the day after the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima as seen through the eyes of seven year old Gen Nakaoka. Based on the real-life experiences of the author, Gen, his mother, and his newborn sister face the horrors of the day after the bomb. They have no food or shelter and are surrounded by the dead and dying. Even the soldiers sent in to gather and burn the dead bodies are succumbing to the radiation sickness and dying. No one understands what is happening and there is no one to turn to. Gen goes in search of food for his mother whose breast milk has dried up from malnutrition. Alone he faces the horror of the devastation and the destitution of the people of Hiroshima. This the hardest of the four books to read because the carnage of the day after the bomb is almost beyond belief. Gen's compassion, humanity, and determination makes this an inspiring book about the strength of the human spirit. Although the graphic scenes may turn some people off, this is still an important book for its message on the dangers of nuclear war.

The work has been wonderfully translated from the Japanese original: Hadashi no Gen. It was originally published in serial form in 1972 and 1973 in Shukan Shonen Jampu, the largest weekly comic magazine in Japan, with a circulation of over two million. The drawings are all in black and white. This US edition was published as part of a movement to translate the book into other languages and spread its message. It is a wonderful testimony to the strength of the human spirit and the horrors of nuclear war. There are a few introductory essays at the front of the book that help to put this book into perspective. It is a powerful and tragic story that I highly recommend for anyone interested in the topic.

I stumbled across this graphic novel in a used bookstore, not having any idea the impression it would make on me. This is an incredibly powerful story, very effectively told through the medium of comic art. It is an affirmation of the power of visual media, and an example of how comics can be used for much more than funnies and fantasies. It is also probably the most effective anti-nuclear material I have ever come across.

This story, Basho and the River Stones, By Tim Myers, takes place at Fuka River. One day at Fuka River there was a poet named Basho. He shared his cherry tree with foxes. It was peaceful and gorgeous at Fuka River. Then one day a young fox played a trick on the poet. All Japanese foxes have great magic and they are great at changing things and themselves. The fox transformed himself a yamabushi, a monk. Then he got three stones in the river and then turned them into gold coins. Fox walked to Basho's hut, a house. The fox knows Basho was poor, so fox used a great monk voice. Fox came and asked "I will give you coins if you sign a paper and leave the cherry tree to me." "Ok", replied Basho. "Can you put my name on the paper?," asked the fox . Then Fox left laughing to himself. The fox visited Basho again. Basho told fox that at first he was angry, then he loves the river stones. Then Basho told fox his new haiku, a poem. The fox told Basho he tricked him. "Sorry, I learned my lesson, how can I ever repay you?" cried Fox. Then Fox decided to give Basho real gold coins. Fox dug them up and returned to the hut. "Can I tear up the paper?" asked the fox. "NO, NO and NO!" yelled Basho. Fox walked to Fuka River in shame. While fox walked he saw gorgeous river stones. Fox came back to Basho. Then Basho accepted the river stones. At night Basho looked at his three new stones. At the morning Basho woke up. Then Basho stopped and looked at the table. He saw REAL gold coins and not his stones. Then Basho knew Fox tricked him. Basho went outside. Basho saw a letter from Fox on his hut. The letter said "Thank you" from Fox. Then Basho and Fox shared the cherry tree and many more things.

The theme of this book is to share and not trick people. In the beginning they shared a cherry tree with other foxes but Fox did not want to share any more. The fox tricked a poet named Basho by transforming into a monk. The fox tricked Basho by getting river stones and transforming them into gold coins. Fox told Basho that he will give him gold coins if he will sign a paper that says that he will give a cherry tree to the fox himself. Then they shared the cherry tree. Then fox learned a BIG lesson. I like the way that in the end Basho and the fox shared the cherry tree.

By Resmi

I read this to 3rd, 4th and 5th graders in our school library and used the book as a jumping off place for a lesson on haiku. They loved Basho's story and it was fun to watch them "get it" as they gradually understood the clever fox's tricks on the poet. I would recommend this story for 3rd and 4th graders. Although younger kids might enjoy it, I doubt they'd readily understand the twists and turns in the story.

I have given this wondrous book to a number of friends and relatives. It is a trickster tale that is delightful, humane, and highly poetic. The artwork is lovely and vibrant. This is a book to treasure, share and read aloud to people you care about.

One of the things I most love about stories is their ability to present us with simple truths in compelling fashion. That's part of what I tried to do with "Basho and the River Stones." Naturally, I wanted this story to entertain readers (adults and children alike). But my years as a writer and a professional storyteller have taught me that even entertainment is more successful when it carries some resonating truth. In this book, the fox is capable of selfishness and deception--he's quite "human" in that way. But when Basho's shining example is set before him, he's also capable of shame and a determination to do better. We're all like that, I suppose, to whatever degree--I can certainly see both sides of human nature in myself! So I'm uplifted and comforted at the thought that, like the fox, I can learn, grow, come to a new vision of things, deepen my values, realize what's most important--even if it takes a little trickery to set things right. After all, we have to use the gifts we were given, eh? I hope you enjoy my story! May the river stones in your life turn to gold, and the gold to river stones. Regards, Tim Myers

This beautifully illustrated book imagines the 17th century inventor of haiku, Matsuo Basho, and his encounters with the magical foxes of Fukagawa. We first see Basho asleep under a cherry tree, surrounded by a fraternity of suspicious looking foxes clad in Hugh Hefner-esque silk kimonos. Initially, Basho and the foxes shared great "wa," or harmony. (Tim Myers deserves kudos for using the interesting and accurate Japanese words in a kids' book!) One fox, "particularly fond of cherries" wants them all, and so he uses his trickster powers to transform himself into the figure of a "'yamabushi,' a wandering monk." The fox turns three stones into gold, and enters into an exclusive rights-to-the-cherry-tree contract with the money-strapped poet.

The next day the gold reverts to the stones, but they inspire a haiku:

How many years have
These stones loved the river, not
Knowing they were poor?

Basho, ever the poet, tells the fox, "A good poem is worth more than money--and it lasts much longer." The fox admits his deception, and then seeks to make it up to him. In the process, the fox learns much about cultural attitudes towards charity, and, especially, honor. The repentant, wiser fox uses his magic again--this time to procure enough money for Basho to buy food for the long winter ahead.

Oki S. Han delivers some of the best illustrations I've seen recently; her watercolors have both power and grace (a grace found also in Myers' flowing language). We see traditional Japanese dwellings and marvelously colorful, variegated foliage. Even the ornamental designs framing the text are beautiful, sometimes staggeringly so. Han is a master of light and dark, and she uses close-ups, scene-setting panoramas, and overhead views in an incredibly beautiful display of illustrative mastery. The story has a very satisfying ending (which includes the fox writing his own haiku), and Myers' "author's note" talks about Basho, the deeper meanings of haiku (he wrote the two in the book), and his own heartfelt gratitude ("ongaesha") for Basho's inspiration. Very enthusiastically recommended!