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Birdog3344 · Joined: 28 Jun 2004 Posts: 126 Location: Osaka, Japan

Just finishing up "Hitching Rides with Buddha" by Canadian author William Furguson. Its a wry account of his hitch hiking trip from Kyushu to Hokkaido following the cherry blossom front. There's little in it about Buddhism or flowers, mainly his take on modern mainstream Japanese culture and its people. He's a little harsh for my tastes but quite funny nonetheless. Think a really sarcastic Bill Bryson.

furiousmilksheikali · Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 3:04 pm Post subject:

furiousmilksheikali · Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 3:05 pm Post subject:

gaijinalways · Joined: 29 Nov 2005 Posts: 2279

Funny Business is good, interesting look inside SONY.

gaijinalways · Joined: 29 Nov 2005 Posts: 2279

Well, actually there is another reason I am not fond of Murakami, but is has more to do with his political tastes. His writing is a mixed bag, some interesting philosophical stuff mixed in with fantasy lined drivel. His story lin is pretty basic, but some odd and interesting detailed detours along the way make a good read for some.

gaijinalways · Joined: 29 Nov 2005 Posts: 2279

Then again, I am a fan of Oe and Soseki, so that in itself is odd.

furiousmilksheikali · Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 5:05 pm Post subject:

natsume · Joined: 24 Apr 2006 Posts: 409 Location: Chongqing, China

Agree with furious on "Embracing Defeat", a great work, both illuminating and entertaining.

He's a bit of a fop, and it seems people either love or hate him, but I like Pico Iyer's "The Geisha and the Monk", and his "Global Soul", which kind of functions as a sequel.

I love Hurakami, but he is a bit reactionary. If his views on feminism and "political correctness" are really coming through in "Kafka on the Shore", it's disappointing.

Eva Pilot · Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2007 1:49 am Post subject:

southofreality · Joined: 12 Feb 2007 Posts: 579 Location: Tokyo

Haruki Murakami is worth reading (particularly Norwegian Wood), if for no other reason than you'll be familiar with what is considered by many younger Japanese to be great modern literature.

"Dogs and Demons" and "The Rape of Nanking" are both popular books that focus on some of the darker aspects of Japan and it's activities during more modern times. But, as others have posted, it's important to keep an open mind when reading works like these.

Finally, many Japanese authors' works have been translated into English so there's no reason not to read some of them. Inside perspectives are extremely important.

seanmcginty · Joined: 27 Sep 2005 Posts: 203

My thoughts on some of the issues raised in previous posts:

Kerr - He didn't even try to be objective in Dogs and Demons. The title of the book should have been "A bunch of random bad stuff about Japan". If you are going to write a book that concludes "Japan is a failed example of modernization" then you should at least weigh both sides (the good stuff as well as the bad). Kerr doesn't do this and while I praise him for bringing attention to the bad things, I think his conclusions are completely wrong.

Eiji Yoshikawa - my favorite Japanese writer. "Tales of the Heike" was the first book I read after arriving in Japan and its one of my favorites, even though he died before finishing it!

Clavell - totally agree about his conclusions being anti-climactic. Especially with Tai-Pan, which was a really good book up until the last 10 pages or so.

Other Japanese history related Books I highly recommend - "Japanese Inn" by Oliver Statler is just a thouroughly enjoyable book to read. Same goes for "Nobility of Failure" by Ivan Morris.

japanman · Joined: 24 Nov 2005 Posts: 281 Location: England

" The Rising Sun" by John Toland is a great history book to see the Japanese side of things during the war. I could start to see what the Japanese were doing in thw war after reading this one. Bit long but such a topic deserves it.

Gypsy Rose Kim · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 151

If you liked Memoirs of a Geisha, then you'll probably like Audrey Hepburn's Neck by Alan Brown.

It's very much the same type of read.

AndyH · Joined: 30 Sep 2004 Posts: 417

For fiction centered in the Edo-era, I like Rebecca Joh Rowland's series. Very entertaining.
I also read "Taiko", by Eiji Yoshikawa, and thought it was great. It is a fictional story of Toyotomi Hideoshi, with a lot of historical accuracy.
For modern stuff, Audrey Hepburn's Neck is a really good story, and I al a big fan of Haruki Murakami (although I was a bit disappointed in Kafka on the Shore).
The dated classics "Bushido" and "The Chrysanthemum and the Sword" (Ruth Benedict) offer some insight to traditional Japanese culture for the beginner. (Interestingly, Benedict never had the opportunity to travel to Japan herself, yet the book is good).
I can't recall the author's name, but I recently read an excellent book, titled "Yukio Mishima's Sword". I recommend it.
Sujata Massey's series is entertaining, but a little too PC in a preachy sort of way for me.

TokyoLiz · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1548 Location: Tokyo, Japan

Stephen Heighton, Flightpaths of the Emperor - a set of short semi-autobiographical short stories written by a Canadian English teacher in Japan.

David Suzuki and Keibo Oiwa, The Japan We Never Knew. This book explores minorities - resident Koreans and Burakumin ("untouchables") in Japan and people who are making a difference in the larger Japanese society.

Karl Taro Greenfeld, Speed Tribes. A little old now, but a good insight into the grimier side of Japanese life after the bubble popped.

At Kinokuniya bookstores, you can get One Piece and Nana. I've only leafed through them, so I don't know what they're about.