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Clueless In Tokyo: Explorer's Sketchbook Of Weird And Wonderful Things In Japan
This delightful sketchbook presents a uniquely insightful take on the bemusement and amusement that are the inevitable reactions of the Westerner confronting Japan for the first time. Still unwilling to allow Japan's mysteries to exclude her, the author-artist illustrates her further adventures into the true meaning of the unfamiliar happenings around her, and turns culture shock into humorous appreciation. The resulting sketchbook is an excellent, user-friendly primer for anyone contemplating travel to Japan or engaged in Japanese language studies.
48 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 1997
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
January 9, 2015
Very pretty watercolor art. Questionable narrative. Title may have been a bit too apt.
I have never been to Japan. Everything I know about Japan I have learned from taking classes, reading books and manga and watching anime and J-dramas. So, I'm hardly an expert. Yet after having spent 7 years living in Japan the only insight Reynolds can offer me is that Sumo fashion is 'risky' and that one could see 'anything' walking the streets of Tokyo.
I didn't learn a thing that I didn't already know and was almost insulted a couple times both for the sake of my intelligence (thinking to myself, well anyone could probably figure that out, i.e. Why do people wash their hands before approaching the temple? This is hardly a unique custom in terms of religious rituals.) and a couple of times just for the whole concept of 'otherness' applied to Japan, instead of trying to see what is familiar and the same across two disparate cultures. It's a little bit, "Look how weird they are!" Without taking in the obvious, that to a Japanese person, this is normal and what gaijin do is weird.
I appreciated the lovely watercolor depictions of temples, kimono, and bento that fill the book, the author obviously has a wonderful eye for colors and sketching, but I was pretty distracted by the annoying questions that pepper the pages. It was as if the most oblivious and rude gaijin was reading over my shoulder and asking ridiculously stupid questions. On Noh "Is anything ever going to happen in this play? And why don't the masks fit?" (Ever seen an Opera?) These questions are left unanswered. On Summer Festivals "Why are people dancing in pajamas and robes?" I think even people living under rocks know, at least, the term kimono, they may not understand the difference between a kimono and a yukata, but I somehow doubt (or at least hope) that most people would not mistake a person in a yukata or kimono for someone in pajamas.
It also got a little weird in the Manga/anime section where she blithely mentions that some "young people" have begun to live in manga cafes. But, it's just the um..bizarre facts of this un-Western culture, not something to linger over. "Super heroes are the new Godzilla" she remarks. Uh, okay.
Despite her wonderful renditions of "street fashion" not much info is given on the styles, despite the myriad of styles one would see only one is mentioned, Fairy Kei (though the illustration looks like a Lolita since she's missing the 80's neons and strawberry shortcake/MLP/other cute 80's American cartoon accessories). Why was that one mentioned by name where as the girl on the page before was only given assumed stuff, like 'wear everything you own' and 'let your imagination run wild' instead of saying it was Decora style? As with most stuff in the book it seems to consist of observation only, I wonder how often, if ever, the author spoke to those she sketched? To me it felt a little like this was a book about a Westerner making observations on Japan. When the author looked at the young people dressed so strangely it was taken as trying to be unique, in a "homogenous [SIC] nation of 126.66 million brown-eyed, brown-haired people you do what you gotta do to stand out." But, what if it was the opposite? What if the styles were to fit in with a group of your peers? As a way to form a community?
I think it would have been more successful if it had been a little more personal to the author's experiences, if she just said this is what happened to me and that's what I thought of it instead of trying to sound like an expert in introducing Japan to outsiders; or barring that tried to be a little more in-depth in the examination of Japan from a Westerner's perspective. I guess I'd expect a little more from a 7 year stay in any culture.
I have never been to Japan. Everything I know about Japan I have learned from taking classes, reading books and manga and watching anime and J-dramas. So, I'm hardly an expert. Yet after having spent 7 years living in Japan the only insight Reynolds can offer me is that Sumo fashion is 'risky' and that one could see 'anything' walking the streets of Tokyo.
I didn't learn a thing that I didn't already know and was almost insulted a couple times both for the sake of my intelligence (thinking to myself, well anyone could probably figure that out, i.e. Why do people wash their hands before approaching the temple? This is hardly a unique custom in terms of religious rituals.) and a couple of times just for the whole concept of 'otherness' applied to Japan, instead of trying to see what is familiar and the same across two disparate cultures. It's a little bit, "Look how weird they are!" Without taking in the obvious, that to a Japanese person, this is normal and what gaijin do is weird.
