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For Fukui's Sake: Two Years In Rural Japan
Far from the high-tech, high-rise of the super-cities, there lies another Japan. A Japan where snakes slither down school corridors, where bears prowl dark forests and where Westerners are still regarded as curious creatures. Welcome to the world of the inaka – the Japanese countryside.
Unhappily employed in the UK, Sam Baldwin decides to make a big change. Saying sayonara to laboratory life, he takes a job as an English teacher on the JET Programme in a small, rural Japanese town that no one – the Japanese included – has ever heard of.
Arriving in Fukui, where there’s ‘little reason to linger’ according to the guidebook, at first he wonders why he left England. But as he slowly settles in to his unfamiliar new home, Sam befriends a colourful cast of locals and begins to discover the secrets of this little known region.
Helped by headmasters, housewives and Himalayan mountain climbers, he immerses himself in a Japan still clutching its pastoral past and uncovers a landscape of lonely lakes, rice fields and lush mountain forests. Joining a master drummer’s taiko class, skiing over paddies and learning how to sharpen samurai swords, along the way Sam encounters farmers, fishermen and foreigners behaving badly.
Exploring Japan’s culture and cuisine, as well as its wild places and wildlife, For Fukui’s Sake is an adventurous, humorous and sometimes poignant insight into the frustrations and fascinations that face an outsider living in small town, backcountry Japan.
Unhappily employed in the UK, Sam Baldwin decides to make a big change. Saying sayonara to laboratory life, he takes a job as an English teacher on the JET Programme in a small, rural Japanese town that no one – the Japanese included – has ever heard of.
Arriving in Fukui, where there’s ‘little reason to linger’ according to the guidebook, at first he wonders why he left England. But as he slowly settles in to his unfamiliar new home, Sam befriends a colourful cast of locals and begins to discover the secrets of this little known region.
Helped by headmasters, housewives and Himalayan mountain climbers, he immerses himself in a Japan still clutching its pastoral past and uncovers a landscape of lonely lakes, rice fields and lush mountain forests. Joining a master drummer’s taiko class, skiing over paddies and learning how to sharpen samurai swords, along the way Sam encounters farmers, fishermen and foreigners behaving badly.
Exploring Japan’s culture and cuisine, as well as its wild places and wildlife, For Fukui’s Sake is an adventurous, humorous and sometimes poignant insight into the frustrations and fascinations that face an outsider living in small town, backcountry Japan.
198 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 9, 2011
159 people are currently reading
941 people want to read
About the author
Sam Baldwin
4 books12 followersAn inquisitive Englishman, Sam Baldwin is the author of two books, a writer of hundreds of articles for newspapers, magazines, and websites; a contributor to one anthology and several guidebooks, and the founder of a Slovenian-flavoured design brand.
Having lived and worked in seven different countries, including Canada, Scotland, Japan, and Slovenia, he now splits his time between his home in Austria’s ‘Deep South’, and a three-hundred-year-old sausage-curing hut in the Slovenian Hinterlands which became the subject of his new book: Dormice & Moonshine: Falling for Slovenia.
Having lived and worked in seven different countries, including Canada, Scotland, Japan, and Slovenia, he now splits his time between his home in Austria’s ‘Deep South’, and a three-hundred-year-old sausage-curing hut in the Slovenian Hinterlands which became the subject of his new book: Dormice & Moonshine: Falling for Slovenia.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
April 27, 2013
It's a chap's blog in book form. Which is fair enough and it's cute for me as I taught on the JET programme and visited Fukui.
I felt that he's edited out the sort of controversial conclusions you can get away with in a blog ("this tells me that all Japanese people are y") and simply left us with the personal experience side of the anecdotes. Quite a few times I felt that he was going to draw some interesting conclusions ... but then he left me hanging. Example: His adopted Japanese family have a son about his age but he's a bit sullen and uncommunicative. Why? What does it say about relationships in Japan? Is there going to be a showdown? Does the guy hate foreigners? Is he an otaku? Will there be an emotional "I thought you hated me" moment? Er ... no ... the son was just a bit sullen and uncommunicative that evening. FYI. And then there was the American snowboarding on the mountain who went all moody. I bet the blog entry ended with a "Americans can be such ...." rant.
And isn't the business with the first girlfriend odd?! She only appears when she's an absolutely crucial character in a "kooky Japan" anecdote. He tells us nothing about the experience of her not coming with him, her coming to live with him, her moving to another apartment, them splitting up. There's a really juicy story here that he's not telling us. Either he should give us the details, or he should get better at editing her out of his life. And then the second girlfriend doesn't even have a name. Why mention her at all?
