Japan Books

I have read most of the books and articles written by those who were in Burma and China with the American Volunteer Group just before and at the beginning World War II, and those who were not. This book is easily among the best of both genres. "Escape from Hell" includes both an account written by 3rd Squadron, Hell's Angles, Vice-Squadron Leader, Lewis Bishop, and by his daughter, Shiela Bishop Irwin. Lewis Bishop describes in the first three chapters of the book bailing out of his plane on May 17, 1942 while leading a mission over railroad installations at Lao Kay in French Indochina (now Viet Nam) and his next three years as a POW. He wrote the manuscript in 1945 and 1946. Shiela accompanies this narrative with additional information in text boxes and footnotes.

The next three chapters are written by Shiela about her father's formative years and his experiences with the AVG up to the time of becoming a POW. These well researched chapters, as well as the ones that follow, are also enhanced with informative text boxes and footnotes. While I doubt Shiela considers herself a scholar, this is certainly a scholarly book. It includes a brief history and background of the AVG Flying Tigers, many photographs and reproductions of documents, a bibliography, appendices, and an index.

Chapters 7 through 9 discuss the life of Lewis Bishop after he returned to the United States. Drawing on research done on POWs in wars over the last 60 years, Shiela both sheds light on the life of her father and her own experience of him as a father and as a human being who had gone through experiences most of us can only faintly imagine. In the final chapter Shiela provides a personal account of her relationship with her father and how writing the book was process of discovery for her.

I recommend this very readable book to anyone who has an interest in the AVG, POWs, the China-India-Burma Theater, World War II, or the exploration of the relationship between a father and his daughter.

Escape from Hell is clearly a labor of love undertaken with skill and dedication. It is much more than a story of war and soldiers, it is a story of the human condition as seen through the life of one man. The author is to be applauded for taking on this task and for seeing it through to such a resoundingly successful conclusion.

This is a great story and a very readable book. Its a well put together story about Lew Bishop and the authors relationship to him. The author did a great job with this. I recommend it.

I have been a "fan" of the Flying Tigers story for many years and have a substantial collection of books written by members of that marvelous group. I have also known several members. I am a retired AF pilot with 34 years of service and three combat tours behind me.

I find this book a wonderful gap filler in the history of the Tiger pilots in that other books made regerence to the shoot down of Lewis Bishop, but no one knew what happened to him following that event. The telling of his story is an essential part of the history of, not only the Flying Tigers, but also of that phase of the war in the Pacific. His heroic survival in the face of terrible odds to the contrary is a great testimony to the power of the human spirit. Shiela Irwin has done a superb job of her research in putting together this fascinating story of her father's survival and the traumatic results of his abusive treatment at the hands of the Japanese while a POW. A wonderful addition to the history of that era.

This is quite a book.

Nominally it is the story of the war time exploits of Lew Bishop, an Ace and Vice Squadron Leader of the Flying Tigers. This part of his story is broken into two parts, the first part of the book begins when he bails out of his P-40 over what is now Vietnam and talks about his three years as a prisoner of the Japanese, his subsequent escape and return to the U.S. This part was written by Lew Bishop.

The second part goes back to his earlier life both in the United States and his activities in China. Remember that this was before the U.S. actually entered the war. The Flying Tigers, technically called the American Volunteer Group (AVG), were American military pilots who left the American military with the promise that they could return with senority continuing through their Chinese service. They were sort of mercenaries, sort of part of the Chinese Air Force, and sort of a covert action of the United States.

While this part of the book is not unlike others on the Flying Tigers, it is very well done and has numerous side panels that provide very informative insight into points like Roosevelt's role in the establishment of the AVG, the theories of Gen. Chennault and the way he was treated by the military establishment (the military does not treat original thinkers very well, and even worse when they are proven correct).

Finally the third part of the book goes into life after Lew Bishop returned to the U.S. This is a story of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder before we even knew what it was. Mr. Bishop was never really able to put his life back into order. The effect on his life and that of his daughter (who wrote the rest of this book) is described tenderly and with insight.

Really not until after Mr. Bishop's death did his daughter begin the 'journey of discovery' (raising three boys of her own took a lot of her time) that led to this book. I, for one, am glad that she made the journey and that she has shared it with us.

