The Way We Do It in Japan

by Geneva Cobb Iijima, Geneva Cobb Iijima

Gregory wonders if he will ever fit in when his family moves to Japan for his dad's job. He's surprised how things are different: he needs to remove his shoes and wear slippers, he has to sit on pillows at the table, and he's the only kid in school eating a peanut butter sandwich for lunch. Full-color illustrations.

Genres: Japan, Picture Books, Asia, Childrens, Cultural, Geography, Juvenile

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[Arminzerella · Rating 3 out of 5]

Highlights some basic differences between life in Japan (Tokyo) and life in America (San Francisco). An afterword provides some more information about Japan (geography, culture, etc.) through the eyes of a young Japanese American boy, Gregory, who moves there when his father accepts a job in Tokyo.

[Daniela Bosque · Rating 2 out of 5]

Book is excellent but not for kindle letters are too small

There is no way to enlarge the page in Kindle. Drawings are letters are too small to read them or enjoy the drawings. Story content is excellent.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

EXCELLENT book about Japan!

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet "When in Rome" story about an American boy learning to adapt to life in Japan.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute picture book

[Amy Chong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gregory is a boy living in San Francisco with his American mother and Japanese father. Gregory's father gets transferred from his company in California to Japan. Gregory is excited to go to Japan and begins to wonder how things will be different/similar in Japan. When he arrives in Japan, he notices that many customs are different from how things are done in America. He becomes shy when he cannot read during reading time and when he has a different "American" lunch from others as well. In the end, the students in his class incorporate some American customs into their everyday Japanese customs. This makes Gregory feel welcomed and accepted for who he is. This story relates to my Asian Immigration topic very well. I was focusing more on the transition of foreign children adapting to life in America, but this book was a refreshing change. It is about an Asian American boy, who is more familiar to American customs, go back to Japan where he is the outsider. I liked how the struggles he faced in Japan where similar to those an immigrant child faces while going to school in America.

This book will definitely spark interest among children because of how well the illustrations are. They are interesting and are quite accurate of what things look like/are done in Asia. The plot was very thoughtful in considering that he has biracial parents, move to a foreign country, has to adapt to a new way of life, and goes through a drastic change. Through all of this, he is very thankful for the warming gesture of his teacher and classmates at the end of the book. I really liked how in this book, the Japanese culture was not oversimplified and just generalized to any other Asian culture. The book included certain Japanese sayings and customs specific to Japan. This book overall had a very thick plot, great illustrations that went along to the text, and captured the Japanese culture very well.

[Evelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is about an American boy, named Gregory, who moves to Japan with his parents. After his father gets transferred to Japan, Gregory moves with his parents from San Francisco, California to Japan. Prior to moving, Gregory became curious about differences between Japan and America. When the family arrives in Japan, Gregory notices that people drive on the other side of the road, the money is different, people sit on the floor instead of chairs, and have to shower before taking a bath. Before entering a Japanese school, Gregory wondered if the students would like him at the new school. Upon entering the new Japanese school, Gregory noticed the other students staring at him. Gregory decided to conform by adapting to Japanese culture. In the end, however, Gregory discovered that his classmates decided to use some American customs in the Japanese classroom in order to help Gregory feel better. At the end of the story, Gregory makes new friends and realizes how to function in the Japanese culture.
This story would be great to teach students from K-5 about different cultures in order for them to see the differences and similarities between them. It also teaches students new Japanese words, and lets them relate to situations where they felt like an outsider in a new place and how they overcame those feelings.

[Erica Cowhick · Rating 2 out of 5]

This story is about Gregory, his mother came from Kansas and his father is from Japan. They lived in San Francisco and then Gregory's father got transfered to Japan for work. The whole family wanted to go. Gregory wanted to know what would be different in Japan. The toys, the food, the language. When the family arrives in Japan, Gregory notices that people drive on the other side of the road, the money is different, people sitting on the floor instead of chairs, and having to shower before taking a bath. Gregory wondered if the students would like him at his new school. They stared at him at first, and gave him weird looks. At the end of the story, Gregory makes new friends and begins to realize how they do things in Japan.