I felt that he's edited out the sort of controversial conclusions you can get away with in a blog ("this tells me that all Japanese people are y") and simply left us with the personal experience side of the anecdotes. Quite a few times I felt that he was going to draw some interesting conclusions ... but then he left me hanging. Example: His adopted Japanese family have a son about his age but he's a bit sullen and uncommunicative. Why? What does it say about relationships in Japan? Is there going to be a showdown? Does the guy hate foreigners? Is he an otaku? Will there be an emotional "I thought you hated me" moment? Er ... no ... the son was just a bit sullen and uncommunicative that evening. FYI. And then there was the American snowboarding on the mountain who went all moody. I bet the blog entry ended with a "Americans can be such ...." rant.
And isn't the business with the first girlfriend odd?! She only appears when she's an absolutely crucial character in a "kooky Japan" anecdote. He tells us nothing about the experience of her not coming with him, her coming to live with him, her moving to another apartment, them splitting up. There's a really juicy story here that he's not telling us. Either he should give us the details, or he should get better at editing her out of his life. And then the second girlfriend doesn't even have a name. Why mention her at all?
April 3, 2013
I found this book to be a mixed bag. On the one hand, Sam Baldwin possesses a tremendous sense of adventure, and has a great attitude for visiting other cultures. He jumped at opportunities to experience Japan in unusual and sometimes uncomfortable ways, like getting up in the dead of night to go out with Japanese fishermen to get a first-hand look at their lifestyle. He delighted in trying new foods, appreciated their culture and their differences, and maintained a positive attitude about all sorts of weather. I loved his delight in their heavy snow, his description of tropical rain, and the way he shared with us the beauty of their islands.
I knocked off a couple stars for several reasons. It needs some serious editing, and as I read I often thought that he would do well to get more training in English if he continued to teach it. It shocked me to read in the epilogue that he now works as a writer and editor. His verbs jumped back and forth between present and past tense, his writing style was uneven and often repetitive, and the book contained typos and words used improperly. For example, he mentioned "supping" a cup of coffee at least three times.
The crudeness and locker-room humor in the book also turned me off. Discussions of male private parts don't amuse me, and while I can understand including Japan's traditional toilets as a cultural oddity, I honestly don't want to read the gory details of his use of them.
Another thing that bothered me was his treatment of his English girlfriend as a non-person. He never stated her first name, never gave a description of her or gave any glimpse into her personality, though he did that for many other people he met along the way. Over the Christmas holidays he went to Hong Kong to visit a friend from Scotland and never mentioned that his girlfriend came along until she didn't like the hotel accommodations. Apparently he ditched her during the trip, for when he returned to Japan he talked in singular about being the only westerner on the plane.
I'm glad that I read the book, however. Sam Baldwin demonstrates a great intercultural attitude, and gives an interesting picture of time in Japan, so I would give it a cautions recommendation.
I knocked off a couple stars for several reasons. It needs some serious editing, and as I read I often thought that he would do well to get more training in English if he continued to teach it. It shocked me to read in the epilogue that he now works as a writer and editor. His verbs jumped back and forth between present and past tense, his writing style was uneven and often repetitive, and the book contained typos and words used improperly. For example, he mentioned "supping" a cup of coffee at least three times.
The crudeness and locker-room humor in the book also turned me off. Discussions of male private parts don't amuse me, and while I can understand including Japan's traditional toilets as a cultural oddity, I honestly don't want to read the gory details of his use of them.
Another thing that bothered me was his treatment of his English girlfriend as a non-person. He never stated her first name, never gave a description of her or gave any glimpse into her personality, though he did that for many other people he met along the way. Over the Christmas holidays he went to Hong Kong to visit a friend from Scotland and never mentioned that his girlfriend came along until she didn't like the hotel accommodations. Apparently he ditched her during the trip, for when he returned to Japan he talked in singular about being the only westerner on the plane.
I'm glad that I read the book, however. Sam Baldwin demonstrates a great intercultural attitude, and gives an interesting picture of time in Japan, so I would give it a cautions recommendation.
July 5, 2013
Sam is a young man about one third my age who enjoyed taking road trips, camping, or staying in hostels, living and seeing the world. He was accepted to teach the English language in a school in rural Japan. The writing was casual and easy to read. He recalls his experiences learning the culture, and customs of his new neighbors while learning to speak Japanese.
Japan has become a place of mystery and curiosity for Westerners that have been somehow personally exposed to Japan. I lived in Japan for about three months courtesy of the U.S. Marines and did leave the base often to venture out into the communities. Some learned to appreciate the polite society of the Japan they came to know by reading books like Shogun by James Clavell. Some experienced Japan through martial arts like karate. I can still count to ten in Japanese.
