Japan Books

Far from being a self-aggrandizing memoir, a travelogue or a spiritual manual, this book reads like a rich, delicious novel. Sandra Boliver Boehm writes with a sense of humor about her college-age self, and with meticulous and sensual detail about her experiences in Japan in the 1970's. Her descriptions of the food she ate are enough to make a reader crave sushi every night. This is a phenominal coming-of-age tale, and a must for any intelligent young woman with a lust for adventure.

Some of the most exquisite writing I've ever encountered. This delightful memoir is quizzical, poignant, sparkling, honest and brilliant. It conveys the feel of a youthful search for spiritual adventure while unconsciously brimming with maturity and a rare kind of courage, both earthy and lofty. I'm eager for more, much more, from this exceptionally witty, literate and lyrical voice.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I have strong ambivalencies about the time I spent living in Japan, but reading this book evoked such strong, nostalgic images of all that is right and true about Japanese culture that I was ready to hop the next plane. I only wish that I had had her apparently excellent Japanese language skills, the more romantic locale of Kyoto over the more industrial Kobe where I lived, and the better luck with Japanese men!

Authors of books with specialized academic focus are well-aware that they can never hope to reach an audience of more than a couple thousand. However interesting the subject matter, distribution is often too small to attract the attention of even local reviewers, let alone the large national printing enterprises. And however many readers may be completely satisfied with such a book, very few will decide to write a review for it.

Probably for this reason, Amazon provides authors an opportunity to say a few words in their own behalf. Here are mine.

1. "Sand and Pebbles (Shasekishu)" (1985) is the first of what can be seen as a coherent trilogy. It has never been reviewed on Amazon.com -- but it has been favorably reviewed elsewhere. It is the parent of what follows.

2. "Early Kamakura Buddhism: a Minority Report" (1987). 5 star review.

3. "Zen Sanctuary of Purple Robes:
Japan's Tokeiji Convent Since 1285" (2006). 5 star review.

I'm almost finished with _Zen Sanctuary of Purple Robes_ and I'm quite impressed with the organization and attention to detail. The Morrells have contributed heavily here to three fields -- Japanese history, Japanese literature, and Japanese Buddhism. The new and carefully-researched details they bring to light on the Tokeiji's history as sanctuary and, later, divorce temple for women, are both timely and historically valuable. In addition, their inclusion of much new translation also sets this book apart. Muju Ichien's (1226-1312) _Mirror for Women_ (1300), for instance, provides valuable insight into not only this monk's advice for women and men both, but into the general belief system of medieval Rinzai Buddhism as well. The volume also includes translation of numerous _senryu_ ("light verse," from the mid- to late Edo Period, 1603-1868), which particularly bring home the contemporary Japanese attitudes (both positive and negative) toward the Tokeiji as a unique refuge and recourse for women in domestic turmoil. The book's appendixes, endnotes, cross-referenced guide to cited texts, bibliography, and index complete this first-class effort. Well done indeed, and many thanks!

I thoroughly enjoyed this excellent book. It has a lot more personality and spunk than most academic titles today, and approaches the subject of Buddhism in very interesting and important ways. Yeah, it also has some oddities and awkward moments, but these are significantly outweighed by its positive qualities.

"Interdisciplinary" is such a buzzword in the ivory tower's postmodern discourse, and yet this book, so adamantly anti-postmodern and thankfully free of francophonic jargon and snide mud-slinging, is ironically one of the most truly interdisciplinary books I've seen. Social History, Buddhist Studies, and Literature are combined in a potent mix along with illuminating illustrations, and translations from a great variety of genres (vernacular sermons, satirical poems, temple records, regional guides, travel diaries, ritual invocations, and such) are used to great effect. All of this gives the reader a richly complex kaleidoscopic view of the Tokeiji Convent and its guiding principles (religious pluralism and the provision of sanctuary) through time. This focus keeps the book well-grounded in specifics even as wider implications for our understanding of Japanese Buddhism in general are addressed--in a rather refreshing unabashedly opinionated manner. I especially liked the authors' take on Mahayana Pluralism as articulated particularly in the Lotus Sutra--indeed, this was not sloppy syncretism or cowardly compromise but an informed, explicit spiritual stance with scriptural basis. Also, the translations are masterfully done and are mostly unabridged so that we can better judge the total effect and intent of the text.

