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Dendo: One Year and One Half in Tokyo
"Dendo" is the Japanese word for "missionary work." This daily journal of an LDS sister missionary in Tokyo, Japan, was kept entirely in comic pages. Sister Long spent 18 months teaching and serving among some of the most amazing people in the world, but it wasn't always easy. Read the story of her service teaching English, helping people follow Jesus Christ, and making some of the best friends of her life.
627 pages, Paperback
Published November 5, 2015
8 people are currently reading
453 people want to read
About the author
Brittany Long Olsen
14 books37 followersBrittany Long Olsen is a cartoonist, writer, and illustrator with a deep love of storytelling through comics. She lives and draws in Oregon with her partner and their two dogs, Jetpack and Digby.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
January 19, 2016
My parents gave me this graphic memoir, and I enjoyed it. I have not served an LDS mission, but I know the Church. I have spent time in Japan, and learning the Japanese language. This account rings true to me. It's fun to see missionary training and service through Olsen's eyes, and her depictions of Japan are just natsukashii. I'm pleased to say that I understood most of the Japanese words present. But there aren't very many, and she explains them, so it is easy for English-speakers to read. This is also a believable record of the ups and downs of the missionary experience. My sons are reading it, too, and I hope it helps them prepare to be brave, compassionate, and adaptable in whatever fields they may serve. Yoku dekimashita!
February 15, 2016
Sometimes books write things down that you've always thought about, but have never thought to put into words yourself.
Having served as an LDS missionary myself in a foreign land (Santiago, Chile), Brittany's (or I should say, Long Shimai's) experiences as a missionary, the struggles and the triumphs, resonated with me extremely. She covers it all: the difficulty of a new language, the anxiety of sharing a message people don't appreciate, the drag of having difficult companions, the joy of seeing people accept the message, the love you gain for all people (but especially the natives), the lessons and personal growth that happens. Despite the countless hours I've spent in my own journal trying to describe the experience, I can't quite it right the way Long Shimai does.
The story is told as an actual comic journal. That might be a little harder to follow than your average graphic novel, but in this case, the form fits the content rather well. The book sacrifices a bit of the polished "no-nonsense" storytelling and "tying up all the loose ends" in favor of the raw honesty of the experience. For me, that works.
And the book is not just for a Mormon audience. Brittany Long Olsen explains things very well to help others who are not familiar with the missionary experience to follow along.
Finally, her story describes a part of church history that I think will become a defining moment: when sister missionaries could now serve at age 19. This moment has brought, I think, a surge of sisters coming to the forefront of church service, and will fundamentally change church culture and increase how members value of women's work. Dendo will definitely be up there with Maus and Persepolis, my favorite graphic novel memoirs.
Having served as an LDS missionary myself in a foreign land (Santiago, Chile), Brittany's (or I should say, Long Shimai's) experiences as a missionary, the struggles and the triumphs, resonated with me extremely. She covers it all: the difficulty of a new language, the anxiety of sharing a message people don't appreciate, the drag of having difficult companions, the joy of seeing people accept the message, the love you gain for all people (but especially the natives), the lessons and personal growth that happens. Despite the countless hours I've spent in my own journal trying to describe the experience, I can't quite it right the way Long Shimai does.
The story is told as an actual comic journal. That might be a little harder to follow than your average graphic novel, but in this case, the form fits the content rather well. The book sacrifices a bit of the polished "no-nonsense" storytelling and "tying up all the loose ends" in favor of the raw honesty of the experience. For me, that works.
And the book is not just for a Mormon audience. Brittany Long Olsen explains things very well to help others who are not familiar with the missionary experience to follow along.
Finally, her story describes a part of church history that I think will become a defining moment: when sister missionaries could now serve at age 19. This moment has brought, I think, a surge of sisters coming to the forefront of church service, and will fundamentally change church culture and increase how members value of women's work. Dendo will definitely be up there with Maus and Persepolis, my favorite graphic novel memoirs.
July 5, 2018
This book is so good! I related to so many of her experiences as a sister missionary. Anyone who wants to know what missionary life is like, this is a great source. The author shares both the ups and the downs of her experience as a missionary. I loved the faith she showed through the hard times.
May 30, 2019
I absolutely loved this graphic novel. I didn't serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but my husband did, and Long Olsen's experiences matched up with his stories. It made me feel like I could relate to my husband better, and better appreciate the missionaries I see around me (of all faiths).