I did enjoy reading about Sam's several adventures and challenges of trying to blend into a society so very different from mine or Sam's who lived most of his life in England. It's not a long book. It's a pleasant and quick read that I did enjoy.........Michael
Japan has become a place of mystery and curiosity for Westerners that have been somehow personally exposed to Japan. I lived in Japan for about three months courtesy of the U.S. Marines and did leave the base often to venture out into the communities. Some learned to appreciate the polite society of the Japan they came to know by reading books like Shogun by James Clavell. Some experienced Japan through martial arts like karate. I can still count to ten in Japanese.
I did enjoy reading about Sam's several adventures and challenges of trying to blend into a society so very different from mine or Sam's who lived most of his life in England. It's not a long book. It's a pleasant and quick read that I did enjoy.........Michael
September 25, 2022
I would love to visit Japan but I am sure that if I ever get there I will mainly be in Tokyo and have one or two day trips outside. So it was nice to read about rural Japan experiences since it is something that I myself will never have.
The book isn't perfect. One weird thing is his mysterious girlfriend who comes over from England and then basically never appears again except in a hotel in Hong Kong. After that it seems he is alone everywhere or with his fellow English teacher friends. I am happy he didn't let his relationship issues to take over the book about Japan but the fact that she was not part of his experiences was kind of odd and makes me wonder what she was doing there at all.
Another weird thing was his way of writing. In some chapters there were a lot of memories that didn't even seem to connect that much. And he would start telling something and then when you think there is a story with beginning and an end it just stops abruptly without any conclusion. But this didn't ruin the book for me because of his wonderfully amusing way of telling his experiences. I was actually laughing out loud a few times and even those non story like memories were entertaining.
I especially liked him telling his experiences in school and encounters with locals. They were very funny and original. Something that we here will not experience. And his stories also show the very big generosity and helpfulness of the Japanese people as well as their interactions like the drunk parties after work that may seem kind of unusual to us but this way also make their culture so positively different.
Can't say that I was for a second bored when reading this book so even with some imperfections I can say that I really liked the book.
The book isn't perfect. One weird thing is his mysterious girlfriend who comes over from England and then basically never appears again except in a hotel in Hong Kong. After that it seems he is alone everywhere or with his fellow English teacher friends. I am happy he didn't let his relationship issues to take over the book about Japan but the fact that she was not part of his experiences was kind of odd and makes me wonder what she was doing there at all.
Another weird thing was his way of writing. In some chapters there were a lot of memories that didn't even seem to connect that much. And he would start telling something and then when you think there is a story with beginning and an end it just stops abruptly without any conclusion. But this didn't ruin the book for me because of his wonderfully amusing way of telling his experiences. I was actually laughing out loud a few times and even those non story like memories were entertaining.
I especially liked him telling his experiences in school and encounters with locals. They were very funny and original. Something that we here will not experience. And his stories also show the very big generosity and helpfulness of the Japanese people as well as their interactions like the drunk parties after work that may seem kind of unusual to us but this way also make their culture so positively different.
Can't say that I was for a second bored when reading this book so even with some imperfections I can say that I really liked the book.
October 31, 2017
Just another foreign man's account of his time spent teaching English in Japan. Except Sam Baldwin didn't seem to spend any time teaching. (Effin' JETs.) Would have liked more than 5% of the book, a glorified blog, really, to take place at school. In summary: he loves snow, takoyaki, penis jokes, and his favorite sushi is shio-beef.
June 23, 2012
Enjoyable light reading. Could have done with a bit more depth, I would especially have liked to have heard more about the author's teaching and time spent at the school, which was barely mentioned. He said he had no teaching experience, so the classroom should have been the main focus of the book. Similarly, the language barrier must have been huge, but it's mostly skipped over and we don't really understand how he got by so well.
January 22, 2013
A great read, this book far exceeded my expectations and I loved the insight into rural Japan and its culture. Sam has a lovely writing style, well-suited to the subject and feeling like a friend telling you tales rather than a writer setting down an account. It was also refreshing to read about the rural areas rather than the cities, which are something of a cliche these days. It almost had me rushing off to buy a ticket to Japan.
October 7, 2025
As I am embarking on another visit to Japan - the second in two years - I was drawn to this lively and engaging account by British travel writer Sam Baldwin about his two years working as an English teacher in the small town of Ono, in Fukui prefecture. I was immediately struck by the similarity of the theme and circumstances to YouTuber Chris Broad’s book of his own experiences on a similar teaching sojourn in the land of the rising sun.
