Japanese Books

This book draws the reader in from the very first stanza. English-language text, calligraphy characters and rhythmic space come together to ease you into a contemplative state.

This book is beautifully made, an artpiece in itself. There is a complete blending of spirit with the artistic nature within the visual outer world. Anyone who enjoys the look and feel of books will go wild over this one.

It's an artpiece. 5 stars!!

I recently completed a course on Eastern Religions and can now appreciate this work of art. This is a book to pull out and read when the world is spinning and you want to step outside of the whirlwind to have inner peace and silence.

Donald Keene is not only one of the WestÕs great literary and cultural translators of Japan, he is an important figure in the history of modern Japanese literature. In this readable and inspiring autobiography, Keene succinctly recalls his experiences with Japan, its language and its culture, and the numerous academic and literary figures he has encountered.

Keene, like many early Japan scholars in the United States, was initially trained by the military for intelligence work during World War II in the Pacific. Most of the book deals with his life between the war years, when he first struggled with the Japanese language, through the 1960s, when he was at the height of his associations with such famous Japanese writers as Yasunari Kawabata, Kobo Abe and Yukio Mishima. Keene was a great fan of Mishima, who is probably the most legendary Japanese writer in the West. Keene knew him well professionally, and openly discusses his efforts to lobby for a Nobel Prize for Mishima. He also talks about the dejection that overtook Mishima for never winning. Keene relates his own sense of loss at the suicides of both Kawabata and, especially, Mishima, and even finds fault with himself for not recognizing sooner the trajectory of MishimaÕs demise.

Keene's autobiography is highly recommended to anyone interested in the literature or scholarship of Japan, as well as to anyone interested in the life of an unusual and inspiring individual.

Donald Keene's personal story on his life-long devotion to the study of Japanese never fails to attract those interested in Japanese and Japan.

I find his accidental first encounter with a strange language, Japanese, quite amusing. A mistake to put a record on a player has eventually led young Keene to dare to learn Japanese and finally to write one of the most comprehensive history of Japanese literature several years ago. My vivid memory is that on a new-year TV program Keene and a notable Japanese poet talked about Japanese literature. The Japanese poet was never equal to Keene on topics in Japanese literature. It might be true that Keene's profound knowledge and appreciation of Japanese literature has no rival even in Japan, maybe except Dr. Jinichi Konishi, Professor Emeritus of Tsukuba University.

In this work, Keene puts an exciting and enchanting account of mishaps, adventures, good luck with Japanese which fascinated and nurtured the author as a distinguished Japan scholar.

I especially love to read his struggle and clever strategy of how he finally reached Tokyo and then, without staying there for even a night he took a night train for Kyoto from which his literary quest originated.

I believe we can enjoy reading detailed episodes that reveal his solid dedication and patience in learning Japanese and Japan. The author's well-thought-out expressions often help us discover the best way to describe in plain English some peculiar aspects of Japanese culture.

As someone living in Japan I enjoyed reading this book. Donald Keene is one of the great scholars on Japanese literature and equally at home in it's many facetted culture. The work Dr. Keene has delivered with this autobiography has the feel of many years of being submerged in a fascinating as well as a, for a Westerner, incredibly complex literary culture written in a wonderfully easy to understand style. Not only for those interested in Japanese literature and culture, but also for those who just want to have a good read. While traveling or before going to sleep. Nothing deep, but personal and a joy to read!

Rexroth's brilliant translations, though at times very liberal, do much better at expressing the real meat of each poem than do more traditional, academic translations steeped in dated language. His other translated collections of Japanese, Chinese, French, Spanish, and Greek poetry are equally beautiful. It should be noted, though, that "Marichiko" was in fact a pen name. In his later years, "Marichiko" was an experiment on Rexroth's part to write completely separated from himself as a central figure, switching culture, gender, and language - and then writing poetry from that new perspective. It wasn't until after his death that it even became clear the two were in fact the same person.