Currently Professor of International Studies at Otani University in Kyoto and editor of 'The Eastern Buddhist,'Norman Waddell has made a name for himself with some sterling translations of Buddhist material('Unborn:.The Life & Teachings of Bankei.'Hakuin Zenji's 'Itsumadegusa' etc.). He has excelled himself with this latest endeavour, a translation of Hakuin Zenji's (1686-1769)'Sokko-roku Kaien Fusetsu' - a key text from the renowned reformer of Zen in the Tokugawa.

For convenience sake, Waddell has titled this work 'The Essential Teachings of Zen Master Hakuin.' It is certainly that, of course, but it shows Hakuin's indebtedness to his precursors, being Hakuin's commentary on the records of the Chinese Sung master Sokko (Chin. Hsi-keng, 1185-12699), more commonly known in Japanese Zen circles as Kido Chigu - or simply 'Kido.' Texts of this sort have been required reading for Zen students - as a spur to their training. Happily, this translation is the nearest you could get to reading the original text - and, as such, it will undoubtedly fulfil similar needs among Western Zen students.

Waddell has captured well the terse, relentless flow of Hakuin's thought - geared up to encourage Zen practice. As such, it will seem like being thrown at the deep end, to a reader taking a first glimpse into Zen material, but such was Hakuin's purpose. Seasoned practitioners will derive immense benefit from this text. The English translation, with extensive notes, appendices and index, amounts to a mere 137 pages, but so much energy has been compressed into Hakuin's words, this little text seems rather like one of those mysterious, tiny white stars, emitting radiation seemingly disproportionate to their size. In the hands of a less skilful translator, that effect would have been dissipated - but,Waddell has made Hakuin's words live, all over again, in this sterling piece of translation. The extensive notes and appendices are very helpful -without being tedious or cumbersome. I recommend this text to anyone, with a serious interest in Zen. It will take its place as a classic in Western Zen sources.

This is an excellent and compelling work. Hakuin's teachings are well represented and this is an excellent source for those interested in deepening their "intellectual" understanding of Buddhism.

If you are looking for some straight talk on Zen, Hakuin dishes it up without ketchup.

Essential for the library of all Zen students. And a fascinating read for anyone interested in Zen, eastern religion, traditional wisdom, or just fresh perspectives on the nature of life, death, reality and the human condition.

Norman Waddell has done us all a great service by providing this lovely translation of the Zen teachings of this popular, no holds barred Zen master. Pure blood and guts Zen from page one right through to the index!

It would be easy to underestimate this thin little book, both because of its unprepossessing format and its blandly generic title vaguely suggesting a dull if edifying anthology. That would be a mistake. In typical Zen fashion it's short and to the point, and it's a translation of a single text that would change the course of Rinzai Zen history forever.

Indeed, whatever Rinzai Zen may have been before Hakuin came along in the 1700's, his reforms redefined it thoroughly, utterly reformulating and reorganizing it according to his keen firebrand religiosity. Rinzai Zen as we know it today (and as it was introduced to the West by D.T. Suzuki) is for all intents and purposes Hakuin's Rinzai Zen, and the entirety of his approach is more or less thoroughly outlined in the text translated here, the "Sokko-roku Kaien-fusetsu" of 1743. Based on a lecture given by Hakuin in 1740, it's ostensibly a introductory pep talk to encourage his disciples along in their Zen practice, but it quickly bursts the confines of this usually stilted genre and winds up as an impassioned statement of what Hakuin considered authentic Zen practice and a harshly and yet humorously polemic denunciation of what he felt was the moribund state of Zen in his day. This is Hakuin's Zen in a nutshell, folks, unequivocally announced to the world for the first time in this important text.

Hakuin's prose is incredibly engaging, full of hyperbole and humor, sarcasm and spirituality, entertaining asides and startling diatribes, erudite scriptural references and crassly vulgar remarks. And Norman Waddell's virtuoso translation does full justice to Hakuin's eccentric style, capturing his shifts in tone perfectly and not afraid to take the kid gloves off and let him sound as colloquial as he wants to be (and that includes bad words, boys and girls). That he can do this with such careful craftsmanship and thus make Hakuin sound alive and current without being euphemistically goody-two-shoes or else uncharacteristically contemporary shows a fine-tuned, balanced translating sense that in the end makes this key Zen document a joy to read.