But Baldwin is the better writer of the two and one more seriously engaged with Japanese culture and nature. While good fun, Broad’s book is a more jokey, irreverent tale of the English lad let loose in Japan. With Baldwin, there are beautiful sequences in which he describes his rambling walks with the school dog through the snowbound rural landscape, his kayaking expeditions in remote Japanese mountain lakes and his encounters with Japanese master craftsmen and musicians.
Baldwin is also rightfully contemptuous of the hard-partying Gaijins who treat Japan as a a kind of exotic theme park and fail to offer sufficient respect for its ancient traditions. As with Broad, his decision to take up the two-year sojourn teaching English to Japanese high schoolers - part of an official program called JET- was spontaneous and driven by his lack of interest in his dull job in England. But he really makes the most of his time in Japan, digging deep into the local culture, and forms life-long friendships, as well as developing a reasonable understanding of the language.
I was entertained and occasionally moved by his account and only wish I’d had such an enriching experience when I was in my 20s. As it is, I’m catching up at the other end of life.
But Baldwin is the better writer of the two and one more seriously engaged with Japanese culture and nature. While good fun, Broad’s book is a more jokey, irreverent tale of the English lad let loose in Japan. With Baldwin, there are beautiful sequences in which he describes his rambling walks with the school dog through the snowbound rural landscape, his kayaking expeditions in remote Japanese mountain lakes and his encounters with Japanese master craftsmen and musicians.
Baldwin is also rightfully contemptuous of the hard-partying Gaijins who treat Japan as a a kind of exotic theme park and fail to offer sufficient respect for its ancient traditions. As with Broad, his decision to take up the two-year sojourn teaching English to Japanese high schoolers - part of an official program called JET- was spontaneous and driven by his lack of interest in his dull job in England. But he really makes the most of his time in Japan, digging deep into the local culture, and forms life-long friendships, as well as developing a reasonable understanding of the language.
I was entertained and occasionally moved by his account and only wish I’d had such an enriching experience when I was in my 20s. As it is, I’m catching up at the other end of life.
May 9, 2024
This is a memoir of a young teacher from Britain who spent two years in Japan to teach in a small town school. He blended school stories with his experiences with the locals and added several sport/outdoor activities. Very pleasant read - it was my bedtime book for a bit.
October 14, 2024
I received this book from the author in exchange of an honest review.
A big thank you to the author for allowing me to read this one! I am a BIG BIG fan of travelogues, and then especially when people go to Japan!
In this book we follow Sam Baldwin as he takes the daring step to become a teacher in Japan. From a boring job as lab technician (which indeed doesn’t sound that interesting) to a whole new country with a new language is a big step and I loved seeing Sam take that step. It was a lot of fun seeing him discover Japan in summer (burning hot), prepare a speech, and then it is time to start with teaching. We read all about the things that happen in the school, from sports day during a typhoon, to walking the school dog (Shiro and I would love a photograph of the puppers), to strange toilets, to how good everyone can speak/converse in English (not that well, which leads to some interesting cough situations), to snakes in the school and how to solve that problem, and a lot more. It was a lot of fun to read.
Of course, next to that there is various foods (good and yummy food and strange ones), lots and lots of snow, discovering his surroundings, showing us the inaka (aka the Japanese countryside), we see him discover a fun place where he drinks and meets friends and of course also practices his Japanese. I also loved that he found the time to discover Japan, climb Fuji, go kayaking, take a roadtrip with other JETs/friends, and there is so much more.
Just like in all other books from people not from Japan we see how Japanese people react to foreigners. Some find it totally awesome, others are neutral, and then there are the ones that act like a foreigner is a bad person or not to be trusted.
I really enjoyed reading this one, Sam really has a fab writing style, really engaging.
All in all, I am super happy that I had the chance to read this one and I would recommend it to all. This is one book that I will be reading again, so it will stay on my shelves~
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
A big thank you to the author for allowing me to read this one! I am a BIG BIG fan of travelogues, and then especially when people go to Japan!
In this book we follow Sam Baldwin as he takes the daring step to become a teacher in Japan. From a boring job as lab technician (which indeed doesn’t sound that interesting) to a whole new country with a new language is a big step and I loved seeing Sam take that step. It was a lot of fun seeing him discover Japan in summer (burning hot), prepare a speech, and then it is time to start with teaching. We read all about the things that happen in the school, from sports day during a typhoon, to walking the school dog (Shiro and I would love a photograph of the puppers), to strange toilets, to how good everyone can speak/converse in English (not that well, which leads to some interesting cough situations), to snakes in the school and how to solve that problem, and a lot more. It was a lot of fun to read.
