Japan Books

Mr. Mitchell does a great job of making you feel like you are right there on the streets of Tokyo. His ability to see the little things that are all around you and that many of the casual observers would miss amazed me. I have traveled to Tokyo twice in the last six months and his descriptions of the locations and the characters as well at the stories he tells reminds me so much of the place. The details that he shares with his readers and his ability to see what his characters feel truly shows that he is an acomplished writer. This book is a great read.

In Hues of Tokyo, Charles Mitchell introduces the reader to multiple people and places within the bustling metropolis of Tokyo. From the over-worked businessman to the despondent teenager to the unseen gardener, the city seems to be full of people going through the motions and fighting to live their lives. However, buried in each story is a message of hope and a reminder that we all have the freedom to choose our own path and hold near to us that which is most dear.

I read this book over the course of several weeks, one story at a time, and highly recommend it to anyone who understands the challenges and choices that we all face.

I read this book for a Japanese History class. The book covers from 1600 to about 1990 the lives of famous and ordinary Japanese men and women. It was refreshing to read about how the political side of history has impacted people and society. Highly recommended!

Ably edited by Anne Walthall (Professor of Japanese history at the University of California, Irvine), The Human Tradition In Modern Japan by is an assemblage of short biographies of ordinary Japanese men and women, most of whom were not well-known outside their home area, spanning the seventeenth through twentieth centuries. Highly recommended for readers with an interest in Japanese history and culture, The Human Tradition In Modern Japan approaches Japanese history and society in a different light, as it debunks commonly myths in the United States about Japan being an entirely "homogenous" society, and successfully presents life in Japan as people really lived it from the 17th to the 20th centuries.

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

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

This work takes a subject with comparatively little written on it and casts a fairly clear light on it.

The book is good balance between a technological and a operational history of Japanese battleships of WWII. Each class and ship is given a short, but clear history concerning initial development, subsequent refits and operational use. The effects of other nations development on these ships is also given comment. From an operational standpoint it sheds light on the tactical and strategic views that spawned the ships. The colour plates and pictures are well placed in the text and give these ships some much needed attention in English. For the most part these ships are only mentioned in US accounts as ships sunk, with good reason admittedly.

While the book does not shine any new light on the subject it does examine Japanese battleships clearly and thoroughly for the size of the book. For this reason alone it is a worthwhile purchase and will hepl readers of WWII naval battles more thoroughly understand the participating capitol ships of Japan.

Although the story of the Japanese super-battleship Yamato has attracted some attention over the years, the history of the Imperial Japanese Navy's entire battleship force in the Second World War has generally received much less attention. In Osprey's New Vanguard No. 146, Imperial Japanese Navy Battleships 1941-45, naval historian Mark Stille provides an excellent summary of the 12 ships that formed the Japanese battle line during the Pacific War. Overall, the book is very well written and packaged, with excellent photos and color plates on each class. Unlike earlier Osprey New Vanguard titles, where all the color plates are in the center - requiring frequent page flipping - the color plates are instead interspersed in each section, which is much more reader-friendly.

The volume begins with a short introduction that covers how battleships figured in pre-war Japanese naval strategy and doctrine and how the Imperial Navy set about developing the ships it needed to implement this strategy. In short, the Japanese took to heart the lessons of the battles of Tsushima (1905) and Jutland (1916) and their war plans envisioned a decisive battleship vs. battleship action that would decide the conflict against their likely opponent - the U.S. Navy. However, due to economic weakness and diplomatic agreements, the IJN could not build as many battleships as the USN and instead opted to build `better' warships, with bigger guns and more armor than their opponent. With bigger guns, the Japanese expected to open fire at 37,000 yards - outranging American battleships by about 4,000 yards and theoretically providing a significant edge in battleship actions. Although this `cult of the battleship' has often been criticized, author Mark Stille points out that these decisions were made at a point when naval air power was still in its infancy and not yet deemed a major threat to battleships. However, as the author also points out, 6 of the 11 Japanese battleships sunk during the Pacific War were done in by aircraft.

The heart of this volume lies in the five short sections (total 30 pages) on each Japanese battleship class: Kongo, Fuso, Ise, Nagato and Yamato. Each sections includes sub-sections on design and construction, armament, service modifications, wartime service, a color plate and a small data plate. Many of the B/W photos used in these sections, from the Yamato Museum, have not been printed in the West before. These sections provide a very nice capsule history of each ship and the author provides a number of insights that explain the performance of Japanese battleships. As he notes, "the quality of Japanese battleship gunnery was mediocre during the war," citing the low number of hits achieved off Guadalcanal and later, Leyte Gulf. One action he does not include occurred on March 1, 1942, when battleships Hiei and Kirishima engaged the destroyer USS Edsall off Java, firing 297 14-inch and 132 6-inch rounds and scoring only a single hit. After that poor performance, the Japanese threw out the pre-war idea of long-range gunnery duels which in practice, wasted ammunition and opted for significantly reduced gunnery ranges. In doing this, the Japanese abandoned much of the rationale for their battleships and in the Solomons used them at point-blank ranges which enabled even U.S. cruisers and destroyers to inflict serious damage on them. The author also notes the poor performance of Japanese anti-aircraft guns and the failure to develop proximity shells, as well as low-quality radar that prevented accurate night gunnery control.

Amazingly, it was only the older Kongo-class that made any significant contribution to the Japanese war effort, particularly in actions in the Solomons, while the best Japanese battleships sat at most of the war well behind the lines. The author notes that super-battleship Yamato was dubbed `Hotel Yamato,' during its inactive time as fleet flagship. Although the growing lethality of airpower rendered Japanese battleships increasingly vulnerable by 1942, he does conclude that, "in the six-month struggle for Guadalcanal, the Imperial Japanese Navy's battleships had the potential to make a significant contribution to a Japanese victory," but instead the IJN only committed two Kongo class battleships, which were lost. He makes an interesting contrast here between the suddenly-cautious IJN leaders who refused to risk their best ships in the Solomons struggle, while the Americans boldly committed their two newest battleships which produced significant results. The author comments that American airpower in the Solomons was too weak at the time to counter a large force of Japanese battleships and a major commitment could have reversed the American build-up. By the time that the IJN decided to commits its battle line in 1944 to the defense of the Philippines it was too late and American airpower had grown exponentially. Thus, this volume provides an excellent case study on how faulty doctrine can lead to poor weapons development choices, which in turn begets poorly-considered operational planning.

Konnichiwa. I got this book when I was 6. I think this is one of the best picture books on the entire earth! It really sparked my interest in the Japanese culture. Now I am 12 and am immensely interested in the Japanese language and culture still. I highly encourage you to buy this book. I love it soooo much!!! Domo Arigato Gozaimasu.

This is a wonderful book with a good message about the value of inner strength as opposed to external size. The pictures are great and the rhyme scheme throughout the story adds a lot. My 2nd grade students want me to read it again and again!

This was one of the most fascinating books I have ever read, and I've read thousands. The author wrote beautifully, with such vibrant descriptions it was almost like being there. I've often wondered what it would be like to have lived in a village in Punjab during that period of time. I would strongly recommend this book for anyone interested in rural Indian lifestyles.

I read it about 12 years ago so I'm kind of rusty about it but I recall it was a super book. The true story of an amazing gutsy British lady who gets involved with a Sikh Nihang (temple guard) in India and their subsequent adventures. This book is a real sleeper for those of us who enjoy cross-cultural and travel writing. Highly recommended. I wonder what the author is doing now?

I am planning a trip to Japan next spring; after examining many guides, I am glad I bought this one. It's current, beautifully organized and well illustrated with nice photography. I never bought Insight guides before, but this one will not be my last.

We just got back from Japan 3 days ago it was a wonderful two weeks. This book was a tremendous help. It has wonderful maps details of things to see on the maps. It even mentions train stations to help you get to where you are going. It goes thru the history of Japan as well a great section on the most popular places to see and eat at in Japan.

It gives wonderful information like the Shinjuku Station is the busiest in Japan with over 3 million people passing thru it each and every day. We experienced that when we went to see the Shinjuku Gyoen. There were so many people everywhere and you felt packed like a sardine but it was exciting to be apart of that experience. They actually have people there that will shove people into the train so that they can get as many people on as possible. Its crazy!

Every night we would sit in our room with this book and our train map and plan out what we were doing the next day. With this book and an english train map Japan was at our finger tips! I am actually purchasing the compliments to this book on Tokyo and the street map all made by insight for our return trip in June.

This book arrived on time and in excellent condition. The seller was great and the book everything I expected it to be.

Michael Dunn's vast knowledge and expertise of Japanese applied arts takes the reader on a unique journey of image and space. Rich in sophistication and full of vivid photos, Dunn writes about the Japanese sense of simplicity. The selected works represent a glimpse of Japanese treasures often kept from public view, thereby making Inspired Design a book that must be read by anyone interested in understanding the history and tradition of Japanese artistic expression. Tremendous effort was taken to show how applied arts have evolved as Japanese craftsmen refined their techniques. It is an exquisite book appropriate for the novice as well as those possessing deep knowledge of Japan.

David Wagner
Tokyo Japan
September 2007

While aunt recovers from a broken leg, young Michi apprentices to Mistress Shinyo, an aging kimono maker. Before leaving, Michi promises her aunt that she will do her best work and keep free of bitterness. Mistress Shinyo's hands, damaged from arthritis, can no longer sew as they once did, but she promises to teach Michi to sew seams that small and tight.

Two other girls also work with Michi, and they resent her ability to learn quickly and supercede their own skills. If Michi makes them look bad, Mistress Shinyo will be angry and expect them to practice more. If they all do poorly, the two girls will have more time to pursue their own pleasures.

Based on a true story, all readers will treasure THE INVISIBLE SEAM. In a world filled with instant gratification and getting something for nothing, parents will appreciate the values taught in this story, including working hard, respect for authority, and forgiveness. Exquisite watercolor illustrations include historically accurate detail. bringing the story a stately beauty. THE INVISIBLE SEAM comes very highly recommended!