Extensive yet unobtrusive notes, appendixes, and a fine introduction complete this text well, and samples of Hakuin's calligraphy and painting round it off nicely. Zen practitioners will find Hakuin's exhortations extremely moving and inspiring, and students and scholars of Zen Buddhism and Japanese religious history will find this essential formulation of Hakuin's Rinzai Zen Buddhism a significant and highly useful text. It's also nice and short, and so would serve very well as a primary source in a university course on these subjects. Highly recommended for all concerned.

The "golden age" of Zen was in the T'ang Dynasty (619-906) in China. By early eighteenth century, what was left of Zen in Japan wasn't much. But the strength of Zen is in the individuals, the truly liberated spirits, it produces, and early eighteen century Japan saw one of the greatest ever: Hakuin Zenji (1685-1768). This book is a translation of what is considered the most important text by this legendary exponent of the Rinzai Zen tradition. Hakuin was a man of high standards, and he had little patience for the soft soothing "Zen" of his day. He pulls no punches in his criticism: "At present, this country is infested with a race of smooth-tongued, worldly-wise Zen teachers who feed their students a ration of utter nonsense" (pp. 24f); "Now that's not even good rubbish" (p. 52); "Phffmp! What graveyard did you pillage for those old left-over offerings?" (p. 92). (Waddell's lively translation contributes to one's appreciation of this dynamic personality.) For Hakuin, what was most important was the breakthrough *kensho* experience, reached after years of rigorous meditation practice; apart from *kensho*, the words and ideas of Zen are worthless and meaningless. Hakuin's Zen represents a level of authenticity consonant with the height of Zen in the T'ang Dynasty. It is a Zen that focuses on the central matter relentlessly, and has absolutely no use for anything that serves to distract from this. In this respect, Hakuin's words may be a useful corrective to some of the more diffuse, feel-good, self-satisfying elements of the New Age. I would not necessarily recommend this book to someone who knew nothing about Zen; at least a cursory knowledge of classical Zen is useful in making sense of Hakuin's many references to great Zen Masters of the past. Not the best starting book, but any serious study of Zen will eventually involve confronting this fiercely determined defender of authentic Zen, and this book is undoubtedly the best English introduction to Hakuin.

Dusty Rhodes was a gifted and dignified man who lived an extraordinary life of adventure and sacrifice. As one of those intrepid few who sailed outnumbered to fight the Japanese in the remote South Pacific in the tough first year of America's entry into World War II, he was shot down during the Battle of Santa Cruz and endured three years of torture, starvation and loneliness as a POW. His father died while he was in captivity and he basically lost his first marriage because of the separation. But he returned to become an early leader of the navy's Blue Angels and to fly and fight in the Korean War. Dusty's life is a testament to courage, will and innovation, both on the ground and in the air. He was not only a war survivor who made good, but a naval aviation pioneer. Jim Armstrong tells Dusty's story with distinction and subtly. Anyone interested in aviation, the Blue Angels, World War II and the kinds of men who made up the Greatest Generation will find this book thoughtful and enlightening.

From POW to Blue Angel is the story of Commander (CDR) Dusty Rhodes, one of the first commanders of the Blue Angels. Mr. Armstrong tells us of CDR Rhodes exploits in the US Navy. Critical to the story is his time in WWII and the time between WWII and the Korean War. Unfortunately for CDR Rhodes most of his WWII time was spent as a POW of the Japanese (Dusty was shot down on his first combat mission and captured during the Battle of Santa Cruz). Most of the book focus's on his time as a POW. His treatment seemed to depend on the guards and camp he was in. This is the true high point of the book as Mr. Armstrong, while being distant in his telling does justice to Dusty's situation. His time as a POW is followed by his return the US forces and to the US (a good story on how he got back to the US). Once back in the US, Dusty decides to stay in the Navy and relearns how to be a pilot. This is followed up by him being accepted into the Blue Angels and eventually becoming the leader. I will spoil one little bit, while leading the Blue Angels he took them from F8F Bearcats (propeller driven) to F9F Panthers (jets).

This book is a solid 4 star book. I preferred the front half of the book when Dusty was a POW. The story was sharper and more interesting. His observations of the Japanese and of his situation were insightful on something most people don't being to understand. In the later half, things seemed to drag a little. While it was interesting what he did as a Blue Angel, I felt that there was more struggle with writing it than the earlier section. My other reason for only 4 stars (really, the front part was a strong 4.5 stars) was the writers style. There were to many times when his style just killed the chapter for me. While no Chuck Yeager, From POW to Blue Angel is a good story to read!

