Japanese Books

Ichitaka Seto life seems to be going OK. He has been made co-captain of the Welcoming Committee with the love of his life, Iori Yoshizuki, and things seem to be going his way. Ah, but this is a Japanese boy's romance comic, which means we need...Sassy Girl!

She arrives as a blast from Ichitaka's past. Itsuki Akiba, a childhood friend, has returned from the USA and is intent on winning Ichitaka's heart for her own. Unlike the demure Iori, Itsuki is brash and outspoken, a tomboy who has no problem walking around in front of Ichitaka in her underwear or coming out of the shower in only a towel. She is a cool chick too, with a talent for sculpting movie monsters. She gets right in the way of Ichitaka's passive pursuit of Iori, making him question where his heart really lies.

"Ai''s Volume 2'' is a great continuation of the series, adding some serious wrinkles to the story. Ichitaka has to deal with the temptation, and decide how strong his feelings for Iori really are. As usual, Masakazu Katsura fantastic art puts "Ai''s" head-and-shoulders above other stories in the genre, even while following a somewhat formulaic story.

Ok I can't keep quiet about this Manga series. I first saw it previewed in Shoenen Jump and didn't think much of it at first, but after reading the little bit they had in there, I just had to read more. I was able to find a website that had the entire Manga series on it (15 Volumes, 144 Chapters). It looks like 143 is the end, and then 144 is an alternate ending, or to be more precise I suppose, what happened in the huge gap in the ending 143 gave you. Anyways, I don't do this often, hell this is the first Manga I've read from start to finish, and I loved it. There were some touch and go parts, I'm not going to say much, but I will say the ending brought a few tears to my eyes. I love this series, and I say this is a must buy.

What a great book! Shozo Sato has rewritten, remodeled, and recreated his amazing book from the 60's on Ikebana! Such a new, fresh, and updated take on his still-popular masterpiece on Japanese floral design. As a member of the Ikenobo school, this book is not only informative but also pictoresque of this long appreciated Japanese art. And, had the pleasure of meeting in person, Mr. Shozo Sato, and had him sign this soon to be collected piece. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves floral design with an artistic and Asian flavor.

I love this series of books for my classroom. They've been wonderful for me to read and review and also for my students to read. The illustrations are great, the information is comprehensive and at a child's level, making it great for adults who don't know anything about it to pick up.

Elena Tajima Creef's Imaging Japanese America: The Visual Construction Of Citizenship, Nation, And The Body is a recommended pick for college-level Asian studies readers: it begins with the internment of 120,000 Japanese Americans during World War II and supplements photos with insights on how American popular culture viewed Japanese-Americans. An intriguing cultural analysis.

From the power of the cover photograph, to the images and words inside, Professor Creef has written a book that - as the above review says - correlates to the times in which we now live, while also offering an insider's view of the impact and power images possess. Anyone interested in the gaze, Japanese America, self-representation and cultural studies should definitely buy this book. It will certainly occupy a permanent place on my bookshelf.

This is the true story of a married couple who were sent to separate internment camps during World War II. It is a heart-wrenching, but heart-warming story, told mainly in his letters to her, as she was too depressed or too ill to write much of the time. All Americans should know the full details of this shameful time in our history. This book shows how a man can love his wife under any circumstance. Highly recommended!

In this simple, lovely paperback the life & times of two quiet, introspective pioneers come alive. They left the land of their birth for Seattle in America, arriving in the 1919. There they thrived within their community & their church. Until that fateful day when Iwao was snatched away shortly after Pearl Harbor. The World War II correspondence of this Issei couple throughout the dark years of their separate internments is the heart of this biography. Yet the memorabilia & superb black & white photographs of the NorthWest region give a greater insight into these quiet, devoted Americans. Truly an inspiring study in forgiveness & endurance. ........................

