Japan Books

"Ours is the signal honor of being the nation's bulwark. One day we must prove ourselves worthy."

Requiem for Battleship Yamato is about sacrifice-immolation on the altar of national survival. It was written not to needlessly lionize the wanton sacrifice of combatants in order to bring to an end what one historian called "a war to establish and revive the stature of man." Instead, it was written, and properly so, as catharsis: Yoshida Mitsuru, as a 20-year old ensign on the bridge of the Yamato during its final voyage, had witnessed War, and thus wished that future generations would no longer be called upon to "prove themselves worthy," and to bear the burden of armed conflict.

Yoshida's prose satisfactorily captures the spirit on board the Yamato prior to its climactic encounter. Yet there is no way to adequately describe what the men of the Yamato went through during the ship's final hours. One author called it "a glorious way to die." Alternatively, the battle could be described as a nautical siege, a maritime battle of Troy. There is no apotheosis in death; death is merely a release from duty. During the battle, one man struggles to keep the deck clean by throwing overboard limbs severed by bomb shrapnel or machine-gun fire. Below decks, men grapple with the bodies of their comrades; once-inviting hot tubs (the Yamato has several of them, we are told) are filled to the brim with the ranks of the dead. In the bridge, officers are mowed down by machine-gun bullets. There is no sanctuary aboard the most massive dreadnought ever constructed.

This is a highly readable book, redolent with poignant memories, written by a man who had the courage to confront his phantoms. Through Yoshida's book, many souls who fought during the Pacific War found a voice.

"Three thousand corpses, still entombed today. What were their thoughts as they died?"

In the 1950's and 60's, Japanese memoirs of the Pacific War flooded forth from the publishers. Saburo Sakai's "Samurai", Hara's "Japanese Destroyer Captain," Mochitsura Hashimoto's "Sunk!" are just the tip of the spear. But Yoshida's "Requiem for Battleship Yamato" is simply in a class by itself. The youngest officer on board the mighty battleship, he was present when the giant was ordered on her suicide sortie. Escorted by the anti-aircraft cruiser Yahagi and numerous destroyers in April 1945, Yamato's mission was sublimely ridiculous: sail down toward the Ryuku Islands (where a massive American task force was staging the invasion of Okinawa), attack the landing force, beach itself, expend all weapons and ammunition, then the surviving crew members would join the garrison in Okinawa's defense. It was no surprise that the force didn't even make it halfway before being annihilated by U.S. planes. Yoshida's book is poetic and is beautifully translated by Richard Minnear who also provides a superb introduction as well. Yoshida's account of the American air attacks which inevitably shattered the Yamato, the Yahagi and most of the escorting destroyers come off as not combat, but high slaughter. Veterans who survived idiotic orders and suicide charges will find a spiritual brother in Yoshida. Don't be surprised if you have a tear in your eye for the brave crews of these ships as you close this book for the last time.

Written as a tribute to his shipmates, "Requiem" is also a powerful anti-war book.

young, naive and inexperienced the author chronicles his one and only combat mission. relating his service on the japanese battleship 'yamato' author mitsuru gives perspective not only on what he does but on what he feels. fortunately for the reader mitsuru is an articulate writer who has had the opportunity to rewrite his recollections numerous times over the years before settling on this 'definitive' edition. the book runs as a subtle parallel of stories between the events happening around the author during war and what he thinks and feels as he faces his own mortality. an excellent perspective of man in conflict.
also worth noting is the outstanding translation and introduction by richard minear.

Although perhaps unsurprising given the scale of Japan's losses and the bitterness of defeat, the fact remains that there are relatively few accounts of the war by those who fought with the Imperial Forces, and even fewer available in English.

For this reason alone `Requiem for Battleship Yamato' would command attention even if it were only an average work. But it is not an average work; it is a classic in the truest sense of this much abused word, which must be placed alongside books such as `The Last Enemy' by Richard Hillary.

Written in a spare, almost poetic style, `Requiem' tells the story of the Yamato's last doomed sortie from the viewpoint of one of her junior officers. Alongside glimpses of life on board the great battleship, we gain an insight into the thoughts and personal lives of her crew as they prepare for what most realise will be a mission from which there will be no return.

As the tension mounts and enemy forces close in for the inevitable kill, Yoshida provides a moving commentary on the Yamato's last days and hours, with poignant vignettes of such figures as the force commander Vice Admiral Ito, who had correctly appreciated the futility of the mission yet carried out his task with calm resolution.

With the Yamato entering her final death agony, Yoshida gives us harrowing descriptions of the effects of explosives and steel on human flesh - a timely reminder in this age of glossy propaganda of the true face of battle. Then there is the homecoming, with Yoshida's personal struggle to come to terms with the meaning of his survival while so many of his comrades are dead.

No review of this book would be complete without acknowledging the outstanding work of its translator, Richard Minear, who has also provided an excellent introduction. Thanks to his efforts, this work will not only be read with profit by the military historian, but anyone who seeks to broaden his understanding of the human condition.

This book is not for readers searching for details of battle, or apologies for participating in the miltary adventure against the US. Yoshida Mitsuru was an unlikely survivor of a suicide mission.