Rexroth must be praised for two reasons. One: his translations are razor sharp (in the Japanese style), yet retain all the profundity and the humanity of the poem. And two: the selections are excellent. For all poetry lovers, and indeed for all poetry non-lovers, this is THE collection. You can't go wrong with Rexroth.

Kenneth Rexroth's Japanese poem selections caused a great commotion within myself. Never had such words stir so much emotions within me. As a result, I am able to relate to better with my girlfriend. These selections caught the true essense of love and lost of love.

Marichiko's, a writer of various poems displayed, poems piqued my interest. Her poems were... are indeed intense in nature. I am desire so much to possess her complete works.

This book is amazing . It's the movie book for the second movie( or OVA). This one takes place after the last episode of the tv series. Even if you can't read Japanese you'll really love the pictures that are tooken from the movie. It also included in the book is the background artwork from the movie, interviews with the voice actors. There are pictures of each character by the voice actors name and there picture so you'll know who plays who in the Japanese version. This is a must for any Cardcaptor Sakura fan!!! And the pictures are really beautiful!! So even if you can't read Japanese you'll enjoy the pictures.

Artbook that contains shots from the 2nd movie, character design sheets, backgrounds, and storyboards. There's a kawaii poster of Sakura and Syaoran, and two postcards at the back. And for the Japanese literate: Cast and production crew interviews. There's even an after recording segment showing full cast photos and the cast's favorite moments in the movie. A must have for die-hard CCS Otakus!

This book is amazing =^_^=. It's the movie book for the second movie( or OVA). This one takes place after the last episode of the tv series. Even if you can't read Japanese you'll really love the pictures that are tooken from the movie. It also included in the book is the background artwork from the movie, interviews with the voice actors. There are pictures of each character by the voice actors name and there picture so you'll know who plays who in the Japanese version. This is a must for any Cardcaptor Sakura fan!!! And the pictures are really beautiful!! So even if you can't read Japanese you'll enjoy the pictures. =^_^=

John Van Sant, a professor of Japanese History at the University of Alabama, Birmingham, has written an approachable and engaging look back at some of the very first Japanese travelers to the United States in the mid to late 1800s.

For the student of Asian-American History or Early Modern Asian Japanese History, Pacific Pioneers, is an invaluable reference that bridges the gap between the broad view of early Japan-U.S. interaction and the Japanese political reaction to it. Many of the popular books that deal with this area of history are concerned with its larger events such as the Perry and Iwakura Missions.

Van Sant's book is about individuals who came to a foreign land, and were instrumental in defining how the Western world viewed a recently opened island nation. Van Sant's scholarship is through and compiles a great deal of information that is often lost in the larger events of the period. Even those who aren't interested in Asian or Asian-American History can appreciate the people Van Sant has researched for their sense of wonder and discovery as some of the first to leave their homeland, which was closed off to nearly all foreign intercourse for over 200 years.

I find the book especially engaging because it examines how Americans reacted to their foreign visitors during a time when man of today's stereotypes about the Japanese culture had not been developed. Also, by examining the way in which the New World was viewed by the Japanese visitors, the reader can see how foreigners reacted to the Western world and found their culture to be exotic, captivating, and at times, frightening. The book is a revealing and honest look at how different cultures are viewed by people that were truly foreign to them.

A book I recommend for anyone who is interested in history on a very personal and revealing level.

This is a truly absorbing read. Author John Van Sant casts light on a little-explored corner of American history about which, I'm willing to bet, few readers have any knowledge at all. Some may be vaguely aware that a handful of shipwrecked Japanese sailors fetched up on American shores in the first half of the nineteenth century or that large Japanese embassies toured this country in 1860 and 1871-72. But how many know that scores of Japanese students were living in such an unlikely place as New Brunswick, New Jersey in the late 1860s and 1870s, studying about American institutions as well as "big guns" and "big ships." Or that several young Japanese aristocrats--including a later titan of Meiji Japan--were holed up in a utopian commune, under the watchful eye of an eccentric guru, doing housework and tending grapevines? Or that other countrymen and women of less elevated status, fleeing worsening economic conditions back home, were scraping out a bare living in Hawaii and northern California?