Of course, next to that there is various foods (good and yummy food and strange ones), lots and lots of snow, discovering his surroundings, showing us the inaka (aka the Japanese countryside), we see him discover a fun place where he drinks and meets friends and of course also practices his Japanese. I also loved that he found the time to discover Japan, climb Fuji, go kayaking, take a roadtrip with other JETs/friends, and there is so much more.
Just like in all other books from people not from Japan we see how Japanese people react to foreigners. Some find it totally awesome, others are neutral, and then there are the ones that act like a foreigner is a bad person or not to be trusted.
I really enjoyed reading this one, Sam really has a fab writing style, really engaging.
All in all, I am super happy that I had the chance to read this one and I would recommend it to all. This is one book that I will be reading again, so it will stay on my shelves~
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
August 22, 2012
A delightful memoir of Sam's 2 year contract teaching English at a Japanese school in rural Fukui. Having learned only basic Japanese, he shares his initial cultural shock being in a village where no English is spoken, and his subsequent adventures with his students and the people he meets during his stay. He experiences the friendliness of the Japanese and observes the sense of responsibility that is taught and demanded of children, and the stoicism and determination that we have come to expect of the Japanese. He climbs Mt Fuji, attends the Fuji Rock Festival, goes farm fishing and learns what that means, and indulges in snow escapades that made me jealous. He throws himself into the village community and leaves Japan all the richer for the experiences and friends he made during his time there.
I loved this book!
I loved this book!
July 21, 2016
An interesting collection of a Englishman's slice-of-life tales as a teacher in Japan. My journey to Japan went much as Mr Baldwin's - in fact our times here probably overlapped by a year!
As a teacher in Japan I related to Baldwin's adventures and interpretations. His accounts rang familiar and true. His non-judgmental approach felt refreshing; he almost never looked down on Japan's way of doing things (a rarity for foreigners in Japan). The few times he did, I agreed - for example, despite Japan's Eco-friendly reputation, why build houses with absolutely no insulation? Balwdin's outlook, that Japanese culture is different as opposed to inferior, lead to his great experiences and successful stay.
Anyone wondering what it's like living in Japan, particularly those CONSIDERING it, should give this fair, accurate and honest account a read!
As a teacher in Japan I related to Baldwin's adventures and interpretations. His accounts rang familiar and true. His non-judgmental approach felt refreshing; he almost never looked down on Japan's way of doing things (a rarity for foreigners in Japan). The few times he did, I agreed - for example, despite Japan's Eco-friendly reputation, why build houses with absolutely no insulation? Balwdin's outlook, that Japanese culture is different as opposed to inferior, lead to his great experiences and successful stay.
Anyone wondering what it's like living in Japan, particularly those CONSIDERING it, should give this fair, accurate and honest account a read!
February 8, 2020
This book is essentially the author's memoirs about the time they spent in Japan. At first it was easy to read, with a fairly gentle (but also witty) style, and a number of interesting observations about a side of Japan that most people never get to see. As the chapters went on though, they increasingly seemed to become a set of disjointed memories... and it wasn't clear quite what the point of them was. While the author is understandably fond of these recollections, they don't necessarily make for a particularly interesting read, and by the time I hit 60% I was more than ready for the book to be over.
Two stars seems harsh, and it's probably a 2.5 on my own internal scale, but going by the GoodReads system of "It was ok", that's definitely where it fell for me.
Two stars seems harsh, and it's probably a 2.5 on my own internal scale, but going by the GoodReads system of "It was ok", that's definitely where it fell for me.
July 23, 2012
Pretty great materials for Japan lovers. This book has me rofl-ing as I contemplate the oddity that a Brit could encounter in Japan, and imagine myself in his place, doing his stuffs. Great to know about the toilet and central heating and camping and everything else, because I know for sure I am going to need such knowledge. Years from now, this book will make excellent historical primary sources as well <3 5 stars for pure enjoyment, 5 stars for the language, but 4 stars because it is my rule (and hey, he talks about how Japanese people just stick to their kimari as well!). Now I need to persuade my Japan loving friends to read this thing :D
October 13, 2013
Having taught English in Japan and South Korea a few years ago, I thought that this was an interesting and accurate account of life in the Far East. This book has some truly delightful stories of some interesting adventures during his two-year stay in Fukui prefecture.
I was a little bit disappointed as I had expected some further chapters on life at school and felt as though I wanted to get to know a few more of the author's students. This is an excellent four star read that is knocking on the door of a five star review.
I was a little bit disappointed as I had expected some further chapters on life at school and felt as though I wanted to get to know a few more of the author's students. This is an excellent four star read that is knocking on the door of a five star review.