Raleigh E. 'Dusty' Rhodes helped develop the Blue Angels, the world's most famous military aerobatic team - and was only the third fighter pilot to become its leader. Interviews, Dusty's scrapbooks and flight logs form the foundations of a survey which is part biography, part aviation history, and always interesting: fans of military history and aviation will find it a top pick. Mark Matthews' SMOKE JUMPING ON THE WESTERN FIRE LINE: CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS DURING WORLD WAR II offers a fascinating and rare probe into a little-researched aspect of World War II history: the story of deeply religious young men whose beliefs led them to reject military service. Instead, some of them were paid a minimum wage to volunteer for the Civilian Public Service as U.S. Forest Service smoke jumpers based in Montana: this is their story, and uses extensive interviews with World War II conscientious objectors and original documents to recreate their stories.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

The statistics for the first combat patrol of a fighter pilot are not good. No matter how much training they have, no matter how mentally ready they are, getting into combat for the first time is simply different than anything training can teach.

Then again, at the beginning of the War the Americans were flying the F4F Wildcat. Up against the Japanese zero it was slower in both climbing and level flight. It didn't turn as sharply so was outmatched when it came to dog fighting.

Finally at the beginning of the war the Japanese pilots were the best trained with the most hours, the most experience in the world.

October 26, 1942 was the date of Dusty Rhodes first combat patrol. They ran into zeros and Dusty Rhodes was shot down. From the book it appears that he never saw the plane that got him. It fits right in with the statistics.

From there it was a series of Japanese prisoner of war camps until the end of the war. Surprisingly his stories of life in the camps are not nearly as bad as many of the stories that have been published. His life was by no means good, but by no means as horrible as say the Bataan Death March.

After the war, it also seems that he had less troubles than many. Divorce, yes, but he handled this easily - to short a marriage, to much had happened. He was soon back on flight status. Soon after that he commanded the Blue Angels. He went on to flying a fighter in Korea, and a reasonable career after that.

This book covers from basically getting shot down to his return from Korea. It is largely based on his memories, but exhaustively researched to back up what he said. It is well written and an joy to read. You have to respect these members of what Tom Brokaw correctly called 'The Greatest Generation.'

I am distantly related to Dusty Rhodes, which is why I bought the book. However, it's not the reason I couldn't put it down - it's just an amazing story, and very well-told. I expected a dry explanation of war battles and air flights. This book is anything but dry. It is touching, funny, heart-warming and truly inspiring. It's very readable, even for someone who would normally never pick up a "war book". Dusty's story is one of courage, hope, determination, a love for his country, and a love of life.

This book presents an illuminating look at the nuclear testing and it's aftermath. The cavalier attitude towards radiation is pretty amazing. There are also many fine pictures of the wrecks underwater, including some shots of the world's only exisiting diveable aircraft carrier.

My Dad was there (USS Reclaimer) - swimming in the atoll the day after the blasts, cleaning refuged ships, etc. It's amazing he's still alive.

Nice photos; good summaries. This isn't a full-blown account of Operation CrossRoads but a nice summary of the ships. If you are interested in OC, this is a good book to have on your shelf.

I found this book to be most interesting, with a very accessible writing style.

This is a great mini-coffee table book (get the hardcover if you REALLY dig this stuff!) offering hours of information and photos of the famous atomic bomb tests on naval ships at Bikini Atoll. The 190 page book is broken into nine chapters and has excellent notes on sources. Background information covers the first half of the book while the second is focused on recent dives to many of the famous and lesser known ships that were sunk here. The writing is very informative and the photographs are absolutely haunting, particularly the ones of the aircraft carrier USS Saratoga! Several color photos are included in the center. The author pushes no agenda in this book. He merely reports the facts available both "good and bad".

James Delgado does a very good job of reviewing the sunken ships of Bikini Atoll and telling the story of the 1946 atomic bomb tests. I read this book after diving at Bikini Atoll and found it to be a good treatment of a topic that has received too little attention. As far as wreck diving goes, Bikini Atoll is the best in the world, and my only disappointment with this book is that it does not fill the need for a coffee-table-style photographic survey of the incredible shipwrecks at Bikini. That being said, Delgado's book is a nice compromise between such a coffee table book and the more comprehensive historical treatment in Jonathan Weisgall's superb book on Bikini Atoll.