I appreciated the lovely watercolor depictions of temples, kimono, and bento that fill the book, the author obviously has a wonderful eye for colors and sketching, but I was pretty distracted by the annoying questions that pepper the pages. It was as if the most oblivious and rude gaijin was reading over my shoulder and asking ridiculously stupid questions. On Noh "Is anything ever going to happen in this play? And why don't the masks fit?" (Ever seen an Opera?) These questions are left unanswered. On Summer Festivals "Why are people dancing in pajamas and robes?" I think even people living under rocks know, at least, the term kimono, they may not understand the difference between a kimono and a yukata, but I somehow doubt (or at least hope) that most people would not mistake a person in a yukata or kimono for someone in pajamas.
It also got a little weird in the Manga/anime section where she blithely mentions that some "young people" have begun to live in manga cafes. But, it's just the um..bizarre facts of this un-Western culture, not something to linger over. "Super heroes are the new Godzilla" she remarks. Uh, okay.
Despite her wonderful renditions of "street fashion" not much info is given on the styles, despite the myriad of styles one would see only one is mentioned, Fairy Kei (though the illustration looks like a Lolita since she's missing the 80's neons and strawberry shortcake/MLP/other cute 80's American cartoon accessories). Why was that one mentioned by name where as the girl on the page before was only given assumed stuff, like 'wear everything you own' and 'let your imagination run wild' instead of saying it was Decora style? As with most stuff in the book it seems to consist of observation only, I wonder how often, if ever, the author spoke to those she sketched? To me it felt a little like this was a book about a Westerner making observations on Japan. When the author looked at the young people dressed so strangely it was taken as trying to be unique, in a "homogenous [SIC] nation of 126.66 million brown-eyed, brown-haired people you do what you gotta do to stand out." But, what if it was the opposite? What if the styles were to fit in with a group of your peers? As a way to form a community?
I think it would have been more successful if it had been a little more personal to the author's experiences, if she just said this is what happened to me and that's what I thought of it instead of trying to sound like an expert in introducing Japan to outsiders; or barring that tried to be a little more in-depth in the examination of Japan from a Westerner's perspective. I guess I'd expect a little more from a 7 year stay in any culture.
August 1, 2011
This book is cute. Reynold's drawings are charming, though the layout is a bit erratic. It's a fun read for anyone already familiar with Japanese culture and would make a nice gift for someone about to head over there.
Despite being titled Clueless in Tokyo, only two pages are Tokyo-specific. The book is generally a broad overview of food and Japanese customs -- both traditional and contemporary.(For a more Tokyo-specific book in comic style, try Tokyo on Foot (Tokyo Sanpo) by Florent Chavouet.)
I initially thought it would be a great picture-dictionary for young children, because Reynold's really does pull out, label, and define so many things that first catch your eye in Japan. However, there are some more adult references to erections, pornography, and sake-dispensing bras that could raise some concerns regarding the books use with children. Perhaps T is for Tokyo or I Live in Tokyo would make good parting gifts for the kids in the family, while you slip Clueless in Tokyo to the adults.
Despite being titled Clueless in Tokyo, only two pages are Tokyo-specific. The book is generally a broad overview of food and Japanese customs -- both traditional and contemporary.(For a more Tokyo-specific book in comic style, try Tokyo on Foot (Tokyo Sanpo) by Florent Chavouet.)
I initially thought it would be a great picture-dictionary for young children, because Reynold's really does pull out, label, and define so many things that first catch your eye in Japan. However, there are some more adult references to erections, pornography, and sake-dispensing bras that could raise some concerns regarding the books use with children. Perhaps T is for Tokyo or I Live in Tokyo would make good parting gifts for the kids in the family, while you slip Clueless in Tokyo to the adults.
December 14, 2016
** Books 317 - 2016 **
4 of 5 stars!
I just love it since it provides cute illustration and an knowledge that i haven't know before. I doesn't know so many types of getta (Japan sandals bamboo) and also maybe next time i wanna try Onsen as well XD
Thankyou Bookmate!
4 of 5 stars!