December 9, 2019
A fantastic memoir.
Sam, bored with his job as a laboratory assistant, applies for a position teaching English in Ono, Fukui, Japan.
This is a well written, slightly humorous account of his two year stay in a country which won his heart. He describes the food, the people he met, the friends he made, and the many adventures he embarked on. Sam's love of the country and its people comes through on every page.
I cannot recommend this memoir highly enough, and I was sad when it came to an end.
Sam, bored with his job as a laboratory assistant, applies for a position teaching English in Ono, Fukui, Japan.
This is a well written, slightly humorous account of his two year stay in a country which won his heart. He describes the food, the people he met, the friends he made, and the many adventures he embarked on. Sam's love of the country and its people comes through on every page.
I cannot recommend this memoir highly enough, and I was sad when it came to an end.
July 1, 2012
A great book - Sam portays the life of a bewildered Brit, finding his way through the vagaries of Japanese life. Throughout, it comes across as the story of someone who knows he will never fully understand the people, and is happier for it.
His affection for the Japanese and their country is clear. I loved this book. It made me want to go there, eat strange seafood and climb Mount Fuji (but perhaps not in the dark).
His affection for the Japanese and their country is clear. I loved this book. It made me want to go there, eat strange seafood and climb Mount Fuji (but perhaps not in the dark).
May 4, 2020
Found this lurking about on my kindle, apologies it's been a while since I've been working through the books there. What a great book, I know I can't travel anywhere for a while but this is the first time I've ever been so excited about a potential trip to Japan 🇯🇵, it's hysterical and thought provoking and gives us an insight into an unknown Japa, enjoy!
October 20, 2020
I loved this book and can't recommend it enough. If you are curious about Japanese culture you must read it. Sam's writing style is relaxed and friendly enough to feel like you are sitting next to him listening to his stories. There are many hilarious moments, but overall it will warm your heart and open your mind to a sometimes strange but beautiful country and its people.
July 4, 2024
The book gives a great perspective on the life in Japan as a foreigner, not just as a tourist, in which Sam Baldwin makes a small town called Ono his lovely home. The way he looks for interesting people and eventually finds them, is quite impresive, not to mention the detailed story telling, where you are more and more amazed by the culture of the Japanese.
This is a very well written and a light read, that I would highly recommend to everyone, not just the people who want to visit Japan. I loved the book.
Great job Sam san!
This is a very well written and a light read, that I would highly recommend to everyone, not just the people who want to visit Japan. I loved the book.
Great job Sam san!
August 9, 2021
I was disappointed in this book. What I liked was the author's sense of humour and he is a wordsmith. He often surprised me with his description.
BUT 1.) his grammar needs work.
2.) I live in an Asian country and I know the Asians perception of western mens' members. I, a woman, have been in the company when an Asian man would ask a western man in the group about the size of his. But to repeat that interaction in detail so many times for your western readers - no it does not make good reading, reeks of lockerroom talk.
3.) Please remember some of your readers are vegan - those detailed descriptions of the killing of animals ... I skipped many pages to avoid it.
4.) Talking about killing... there was a point when I thought this author had committed the perfect murder and he got away with it. He tells us he and his girlfriend (with no name) went to Hong Kong for a short holiday. When they arrived in their terrible / sub-standard hotelroom the girlfriend cries a lot. That's it... as far as the reader is concerned she is either still in that room crying, or he killed her there, he returns to Japan, alone and we never hear about the girlfriend again till she gets mentioned in a sentence listed with every other person he knows in Fukui right at the end of the book. I'm not going to judge how he treats his girlfriends or the reasons why the girlfriend puts up with his behaviour towards her but you are writing this for a reader and readers are not stupid. We have brains that work and question things.
5.) What I said about the girlfriend just disappearing out of the book also goes for many (too many to mention) 'things' just appearing. He tells us in detail how he bought a bicycle. And then suddenly one day by magic he has a car... huh... when / how? I'm have lived in several foreign countries and I know the rigmarole you have to go thru to get a legal license to drive, and then to buy the car... it does not happen overnight. As an expat I'm interested in that process because Japan is still waiting for me. He will start a chapter with 'we arrived...' who are 'we'?
My conclusion: he grabbed random stuff from his blog and strung them together without rereading it all again like a reader would or giving it to someone else to read before he called it a book. There was no editing done. Just 1 example: his friend Ruan, South African, borrows a tent but receives it without the tent poles. So he can't pitch his tent. On the following page he describes his friend Ruan sleeping outside under the stars because "he did not bring a tent" and on that same page Ruan becomes an American. What?