"In Light of Shadows" collects three more Gothic tales from Japanese master Izumi Kyoka. He is not an easy writer to get into, as is style is deep and complex, and filled with allusion to classic Japanese literature that you probably haven't read. However, the skillful translation of Charles Inouye has provided a bridge into Kyoka's world, allowing Westerners to experience the sad beauty of his stories for the first time.

Kyoka's work is of extraordinary depth, and are the kind of tales that muddle around in your head long after you have turned the final page, trying to figure out if you actually understood them. Then, you are drawn back for a second, and a third reading, with each time a little more of the mystery being made clear.

"A Song by Lantern Light" weaves together two storylines, both of which are influenced by two separate Japanese classics, the travelogue "Shank's Mare" are the Noh play "The Diver." Two gentlemen, Yajirobei and Nejibei travel the same route as "Shank's Mare," constantly dropping quotes from the famous novel and trying their best to re-create the circumstances of the trip. Intermixed with this is the melancholy tale of a nameless, wandering singer and a beautiful woman, Omie. A haunting tale of redemption.

"A Quiet Obsession" is Kyoka's attempt at an old-fashioned Japanese ghost story. A traveler visits an ancient inn, where the bath is haunted by the ghost of a beautiful woman. Slowly, her sad story unfolds in an unexpected way.

"The Heartvine" is a story with its own story. Kyoka was dying of lung cancer, and he knew full well that this would be his final tale. A young man considers suicide, but is saved by the intervention of a young woman who killed herself that same night. It is a story of life and death, the kind only a dying man could write.

At the end of the book, there are also individual essays of the three stories, putting them into historical and cultural perspective. Inouye's passion for Kyoka's writing is infectious, and it is wonderful the way he lays bare the secrets of the stories. I can only hope that this is just the next volume in a continuing series of Kyoka stories translated by Inouye.

This collection of stories by Izumi Kyoka is every bit as excellent as "Japanese Gothic Tales"--possibly better. The haunting moods that Izumi crafts are unlike most anything else I've come across in literature, resembling Poe but more subdued, less horrific. Less dramatic yet more moving. Unlike so many Japanese writers of the early 20th century, Izumi does not throw out the fine literary tradition of Japan in favor of the latest ill-digested trends from Europe, but draws on the best of both traditions to create something altogether more than the sum of its parts. This is probably why he's misunderstood by both his detratctors and his supporters as "quintessentially Japanese" or whatnot. Nope, he's just quintessentially himself, like all the authors we keep reading and re-reading generation after generation,

All three of the fine stories here are distinct in a number of ways too, giving the reader some sense of the scope of Izumi's talent. "A Song by Lantern Light" is one of the more structurally complex of his works, a moving tale of salvation and reconciliation. "A Quiet Obsession" is the closest thing here to a good old ghost story, but the convoluted layers of narration and the sort of time warp effect of the story make for a real mental bender. And "The Heartvine" is easily the most intense; the guy knew he was dying as he wrote it, and you can really feel that he put his whole heart and soul into this partially autobiographical final testament to his readers.

The virtuousi translation work by Charles Inouye should truly be commended, and his essays afterwards are thought-provoking and insightful; he should be thanked too for putting these at the end so that there are no spoilers.

Idris Barwick was married to my dad's cousin. He was a great man...I'm sorry that I was so young when he passed away and I didn't have the opportunity to know him as an adult. I remember him telling his story to my parents, but I was young and didn't really care. I wish now that I had listened. His life and story are amazing...how he lived through all that he did. This book should be required reading! A true story of courage, strength and faith from a wonderful man I called Uncle Id.

This book has been a part of my life since birth and it holds a special place in my heart. My father wrote it during the late 1940s while trying to recover from a nightmare. He hoped that one day it would be published but died in 1975 without seeing that dream come true. I took up the cause and finally that day is here. In the Shadow of Death is a brilliant, shocking and deeply inspiring account of one man's struggle to survive a very dark period in British military history. We are incredibly proud of our Dad and his story. It is one that needs to be told and we hope you have an opportunity to read the book. If you would like more information on the book, including excerpts, please visit www.InTheShadowOfDeath.com.