Activities:
1. This is a great book to use when studying a Japaneese unit. The students can create a list of differences between the United States and Japan.
2. The students can create a Venn Diagram of whats different and whats the same in the two different countries.

[Latosha Finch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gregory and his family are moving to Japan from California. Gregory’s father is from japan, however, his mother is from Kansas. Gregory has to adjust to the way of life in Japan. He notices that some things are the same, but there are many things that are different. Each time Gregory verbally speaks about the things that are different in Japan, his father responds, “that’s the way we do it in Japan.” The illustrations in this book are bright, appropriate, and inviting to children. This book gives students an opportunity to hear and imagine how it would be if they moved to another country, opposed to always hearing about students coming to a culture they are familiar with. This books opens discussion about Japanese culture.

[Anne Hennessey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gregory’s father gets a new job in Tokyo and the whole family has to move there. His mother is American and his father is Japanese. Gregory quickly learns that life is very different in Japan. The story follows Gregory as he tells about his daily life at home and at school. Gregory doesn’t know if he will ever fit in because he feels so different from his classmates.
This is another great book to help students understand the struggle some of their classmates might be facing who have moved here from another country. I would use this book to help start conversations about how that must feel to move somewhere where everything is different from your home country

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overview
This story is appropriate for kindergarten to third grade. Gregory is an American boy living in San Fransico with his American mother and Japanese father. He learns that his fathers job is being transfered to Japan and his family will have to move there. The experiences and encounters Gregory faces in school, in town and with the culutre introduce a positve view of the Japanese society.

Activities
*cook Japanese food
*learn to use chopsticks
*create a class kimono out of construction paper
*supply Japanese clothing in the dress up area
*learn letters of the Japanese alphabet

[Katie Williams]

The book is about a boy whose father is Japanese and whose mother is American. They end up moving to Japan where the culture is different from what he is used to. I believe this would be a book that could be used for any new students that may come into the classroom who have come from another country. It could also be used on the first day of school whether or not there is a student present in class who is new to the country to set up classroom rules. An activity could be 'The Way We Do It In *insert teacher name* Classroom' where the students help make classroom rules.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Through the eyes of an American boy, we see what it is like to leave San Francisco and start to live in Japan. He learns the way that people do things in Japan, like eat, sleep, and go to school. This is a fun book that explores another culture through activities that children would understand. It might make a good read for classes with an international population - where students could talk about how they live in their home country - or for areas where families have been stationed in Japan.

[Heather Torgersen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a sweet book! Gregory must move to Japan because his fathers job relocates the family. Greg comes from a multiracial family where his mother is American and his father is Japanese, and his father teaches him "the way we do it in Japan". This is a must read for children who have friends in their class from other cultures. Great ending as well!

[Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this pb because it pointed out all those kinds of cultural differences between the US and Japan (or any other country for that matter) that the casual US tourist will never see, yet are so important.

[Jessica Kenyon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good for families for new readers or younger

We are moving to Japan and we have a toddler and some of this applies to him but mostly for young school age children. I wish it was longer but this is a good size for that age group. I would enjoy this as a series.

[M · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good book about a boy who moves to Japan with his Japanese father and American mother. It shows some differences in cultures and at school. The boy has a positive attitude.

[Naomi]

A family that consists of a Japanese father and American mother move to Japan where a young boy learns the unique customs and ways of life living in Japan.

[Maxwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy to follow, easy to relate to story about a boy moving to Japan with his family and the differences. A short read aloud, valuable for eye opening concepts.

[Renise Black · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very fun way to get an introduction to Japan and Japanese culture. It actually inspired my daughter to want to learn to write in Japanese.

[Camille Tesch]

Japan ages 6-8

[Samra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute but had some dumb moments