The book also rambles a bit and sometimes goes off on tangents, and it uses D.T. Suzuki's description of practice at Engakuji Monastery to extrapolate what religious practice was probably like at Tokeiji Convent--this seemed like a rather haphazard method to me despite the two temples' institutional ties, and this quote from another English language source seemed way too long in any case. Also I was sometimes uncomfortable with the way that certain traditions were depicted as almost purely negative; Confucianism certainly comes across as the bad guy here, for instance. To invoke another buzzword, a little "nuance" wouldn't have hurt. But don't let these almost trifling nitpicks interfere with your appreciation of this fine book. The primary appeal will of course be to those interested in Buddhism and its history in Japan, but it has much to offer in the way of Japanese literature too, especially the chapter devoted to senryu (haiku's witty and worldly cousin). And if by chance you are going to Kamakura to visit some temples, you'll definitely want to read this book on the way.

Zero Combat & Development by Robert Mikesh, does a splendid job of telling the story of the history and development of the A6M all models are included and a break down of their history and purpose of coming into play are described. The book covers the successes of the earlier A5M and discusses the specifications handed to Horikoshi. It does an excellent job of explaining the structural defect present in the early model A6M's and what corrective measures were taken to prevent more accidents. It shows many photos interior cut away drawings and specifactons. I am an aviation historian and a model builder and I even learned from reading this book. Also valuable is the information obtained from the captured A6M and the test of many American fighters of that time against the A6M. Don't just take my word for it read it for yourself.

When you are not fluent in Japanese, there are not very much other publications about the A6M Zero I could recommend you to buy. This book has it all: splendid photographs - both historical and of surviving planes-, an indepth text which not just tells the allied side of the story - there is a forword by Zero Ace Saburo Sakai himself -, and a good bibliography of 27 earlier publications about this plane, proving that the author can read the original language himself because most of them are in Japanese. It also list all the classics in the English language up to publication date, only missing the ARCO/Aircam No. 18 by Richard M. Bueschel, published in 1970 and since long out of print, though updated and reissued by Schiffer Books in 1995. The Polish/British Mushroom Publications brought out a Zero monograph by Artur Juszczak as well in November 2001, more focussed on modellers, which can also be used as a sort of 'Walk Around', because there are shots of almost all parts and angles of the plane, something which it has in common with another Polish 'Zero' book by Arthur Lochte.

Mikesh is that rare combination of combat pilot (he was a FAC during the Vietnam War) and historian (former curator at the Natl Air & Space Museum). Japanese military aviation is his speciality, and this book is the definitive history of Japan's remarkable Zero fighter.

Every time my husband and I plan a trip we check this little jewel and discover what exhibits are in vicinities we will be in. In fact, we have planned trips to go to particular exhibitions. Not only are exhibitions listed and clearly described but also accurate museum hours and telephone numbers are given. It is a must-have for us and a great gift for travelers.

This book has once again lead me to include the best exibits when planning my travels. It has helped me coordinate my travel plans with those of touring exhibits. Concise and worth trusting, this guide is a must for those who enjoy great art and love to travel.

Author Eric Hammel has hit upon a powerful means of telling the stories of the brave American fighter pilots who fought the Empire of Japan in World War II... he simply uses the fliers' own words! In doing this Mr. Hammel is providing a valuable service, as these gallant gentlemen are now in their late seventies or early eighties and many will not be with us much longer.

There is considerable variety in the narration styles of the thirty eight American fighter aces who contributed their personal "memorable missions" to this volume. Some are more concise, some are more reserved; some reveal their emotions as they recount their memories. This adds to the realism of the thirty eight mission accounts.

For anyone interested in the Pacific air war in general, and for anyone interested in the Yamamoto shoot-down in particular, this book is highly recommended. There is nothing else in print that gives Besby Frank Holmes' account of that incredible intercept mission that took place on Easter Sunday, April 18, 1943.

This, the third entry in Eric Hammel's "The American Aces Speak" series places the reader squarely in the cockpits of various US Army, Navy and Marine fighters. The action is explosive and the anecdotes carefully selected to provide one of the most exhilarating literary rides I've had the pleasure of experiencing! Against the claustrophobic world of the cockpit, Hammel masterfully weaves a chronological tapestry giving the reader a sense of orientation amidst the burst of cannon, machine gun and exploding debris!! Not to be missed! Highly Recommended!! See the WWII Aviation Booklist for a large number of World War II aviation reviews at: http://www.ampsc.com/~prophet/booklist.html

The quality of this book is just as wonderful as Adorable Mini Dolls. The patterns are full size and oh so creative. The text is clear and well written. It is full of wonderful pictures. Too cute! I gave a copy of this book to my sister. I just love this book! Wish there were more!