Intermediate Cantonese is a great textbook to upgrade your knowledge of Cantonese, a language spoken by over 100 million people in southern China (Guangdong, Guangxi, Hong Kong and Macau) and among many overseas Chinese. It's very didactical and quite easy to understand. Cantonese is not easy to learn, but the book makes it pretty easy to learn.

This book is an excellent sequel to: "Basic Cantonese: A Grammar and Workbook" by the same authors. It (and its predecessor) are the best sources I've seen as far as really explaining how Cantonese works. There has been some other good material published in recent years for Cantonese learners (I give high marks to "Colloquial Cantonese" by Tong and James and "Teach Yourself Cantonese" by Baker and Ho) but this is the best treatment of Cantonese syntax I've come across- having worked through it I now feel confident that I can speak good, authentic Cantonese. It is written from a linguistic point of view but it is so well-organized and the material is so neatly presented that even someone without much linguistic background would find it a help. There are some comparisons made with Mandarin usage which are interesting and helpful to someone who learned Mandarin first (as I did) but previous knowledge of Mandarin is not assumed or required. A further plus: Lots of contemporary vocabulary. If you think you'd like to be able to say: "The boss has sexually harassed her" "My daughter is giving me an attitude again" or "very soon one will be able to get on the Internet via mobile phones" look no further!

I am the author of this cookbook.

First of all, although the description does not mention it, this book also contains a detailed sushi section. It gives clear instructions on how to make great sushi at home, including how to make sushi rice, how to cut sushi, and how to make several different rolls. A detailed glossary explains different kinds of sushi, and the book also tells where someone can get great quality sushi on-line.

The book also contains traditional recipes from China (stir fries and dim sum), Thailand, Vietnam, & Japan.

Recipes include:
How to make great white rice
Red Bean Sesame Ball (Dim Sum)
Shao Mai (Dim Sum)
Pad Thai (Thailand)
Larb (Thailand)
Sticky Rice (Thailand)
Bun Bo Hue (Vietnam)
Bun Rieu (Vietnam)
Fresh Spring Rolls & 2 sauces (Vietnam)
Catfish in a Claypot (Vietnam)
Pho (Vietnam)
Sushi Rice

Detailed glossaries explain ingredients and often brand names are suggested. There is a list of websites of where to get ingredients, including fresh ones like fresh lemongrass & galanga, as well as equipment.

The recipes are written so that the novice Asian cook can immediately cook good Asian food. The more experienced Asian chef will appreciate the combination of recipes given.

The recipes are not "Americanized"- they use traditional, authentic ingredients such as galanga (galangal), lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, and fish sauce. Again, websites of where to get all of this are listed.

In Rotisserie Oven Cooking, freelance food writer and recipe developer Sandra Rudloff showcases 125 unique and delicious recipes for a rotisserie oven that can be enjoyed any time, any where, and all year long. From Herbed Turkey Burgers, Spring Lamb Shish Kabobs, and Hot Honey Chicken, to Salmon with Avocado Salsa, Swordfish with Rosemary Butter, and Herbed Sirloin Roast, Rotisserie Oven Cooking will quickly become a counter-top rotisserie themed, family mealtime planning favorite.

My children loved this book when they were young and I read it many many times. My grandchildren are now having it read to them.

This is a beautiful and colorful re-telling of the Japanese folktale, Issunboshi, in English.

The oni, monsters in the story are pretty scary-looking, but my five- and seven-year-olds find the story exciting. The costumes and setting are from ancient Japan (Heian period,) and thus show another kind of kimono than that we often associate with Japanese tradition. The princess wears the twelve-layer kimono, like Masako-sama wore when she married the present Crown Prince of Japan. They also enjoy how he and his elderly parents cope with his minute size -- the use of a needle for a sword, and a bowl for a boat, capture their imagination. And they enjoy it all the more, because they`re familiar with the Japanese nursery song, included with translation at the back of the book, along with some additional illustrated information on ancient Japanese things.