I know this was a journal, but she uses a lot of sophisticated narrative choices and chose to emphasize events that worked as foreshadowing or as a tool to forward her character development as a narrator. It was so fascinating to see her change and grow as a person in attitudes toward companions, investigators, and herself. I was also impressed by her use of lines to convey tone and action in subtle, simple ways, but yet they gave the reader clear cues that moved the story forward.
I highly recommend this book.
I know this was a journal, but she uses a lot of sophisticated narrative choices and chose to emphasize events that worked as foreshadowing or as a tool to forward her character development as a narrator. It was so fascinating to see her change and grow as a person in attitudes toward companions, investigators, and herself. I was also impressed by her use of lines to convey tone and action in subtle, simple ways, but yet they gave the reader clear cues that moved the story forward.
I highly recommend this book.
April 18, 2018
I'm happy that there is a book that fits on both the christian-lds shelf and the manga-comics shelf! This was a fascinating look at everyday missionary life in Japan in cute comic form. She doesn't sugar-coat anything, but you can tell she's trying to be positive, too, which is an attitude I appreciate. I loved learning more both about missionary life and life in Japan and the Church in Japan. It did feel a little long -- there is one comic for every day of her mission. Sometimes I feel like a bit of editing could have kept the best parts and cut a few less exciting parts. But, on the other hand, that sort of lends to empathizing with her whole experience.
Recommended for anyone interested in missionaries.
Recommended for anyone interested in missionaries.
October 25, 2020
Fantastic book!
The author, several years before her mission, decided to make autobiographical comics every day as her way of journal-keeping, and apparently hasn't missed a day since. She kept this up on her mission and this book is a result of that. I really liked it because it brought back a lot of memories and feelings of my own time as a missionary in Japan. There was a lot of very similar things we experienced. I'm happy I found this book!
The author, several years before her mission, decided to make autobiographical comics every day as her way of journal-keeping, and apparently hasn't missed a day since. She kept this up on her mission and this book is a result of that. I really liked it because it brought back a lot of memories and feelings of my own time as a missionary in Japan. There was a lot of very similar things we experienced. I'm happy I found this book!
November 15, 2020
Cute, fun, and honest. Being a missionary is HARD, but Long Olsen captures it well.
February 17, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It’s a journal written in a creative way that made it exceptionally fun to read. The drawings bring another dimension to the journaling experience—I admired it so much I emulated it! I only took so long to read it because I read a little, then tried to journal in a similar way for a while, and repeat. Her experiences in this book are relatable, especially for missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It gives a nice glimpse into the life of a missionary. I really appreciated her illustrations of amusing day to day moments and endearing aspects of Japanese culture.
March 17, 2017
Olsen's graphic novel- journal deserves fantastic applause, simply because there is no book like hers. She captured the missionary experience so well with its ups and downs, relationships, heartaches, hilariousness, and good share of awkward moments. The book at times feels like it lacks movement and a central story, but I think this intentional writing is important- this is how LDS missionary work feels like- a series of disconnected events and people, and like the missionary, the reader must go on. Olsen explains the Japanese and LDS culture in a clear and unassuming style. Great artwork and writing.
May 7, 2016
I've rarely related to a biography as much as I did this one. While I served my own mission in the US, I found myself sympathizing mightily with Sister Long's ups and downs in Japan: her tough companionships, the frustration of having investigators who suddenly want nothing to do with you, but also the tremendous joy of seeing people's lives change for the better as they come to see God's plan for them. I'm not sure how, but Brittany Long Olsen captured the essence of being a missionary perfectly. I feel better for having read her excellent memoir.
September 28, 2016
While I didn't serve a mission myself, I have always admired the work that the LDS missionaries do for our church. This graphic novel I think is as close to being right there with a missionary through their whole mission as I will ever get. All the ups, downs, miracles big and small. My husband read this book as well and said it was a perfect window into life as a missionary, whether you served in Japan or not.
If you served a mission or are LDS and want to better understand what a mission is like, you need to read this!
If you served a mission or are LDS and want to better understand what a mission is like, you need to read this!