This is the perfect foil for recycling. Two gifts in one, fabric does wonders! Use old clothing, either your own or from a thrift shop!

This is a great book; lots of very beautiful and unusual ways to wrap gifts with fabric. This book will appeal to both the artist and the eco minded. I found the pictures very helpful and the designs easy to execute. This book would make a great gift.

This book has been an excellent guide to earth friendly gifts. It lets me enjoy a task I usually hate and use fabrics which can be re-used.

The explanations are clear and easy to follow. I recommend this book to all fabric lovers and ecologically minded gift givers.

Gift Wrapping with Textiles: Stylish Ideas from Japan

This is a great book, beautiful pictures, clear instructions. Your skills at wrapping with fabric will look so beautiful, the gift inside might pale with comparison! Of course, the author has gorgeous Japanese furoshiki fabrics and her combinations are artistic, and we can only hope to achieve the same breathtaking results as we fold, tie, and present our gifts to our friends and loved ones.

Enhanced throughout with visually stunning full color photography, Gift Wrapping With Textiles: Stylish Ideas From Japan by Chizuko Morita is a fun and informative introduction to the creative art of gift wrapping for all items and gifts of every size with the designer innovation of textiles and cloth materials. Expansively guiding readers through the Japanese-based ideas for stunning gift-wrap presentations for wine, books, CDs, pictures, posters, balls, and boxed items, Gift Wrapping With Textiles bases its techniques on century-old Japanese traditional roots, along with additional items to freshen up everyday items such as pillows, baskets, dinner tables, flower pots and bouquets, and much more. A simply beautiful book, Gift Wrapping With Textiles is very highly recommended for discerning readers searching for a new and stylistic approaches to impressively wrapping their gifts for friends, family, and associates.

So much travel writing is a tedious checklist of places visited and experiences experienced, combined with trite observations about local customs and culture. Not so Will Ferguson's Hitching Rides with Buddha.

I lived in Japan for three years and am constantly disappointed by the stereotypes and bleedingly obvious cultural differences pointed out by people who write (or make films - think Lost in Translation) about Japan. But Ferguson lived in Japan, and it shows. His acute cultural observations are tempered with a great sense of humour and wackiness, and the book has a clear narrative arc that pulls you from the bottom to the top of Japan along the cherry-blossom front. A great book for people thinking of going to Japan, or for expats living in Japan who know Sofia Coppola ain't got a clue.

....but I must say, besides it being funny and a real treat to read, I find that the author has a beautiful way with words that is not so often seen in travel writing. Chapter 10 may very well be one of the best chapters in a book I have ever read, and re-read, and read again. Beautiful words and beautiful images. I look forward to finishing the book this week, and thus far, can say that I highly recommend this book who not only enjoy good writing, but also a good laugh. - Vince Yanez, Author of It Doesn't Matter Which Road You Take: A European Travel Story

I read this book twice when living in Japan. I've experienced some of the things that Ferguson wrote about. His sense of humor had me laughing out loud. It's an easy and fun book to read.

Books about Japan by westerners seem to fall into two categories- literary books that talk about Japan in poetic terms and dwell on traditional culture, and comedy books that play up the wacky side of Japanese pop culture for laughs. Somewhere in between is "Hitching Rides with the Buddha"- a book by a foreigner who actually lived here for 5 years, speaks Japanese (as modest as he is about his blunders with the grammar), and really has an understanding of its people and its way of life.

Written as a modern day answer to Alan Booth's "The Road to Sato", this book details Ferguson's cross-country hitchhiking trip from mainland Japan's southernmost point in Kyushu to the northernmost point in Hokkaido, covering thousands of miles and encountering people from all walks of life, from teenagers to senior citizens and from ski bums to college professors.

At first, I was a bit sceptical about reading a book based on a trip hatched, by Ferguson's own admission, while falling-down drunk at a cherry blossom-viewing party in rural Kyushu. What kind of expert could he be?

But speaking as someone who loves Japan and has lived here almost 5 years myself, this book gets to the heart of the experience better than any other I know, and does a great job capturing the joy, delight, confusion and even occasional sorrow that comes when interacting with this amazing culture. Inspired by this book, I sometimes take off on similar hitch hiking trips during breaks at the university I teach at, and even made the same trip from Kyushu to Hokkaido. Every trip is a different adventure, and I'm glad that someone as talented as Ferguson wrote about it.