Massey and West deserves five stars for their loving presentation of this early twentieth century travelogue, which should be of great interest to historians and serious Japanese culture buffs.

Japan and Her People, Anna Hartshorne's 1902 book on her experiences in Japan (along with its history), is an entertaining and informative volume that will be an excellent addition to any historian's library (with the added benefit of being a lively read).
Hartshorne, the daughter of a Quaker missionary, was a longtime resident of Japan, spending many years as a teacher in schools such as the Joshi Eigaku Juku. As such, she came over time to develop an appreciation and understanding of Japanese culture that gives her book an insight lacking in similar books written by short-term visitors. It would be unfair to label the book a travel journal, guide, or history-it's all of these and more.
The book begins with chapters on traveling to Japan ("...not a formidable matter...ranging from twelve days to three weeks") and a description of the Yokohama area, which at the time was the area most frequented by foreigners. The next two chapters feature an excellent introduction to Japanese history. Hartshorne relates the history of Japan from its earliest legends in the Kojiki and Nihongi through the Bakumatsu and Meiji Restoration. Touched upon along the way are the Minamoto, Taira, Go-Daigo, Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Tokugawa Ieyasu, and many more figures of note. At times the history proves to be false (as in the story of Tokugawa Ieyasu dying of wounds suffered at the Summer Battle of Osaka, or the many legends surrounding the 47 Ronin that were for years accepted as fact and since disproved). This in itself is helpful, however, for showing what the accepted views were at this particular point in time. Cities such as Tokyo and Kamakura are examined as well as overviews of several regions (including Oshu, Hokkaido, and the west coast). There are chapters on Japanese households, the tombs of the Tokugawa, Buddhist temples, hot springs, Japanese inns, and more. In each of these chapters Hartshorne generally gives a description of the subject as it was in her day and then examines its history. For example, the story of Will Adams (the so-called `English Samurai') is brought up in the Yokohama chapter and Hosokawa Gracia is examined in conjunction with Confucianism during the Japanese Household chapter. Hartshorne tends to stray off topic, but as she brings up one interesting story after another, the effect is generally quite engaging. Legends and folklore merge with observations and fact, giving the reader a feeling of how it must have been to live in and experience Japan in the early twentieth century. Many of the book's best passages come when Hartshorne expresses her dismay with certain elements of Japanese history and culture. The interior of the Kamakura Buddha is said to be "disenchanting" with "a sort of unnecessary ugliness that one resents", while she finds Gompachi (of the famous legend of lovers Gompachi and Komurasaki) to be "as cowardly a young cut-throat as ever got his deserts".
Despite her affiliations with Christian missionaries, Hartshorne is quite respectful regarding Buddhism and Shinto. She also brings to life the setbacks of Buddhism during the Meiji Restoration (as Shinto became the favored `religion' of the new regime).
Even the natural and man-made disasters that routinely swept Japan are reflected. In a post scripted note, Hartshorne relates how a fire burned down many of Ikegami temple's structures after she had visited and wrote at length about it.
Interspaced throughout the text are black and white period photos, enhancing the book's descriptions and helping to capture the unique feel of Japan at a time when it was still moving away from traditional values and lifestyles towards the modernity of the West.
An added bonus in this edition of the book is a Forward by Lian Hearn, author of the best selling Tales of The Otori series. Hearn is well-steeped in the history of Japan and provides valuable background and historical perspective to Hartshorne. In particular, I found Hartshorne's possible influence on Nitobe Inazo, author of the 1900 Bushido:The Soul of Japan (a book instrumental in shaping early Western misconceptions of Japanese culture and history), quite interesting. Hearn's Forward reads more like an historical analysis than the traditional congratulatory forward. The editors have also cleaned up spelling errors from the original 1902 edition. The only possible drawback to the book is the lack of an index; it's understandable since it's not a straight out history.
As Hearn laments, "It's sad that Anna wrote no other books". Thankfully, we once again have this one to enjoy.