Blogs and books are different mediums and the two cannot be interchanged. If you are going to use your blog to write a book, fine but approach the process as if you are writing a book from scratch.
BUT 1.) his grammar needs work.
2.) I live in an Asian country and I know the Asians perception of western mens' members. I, a woman, have been in the company when an Asian man would ask a western man in the group about the size of his. But to repeat that interaction in detail so many times for your western readers - no it does not make good reading, reeks of lockerroom talk.
3.) Please remember some of your readers are vegan - those detailed descriptions of the killing of animals ... I skipped many pages to avoid it.
4.) Talking about killing... there was a point when I thought this author had committed the perfect murder and he got away with it. He tells us he and his girlfriend (with no name) went to Hong Kong for a short holiday. When they arrived in their terrible / sub-standard hotelroom the girlfriend cries a lot. That's it... as far as the reader is concerned she is either still in that room crying, or he killed her there, he returns to Japan, alone and we never hear about the girlfriend again till she gets mentioned in a sentence listed with every other person he knows in Fukui right at the end of the book. I'm not going to judge how he treats his girlfriends or the reasons why the girlfriend puts up with his behaviour towards her but you are writing this for a reader and readers are not stupid. We have brains that work and question things.
5.) What I said about the girlfriend just disappearing out of the book also goes for many (too many to mention) 'things' just appearing. He tells us in detail how he bought a bicycle. And then suddenly one day by magic he has a car... huh... when / how? I'm have lived in several foreign countries and I know the rigmarole you have to go thru to get a legal license to drive, and then to buy the car... it does not happen overnight. As an expat I'm interested in that process because Japan is still waiting for me. He will start a chapter with 'we arrived...' who are 'we'?
My conclusion: he grabbed random stuff from his blog and strung them together without rereading it all again like a reader would or giving it to someone else to read before he called it a book. There was no editing done. Just 1 example: his friend Ruan, South African, borrows a tent but receives it without the tent poles. So he can't pitch his tent. On the following page he describes his friend Ruan sleeping outside under the stars because "he did not bring a tent" and on that same page Ruan becomes an American. What?
Blogs and books are different mediums and the two cannot be interchanged. If you are going to use your blog to write a book, fine but approach the process as if you are writing a book from scratch.
August 17, 2020
This book was a bit disappointing... I wanted to read about the author's experiences as a teacher in Japan and his take on the Japanese culture. While there are few examples where he talks about the town, his colleagues, and the classroom, the majority of the book is about his adventures in exploring Fukui and Japan.
The book is divided into short chapters, each chronicling one of his experiences. Unfortunately, there is no continuity or chronological link between the chapters. You could easily skip between them without missing anything. What was particularly disappointing is that the chapters where he talks about Ono, his town, or his colleagues are very short and superficial. Whereas chapters where he talks about his adventures with his foreign friends while attending a music festival or climbing a mountain are very detailed and tedious ... Many of the chapters are about his love for nature and the outdoors. By the end of the book, however, you wonder if anyone in Fukui cared when he left or even noticed that he was there...
Overall, "for Fukui's sake" is well written. What I appreciated most is Sam Baldwin's positive attitude and his appreciation of Japan's natural beauty and culture. Nonetheless, if you want to read a similar but a more focused experience by an English teacher in rural Japan then I would strongly recommend "my mother is a tractor" by Nicholas Klar... It is more detailed and delves into the Japanese psyche and the actual experience of teaching in the classroom ...
The book is divided into short chapters, each chronicling one of his experiences. Unfortunately, there is no continuity or chronological link between the chapters. You could easily skip between them without missing anything. What was particularly disappointing is that the chapters where he talks about Ono, his town, or his colleagues are very short and superficial. Whereas chapters where he talks about his adventures with his foreign friends while attending a music festival or climbing a mountain are very detailed and tedious ... Many of the chapters are about his love for nature and the outdoors. By the end of the book, however, you wonder if anyone in Fukui cared when he left or even noticed that he was there...
Overall, "for Fukui's sake" is well written. What I appreciated most is Sam Baldwin's positive attitude and his appreciation of Japan's natural beauty and culture. Nonetheless, if you want to read a similar but a more focused experience by an English teacher in rural Japan then I would strongly recommend "my mother is a tractor" by Nicholas Klar... It is more detailed and delves into the Japanese psyche and the actual experience of teaching in the classroom ...
July 22, 2017
Sam Baldwin recounts the story of 2 years spent in Japan on the JET programme, teaching English in remote Fukui.