In clear economic prose, thankfully free of academic jargon, Van Sant explores each of these expatriate communities in some depth. (Oddly enough, the author makes no mention whatsoever of the troupes of Japanese entertainers criss-crossing the country during this same period. Even Mark Twain complained bitterly in 1867 about having to compete with a company of Japanese acrobats for an audience.) He also does the historical record a considerable service by freeing some of these pioneers--the "mysterious" Wakamatsu Colony of Gold Hill, California being a prime example--from an encrustation of myth. If I have any quibble at all with Pacific Pioneers, it is that it is too short. Highly recommended!

I think that Dr Van Sant tells a compelling tale of the first wave of Japanese settlers who came to the United States and Hawaii. This book is for anybody who is interested in Asian American History. It should be the first book cracked open for any student who signs up to take any Asian studies class, either in the undergraduate or post-graduate world. I loved it.

A Place Where Sunflowers Grow, by Amy Lee-Tai and illustrated by Felicia Hoshino, takes place in an internment camp in the U.S. Mari is homesick thinking about memories before she came to the internment camp. Mari and Mama planted sunflower seeds. Mari asked Mama if the sunflowers will grow high, powerful and lovely. "It will take time patience and care," Mama answered nicely.

The next day Papa walked with Mari to Topaz School. Papa asked Mari "Why don't you giggle and speak any more?" When art class started, Mari couldn't think what to draw and when art class finished, Mari's paper was still blank. The next day when Mari went back to Topaz Mrs. Hanamoto said to draw something from before you came here but Mari still couldn't think something so she drew her old backyard. Mama and Papa were worried about Mari. Mari-chan didn't want to talk about it.
The next few days Mari was improving with her art and the walls were filled up with pictures. When Mari and Aiko were walking home together a big blizzard of dust storm went on to Aiko and Mari's skin. It was hard to walk but they tried and tried. When they reached to Mari's barrack they slammed the door immediately. They were coughing and were trying to get some air. The next few days Aiko-chan saw the sunflowers. Aiko called "Mari-chan!" She went running and looked at the sunflowers too and little tiny plants with little green leaves were growing. Mama, Mari, Aiko, and Mari's brother were happy.

This book teaches you that if you are in a scary place, your loved ones will still be there and it makes it less scary for you. Mari and her family had to go to the internment camp because of the World War Two and their things were taken away. A part when it was scary was when Mari and Papa were walking together to Topaz school and men were pointing guns at them. A part when it was happy was when Aiko and Mari were trying to walk through the dust storm and when Mari and Aiko reached Mari's barrack. They were coughing and laughing so Mari felt happy to have a new friend. Another part when Mari is happy is when Aiko saw the sunflowers and Aiko called Mari. When Mari saw the little green leaves she was really happy. I like the way when Mari is shy she still shows who she is to her teacher and her family.

By Boonevie

Amy Lee-Tai's award-winner, A Place Where Sunflowers Grow, is a striking departure from typical picture books. Through the story of little Mari, who cannot understand why her family had to leave their home, young readers are given a poignant glimpse of life in a U.S. Japanese American internment camp during World War II. When Mari finds she cannot draw even a single picture in art class, her teacher suggests that she draw something that made her happy before her family was forced to move to the camp. Reflecting upon the home she had to leave behind, Mari colors a picture of the back yard where she and her brother played on the swing their Papa built, and where the garden was filled with flowers. Sharing her picture with a classmate, Aiko, opens a friendship that blossoms along with the sunflowers Mari planted weeks before. Felicia Hoshino's illustrations are a perfect complement to the story, capturing not only the innocence of childhood, but the harshness of the dreaded camp. Amy Lee-Tai drew upon the experience of her own family in writing A Place Where Sunflowers Grow, sharing with readers the little known realities of this sad and shameful chapter in American history. This bilingual book features text in both English and Japanese. For children six and older, A Place Where Sunflowers Grow should be available in both school and public libraries.