February 4, 2016
This is an adorably drawn, really delightful look at the daily life of a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. You see everything - ups and downs - and it's awesome to see how Sister Long progresses and grows over the course of her mission. Bonus points: it's in Japan, and there are lots of great cultural tidbits. Having spent some time there myself, it felt very natsukashii to read this. I highly enjoyed it!
February 13, 2018
I'm sure a lot of returned LDS missionaries who read this are reminded of their own missions in some way. I certainly was - even though I served in Florida and didn't have to learn a new language, so I didn't have a lot of cultural things to get used to (then again, I kind of did - Florida was almost like a whole different country). But all of the basic missionary experiences are here. The ones that most - if not all - missionaries experience: rejection, discouragement, hard times, difficult companions, companions that remain your best friends even after you come home, converts and members that you both love and are annoyed by. And, of course, the sweet spiritual experiences that you wouldn't trade for anything in the world.
There were some sections of Long-shimai's memoir that hit really close to my own missionary experiences, to the point where I had to put down the book and catch my breath (I won't say which ones, since some weren't the most positive experiences. To say the least). But I loved her honesty and candor in relating her experiences. Both the good and the bad - oh man, the good things that happen to missionaries are some of the sweetest ever and more than make up for the bad things that happen.
I can't recommend this enough - both for prospective missionaries and returned missionaries. Potential missionaries, so they know more of what to expect, and RMs so we can relive some of our own cherish memories. Also, I need to note that I finished this book on the ten-year anniversary of me entering the MTC to go on my mission. I only discovered this at my local library last week, so call it serendipity or divine intervention or a tender mercy that this is how I could commemorate my own missionary experience.
There were some sections of Long-shimai's memoir that hit really close to my own missionary experiences, to the point where I had to put down the book and catch my breath (I won't say which ones, since some weren't the most positive experiences. To say the least). But I loved her honesty and candor in relating her experiences. Both the good and the bad - oh man, the good things that happen to missionaries are some of the sweetest ever and more than make up for the bad things that happen.
I can't recommend this enough - both for prospective missionaries and returned missionaries. Potential missionaries, so they know more of what to expect, and RMs so we can relive some of our own cherish memories. Also, I need to note that I finished this book on the ten-year anniversary of me entering the MTC to go on my mission. I only discovered this at my local library last week, so call it serendipity or divine intervention or a tender mercy that this is how I could commemorate my own missionary experience.
June 10, 2018
If you've ever been on a mission, this book brings back so many memories! Long Shimai, I mean, Sister Long, that is, Brittany Long Olsen draws great cartoons that really capture the character of people, places, and events. Her writing conveys the feeling and flavor of the ups and downs, miracles and smirks that go with being a missionary for the Lord Jesus Christ. It is tough to have faith in God and your calling when everything seems to go wrong: "I'm not crying. It's just raining. On my face." But then there are miracles for the people she serves: "It was sort of a witness to her that God really is helping me in this work every day."
Olsen often drops in wonderful bits about Japanese culture. The garbage truck plays music like an ice cream truck. It's really benri (convenient, useful) to hear the music coming and rush to put out the garbage if we'd forgotten.
One nice thing is that she uses whatever format is convenient to the story that day. She doesn't force her entries into one (or even a few) formats. She uses wide panels, text around, dialog, sketches of people or food or apartments, whole page entries (like 31 Dendō!), and many others. Never boring! There must be some 560 pages, one for every day, just it is a quick, fun read.
"Tips for feeding missionaries (especially foreign ones). 1. Make it a buffet-style meal, but don't ask the missionary to go first (so that they can watch someone else to observe the proper serving method ...) 2. Have plenty of safe starch like rice or bread to fill up on in case other foods are iffy. Also, don't tell them what a dish is unless they ask."
Olsen often drops in wonderful bits about Japanese culture. The garbage truck plays music like an ice cream truck. It's really benri (convenient, useful) to hear the music coming and rush to put out the garbage if we'd forgotten.
One nice thing is that she uses whatever format is convenient to the story that day. She doesn't force her entries into one (or even a few) formats. She uses wide panels, text around, dialog, sketches of people or food or apartments, whole page entries (like 31 Dendō!), and many others. Never boring! There must be some 560 pages, one for every day, just it is a quick, fun read.
"Tips for feeding missionaries (especially foreign ones). 1. Make it a buffet-style meal, but don't ask the missionary to go first (so that they can watch someone else to observe the proper serving method ...) 2. Have plenty of safe starch like rice or bread to fill up on in case other foods are iffy. Also, don't tell them what a dish is unless they ask."
April 7, 2025
I'm really grateful I read this graphic novel! Now I understand a little more what full time proselyting missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints go through! To quote a friend who read this "I have mad respect for missionaries." Same friend, same.
Her approach was honest, with all the highs and the lows. But it was also uplifting! I liked that it felt balanced. Sometimes all we hear are the super awesome or super awful mission experiences, and while her account does have those it has a lot of the "normal" that is found in everyday missionary life.
Overall I walked away with a greater appreciation for:
-the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ
-missionaries
-anyone who learns a new language (especially in a short amount of time)
-Japan and its wonderful people
I also wanted to strive to be a better example of Jesus Christ through my daily life, and help support missionaries better when I can. This is a book I'd definitely consider adding to my personal collection.
Her approach was honest, with all the highs and the lows. But it was also uplifting! I liked that it felt balanced. Sometimes all we hear are the super awesome or super awful mission experiences, and while her account does have those it has a lot of the "normal" that is found in everyday missionary life.
Overall I walked away with a greater appreciation for:
-the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ
-missionaries
-anyone who learns a new language (especially in a short amount of time)
-Japan and its wonderful people
I also wanted to strive to be a better example of Jesus Christ through my daily life, and help support missionaries better when I can. This is a book I'd definitely consider adding to my personal collection.
January 28, 2019
I followed along with Brittany’s blog while she was on her mission and loved it then, but it was so nice to read it all in book form!
It’s easy to sugarcoat religious experiences, especially missions, so it was nice for such an honest perspective — even though it was sometimes hard to read! Brittany doesn’t shy away from talking about some of those hard companion stories and hard days that I’m sure every missionary has. At the same time, she does a great job highlighting the joyful moments and the exploration of a new culture.
The format is day by day and highly episodic, so sometimes it feels surface level with individual people (but I’ve felt that from emails from missionaries in general.) The style of drawing is cute and I love the different kinds of entries — it feels very illustrative of all parts of a mission.
It’s easy to sugarcoat religious experiences, especially missions, so it was nice for such an honest perspective — even though it was sometimes hard to read! Brittany doesn’t shy away from talking about some of those hard companion stories and hard days that I’m sure every missionary has. At the same time, she does a great job highlighting the joyful moments and the exploration of a new culture.
The format is day by day and highly episodic, so sometimes it feels surface level with individual people (but I’ve felt that from emails from missionaries in general.) The style of drawing is cute and I love the different kinds of entries — it feels very illustrative of all parts of a mission.
November 17, 2022
I'm not Mormon, but I've lived in Utah for about 10 years now, so I've been exposed to the culture. I even had sister missionaries visit me at the first place I moved into when I came to Utah.
I'm giving this 5 stars because subject matter was presented in a unique format - daily hand-drawn journal covering Olsen's entire 18 months as a missionary - and it was engaging throughout. It's not sugarcoated either. She presents highs and lows. Doubts and strong faith. I think she left some things out as well.
Based on my limited research, I don't she's an active Mormon anymore, which would make for a killer introduction in a future anniversary edition of the book. If she's not active anymore, good for her. The Mormon church is a crock :)
I'm giving this 5 stars because subject matter was presented in a unique format - daily hand-drawn journal covering Olsen's entire 18 months as a missionary - and it was engaging throughout. It's not sugarcoated either. She presents highs and lows. Doubts and strong faith. I think she left some things out as well.
Based on my limited research, I don't she's an active Mormon anymore, which would make for a killer introduction in a future anniversary edition of the book. If she's not active anymore, good for her. The Mormon church is a crock :)
February 6, 2025
No, this book will not convert you. Yes, Olsen does talk about her church and its beliefs. If you take this as a book that covers almost two years of her life, as a book tat just lets you see into a person's life and take it as that and not a long LDS pamphlet, then it is fine. If you are a former missionary, if you are a member, if you are interested in being a member, this would be a nice look at the world. I learned a little about the church, I learned a few lessons about how we all can be a little kinder and have a bit more understanding and patience. I learned a little about Japan and its culture and even the landscape. You learn a bit about food and customs. It is just a nice book. An enjoyable book, but a long book. Do not read it all at once. Take your time.
December 5, 2017
Dendo: One Year and One Half in Tokyo, by Brittany Long Olson is a comic-style memoir, or really daily journal, of one missionary’s experience from the MTC to Tokyo starting from day 1 in the MTC and ending on the flight back home. It came out a couple of years ago and received accolades from Deseret News and received the 2015 Association for Mormon Letters Award in Comics.... to read the rest of this review, please visit the Exponent blog here: http://www.the-exponent.com/dendo-one...
September 12, 2024
A deeply immersive into the world of a sister missionary in Japan, following the literal day to day of what she experienced. While it was interesting, I found myself getting frustrated with Sister Long. Now I understand that she is young and naive to a lot of the world, but I felt she was petty and childish. Which she basically is. She’s a 19 year old thrown into an extreme living situation for 18 months. In a whole new country struggling with a new language. Of course she is gonna have her down moments. It still didn’t stop me from rolling my eyes at her.
August 4, 2018
A really good look at the life of a sister missionary. The narrative is a bit disjointed; after all, a one page a day diary can cover only so much, and it's difficult to predict what will be important beforehand. But her charming art style and funny stories make up for it. I'm happy that I read this, and even happier that my 9yo son devoured it twice. A good way for him to learn what to expect from the day to day of missionary life.
November 12, 2020
This book is a visual journal of a sister missionary serving a church mission for 1 1/2 years in Tokyo, Japan. Her daily drawings and writing captures the every day life of a missionary. She explains culture, language, and food in her entries. Her sketches are very detailed.
She is honest with her feelings, frustrations and happiness. I enjoyed it because I too served a mission in Japan many years ago. It was fun to relate to.
She is honest with her feelings, frustrations and happiness. I enjoyed it because I too served a mission in Japan many years ago. It was fun to relate to.
October 27, 2022
It surprised me how much the author's experiences in Japan matched my experiences 7 years later in Korea. Though it did approach faith and her relationship with God more simply than I feel like I had to on my mission. Like it feels like she doesn't ever struggle with her testimony on her mission. So I guess I would recommend for nostalgia or preparing to serve a mission in Asia but not for reconciling the hard stuff about missions and faith.
November 14, 2022
A great book. I admire Brittany for having the focus to complete a cartoon journal from every day of her mission. It does an excellent job at being entertaining, at capturing the life of a missionary and the struggles and triumphs that accompany missionary service, and (from what I've heard), does a great job at showing what life in Japan is like.
I have five daughters, all of whom want to serve missions some day. I want all of them to read this book.
I have five daughters, all of whom want to serve missions some day. I want all of them to read this book.
April 12, 2025
This was an excellent book and a very uplifting read! Brought back so many memories (both the good and the difficult), all in just the right way. The art is what I would call "simple done very well", which I'm sure was conducive to keeping up with the journal along with the daily missionary grind.
Overall, I came away from this book with a desire to be a better disciple of Christ, and a hope that I can do so instead of a fear that I'm not good enough. Highly recommend!
Overall, I came away from this book with a desire to be a better disciple of Christ, and a hope that I can do so instead of a fear that I'm not good enough. Highly recommend!
March 30, 2021
Okay so technically I didn’t read this book my 14 year old daughter did (I plan to as well) but she devoured it and would ask my husband and I insightful questions about our own missionary experiences. It was awesome to see because she isn’t a spiritual enthusiast these days;) it also was right up her alley because she loves everything Japanese as well.
April 5, 2021
Such a unique way to keep a missionary journal—I thoroughly enjoyed it! “Long Shimai” touches on lots of issues that LDS missionaries struggle with, no matter where they’ve served. Expats who have lived in Japan will also enjoy reading this—doesn’t matter whether they are a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints or not.
May 15, 2018
A charming yet very honest look at the life and work of an LDS missionary. I served my mission over 40 years ago in the western US, and while my circumstances were very different, yet my experience was very similar in many ways.
October 9, 2019
I loved this book. Very down to earth, very accurate, I hated to put it down. The writing style is easy to understand, and her experiences really resonate with me (even though I came back from my mission more than 30 years ago and spoke Spanish). I highly recommend it.
March 21, 2023
I really enjoyed this book. I didn’t serve a mission in Japan, but many of the experiences, frustrations, and successes that Long shared were much like my own. I really enjoyed following along with her experiences.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews