Yutaka Yazawa

It's fine, but I can barely remember it and only finished two weeks ago. I think I'm not the target marget anymore--I've learned so much about Japanese language, history, culture, etc., that a well-done overview is a bit dull, like sitting through your Mom's explanation (to a stranger) of how everyone's specifically related to one another.

(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s). I feel a lot of readers automatically render any book they enjoy 5, but I grade on a curve!… (más)

I struggled with this book, perhaps due to my expectations.

I assumed from the title and the cover that I'd read a book about the inner workings of Japan, and what it's like to be / live as a Japanese person. Personal stories, photos, how to deal with culture shock, that sort of thing.

Instead, this is what I'd consider more of a coffee table photo book, with encyclopedic details about the towns, food, history and culture in Japan.

I travel full time, and this isn't a book I would use as a resource with which to inform myself about Japan and it's inhabitants before going there. It was attractive, but, it didn't resonate with me at all.… (más)