A lovely bilingual picturebook (English/Japanese), A Place Where Sunflowers Grow by Amy Lee-Tai features illustrations from Felicia Hoshino and is the intimate story of a young girl and her life among thousands of other Japanese American families interned by the government during World War II in the Topaz Relocation Center in Utah. Deftly contributing to a historically ill state of America and their world, A Place Where Sunflowers Grow follows Mari through the beginning of her art classes during the heat of the summer, her discovery of life, her newly found passion for art, and the use of her art to cope with the harsh circumstances of her family's confinement. Inspired by the author's personal life and family history, A Place Where Sunflowers Grow is very highly recommended for all young readers ages 6 to 10, as well school and community librarians seeking to augment their bilingual picturebook collections.

In a very straightforward fashion, my uncle tells his story of Bataan and of being a POW. It is a very moving piece of history which should never be forgotten. I strongly urge anybody who has even a passing interest of the Second World War to read this work.

I have found this book to be very interesting and to the point about a mostly unknown tragedy of world war II. Mr. Czerwien gives an indepth look at mans inhumanity to man. Not only about the death march but about the ship that took him to Japan, that in my opinion was worse than the march itself. To survive this ordeal is in itself a miracle. I highly recommend this book to anyone that seeks the truth, from a man who was there.

I teach in a district in suburban Chicago (Maywood) that saw many of its young men go off to the Philippines in the early days of WWII when a local National Guard Unit was sent there (Co. B, 192nd Tnk Bn). Needless to say, after the combat, death march, hell ships, etc. most did not return. Our community was devestated, and they remember Bataan still. I am currently doing a research project with some of my students at Proviso East High School and have done alot of reading on the subject. Mr. Czerwein's books is one of the very best in the whole genre. Its a quick, yet graphic and disturbing read. Another good book is My Hitch in Hell by Lester Tenney, who was a member of the Maywood unit. I met Mr. Czerwien, and Mr. Tenney, a few weeks ago at a Bataan event here at the high school. He is still going strong and told me he is now writing his 3rd book. God Bless Him.

It should be noted that the author of this book "Van Waterford" is actually Willem Wanrooy using a pen name. Wanrooy was not just a researcher. He was a Dutch soldier and survivor of the sinking of the Junyo Maru, one of the "hell ships" used by the Japanese to transport prisoners during WWII. He was rescued from the sea only to be put to work in the camps he writes about here. If he writes more about certain ships or camps than others, it is only due to his personal experience, not a lack of desire for completeness.

The title is self-explanatory. The author accomplished a formidable research job. He lists every known Japanese camp used to detain prisoners of war and allied civilians during World War II and gives a brief history of each. There were hundreds of camps to house more than 100,000 people.

He also describes the conditions (awful) in many of the camps with quotes from inmates. To compare: about 4 percent of American POWs captured by the Germans died compared to about 31 percent of Americans captured by the Japanese.

My purpose in looking at this book was to find accounts written by the POWs and detainees themselves. The bibliography after each section met my need by identifying many primary sources. This is not a book you'll likely read cover to cover, but as a reference book for students of World War II in the Pacific it should be on your shelf.

Smallchief

Van Waterford had compiled the very best overall view of the massive internment of prisoners by the Japanese during WWII. (He clearly cites the record that the Japanese decided to consider the civilian internees as POWS, a decision many to this day refuse to recognize)Since the Japanese deliberately destroyed all relevent records, it took a dedicated historian to compile from hundred of sources the best compilation of facts and figures I have ever seen. This is a must for any serious research on the subject. One of the better listings of the infamous Hell Ships even though multiple voyages seemed to be ignored and a number of ships not mentioned. The compilation of pow camps by region also is the most complete I have ever seen. Having studied the POW experience for many years and owner of hundreds of books relating to the subject, I place this on the very top shelf.