Hitchhiking from Cape Sata to Cape Soya in Japan, William Ferguson creates a good follow up to Alan Booth's "The Roads to Sata". As humorous as it is scholarly, one comes from this book feeling they somewhat understand many aspects of Japanese culture, such as Shintoism. I say somewhat because, as Ferguson clearly shows in the narrative, it's impossible to ever understand the Japanese fully without being Japanese. A good read for any time.

child friendly but accurate and cute illustrations. A good reference for any age.

a book which introduces different culture and custom to children must be accurate. children's books about Japan by non-Japanese writers are not always correct as they tend to write only what they see/hear/feel and lack a broader view or facts. in that sense this book written by a Japanese author has of course no problem. the contents are well organized covering "a year in a life" of children in Japan. illustrations are light and cheerful. our 4 year old grandson in America who recently visited Japan enjoys this book as he can relate it to what he had seen while in Japan.

I GOT THIS BOOK FOR MY DAUGHTER TO STUDY ABOUT JAPAN.I'M FROM TOKYO AND I LIVED THERE.
THIS IS VERY ACCURATE AND I F YOU ARE INTERESTED IN JAPAN OR YOU HOMECHOOL,YOU SHOULD GET THIS BOOK FOR YOUR CHILDREN.

"I Live in Tokyo" is a sweet little picture book describing the life of a small girl, Mimiko, and her life in Tokyo, Japan. The book is sectioned off into months, with each month telling the story of something that happens in Japan during that month in a two-page spread, with very pretty illustrations.

This is a great book to introduce a typical Japanese lifestyle to the wee ones. I am happy to see how authentic it is, without antiquated notions of Japanese people running around in Kimono all the time or eating sushi at every meal. I loved seeing Mimiko listing "hamburger" as one of her top ten favorite meals. There is not a thing in here that I have not done myself in Japan, and Mimiko acts like all the little Japanese children that I know so well.

The illustrations are great, and offer a simple but accurate and inviting picture of things like a japanese house, a japanese summer festival, japanese food and even a japanese-style bathtub where you wash outside before getting into the water. Throughout the book, the Japanese names for several things are given, rather than devising English translations, and a few simple characters are introduced.

Highly recommended for anyone wanting to get kids interested in life in Japan, or just to open a window to another world, different yet similar.

Certainly there are monthly festivals in Japan like foreigners don't know. As Japan especially Tokyo of the metropolitan get to be industrial and modern city, the importance and customs for them between Japanese is getting to be thin, however even now the connection between such festivals or customs and Japanese history will be maintained. There are the special holidays, called "Syukujitsu" in Japan except of such festivals, too. If Syukujitsu compare with U.S.A ways, that will be like Independence Day. But Syukujitsu have other mean in Japan, off course though have the mean as being applied to U.S.A like Tennou Tanjoubi(Japanese emperor's birthday), too, that is, there are the holidays like Keirou No Hi(a holiday that people thank for old men)in Syukujitsu, too. I think that such festival have strong connection with Japanese history that Japanese have the custom for old men the old days ago.

In Japan, there will be at least one festival on each month. In January, especially new-year-day there won't be countries that do not their festival. Off course that is special day in Japan. The day is called "Syougatsu" in Japan. As I wrote already, the festival day is not general festival, have the mean of Japanese history, for instance, some of Japanese (over 50%) go to Japanese shrines (Jinja), if we consider of the recent truth that Japanese younger have no the interest for such old customs, the number will be surprising thing. And the custom that Japanese go to shrines on the day have important mean. The act is called "Hatsumoude(first pray)". Japanese have the thinking that good outcomes are made if we do all the things on the first day whether new month day of New Year Day, therefore on Japanese New Year Day, there are the special act of "Hatsuhinode" except of Hatsumoude, too. There is the custom that sunrise bring people good fortune in Japan from long ago. Especially as I wrote already, Japanese think that more good outcomes are brought if they do such act on first day, such act that people watch sunrise on New Year Day is called "Hatsuhinode". Some of Japanese go to seaside or the top of mountains more than 100 km away from their home where they can watch Hatsuhinode clearly, even if they have troubles.

In Japan, there are many monthly customs so that can not write easily. That is interesting genre, too. Even Japanese.

Thank you for reading poor English.