Sam is very positive about his experiences and his resilience and enthusiasm shine through. He makes every effort to understand the culture, learn the language, try out every experience offered and make new friends, both Japanese and other foreign visitors. He loves nature and being outside, and I really enjoyed his accounts of climbing Mount Fuji and making an expedition to the unspoiled northern island of Hokkaido.
I would have liked to have learned more about his experiences in the classroom - there were some interesting episodes early on, but these then faded away. Also, as other reviewers have remarked, the references to his girlfriend are vague and he says very little about their relationship apart from an occasional mention. I felt she should either have been part of the story, or left out altogether.
Overall, a likeable and enjoyable account. I admired Sam's willingness to embrace new experiences, and found his descriptions of culture and scenery very interesting.
Sam is very positive about his experiences and his resilience and enthusiasm shine through. He makes every effort to understand the culture, learn the language, try out every experience offered and make new friends, both Japanese and other foreign visitors. He loves nature and being outside, and I really enjoyed his accounts of climbing Mount Fuji and making an expedition to the unspoiled northern island of Hokkaido.
I would have liked to have learned more about his experiences in the classroom - there were some interesting episodes early on, but these then faded away. Also, as other reviewers have remarked, the references to his girlfriend are vague and he says very little about their relationship apart from an occasional mention. I felt she should either have been part of the story, or left out altogether.
Overall, a likeable and enjoyable account. I admired Sam's willingness to embrace new experiences, and found his descriptions of culture and scenery very interesting.
June 12, 2013
This book is full of great adventure stories involving the Japanese wilderness (or rather, what's left of it). If you're an avid snowboarder/hiker/explorer, you'll probably really enjoy the story. I was hoping for more personal stories, more snark, more drama, more teaching anecdotes. Little is mentioned about his day-to-day life in the classroom. In fact, I lost so much steam when reading it that I put the book down for about 6 months before finally getting around to finishing. It feels like any non-politically-correct and real opinion stuff has been edited out and all the smiley feel-good stuff is left. That said, it was still a nice book.
July 7, 2013
Sam did a great job with writing this book! So funny and so well delivered. The characters were real and engaging. He explored Japanese society in an interesting and humorous way. There are many misconceptions about modern Japanese society in that it is highly xenophobic, etc. But Baldwin explores these aspects with an open mind and shows us how unfamiliarity is often confused with xenophobia by Westerners in Japan. A highly entertaining book! The only things would be that some of the Japanese is misspelt and there are one or two grammatical errors in the text. Also, I feel Sam's relationship with the students could've been expanded on. Other than that, a great book!
June 21, 2022
A fascinating, well-told and often hilarious look at the life of an English teacher in a rural Japanese backwater (claim to fame, the third purest water in Japan). From octopus balls to near hypothermia on Fuji and manic Japanese sports days in a hurricane to Japanese willies, there is never a dull moment in Sam’s writing, and the tales flow from his pen with ease. Some of the incidents are LOL funny, and not recommended whilst eating. My sandwich was sprayed far and wide at Japanese student Naga’s interesting ice-breaker… buy the book and find out why!
July 16, 2012
I love to travel, so I thoroughly enjoyed being an arm-chair traveller to Japan with this book. Sam's sense of adventure and wit made the book a pleasure to read. He doesn't always understand the people or culture that he's immersed in, but he learns to appreciate them (and even love them). The food, language, customs, history, and scenery were all touched on in a very entertaining way. Definitely sparked an interest in visiting Japan!
September 4, 2012
I love reading about the various cultural adventure gaijin have when living in Japan. This book recounts the experiences of a teacher in the prefecture of Fukui.
The tales the author has to tell are interesting and insightful, with any relevant Japanese words highlighted and explained along the way.
This book will be of interest to anyone with a love of Japan and a desire to travel. Someday I hope to living in Japan myself; everyday would be a new adventure.
The tales the author has to tell are interesting and insightful, with any relevant Japanese words highlighted and explained along the way.
This book will be of interest to anyone with a love of Japan and a desire to travel. Someday I hope to living in Japan myself; everyday would be a new adventure.
October 22, 2012
I've always wondered what it would be like to take a job teaching English in Japan. This book tells the experience of one man who did this for two years. I was surprised that most of the stories in the book were about travels in Japan and there was very little about his classroom experience. However, it was a very interesting read and gave much insight to daily Japanese life away from the big cities.
December 22, 2015
as a former english teacher in Japan, I find the books written about the experience either amazing or horrific. WIth this self published and in Kindle Unlimited, I had no hopes. But it was amazing. I think mostly because he wasn't the typical ugly American (he's a Brit) and because he learned the language and culture and made true Japanese friends. I also liked seeing the parts of the country that were his routine - his home away from home.
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