Japan Books

The book is well illustrated, and gives an excellent introduction into the different stances and strikes found in Karate. More importantly, it is probably the only book that illustrates the "flow" of the moves, instead of just showing the ends of the move. Overall, the book is great for a Karate-ka who want to refine certain things in Karate. Finally, the price that Amazon sells it at is really hard to beat! Ron Przygodzki

I studied from this book's spanish version. The precision with which Nakayama Sensei explained each technique is the closest thing to having a karate master teaching you the art. Even when nothing replaces the dojo experience, this series of books are the finest. Totally recommended

Amazon is my go-to for all books. I am an avid reader and my son is always looking for Karate books that are impossible to find in bookstores. Thank you for your prompt service and quick shipping that meets all my shopping needs!

NOTE: This review, along with the other reviews of the books devoted to katas in this series, are identical in nature as the subject matter for each book only differs in the actual kata or katas being demonstrated. The layout and format are identical and that is what these reviews are based upon.

This book, along with the rest of the books in the series, is an outstanding source of information on the correct execution of the Shotokan Karate katas in which this particular volume demonstrates. Now if you don't know anything about karate and purchase this book, it will do you about as much good as a screen door in a submarine. However, if you are already a practicing Shotokan Karate student, then this book is a must have for your continued advancement in the martial arts.

Every book in this series that deal with the various katas, utilizes the same format throughout each book in order to show you the correct execution of each kata demonstrated. Admittedly there aren't a whole lot of words describing the various moves in the katas, but there are an abundance of photographs taken from various angles that pretty much show you exactly how your body should be positioned not only for each individual move, but also how your body should be positioned as you move from one position to another.

At the end of each book is a special section devoted to particular points of interest in each kata that you should pay particular attention to. A nice addition to this already wonderful book.

If you are a student of Shotokan Karate, or a student of another style that utilizes the same katas, I would highly recommend that you purchase these books in order to advance your knowledge of whatever particular kata or katas that you are currently working on. You won't be disappointed!

Shawn Kovacich
Martial artist/Author of the Achieving Kicking Excellence series.

In his book, Professor Azuma develops his analysis of the transnational ideas and practices among Japanese immigrants from 1885 to 1941 focusing on the American West. He begins with his examination of the Issei (the first generation of Japanese immigrants)'s transnational identities, and in doing so, he employs "an inter-National perspective" (p5) to pay a special attention to the Issei's "interstitial" nature of their lives between their motherland and the U.S. According to Azuma's explanation, it is the Issei's shared experience of being a "racial Other in America" which "revealed the futility of the modernist belief that the Japanese should be able to become honorary whites through acculturation" (p61-2). With such a reality, Issei constructed their pioneer thesis with the elements of the racial ideologies from Anglo-American manifest destiny and imperial Japanese expansionism.

What attracts my interest most strongly in this book is the author's detailed research on the transnational education of the Nisei (the second generation) in Japan which was given to them for the purpose of inculcating Japanese spirit upon them. With the rise of the concept of "Pacific Civilization" after World War I, Japanese educators came to believe that the center of the world was moving from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Amid such social trend, the Nisei, the American citizens with Japanese heritage, were forced to be educated as a "transpacific bridge" (p145) between Japan and the U.S. in the 1930s. Because they knew about America well and spoke English fluently, Nisei were given the propagandist mission and were used as valuable resources in propagating the fascism for Japan while, at the same time, they were also detested as "the public enemies inimical to national security" (p153) by their countrymen of their ancestral land.

I am also impressed with Azuma's use of various types of cultural materials including newspaper article, illustration, picture, statistic data, true story of murder case, the Japanese immigrants' writings (poetry, essay, composition), and so on. Beginning his book by showing a Japanese immigrant student's essay which appeared on a yearbook published by the Japanese Student Association of the University of Southern California in 1912, Azuma draws his readers into the fascinating panorama of the lived experiences of Japanese immigrants.

As I am a Japanese international student who has been studying in California, Professor Azuma's focus on the borderland of the American West (mostly California) is especially interesting for me. I strongly recommend this book.