Some of the reviewers have found this book morbid, and focused on death. Mitsuru attempts to describe his feelings and unaswered question that haunted him for the rest of his life. Why was he saved, when so many other died? Was there a purpose to his life, and the life of his dead shipmates. These are questions that all men ask to some extent, but for those caught in a war, life and death are close and constant companions.

The normal thoughts of young men towards life and the future are put aside as their ship plows forward on a suicide mission.

Do not buy or read this book if you are not prepared to think about the personal cost of war. Some have described this as an anti-war book. I do not believe that is a correct description. This book is written by someone whose education and social standing required him to enter the Navy, and go to war. I view this work as a refection of an eyewitness and wounded survivor. Such an experience at such a young age makes one an expert on the war experience, not the root causes of war or their justifications.

Most men who shared Mitsuru's experience do not write, or even disuss their experiences. For some, just the thoughts of their experience is unbearable and the reason some end their days in mental hospitals.

When Mitsuru wrote the first draft of this book, it fell under the authority and censorship of the American Occupation, which did not approve of the text.

Which brings up the question not posed directly by this book. What "truths" were censored during the official investigations surrounding Pearl Harbor, the Bataan Death March, and other matters that impacted on the ledgends and careers of Americans of that time?

This is a must read for any serious practitioner of budo.

Dave Lowry is in top form as he explains the the deeper meaning of Kanjis that a budoka might encounter as they progress in their training.

This is an essential guide to understanding what we can learn from the time spent "In the Dojo" and how it could transfer to our daily lives.

Lowry has created a series of 2-3 page mini-essays comparing and contrasting the budo and shodo, the art of Japanese caligraphy.

A wonderful inspiration for the beginning or advanced martial artist alike, he provides another delightful vehicle for reflection. A book to be read slowly and savored.

A lack of familiarity with the written Japanese language is no impediment to the enjoyment of this book. In fact, it may serve as something as a primer for the novice.

Plain and simple - Mr. Lowry lays it all on the line. This book captures the TRUE spirit of the martial arts! It's not about being "bad" or even about self-defense (although martial arts properly studied and used can come in handy when your back's against the wall) - it's about self-development. Nuff sed! Get the book - read it and learn!

Dave Lowry has written an excellent book that I've read on more than one occassion. As a bugeisha (one that studies the traditional Japanese martial ways) this small treatise on terms, kanji and philosophy used in most budo settings is quite enthralling.

I've found that as I've progressed in my own training, Mr. Lowry's "Sword and Brush" becomes even more profound. Going to my bookshelf, dusting off the book cover and reading it each year has proven fruitful. His simple and direct approach provide insight into shodo (the way of the brush), a particular kanji(s) history, which allows the reader to visualize the origins of the pictograph, and its transcendence into the combat ways of Japan. Each philosophical overview imparts a wisdom found by one who has truly studied the arts and can teach intricate meanings to the reader.

Lowry is a true student of the arts; an individual steeped in budo and bujutsu. He gets "it," and tries to share his knowledge with others.

Buy this book, you won't regret it.

This elegant book from renowned martial arts author Dave Lowry is both enlightening and pleasing to the spirit. Mixing examples of his masterful brush work with insightful and thought provoking stories, Lowry delves into the deeper meaning of common martial concepts. It is easy reading yet profound. I read it for the first time nearly a decade ago then recently picked it up again. I do not know if it is the natural maturity that comes with age or through the furtherance of my martial training but I have found it even better the second time around. If you are looking for deeper meaning in from your budo training, this work belongs on your bookshelf!

Lawrence Kane
Author of Surviving Armed Assaults, The Way of Kata, and Martial Arts Instruction

I recently completed seven days of wreck diving in Truk Lagoon in the Federate States of Micronesia. I went to Chuuk (the main island's current name) knowing vitrually nothing about the island, the people or the wrecks located there, except that it was loaded with Japanese ships from WWII. While there I was loaned this book by the dive operator as a reference for planning my dives. The first night I opened the book to peruse it my immediate reaction was that I wish I would have known this book was out there prior to taking the trip.

The book opens with a bit of history of Chuuk, touches on the culture of the people then immediately dives in (no pun) to the details about "Operations Hailstone" in February 1944 which resulted in the sinking of many of the ships that currently lie in Truk Lagoon. All this background makes for great reading to anyone who is interested in the history of WWII as I am. But if you're a diver, and enjoy wreck diving, the true value of the book lies in it's second half.

It is here where the author dissects each ship with its history, its role during the war, and the circumstances surrounding its sinking. Because Bailey has dived these wrecks numerous times he is intimately familiar with their depth, points of interest for each, and the potential hazards of exploring them. It is this information that anyone planning a dive trip to Truk needs to be familiar with.

His research was meticulous, the photos first rate and the information was spot on. If you are planning to dive Truk for the first time, or you have an interest in this subject matter, this is a must read and worth the price.

I'm currently reading "WWII Wrecks of Palau" by Bailey in preparation for my May 2008 dive trip to Palau. I will be much better informed and ready for the Palau trip than I was for my trip to Truk Lagoon.

What an outstanding written document on what happened and on what is below the surface in that special part of the world. It's a must for history lovers and for scuba diving fans. And it's mandatory for individuals that fit both categories.