In Island of Exiles, our hero, "Akitada, must undergo a dangerous mission for the Emperor. He does so without the aid of Genbo and Seimei, whose wonderful wise sayings I missed. There is plenty of suspense and danger -- I don't want to reveal the plot, but the ending has some surprises that I had not expected.

Parker's insight into feudal Japan is on a par with Van Gulik's Chinese "Judge Dee" series. I'm delighted that she has kept her characters much the same and stayed true to the era by keeping them believable (unlike L. Rowland, who stepped into the 20th century when she made the hero's wife a female Japanese detective -- I don't think so...)

I've developed a voracious appetite for Parker's Sugawara novels that's unlike anything I've experienced for a long time, and if it didn't carry with it an unwarranted diminution of her previous titles, I'd call "Island of Exiles" her best work yet. There are scenes in this novel reminiscent of Tolkien, as raw and gritty a dramatization of a man's reduction to an animalistic state as I can remember.

This one vaults Sugawara entirely out of his familial and official milieus to do some undercover work - *seriously* undercover - and the departure is both harrowing and exhilarating. Akitada's extramarital fling in this one detracts somewhat from his character's sense of integrity, but in Sugawara's cultural/historical context it's certainly not an implausible nor even unusual occurrence. Presumably his lapse will feed into later character evolution? At any rate, the plot, which begins with a horrific, dreamlike ordeal, builds gradually into an absolute rip-snorter that is thoroughly engrossing. I lost countless hours zooming in on Sadoshima Island via Google Earth while reading this novel, and have added it to my list of must-visit Japanese locales for future vacations. The novel feels so real that I half expect to find the temples and horrific mines Parker describes when I get there. Actually, I was floored when I saw the posted images of the real-world Choukoku Temple at Hase - the image of Shunsai's monastery that Parker had painted in my head previously was virtually identical to them.

Once again, the wait for her next is going to be as excruciating as it was for this one. Amazon is indicating the hardcover version of "Island" is set for release in a couple of weeks - very odd that the paperbacks were published beforehand.

I highly recommend Parker's novels for historical fiction fanatics, Japanophiles in particular. Reading the Sugawara novels in order is not essential but on the whole probably more enjoyable, as there are numerous references within them to prior cases. Enjoy!

This is another in a series set in 11th C. Japan (Heian era), featuring Sugawara Akitada.

Sugawara, descendant of a once illustrious family that suffered after the exile of an ancestor, is currently acting governor of a distant province, Echigo (for an official, tantamount to being exiled himself), struggling to do his duty with little funds and support and hoping to some day return to the capital, despite political enemies working against him. He is becoming known for his ability to solve sensitive crimes, however, and two mysterious officials visit, ordering him to investigate the murder of the exiled Second Prince (brother of the Emperor--found guilty of plotting treason) on the island of Sado.

Akitada undertakes a dangerous mission disguised as a prisoner exiled to the island. He has to deal with cruel, corrupt police officials, the weak governor whose son is accused of poisoning the Second Prince, a powerful local lord who is the descendant of an Exile and possible treasonous plots against the Emperor. The historical detail is strong, the aspects of life and culture in the period interesting, the adventure and action exciting, the mystery suitably involved and intriguing. A good over-all read. It is not necessary to have read the previous books to enjoy this tale.

I have read all of the "Sugawara Akita" mysteries/thrillers. They always strike me as a tiny bit excessive in some respects (the thriller respect, mostly) but still irresistible. This volume is no different; or, if it is different it is even better. The historical authenticity is very strong, perhaps more so than usual, and the characters are appealing. If you love feudal Japan, don't miss this one.

I thoroughly enjoyed all the previous books of the Akitada series, but this one in particular really shines. Parker's prose became more and more crisp and concise, action swift, intrigue intricate. Previously I always thought of Robert Van Gulik when reading them, but now I would venture to say that I like the authors voice more. Actually, there's a embedded story about stolen silver bars for which Parker credits Van Gulik himself.
"The Island of Exiles" finds the likable hero in pretty severe circumstances, but with some good luck and quick thinking he's able once again to avoid a certain death. Moreover, it shows Akitada as a man not invincible to his own lapses of judgment and all-too human failings. Definitely a page-turner.
I missed the lively adventures of Tora and Genba, as well as Seimei's Confucius quotes, but otherwise the "spirit" of the series is all there. Domo-arigato gozaimasu, I.J.-san.