If you ever tried Terumi Otaka's Lovable Mini-Dolls book and enjoyed it, you will love this one! This book has 104 pages of easy-to-make miniature dolls. It has color pictures of the finished dolls, detailed drawings of the patterns, and good instructions on how to assemble the dolls. You don't even need a sewing machine because these dolls are hand-sewn. The instructions are easy to follow and you learn how to make a monkey, a mermaid, a penguin, a snail, a pig, a panda, a witch, a bride, a bear, a rabbit, and lots more. I made a little mermaid that was only three inches tall and carry her with me in my backpack pocket (got lots of compliments on how cute she was). Get yourself a copy of this book!

Adventures in Japan provides a modern woman's story of following Victorian adventurer Isabella Bird's 1878 through northern Japan, where Bird is still remembered. Kaye's three-week journey provides a fascinating account of both her experiences in northern Japan and Bird's lasting influence in the region.

Illustrated with color photos and black & white drawings enhance Evelyn Kaye's entertaining travelogue as she follows the 1878 route of Victorian traveler Isabella Bird through northern Japan. The adventure of a woman traveler in that part of the world in those days was so remarkable that Evelyn discovered that more than a hundred and twenty years later Isabella Bird was still remembered with her book still in print (in Japanese), community memorials erected in her memory, and the subject of a Tokyo television show! Adventures In Japan is a unique, totally engaging, wonderfully well written, enthusiastically recommended account of a personal journey through Japan as seen through the eyes of two women travelers, one from the 19th century and the other from the 20th.

The Ainu: A Story Of Japan's Original People by Kayano Shigeru is an absorbing account of Japan's indigineous people, whose legends and presence stretch back before the coming of the ethnic Japanese population before recorded history from what is now known as the Chinese mainland and the Korean penninsula. Presenting both the unique aspects of Ainu culture and the modern realities of how Ainu live today in a straightforward and friendly tone with soft yet realistic color illustrations, The Ainu: A Story Of Japan's Original People is very highly recommended.

This is an adorable children's book that portrays Ainu culture through the words of notable Ainu activist, Kayano Shigeru. The stories are fascinating and the pictures add a meaningful touch. This book is a prime example of the notion that beauty exists in simplicity. Overall- a wonderful introduction to the Ainu worldview and lifestyle.

The interviews collected by Bert Cardullo in "Akira Kurosawa Interviews" give us various lenses and filters through which the great director's works were seen, over a fairly decent period of time. We have Japanese filmmaker interviewers, American critics, A Latin American novelist interviewer, and Bert Cardullo himself. We have the very respectful, the respectful but inquisitive, the annoyingly self-absorbed (you'll know it when you read it...a tipoff is that, after the most pompously convoluted question Kurosawa laughs...)and the one mind that provokes a real emotional response from Kurosawa.

That's a nice survey! You will hear many stories repeated (I begin to think that Kurosawa relied heavily on some basic themes drawn from his experience, and reiterated in his work with Audie Bock:"Something Like an Autobiography" and nearly word-for-word in Cardullo's final interview in the book) but, despite the repetition, new stuff is intermixed, and quite fascinating for Kurosawa fans and scholars.

Goes on the Kurosawa bookshelf.

Akira Kurosawa: Interviews.

I recommend this book unreservedly to anybody interested in film. In conversation with knowledgeable and distinguished interviewers Kurosawa gives detailed insights into how he works: how every stage of a film is exhaustively discussed beforehand by all its participants and the Director himself; how unplanned factors such as the weather can contribute to episodes of unforgettable beauty and mystery in the finished film; his refusal to be regarded as a philosopher, let alone a preacher ('I look at life as an ordinary man. I simply put my feelings into the film'); his passionate interest in, and extraordinary knowledge of Japanese history, of the social and military life of the given period; of how his early training as a painter has informed his perceptions and his methods.
Apart from all that we learn about Kurosawa's work, the book is full of insights into recent Japanese history and contemporary society, including, of course, Japanese cinema.
Kurosawa's speech is engagingly fresh and energetic, and despite his great fame he seems to be utterly without self-importance.

Our Akita is now 8 years old and has developed, magnificently. This is in no small part due to reading Barbara's book in preparation. As wonderful as the Akita is, this breed best requires the owner some self-education before purchase. This book helps one getting it right from the start (which is imperative).

I wonder when Amazon will post the second edition? (tap, tap, tap...)

This is one of the most treasured books in my home (the other is "Akita - the Book of the Breed) by Gerald & Kath Mitchell. This book is an absolute must for Akita owners - I know it's out of print but I've heard a whisper that Barbara Bouyet might be persuaded to write an updated version - PLEASE do, Barbara, your love of Akitas is something that almost every Akita owner can relate to. The dedication of this Akita owner to the breed is total, and the information she has gathered and presented is comparable. Try to get a copy by any means you can - and if you can't, pester the publishers for a new version. It's worth it!