Bought this book before diving in Truk Lagoon. A must have and a great book to read before one does the actual dives. The authority on dives in Truk Lagoon

I've been reviewing a lot of documentation regarding Truk, and specially about wreckships all over the world. This book is a complete guide to understand all the details and history of the battle in this Chuck Lagoon, doing it as an amazing guide to penetrate into the paradise of Micronesia. Absolutely recommnended for all the scuba divers with high interest in wrecks and the history of the World War II.

A magnificent and definitive work by Dan Bailey. This is the reference book long-time Truk Lagoon divers and liveaboard operators use as a source document. Dan Bailey made over 40 trips to Chuuk, diving the wrecks multiple times. He enlisted the support of some noted underwater photographers to capture images of the ghost ships of Truk. Better yet, in many cases he researched and listed original photgraphs and specfications for the vessels, giving life to the wrecks that now cover the sea floor.

This book is like having a shelf full of texts sitting in one tidy area of your bookcase. It is unlike any dog book available. The environmental information is vital, not just for your Akita, but for your kids and you. You cannot accept the recommendations of agencies like the FDA and EPA when they prefer to ignore the hazards of some chemicals while minimizing the adverse health effects of others--you need to educate yourself, and this book does just that. It will save you thousands in vet bills by teaching you how to use preventative measures. You cannot afford not to have this book and you cannot raise your Akita without understanding the health and nutritional requirements of the breed.

I bought numerous Akita books before I got my Akita. But later I found this one. This is the best one I have seen. It is great because it not only has great information on the Akita, but also a lot of good general information on the care of dogs.

This is, simply put, the DEFINITIVE volume on the breed. Anyone who admires the breed or shares their life with an Akita will find this volume not only fascinating, but invaluable. In fact, dog lovers in general will benefit from the information included. EVERYTHING is covered in great detail in this very beautiful THICK volume which makes a beautiful coffee table addition. EVERYTHING - historical context, breeding and whelping, puppyhood, adult life, senior life, behavioral issues, rescue...and THE most comprehensive collection of medical information accumulated to date - edited by the remarkable Dr. Jean Dodds, the veterinary authority on Akita endocrine and immune issues. The medical information allowed me to navigate with my vet through a complex process - and I was able to understand what was happening and to make educated decisions on the care of my Akita as a result. I must say I was also surprised at the cost of this book - when you receive it you will see that comparable texts are sold for twice the price. This is an absolute must have! It's beautifully produced with wonderful pictures and an easy to reference index. It's really a tremendous accomplishment. I wish every important subject had a volume like this. Don't hesitate - I feel this book has undoubtedly extended my dogs' lives because I'm able to provide breed-specific care for them...and you can't always expect your vet to have the information that this volume does. It's a result of decades of information gathering and evaluation from a legend in the breed. I've never met Barbara Bouyet, but I can tell you that we benefit from sharing the information she provides in this text ALL THE TIME.

I bought the first volume and thought it was invaluable. The second one contains even more... I have used the information as a resource both with my own dogs and as a volunteer for Akita Rescue. The sections on health and diseases in Akitas have been expanded to give a better understanding of how the environment impacts the health of the Akita. I am studying the chapters on health and puppies intently now as I prepare for my second Akita. I've passed on information regarding auto-immune conditions to my own vet to use as resource material. Barbara has outdone herself and her devotion to the Akita is evident as she commits herself to educating others.

After Bouyet's first book, I was in line for the second one long before it was available, and it didn't disappoint. There can be no price put on the information contained, including health, history and nutrition. There are numerous examples of non-traditional remedies that your vet will never tell you! There is more information on nutrition than your vet will ever know! There is a view to the 'whole dog' that no one but an experienced owner/rescuer and devoted, full time student of the breed could ever have developed. And Bouyet is willing to share it - along with touching and beautiful photos that span generations of development and changes in the Akita breed. Artwork by Alicia Meyer enhances the imagery, and Dr. Jean Dodds' involvement is a huge bonus as, in my opinion, she is THE authority on the Akita immune and endocrine system.
On the surface, this is a gorgeous coffee-table book that depicts the love the author has for our sometimes difficult breed, but open the cover and you'll find an amazing wealth of knowledge that no other book can deliver.

Really, if books like this were read more often in schools, I bet bullying would decrease. This is a great show of what happens when we treat people badly for being different from us and just how the underdog will rise again. For a children's book, it is surprisingly complex and all the more powerful for the story Yashima weaves. Apparently this was based on personal childhood experiences of Yashima and I find it more than impressive he managed to put them all into literature. It also shows the way of another culture, thus allowing us a little much-needed cultural understanding. Yashima's illustrations, true to his talent, are wonderful and do their fair share plenty in expressing the changing moods of this story.

I am so glad this book is still in print! It is a wonderful story with equally wonderful illustrations, and a strong message: a child who is "different" turns out to have special talents. One of my all-time favorites.

all of my classmates told me to get a copy of this book "Crow Boy" by Taro Yashima, so i did. when i started reading it, tears flowed from my eyes, it really is "a-must-read"

this book should be recommended for all students and teachers, it'll teach you a moral lesson you'll never forget.

This book encourages compassion and awareness of the natural world. It is a healthy change for children who are used to overstimulating action books and videogames.

This story was first read to me by a colleague. A very enlightening and heartwarming story "Crow Boy" forces readers to reflect on the importance of considering individual differences within classroom settings. A child's potential can only be fulfilled when we consider all of their interests and needs. Every teacher must have a personal copy. I am going to get mine.