Another great read from Barry Eisler, he hooks you into the story straight a way. John Rain, a Japanese American konketsu, or half-breed, learned his lethal trade as a member of the U.S. Special Forces. Although tortured by memories of atrocities he committed in Vietnam, he has become a paid assassin, a solitary man who lives in the shadows and trusts no one, even those who pay extraordinary sums for his ability to make murder look like natural death. But the aftermath of an otherwise routine hit on a government bureaucrat brings Rain to the attention of two men he knows from the old days in Vietnam: a friend who's now a Tokyo cop and an enemy who betrayed Rain long ago and is now the CIA's station chief in Japan. Like the gangster who hired Rain to kill Yasuhiro Kawamura, they want something the dead man had--a computer disk containing proof of high-level corruption, information that could destroy Japan's ruling political coalition. The search for the disk leads them to a woman Rain has come to love, a talented young jazz musician who also happens to be Kawamura's daughter. In this taut, brilliantly paced debut thriller, set in a vividly rendered Tokyo, the author manages an unlikely feat; he earns the reader's sympathy and concern for his protagonist, an amoral assassin who is one of most compelling characters in recent crime fiction.

The book was delivered on time in excellent condition as described. I Will use this merchant again!

Assasin John Rain only has three rules about accepting a contract; no women or children, no other parties retained to solve the problem at hand, and no non-principals. The only problem he has now, is that if he hopes to survive the next few days, he might need to forget all three.

Rain Fall opens in full stride as Rain stalks his next victim, then picks up speed when he's unexpectedly thrown together with the Jazz singing daughter of the high ranking bureaucrat he's just killed.

Tough former CIA agents are a dime a dozen in fiction, but mixed-blood Rain somehow manages to avoid the cliche and seems at the same time fresh and original. A fascinating blend of two worlds, belonging to neither, he spends a good deal of time exploring the nature of cultural divides and searching for his true identity. For readers who love off beat tough guy detective novels and don't blink at violence and murder, Rain Fall is a worthy read sure to rank high on your list of the year's best reads.

Art Tirrell is the author of the 2007 adventure novel "The Secret Ever Keeps."

"simply put...the best underwater scenes I've ever read." M. Westley

I just finish reading it and every one gotta read it its alot of action and its so cool iam telling you you gotta read it.I never taught that Rurouni Kenshin was so cool.

These novels have kept my attention sinse I first picked up #1 at the store. Kenshin is a true feel-good comedy that is NOWHERE near corney. I just fell in love with the wandering samurai from the very beginning, and I have yet to be disappointed with him!
This novel moves right along with the plot that the second volume left off on. It's all about the mysterious and somewhat annoying Miss. Megumi. She may get press all the wrong buttons with everyone else, but Kenshin still refuses to abandon someone who needs his help, AND THAT'S WHY WE LOVE HIM!!
At first Ruroni Kenshin may seem the same as other dime-a-dozen manga series. Only by reading it can you fully realize just how different and refreshing this series really is. It provides you with characters that you like, and storylines that dont insult your intellegence. In my opinion, Kenshin is the best new manga around. Ken-chan definatly has raised the bar of manga standards, and I'm sure glad he did!! If the story keeps going like it has, theres no telling what new levels of greatness it will reach, so don't be left behind!! READ IT!!!

With the Jinne incident over, Kenshin and his friends have become a bit closer. Defeating a mass murderer usually does that... Soon enough though, Kenshin meets Megumi, who's running from her own problems. Kenshin, being a kindred soul and sensing goodness in her, decides to protect her.

When Megumi's "employer" sends his posse to retrieve her, they encounter some difficulties. In their attack on the dojo, we see a little more into the relationships between the characters. Kenshin inspires great loyalty with his kindness and willingness to stand in harms way for the sake of others. He may act clumsy and aloof, but he actually sees much and understands and appreciates much. Because of this, Karou, despite knowing him for just a short time, has great faith in him and as with the others, will stand by him. Megumi came to Kenshin just because she saw he was wearing a sword, but through this incident, she begins to see him in a new light.

Things, however, get a little more complicated, as they always do, but I'll leave that alone. The story moves forward and remember that the whole Kenshin story is ten times better than any individual part.