Relevant, pragmatic, an excellent reference for clinical libraries, Introduction to Meridian Therapy is ideal for the beginner and experienced practitioner alike. Well rounded information on meridian therapy that is highly applicable to clinical practice combines with numerous charts and diagrams for easy reference.

My interest in oriental medicine is serious and long-standing, although I have not had the chance to study formally at an established school. Ancient texts are seldom available in translation and can be extremely difficult to understand when they are available. Many of the more modern texts are quite dogmatic. Like second-rate cookbooks, they may give varying results for the home cook. Shudo Denmei's book is a wonderful gateway. It gives a very understandable "big picture" view of acupuncture as it developed from its origins to the present time. It gives extremely practical ways for a student to begin both study and early clinical experience. Without translation from theory to actual practice, no such book is worth anything. This book is the most practical I have seen at making this transition to clinical experience possible. So, this is a wonderful place to begin. On the other hand, the author also outlines very clearly at least one respectable path to mastery of the higher complexities of acupuncture practice. The text can, then, guide a person through long stages of improving practice. There are other wonderful books (consider, as an example, Dr. Manaka's book), but I know of no other text that is nearly as helpful or as practical, particularly for a person like me. I have great desire, but I don't catch on easily. Thanks to the author.

I liked this book - especially the hints to learning the pulse diagnosis, and the "embassy" analogy. This is a great intro to Japanese acupuncture. (Not for total beginners in acupuncture)

This book is the best of all of the books written already by this great master of "Meridian Therapy", Shudo Denmei. This book is extraordinary and indispensable to all and any acupunturista, be him linked to the acupuncture Chinese, Japanese or western. This book is of great aid not just in the diagnosis, as well as in the treatment of the disturbances of the meridians. And their teachings will be of great aid, as it is it for me, in the diagnosis and treatment of at least 80% of the treatable diseases with the acupuncture. Nobody in healthy conscience can stop reading, to study, to dialogue, to discuss and to share the rich information of the same with other work friends. Certainly, well practiced these techniques of the book, his/her performance as acupunturist will be said: before and after Shudo Denmei!

I attribute much of what I do in practice to this book. The text is very readable and the information is presented clearly. If I were allowed only one book on acupuncture, this would be the one.

This is my favorite cookbook. The recipes are simple, healthy, and they don't taste like they are missing anything.

After becoming a vegan, I thought that I would be deprived of all the tastes that I grew up with. I happened upon this book at Borders and have been pleasantly surprised by every recipe that I have tried. Even my anti-vegan sister loves this book.

The recipe for gyoza is a real winner.

This is a great cookbook. As a Japanese-American and a vegan, this is by far the best vegetarian japanese cookbook I've come across.

The veg-anized recipies in this book mimic the real thing--the Japanese curry out of this cookbook tastes the same as I remember the beef/pork/chicken version tasting. The ramen recipe is as close to the real thing as I can imagine, and I'm not referring to the 6 for a dollar insta-packs from the supermarket.

The author includes traditional and modern foods, and recipes which are tradionally vegetarian and not. Most of the ingredients can be bought at your local supermarket. This is the book to get for healthy, completely vegetarian Japanse food.

The few recipes I've made from this book have turned out quite tasty. But almost every single recipe includes either meat substitutes or exclusively Japanese ingredients. That would be fine, except I live in a rural area where I have very little access to exotic "meats" and Japanese markets.

This book would be better if there were a complete shopping list or pantry list so I could stock up on ingredients when I'm in a bigger city. Or are there mail order addresses where I could buy Japanese groceries?

It's hard to search for a cookbook when you can't view it personally so I took a chance buying this and am extremely happy with it! The recipes are authentic and easy. There aren't any photographs but a few drawing to illustrate technique. The recipes are the core of Japanese cooking and the ingredients are consistant and easy to find. Exactly what I was looking for and would definatly say it was not a waste of money. This is getting alot of use.

I came across this book while researching vegan recipes for a family member who is on a really restricted diet. I am not a vegan, but I have loved every recipe from this book that I've made. The maze gohan (Japanese pilaf) and Yasai Zosui (mixed vegetable 'risotto') have become some of my favorite foods.

The book is nicely laid out and it's the perfect size book. It's long enough to contain a wealth of recipes, but not so large that it is unwieldy and awkward to actually have in the cooking area. The directions are extremely clear, and the author does a good job of explaining unfamiliar ingredients.

Vegan or not, this is one of my favorite cookbooks.