I've been using this book in my work as a mathematician since I bought the first english-language edition in 1984. The second english-language edition is not enormously different to the first, but it is an improvement. Both have been by far the most useful reference on my bookshelf for 18 years. I have always found that the coverage is in-depth and yet comprehensible (with a bit of pen-on-paper work). It's especially useful for accessing results from areas other than my own speciality. I've found the differential geometry coverage literally better than the dozen texts on DG which I have bought. It must be worth more than 100 books on the shelf. Indexing and cross-referencing are both excellent. Historical context is very good. I use this encyclopedia at least 10 times a week. Virtually every definition I need is here, and every important theorem is summarised.

I am majoring in mathematics, and thus needed to search out a good reference book that covers most everything. Well, this is it, and I looked at all of them. The price for the softcover is reasonable, and I would only get the hardcover if it were to be used extensively (library or multiple users). The amazing amount of information is dictated in mathematical shorthand, so the beginner may have some difficulty, but then again, it is a reference (and a might good one too) and not a text.

PS, Do not buy the compilation of Eric Weisstein's work published by the CRC Press. The CONSTANTLY UPDATED work can be accessed for free from Wolfram Research. Reason: Greedy publishers. If you use his site regurlarly and wish to support his work, then just send the man $5 and buy these books instead.

EDM2 is exceptional for the uniformly high quality of the writing. Each major field of mathematics is divided into subfields and treated in essay format. There are no synthesizing overview articles. It does a good job of referencing original results and notable texts as of around 1980.

To meet their goal of covering all fields of mathematics while keeping EDM2 to a reasonable size, the editors appear to have set two basic limits. First, there is no coverage of methods. You won't find any description of how to do something. The second restriction is on depth. The articles tend to cover about 80% of the terms you would find in an introductory graduate text on the same subject. Often, even those terms are just mentioned in passing. It's useless for help in reading research articles, because the coverage is not sufficiently deep or current.

I would recommend EDM2 to any math major. The articles give a good introduction to practically any field and the references are current enough to get you started in the library. There's a lot to be said for the security of having at least something on everything. Get the paperback version as an undergrad, take good care of it until your math library grows enough that you don't refer to it any more, and then pass it on to a younger student.

If my house were on fire and I had only sufficient time to rescue four books, I would likely grab my four-volume Encyclopedic Dictionary of Mathematics, Second Edition (EDM2). Truly, this is one of the most useful books I own. As testimony to this fact one need only observe that there are more bookmarks protruding from my copy of EDM2 than there are pages (well, almost).

If you are a mathematician, or if mathematics is central to what you do, you will likely appreciate this collection as it contains wonderfully concise yet informative and authoritative entries on nearly every branch of modern mathematics. Need to refresh your memory on Radon-Nikodym derivatives and their properties? No problem. Are you up on Grassman algebras? If not, you can look it up in EDM2. Interested in game theory? It's in there. What about semi groups, elliptic integrals, perturbation theory, lattice theory, Hilbert spaces, projective geometry, integral geometry, measure theory, geometrical optics, and non-standard analysis? All there!

But simply listing the topics covered in EDM2 will not give you an adequate picture of its utility. What is amazing about the book is how much information it can pack into very few pages, yet manage to keep the discussion quite readable. Don't get me wrong; it doesn't read like a Stephen King novel (nor would you want it to). But the entries are self-contained and cogent enough that you can actually learn a good bit about topics that are totally new to you. Of course, you will want to avail yourself of the many cited references to gain a more complete understanding of any given topic, but you will be well on your way to getting acquainted with fundamental definitions and techniques of a hitherto unfamiliar branch of mathematics.

Here are several examples: If you look up "polynomial approximation" you will find a succinct discussion that rigorously defines such terms Bernstein polynomials, Chebyshev system, Haar's condition, degree of approximation, moduli of continuity, approximation by Fourier expansions, trigonometric interpolation, Lagrange interpolation, and orthogonal polynomials, and all in FOUR terse but readable pages, with plenty of references at the end. The entry on "geometric optics" covers Fermat's principle, Gauss mappings, Malus's theorem, and aberration, all in TWO pages. The succinct one-page biography of David Hilbert is followed by a one-page synopsis of Hilbert spaces. In a mere eight pages on function spaces it provides what amounts to a condensed survey of functional analysis, covering norms, dual spaces, Besov spaces, the Sobolev-Besov embedding theorem, Kothe spaces, etc.

Of course, what you will not find in this book is a single proof. Nor will you find up-to-the-minute esoteric theorems. But then I cannot imagine how such a reference could encompass such things; mathematics is far too vast. Nonetheless, EDM2 has amazing breadth and depth for a meager four-volume collection. And it is written with mathematicians in mind, so the discussions are crisp and rigorous. It's exceedingly well done.

Prepared by the Mathematical Society of Japan, this two-volume set provides an outstanding reference of mathematics. It is considered by many to be the best available work that is both definitive and encompassing. Treatment is in depth, and presentations assume a solid mathematical background of the reader. This reference is excellent for the researcher working at the doctoral level. Cost of the paperback edition is very reasonable.