To read Azuma's Between Two Empires: Race, History, and Transnationalism in Japanese America is to situate oneself between many spaces. This book is important because of its scope and detail as well examination of modern immigration theory. Moreover, Azuma's book breaks new ground in the conventional story tale of the Japanese American struggle to become American - as unidirectional. He attempts to challenge this framework, which is resilient despite the moves done by everyone else to re-invent a transnational narrative. As an alternative, he posits a, bidirectional or even tridirectional perspective creating an international framework of Japanese immigration.

Azuma argues, within this framework, that the Issei are reinventing themselves in a new space. As I mentioned earlier, this transnational relations between Japan and Japanese Americans calls to question the dominant narrative of closed migration experience. One of the most compelling issues brought up in this book is the negation of the subaltern narrative to dominant lately - in this book, the Issei wrote their own history - a history that they passed on to subsequent generations. Another key issue regarding this book is that the primary sources are in the vernacular both Japanese and English. He looks at state and government records and alters the narrative to include that racial ideology is used as a survival method. The most dangerous of arguments in this book is that he includes the narrative of "Japanese Expansion" gives credence the accusations by a dominant White culture that Japanese were not really interested in assimilating. This is a real reversal. This book all but eradicates any notion or claim to subaltern status. Japanese write, talk about, and pass on their legacy. Moreover, this book also calls to question time held notions of Japanese homogeneity. It is a compelling book of intellectual history. Azuma shows how, just like in books like The Chinatown Trunk Mystery, discourses are mobilized to benefit certain groups.

Miguel Llora

I checked this book out from the library and knew I had to have a copy on hand for my own research. It has more information between its covers than several other books I've read on kimono combined. Extremely valuable for anyone interested in the history of kimono and Japanese textiles. Beautiful color photographs, well-written and well-researched sections, copious footnotes and good quality paper all make this book worthy of a place on any textile collector's bookshelf.

This publication gives an excellent and extensive overview of the traditional Japanese folk textiles that are in the collection of the Seattle Museum of Art. Articles include an overview of these textiles and their use of color and bast fibers. Other articles highlight sashiko, kogin and hishizashi embroidery; katazome, tsutsugaki and yuzenzome, kasuri (ikat) weaving and the textiles of Okinawa. The book is lavishly illustrated with very high quality photographs of garments from the museum's collection. This will be a nice additiion to the library of any fiber artist or someone interested in Japanese design and crafts.

The title is a bit misleading, since this book is mainly a history of the B-29 during WWII, including its development, mechanical workings, early flights, and of course, its bombing missions over Japan.

The book is a terrific photo essay, and has really great photos of the innards of the B-29, as well as shots of the B-29 bases in China and then at Guam, pictures from the bombing missions, pictures of the Japanese fighter pilot opposition, etc. Almost every aspect of the history of the B-29 is covered, including a photo of the crash site where Boeing test pilot Edmund Allen was killed. I had read elsewheres already that the prototype B-29 had plowed into a meat packing plant - the photo in this book shows pigs that were let loose by the crash standing on the roof of the partially collapsed building!

There are just so many photos like that one that are intensely unique and eye-catching; the book just sweeps you back into time, back when the B-29 was first struggling to get going, and then progressing to where it became the most devastating deliverer of death and destruction of WWII.

Part of the acclaimed Time/Life World War Two series and one of the more hard to find titles in the series, this book provides an amazing detailed history of the later stages of the Pacific War. Some of the finest photos of any WWII series, this book truly should be part of any comprehensive personal WWII reference library.

This is by far the best book i've read on sake - it covers (in detail) the history and tradition of the drink from it's earliest roots to the pressures of recent years. It includes guidance on tasting sake (and what an official tasting is like), the science of that taste, in depth details of the brewing process, and a short discussion of some common brands of Sake. It won't provide ratings of sake, but it is a must for anyone truly interested in this drink.

Terrific insights into sake tasting, history, and culture, including fascinating tutorials on how gaijen should conduct themselves eating and drinking in Japan. It's a humble pulpy little book, but it's great.

The book of wind is the greaest book yet.I mean I love the
whole entire samuri girl book serious.Me and my friends love
it so much we're going to make a little short movie of the first
book.

This book was awsome, just like the rest of the series. Its just so good that its addicting. There is alway something going on it never boring. I can't believe that Hiro would keep such a secret, Heaven needs to learn that everyone has there dark secrets from the past that they just want to forget.

Takamura Kotaro was one of the few Japanese writers to continue publishing during the height of World War 2. He managed to do this by writing propaganda poems of the government. After the war, he found himself regretting his support for something that seemed so against his principles. This collection of poems and prose traces back his blind devotion to key moments in his childhood. Educated in France, his free form poetry smacks of French influence giving it a much lighter tone. Almost as moving as his collection of poetry about his wife, Chieko, it offers an eye opening look into one poet's remorse about his past actions.

I came across this talented poet/sculptor when I read the powerfully longing poem "To Someone [Not To Play]" p. 98 and knew that I had to have a book of his writing. I don't normally buy books and this is money well spent. I typically will borrow from the library but I had to make an exception with Takamura Kotaro! I only wish I owned a book of his and his wife's sculptures/artwork compilations!

I think e.e. cummings would have enjoyed "To Someone" a lot. I definitely find that his work is emotive, in the most creative sense imaginable. He was a Japanese sculptor, who was inspired by Auguste Rodin and worked in Paris. This book includes an incredible, insightful biography and commentary on his poems.

Chieko, his wife, suffered from schizophrenia and then later died in a sanitorium, much to his guilt. I noticed the similarities to his mother, when I read one poem [p.57 "Thinking of Mother"]. He idealized both of them, in their insecurities, martyrdom, and pure conscientiousness. His poems seemed to ask, "is a female's power wielded in ...leaving it, in leaving him?" Quite passive-aggressive.

The timeless poems, "Mountain Woods", "The Snow Has Piled White", and "Fountain of Mankind" reminded me of Robert Frost in their beautiful imagery of Mother Nature, of life as an endless experience of the seasons, both internally and externally.

"Lemon Elegy" was SO intense, you could TASTE the poem itself! The words conveyed an emotional power that could only be described as similar to the black and white, silent cinematography in "Snow Falling On Cedars". This is also one of his most famous poems and completely deserving! I will print this out and frame it, display it with a Rodin sculpture reproduction in my house, in tribute of this truly exquisite poet. Takamura Kotaro is my favorite poet of all time, after reading this wonderfully translated book that Hiroaki Sato made rich with nuance and kept authentic to the poet's character, meanings and moods. You will not regret buying this book. You will only regret not having enough copies to go around, when you want to send it out to everyone whom you share a special, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual bond with in your life.

I believe that Kotaro's experiences of guilt, grief, and frustration, even anger would be very useful for anyone whose had to cope with a chronic/debilitating illness in a family member. His wife died of TB 3 years after he had her hospitalized. Only those who have lived with schizophrenia in their families or have seen it up close in friends/loved ones can truly understand his decision and his intense guilt.

The insight this book offers is wonderful for ANYONE caught up in grief, or has experienced loss, as it is highly cathartic.

This is a superb selection of the best short stories written by expatriate writers living in Japan. It is also the first such selection and promises some rare treats to readers unfamiliar with both the writers and the topic. There is a broad range of both topics and literary styles, by both well-known and previously unanthologized authors.

Anyone who writes for a living knows the first and foremost rule: write what you know about. The authors in this collection of short stories certainly know what it's like to be outsiders looking into a foreign culture. Anyone who has lived in a foreign country can identify with these rare glimpses into battered hearts which results from the initial over-idealisation of an adopted culture. The writing is superb and colourful and each story feels like a poignant confession. One thing which is missing; however, is the lure of the culture and the aspects which keep us all living in foreign countries. Hats off to the editor.She did a remarkable job of bringing all these stories together. If you enjoy good writing of any kind, you'll cherish this book.

We moved to Japan 6 years ago with only a vague understanding of Japanese political-economy. We ran across Christopher Wood's book at a local bookstore. It was fascinating and has proved to be an astoundingly accurate depiction foretelling the events of today. I picked the book up again today and concluded that, short of having a crystal ball, this guy had to have been the lone voice of common sense and sound reason on the planet at the time he wrote this book. People must have regarded him as an oddity at the time. One wonders where he is now and what he is doing.

Let's face it, many of the "Japan experts" have totally missed the boat. Mr. Wood's book, published in 1992, was "right on the money" and predicted Japan's current economic plight (although underestimating abit the time it would take to get there). This book provides readers with valuable insights into how the Japanese political economy functions (and doesn't function). By focusing on fundamentals, particularly the banking system, Mr. Wood provides the reader with a framework for analyzing the daily tidbits of information coming out in the press.