I just love it since it provides cute illustration and an knowledge that i haven't know before. I doesn't know so many types of getta (Japan sandals bamboo) and also maybe next time i wanna try Onsen as well XD
Thankyou Bookmate!
June 9, 2019
I get it. Life in Japan is expensive. So you have to produce things.
The book is certainly colorful. But the drawings are not nice, advanced beginner at best. And the information is crap. It is the same old routine 10 000 other books like it are showing.
The book is certainly colorful. But the drawings are not nice, advanced beginner at best. And the information is crap. It is the same old routine 10 000 other books like it are showing.
March 7, 2017
While it's a couple more weeks until I actually make it to Japan to test and confirm the accuracy of all this, my sense is that she's right on. because she's written as an American who has lived in Tokyo a long time and knows how Westerners will view and perceive all of Japan's intricacies.
The sketchbook style is PERFECT for this, it's not weighted down by too many words, it's visually pleasing, and she's categorized things in a way that helps the learner like myself realize what's connected and what's not connected to each other. Like, oh, is that flag something that has to do with a festival, or is it something the restaurant would always have hanging?
Examples like that are useful and I'm considering taking the book with me on the trip!
The sketchbook style is PERFECT for this, it's not weighted down by too many words, it's visually pleasing, and she's categorized things in a way that helps the learner like myself realize what's connected and what's not connected to each other. Like, oh, is that flag something that has to do with a festival, or is it something the restaurant would always have hanging?
Examples like that are useful and I'm considering taking the book with me on the trip!
December 22, 2016
I was hoping this would be a little more along the lines of Florent Chavouet's Tokyo on Foot, but it's really just a picture book with no narrative. It's still cute, but very short, and not really what I had in mind.
June 29, 2024
Letto in italiano, sempre della Nuinui edizioni
Molto belli i disegni e l'idea dietro, diciamo che mi aspettavo solo qualcosa di più o comunque diverso.
Mi aspettavo qualche cosa tipica di Tokyo da vedere e spiegata e non c'è granché a riguardo
Molto belli i disegni e l'idea dietro, diciamo che mi aspettavo solo qualcosa di più o comunque diverso.
Mi aspettavo qualche cosa tipica di Tokyo da vedere e spiegata e non c'è granché a riguardo
June 13, 2013
Fun way to learn about aspects of the Japanese culture.
January 28, 2010
This has become a classic in my house. The pictures are adorable. I love this simple sketchbook of Japan and its oddities.
March 26, 2020
For someone who previously knew very little about Japan, and before having visited there, I found this little book to be a very helpful read! I looked at it on flight on the way to Tokyo, to visit my sister who has lived in Japan for 16 years. She is married to a Japanese man and they have four children. So, I have a half Japanese/half American nephew, and three half/half nieces. I needed a quick way to learn about Japanese culture and customs, from an American perspective. To have a book written by another Westerner, was just what I needed! The author seemed to pick out things I might notice as different from my own culture and gave a short description of it and why it is used in Japan. I found the quick guide a valuable read to get a feel for what I was soon going to experience. My sister and her family have visited the States but they were in our environment so I didn't learn a significant amount of Japanese knowledge from their visits. This time I got to see them in their environment, and how people live there from day to day. The book really helped in leaps and bounds to help me understand what I was looking at once there. It covered food, religious rites, places, customs, dress, etc. For me, it was a quick review before getting to Japan, and in once returning home to look back at it and was able to say, "Yes! I saw that!" I was able to caption my pictures better as to what things were that were different than something you would see here in America. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to get an overall idea about Japan who is coming from an American or western viewpoint to understand the eastern ways and customs. It helps to have an idea of what things are like before you get there!
August 31, 2018
I didn't think a lot about this slim volume when I started it. The art is stylized, if pretty, and it looked a bit like a children's book. As I went, I realized that having a visual look at some of the things I might see in Japan was quite helpful, even if it was paintings, rather than photographs. This is certainly not complete, and many of the examples were focused more towards women than men, so men might not get quite as much value out of some of the examples, but I really ended up enjoying it, and think it gave me something I couldn't get from more conventional guidebooks.