I have been a professor at Hiroshima Shudo University for more than 17 years teaching American law and politics, primarily to Japanese students but also to foreigners in Japan. Over the years, I have read and discussed much of the history written about WWII and Japan. I do not know Hadley personally but I wish I did. His book is one of the most well-balanced and well-researched books I have ever read about the war in Japan. If I had a Japanese translation of Hadley's book, I would teach the book in my seminar course.

I agree with much of what has been said by other reviewers, except to add I think this book will appeal more broadly than the author has anticipated. It is in essence a very enjoyable and well paced read. And what a great movie it would make!

I had the privilege of sitting in a coffee shop with Dr. Hadley and receiving a signed copy... He is a fantastic individual and an inspiration.

The story of the Jordan crew, the fate of the men and the feelings and reactions from the villagers themselves is portrayed just as it was, no war heroes, no glories of war, but instead, the horror of what it was like on both sides. In the book, one of the crew specifically tells Hadley 'don't portray us as heroes'. There are no heroes in this book, only casualties of human experience in times of intense fear and suffering. Those who follow orders and those who suffer from following out those orders - on both sides, are caught afterwards with the confusion of the people they became or were capable of becoming. Grandmothers with spears, given the chance to take revenge on their enemy... an account of what war really is for both sides.
All should read this book. To reflect, to take a stand against war and the people it creates.

Prof. Greg Hadley has thoroughly researched the story of one particular B-29 crew; "the Jordan crew", whose lives were irretrievably changed when they were shot down by anti-aircraft fire over Japan on the night of 19/20 July 1945.

The story of these men runs as a single thread through the complex tapestry of the USAAF bombing campaign against Japan. This book includes an informative historical treatment of this campaign and the lives of the people it affected.

After setting the historical scene, the book describes how the Jordan crew, hailing from diverse backgrounds, were welded together into a fighting unit. They flew their first combat mission in early February 1945, participating in the campaign of high-level B-29 precision raids against industrial targets. These raids were frequently impeded by strong winds and obscured targets, and desperate Japanese defence. The Jordan crew later helped enact the dramatic US change of tactics to low-level fire raids on urban areas by night. They watched from above as the largest Japanese cities blazed, one after another.

As the Jordan crew's battle-experience increased, the reader gets an alarming impression of the toll that this relentless campaigning imposed on their individual performances and cohesion as a crew. The danger of flying the Air Force's most technically ambitious aircraft in the hostile skies above Japan is brought home very well.

The Jordan crew were finally shot down during a mission to lay mines in the waters off the Japanese west coast. (The book has many interesting details about USAAF mining campaign, which made an enormous but largely unsung contribution to crippling the Japanese war economy.)

The loss of their B-29 probably hinged on one seemingly trivial decision, made as they climbed away from their minelaying run that night. After deviating from the official mission flight plan (possibly to steer a faster "direct" route towards home) they were hit over the city of Niigata by a crack Japanese anti-aircraft unit, recently transferred there from Tokyo after that city had been virtually destroyed.

The Jordan crew were the only B-29 crew to be shot down over Niigata during the war. (Ironically, Niigata had been "quarantined" to remain in a pristine condition as one of the US's potential A-bomb targets! However, the A-Bombs were dropped elsewhere, and Niigata became one of the few large Japanese cities to survive the war without being razed.)

Hadley's persistent detective work has uncovered the true story behind the murder of two of the parachuted crew-members by Japanese local-defence militias (the "Field of Spears" of the book's title). These crimes were covered-up at the end of the war, when an impressive grave was hurriedly constructed for the "crash victims". US grave-recovery personnel never had reason to believe that there had been an atrocity. (Tragically, at least one of the Jordan crew also decided to go down with their ship, rather then bale out and take their chances as prisoners of the Japanese.)

The photographic coverage of events on the ground is one of the strengths of this book. One poignant time-lapse photo really brings home the tragedy of war. It shows the blazing bomber descending rapidly across the night sky while Japanese children wearing "anti-fire" hoods look on in fascination. Hadley has even located photos of the actual capture of the surviving crewmembers. Other startling photos illustrate the high degree of regimentation and propaganda-incitement of the civilians; very reminiscent of modern-day North Korea. These civilian militias were waiting on the ground in a state of fear and anger as the "parachutists" drifted down from above. (Paradoxically, some of the Jordan crew had their lives saved through the intervention of regular Japanese Army soldiers calming down the frenzied civilians.)

Thereafter, in the hands of the feared Japanese military police, the men suffered continuously harsh treatment - intended as retribution for the enormous damage which was being inflicted by the B-29s all over Japan. The captured bomber crews were classified by the vengeful Japanese essentially as war criminals. They received even worse treatment than the pitiful conditions applying to other POWs of the Japanese Empire. The reader can only be appalled at their plight, as described many years later by the still-affected surviving crewmembers.

The atomic "secret" provides another fascinating aspect of this book. The crewmen had been briefed that in the event of capture, they should not attempt to "hold back" information from the Japanese. - It was well understood that silence could easily prove fatal, so alarming the enemy with true tales of overwhelming American technical superiority was probably the best course anyway.

However, the Jordan crew knew something special. At their island base on Tinian, their B-29 had been parked beside the 509th Composite Group - the Atomic bombers! The men in the Jordan crew had heard members of this elite unit talking about "winning the war with one plane"...

As Hadley explains, the Japanese were keen for information on the atomic threat...

It is unlikely that the Jordan crew could have "honestly" related any more than a few general details about the Bomb to their interrogators, but Hadley brings the story to a climax by presenting several intriguing facts about Japanese fore-knowledge of these epochal weapons.

Then suddenly, the war was over, and the B-29s began dropping Prisoner-of-War relief supplies instead of bombs. The liberation of the POWs ended the nightmare of their captivity, but it is clear that nothing could calm their memories in the decades that followed.

However, Hadley's thorough exposition of the tale does offer later generations the chance to understand the fierce emotions, stresses and terrors of those times, and to gain a new appreciation of those who survived.

"Field of Spears" refers to the field in which rural Japanese lynched US fliers of a downed B-29 bomber during World War II. That airmen who bailed out over Japan were likely to meet such a fate was understood by US commanders, who advised air crew to surrender to the Japanese military as their safest option. As the possibility of an Allied invasion of Japan loomed in 1945, Japanese civilians -- including housewives working in weapons factories -- armed themselves with bamboo spears and farmers also had at their disposal a range of sharp tilling instruments.

The Jordan crew, whose B-29 was hit by anti-aircraft fire over Niigata in July 1945 after dropping mines into Niigata Port, was made up of twelve people, of whom four didn't survive the crash or its aftermath. Professor Gregory Hadley, in "Field of Spears - The Last Mission of the Jordan Crew," diligently and faithfully describes and analyzes the events surrounding the crash.

Hadley also provides valuable accounts of conditions in Japan that led to the prosecution of a disastrous war, of US Gen. Curtis LeMay's planning of the B-29 firebombing of major Japanese cities, and of the Allied POW experience, including torture. He brings matters to life and to the present by relaying the mood of those of his students who would fight North Korea in the name of the emperor. There are also several fascinating historical asides, such as on the misinformation that Tokyo was a nuclear-bomb target.

I gained the feeling of what it would actually have been like to fly in a perilously complex and overworked B-29 and felt I was glimpsing the personal and professional lives of the crew, before and after their last run.

Those who seek balanced perspective and reasoned probability in history can look to "Field of Spears" with confidence and be rewarded. They will gain cultural insights lamentably absent in earlier monographic works. Hadley raises the research bar in his field and others will have to try that much harder to clear it. He literally dug up some of his facts. This is ever important as many still muddy the historical waters of the Pacific War, deliberately -- old soldiers online; some of those on the political left and some on the right -- or through secondhand scholarship.

Japanese should admit to the lynching. They should say, "This is how we felt, and this is what we did." More than a half century after the event, there's no need for them to prevaricate or obfuscate. Hadley's book brought to mind Yoshihiro Hattori, the Japanese high school student who was fatally shot on Oct. 17, 1992 by the owner of a house he had mistaken for the address of a Halloween party in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Hattori wasn't even on a bombing run. Jurors sympathized with the shooter. But moral relativism, as tempting as it is to ponder, isn't helpful. War is a human condition which, like extreme hunger, dehumanizes. We can't do better than to say what we did, in the hope that our children will learn from both positive and negative example.

Several photos richly illustrate the book and the cover photo of a captured, blindfolded flier held by what appear to be farmers and police is brilliantly atmospheric.

[...].

"The Geographer" is a viciously witty exploration of Japanese culture. Jim Riva uses a quirky yet life-like cast of characters to compare and contrast Japanese and American culture. The book follows the hapless geographer Winston, who is as unfortunate as to experience a lifetime of adventure over the span of a few months. Riva artfully educates the reader regarding the positives and negatives of Japan, and I was surprised by how much this book taught me. I especially appreciated the "subtitle" conversation format so that I could read in both Japanese and English.

My only gripe about this book is that there were many sexual references and "vernacular" terms I felt were unnecessary. Despite this, I have rated this book a 5 because it still manages to educate in all its crudeness. The good points far outnumber the bad.

Wow. I work at an English school in Kyoto, and I was told by the teachers there that I had to read this book. They had said that the best time to read it is at the six month mark, but they figured that I (having only been here for three months) was "old enough."

What a fun book. While it is not a true story, it has the ring of truth, obviously from Riva having lived here for a while. He uses familiar settings, such as Kinkakuji and the Imperial Palace, to give it reality, while at the same time injecting it with the surreality that only Japan can provide.

While it is heavily critical of both Japanese and Americans, the good side of both are pointed out. It is not a diatribe against everything, but rather a way of exploring the country and its people through the eyes of a rather helpless Gaijin.

The only thing that detracts from this book are the Japan Facts that are dropped into conversation ("Japan has over 2,000 active fault lines...), which give some of the conversations a rather planned feel. But they don`t ruin the book. Instead, they give the outside reader some information about the country in a fashion that might not appear in many overseas guidebooks.

A defnite must for any Gaijin living in Japan. So true... so true...

The Geographer is a great satire that could only be written by a non-Japanese who has spent considerable time in that country. The Geographer uses humor to capture the challenges you'll experience when you visit Japan as a foreigner. I found myself laughing repeatedly as I read the book. I enjoyed it so much that I read it twice in the same month.

Once I picked up this book, I was unable to put it down until I finished it. I had to explain to my co-workers the next day that the tiredness and bloodshot eyes was from reading (and laughing until I cried) until 4am! It was great, fast-paced entertainment that reminded me of Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse Five. It made me think that someone had to have lived through some or all of the misadventures Winston (the protagonist) experienced (or more aptly suffered through). In addition to the humorous story line, the location of the story and the description of an Americans difficulties with Japanese society were insightful. Jim obviously draws heavily on his own experiences in Japan, making it seem real enough to be more like a twisted biography instead of just a comedy. I would recommend the book to anyone who enjoys Vonnegut, Douglas Adams or has every cracked a smile at a Monty Python skit.

Once I began reading "The Geographer", I could not put it down. It was very insightfull, witty, and just plain entertaining. Whether or not you have visited Japan, this book will surely inform, and enlighten you to the cultural differences between the main American character, and his Japanese colleauge's. The style in which this book is written is unique, yet easy to read. I am a very avid reader, and read the "mainstream" as well as the "offbeat" authors. Jim Riva's style and talent are sure to put him in that "mainstream" group in the future. I hope that Jim writes a sequel to "The Geographer" so that we can find out the whereabouts of Weenstone-san.

Japan seems unusually well-represented by travel writers with the skills to really bring the country alive. Perhaps it's the nature of the society there that both brings out amusing mockery in some authors (not this one) or lends itself to serious reflection (very definitely this one.)

It's strange -- in reading this book, rightfully considered a classic, I was brought to mind a book called 'Dinner with Persephone' by Patricia Storace. The two writers couldn't be any less similar, but both are fascinating characters whose books (and this is not a complaint) are far more about themselves than the lands in which they find themselves. In less worthy hands, such a trip could be like being trapped on a Jehovah's Witness bus, but Ritchie brings enough interesting detail and understanding of Japanese life to make this journey rewarding.

"I hear they are building a bridge
To the island of Tsu.
Alas...
To what now
Shall I compare myself?"
- old Japanese poem, included at the start of the book.

The reason I decided to read this book is that the idea of ambling around some quiet Japanese islands with an Ozu nut sounded like a good time. And I was not wrong. I can only echo most of the sentiments expressed by reviewers above. This is a wonderful book.
Ostensibly, it's a travelogue, and a farewell letter to a Japan that was fading from existence when Richie made his trip in the early 60s. While I'd be the first to sympathise with Richie's remorse at the changing face of Japanese society (had I experienced it, that is!), I visited Japan for the first time last year and when reading this book on my return found many of my impressions reflected in the book (if much more eloquently than they existed in my head) Furthermore, while the book undoubtedly appeals to many at some stage of "the syndrome" as Richie calls it, it is really a book for anyone who has wished to cast themselves off for sea, and utter those words that bracket Richie's story, and that title this review. This is a man who has sought a world in which he will always be a stranger.
In the afterword to the original edition, the author states that Japan is a mirror to the western soul. Perhaps it's not so much that, as that other cultures cast our own ways into relief and force us to ask questions of ourselves; for many westerners, the questions that Japan asks are fascinating.
As other reviewers have noted, prudes or puritans ought to be a little wary; others may wish to be a little subjective about which lines they read between. Still, something had to happen in Onomichi to stop it turning into a lecture on Ozu I suppose.

Regarding this new edition. I have to agree with Willy D's comments. I can put up with the two columns of print (sort of giving it the book a bottom of the backpack quality; to take out and meditate on at random), and I haven't even bothered with the new introduction. But while the new afterward is interesting, the omission of the old one is a bad mistake, and worst of all, the replacement of the beautiful photos in the original edition (sorry I forget the photographer's name) with some tacky little low contrast snaps of places visited is very sinful. Perhaps the next edition could fix these errors up...?

So if you can, get to the library and find the crusty old 1971 edition, but whichever version you read, I highly recommend this terrific book by a wonderful writer.

Honesty is a characteristic of Richie's writing, along with humor, insight, and detail. He's often quite brutally honest, in fact, and though he hides little about his own failings, he's sometimes a bit more judgemental of others. But aren't we all and his observations are so entertaining, sometimes astonishing, that I always have a hard time putting his books down.

There are times, however, when Richie's judgement wears on me. The qualities that allow him to do his best writing, his marvelous detachment and curiosity, seem to make him miss aspects of the humanity of those he's observing. He romanticizes where it serves his personal needs and dismisses, sometimes churlishly, where he becomes tired or irritated with the scene and the people who he then allows to become only part of that scenery.

I recently had the enormous pleasure of reading his Japan journals while traveling Japan. The journals extend to 2004, well after "Inland Sea," and I find less of the irritating Richie in them.

In the final analysis, I just can't help mostly loving Richie. This small volume is just another gem in the wonderful body of work from this writer who should be appreciated as a writer, not just as a writer on Japan.

Donald Richie wrote a journal in 1962 which formed the ground work for everything in the book. In the 9 years until he decided to publish his journal/book, he reprised the journal with additional insertions, in which he sometimes took pieces of his experiences within Japan, that although they did not occur in the Inland Sea of Japan and during the time the journal was written, he nevertheless recognized them as very much a part of what he considers to represent Japan before modernization. Although it is unknown what exactly didn't occur within Japan's Inland Sea, it is undeniable that the book is a masterpiece of a travelogue that very much captures the essence of everything he specifically mentions. He may well have written the journal with the expectation of it being published eventually, once he was ready.

In many ways it is hard to think of it as a travelogue due to the fact that Donald Richie has already experienced half of his life within Japan, and what appears to be an individual reflecting much of his personal life into the narration. It comes across more as an journal written by an individual whom by this point into the published version has become established within Japanese culture and integrated his life within Japan, and is so able to absorb himself into his encounter, that a deeper visual presence of this world and his psyche emerges integrated into this work, that not even a well developed visual experience within cinema could do it justice.

Donald Richie has written many books on Japanese Cinema, namely Kurosawa and Ozu. His visual thinking style is very evident in this book, and I must mention he has a gift for visualization. Compared to Alan Booth, he appears to be far better at writing, and is a far more reflective an individual. Able to decipher the meaning to things, he doesn't simply note down the illogical peculiarities of the individuals he encounters. A note of warning though is that Richie has some definite vices, namely he acts upon sexual gratification with young women, and almost gets taken away with a high-school girl. He doesn't do anything illegal in the story (at least, not that I'm totally familiar with, given the time and place, and nothing with which you couldn't do, and get away with, in the US.) Although he does so during a marriage, and his actions would well be chastised by many readers, he is who he is. The end notes of his book (in the first edition, published 1971) do tell the reader of his decision to keep much of the journal writings intact without any changes made to the events. By doing so, some may find his encounters reason enough to steer clear of the book; however I must let you know you will be missing out on a very memorable experience.

The man is a brilliant writer, and one you will not find too common-place. It is also an incredibly rare experience, even more so that time has passed since then. Not to mention, the book does not come across as a book written from memory, as the writing takes a very concerted effort to engage the reader as though the reader were Donald Richie, living scene by scene in real-time. And more importantly is that the book is even better with some of the hilarious aspects of his adventure, and is much more believable with accuracy than Alan Booth. Not to mention, is Donald Richies noticeable appreciation for the Japanese people, despite clear impression to avert from some of the fine nuances that are presented in their culture, and which one might believe that he is seeking to escape his own cultural background, as if a vagabond in search of his soul. In this way he seems to have a sad and endearing appreciation for something that doesn't entirely isolate itself to Japan, although in many ways unique to it. In part because he gets caught into the moment of his experience, he sometimes steps back and picks at nuances, sometimes disrespectfully callow; though this is rare for him in this instance. Read it and maybe what I said will make sense, as I didn't write this too well.

RMP

I really could not praise this book enough. It is one of my favorite books of all time and a truly astounding piece of "travel writing". However, this edition is a bit wanting.

The new afterward is very good but a bit sobering, confirming that, yes, to a large extent the place you have just read about is now dead as the dodo, all too effectively ending your "fever dream". Also, the new pictures are junk. They look as though they came from a Lonely Planet guide, whilst the original edition had beautiful, mysterious, haunting, high contrast photos that came across more like paintings.

Most puzzling is the page layout which consists of 2 columns per page, like a magazine article. Why? So it looks like something from "Outside" or GQ? Needless to say I preferred the musty tome from the library that read like some brilliant forgotten diary.

Comprehensive with many beautiful pictures. Deserves a place on the coffee table for everyone to see. Contains all the information you need plus many great recipies.

Japanese Food and Cooking is what I would call a school book for Japanese cooking. Important ingredients from spices to fish, meat and vegetables are explained item per item. You will also learn the typical courses of a Japanese meal. Finally you will learn the preparation of meals and the required traditional cooking equipment. Presentation of the meals and the typical tableware to be used is also explained in detail. Creative people will start developing their own cooking ideas after working with this book. Less creative people will have to purchase additional Japanese recipe books but will go back to this book to find explanations for what they need to successfully purchase the ingredients and to prepare the meals they find in the recipe book. For me this is the basis for authentic Japanese cooking and I believe it must be the first book to own if you want to start to become a non-Japanese Japanese cook.

And I should know because I think I have all of them!

The photos are stunning and this is one of the most extensive books on Japanese food that I've found. I will admit, Japanese cookbooks written by Japanese are really the best. The few books I have written by Western authors pale in comparison. They also tend to have fewer photos for some reason.

Alot of Japanese food and the ingredients are kind of odd. Some may not appeal to Western tastes so there are substitutions which is a great idea. There are some things the Japanese love and eat which will never translate to the Western palate such as devil's tongue jelly and natto. Eww. They taste terrible (though actually it is the texture of both that really offend!).

This book however tastes great. If you are going to own one Japanese cookbook - it should be this one.

As a cookbook author, I often use other works for research. I am working with a Japanese chef on his book, and I felt I needed a brush-up on Japanese ingredients. This was mainly because so many new foods have been introduced to America since I first shopped for them in San Francsico when I was learning Japanese food basics in my youth. I flipped through many books, including the ones I had already, and this book blew the others out of the miso soup, hands down. The book does the reader a great service by giving two in-depth, encyclopedic sections on Japanese cooking equipment (including food culture)and ingredients. While these two sections take up half of the book, you won't be flying blind, mixing up udon and soba or the different kinds of miso. The writing is excellent, and the recipes interesting and only mildly challenging. If you are in the market for a primer on Japanese food, look no further.

I'll be breef. Excellent book with large picture to the point reciepts and durable cover. I love it!!!