I like buying my niece and nephew books that teach them about different cultures. The Invisible Seam will not only give the reader insight into what life was like in Japan in the early 1900's, but it teaches children that everyone has unique talents and that being jealous of others' abilities can do no good. The illustrations are wonderful, too -- this book will not disappoint.

This is Lensey Namioka's first novel, and I think she's done anoutstanding job. The story is about a ronin, or unemployed samurai,sent to spy on the governor of an island. He finds himself caught in a case of mistaken identity - the locals believe him to be a samurai of legendary status - while discovering something very eerie going on nightly near an Abbey by the shore. A wilful girl, dangerous samurais, stealthy traitors, fat cats, and of course ogres also turn up in this enchantingly spun tale. I'd compare this book to a decadent chocolate - sweet, dense, and delightfully, ever-so-slightly dark. There's also a properly chilling element to it. All in all, it's a wonderfully original book, with many plot twists and complex character relations. Spectacular!

"Island of the Ogres", is a fictional novel by Lensey Namioka. Namioka was born in Beijing, China. Namioka attended Radcliffe College and University of California, Berkley. She now resides in Seattle, Washington. This novel, which was published in 1989, takes place in 16th century Japan. Namioka, in the jacket of the novel, claims that she wrote this novel for herself. Namioka says, "I wrote the kind of story I enjoy reading myself. Maybe I write these books because I never really grew up."

"Island of the Ogres" is a clear, well thought out, easy to read, good vs. evil story. However, it has many twists and turns along the way. The novel has everything in it to make it an enjoyable entertaining story to read. The novel is a story of legendary heroes, grotesque villians, and a love story. However, more than anything else, "Island of the Ogres", is a detective story. Throughout the entire novel we a constantly shown things and given clues as to what is "really" going on, on the island. Things that seemed rather unimportant and useless when they were first mentioned. However, at the end of the novel , those clues are clearly defined as the mystery of the island unravels. And then the reader realizes that those items were not trivial, they were key elements to the story that were well placed by Namioka.

The story begins with the Hero of the novel, Itoh Kajiro, on his way from mainland Japan to a small island, (the island has no name, it is simply called "the island"), a short distance away. Kajiro is a Ronin, an unemployed Samurai. Kajiro has been unemployed for so long his abilities and reflexes as a warrior have become slow, and he has taken up being an alcoholic as a hobby. However, for the first time in a long time he has found work. He is hired by the Chamberlain to the ruling family, on a short term basis, to go to the island and investigate the loyality of the Garrison Commander on the island. This is a secret mission and Kajiro is not allowed to divulge his true intentions of going to the island to anybody.

When Kajiro arrives on the island he is greeted by a viscious animal running at him. Kajiro pulls out his sword to defend himself against the animal. However, a girl of 17 comes out of nowhere and kicks Kajiro is the shins. She is yelling and screaming at him, he then realizes why, it is not a viscious animal at all but here pet, a very large strong housecat. The cat is named Raiko, after a famous 10th century warrior. Soon there is a great storm. Kajiro, the girl and the boatman that brought him to the island quickly seek shelter in the home of a friendly, local fisherman. The fisherman introduces himself to the boatman and to Kajiro. Then, due to a mistaken identity the boatman introduces Kajiro an Konishi Zenta, a legendary Samurai. Kajiro knowing that he is on a secret mission, decides to use the identity of Zenta to his advantage and plays along. The fisherman tells Kajiro, now using the name Zenta, the story of the ogres that are terrorizing the island. He tells Kajiro that there have been reports of missing dogs and chickens, all of which are said to have been taken by ogres.

Shortly there after there is a knock at the door. It is Gorobei, a high ranking officer on the island. He attempts to take the Kajiro and the boatman into immediate custody. The young girl steps out to confront the guards taking her, now friends, into custody. The girl is then identified as Lady Yuri, sister-in-law of the Garrison commander. Gorobei explains that all visitors must report immediately Garrison Mansion for questioning before they are allowed to remain on the island. He goes on to say that the former Daimyo, old lord and provincial ruler, has been exiled to the island by his son, the new Daimyo. Therefore in the interest of security all visitors must check into the Garrison for questioning.

Kajiro and the boatman go to the Garrison Mansion. They meet the island Commander, and his wife, Lady Sada. When Kajiro is introduced as Zenta, Lady Sada laughs at first, but then accepts him as Zenta. Due to their previous conversation in the fishermans' house Yuri tells her brother-in-law and sister that Zenta came to the island to stop the ogres that have been plauging the island for the past few weeks. Kajiro uses this cover story as a way of accomplishing his mission of observing the garrison commander and as a way to help the people at the same time. It is a chance for him to feel like a real Saurai again.

This was the setup for the rest of the novel. The remaing part of the story consists of Kajiro and lady Yuri building their relationship with each other. A plot to free and restore the former Daimyo to power. The secret of the mysterious guest of Lady Sada. The mystery behind the ogres. And what happens when the real Zenta is introduced.

I really enjoyed every aspect of this novel. This would be a great story for a small child to have read to them or for an adult just interested in a good book. The book keeps you guessing as to what is going on and makes you interested in the welfare of the characters. All and all, "Island of the Ogres" is one of the most entertaining books I have read in a long time.