December 16, 2024
This is a fun little sketchbook that shows "weird and wonderful things in Japan." I've visited Japan two times, plus I lived there for one semester in 2017. Still I learned a few things here and there. Japan is definitely a different world, and the author captures some of its oddities in her book. She gives the Japanese names for things I was familiar with; however, I didn't know what those things were called. So it was rather fun to read, although many of the things shown I never encountered in my three times there.
May 25, 2019
It’s cute and informative.
January 27, 2021
The illustrations looks cute!
May 23, 2022
Found this at the library when searching for watercolor books. I really like all the objects done in watercolor.
October 29, 2022
Super boring. I lost interest very quickly. The drawings are not good. They’re quite disappointing. You can find this info all online for FREE!
December 28, 2023
A helpful book, that I found useful facts in. Lovely illustrations. Initially I thought my 10 year old daughter will enjoy, but some parts are inappropriate for her age.
September 20, 2024
Very cute drawings. To be honest, I wish to do this kind of thing too.. watercolor drawings of places in the world <3
November 25, 2024
An adorable illustrated mini book of wonderful things to see in Tokyo. Fun to read with my daughters!
June 13, 2020
Charming illustration, but I found the narrative lacking and straight-up ignorant at times.
February 2, 2017
berisi ilustrasi tentang kehidupan di Jepang (lebih tepatnya Tokyo dan kehidupan kotanya saja).
ada pembahasan tentang tempat makan, festival, kendaraan yang ada di Jepang, olahraga dan juga tempat-tempat umum. paling suka di bagian pemandian umum di Jepang.
ternyata kalau pemandian umum di Jepang itu juga ada sekalian restorannya gitu. dan makanan di restorannya pun beragam. ada yang dimakan sebelum berendam dan sesudah berendam.
trus baru tau juga kalau jenis sendal kayu di jepang itu ada banyak macam2nya. ada namanya Setta (untuk dipakai di luar ruangan), ada yang namanya Zori (untuk pakaian kimono), lalu ada Getta (sendal kayu umum) dan tsumagawa (sendal kayu yang dipakai saat turun hujan). bentuknya hampir sama semua sih. tapi ternyata memiliki jenis yang berbeda.
Bagus!. terima kasih mbak Marina karena udah baca ini, jadi saya bisa cari dan baca buku ini juga hehe^^
ada pembahasan tentang tempat makan, festival, kendaraan yang ada di Jepang, olahraga dan juga tempat-tempat umum. paling suka di bagian pemandian umum di Jepang.
ternyata kalau pemandian umum di Jepang itu juga ada sekalian restorannya gitu. dan makanan di restorannya pun beragam. ada yang dimakan sebelum berendam dan sesudah berendam.
trus baru tau juga kalau jenis sendal kayu di jepang itu ada banyak macam2nya. ada namanya Setta (untuk dipakai di luar ruangan), ada yang namanya Zori (untuk pakaian kimono), lalu ada Getta (sendal kayu umum) dan tsumagawa (sendal kayu yang dipakai saat turun hujan). bentuknya hampir sama semua sih. tapi ternyata memiliki jenis yang berbeda.
Bagus!. terima kasih mbak Marina karena udah baca ini, jadi saya bisa cari dan baca buku ini juga hehe^^
December 1, 2014
Definitely cute, although the format is sometimes confusing. And some of the questions asked in the text go unanswered. I still don't know why those very thin men are painted white, although I can look up "buto" and find out. A useful book for anyone planning to visit Japan, or on the return end of a trip when you're wondering what was going on.
November 5, 2014
This book is full of lovely, quirky illustrations. I enjoyed going through it and discovering all the little details. It's not an in-depth guide to Japanese culture or anything like that, but should make a great coffee table book, gift, or conversation starter.
March 31, 2017
Toilet slippers, olden dragon topped hearses, fugu drinks, high pitched elevator girls, front facing toilets, drunk low hanging fox characters, blood type branded condoms etc. I have a lot to prepare for.
December 25, 2016
This book has a pretty illustration, and also tiny information in sketchbook-like. I wish I could read more description about the Japanese culture.
December 27, 2021
Bought it for the interesting watercolor technique. However the point of view is of a white foreigner, so the understanding of the culture it’s not quite there. However, it fits the title
February 16, 2024
Lovely art, easy to understand. Loved this for its concise explanations and its visual simplicity. Nice book to get started on learning about Japan or for a light read between heavy books.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews