Japan: True Stories of Life on the Road

by Donald W. George (Editor), Amy Greimann Carlson (Editor)

Japan, with its old and ever-changing heart and soul, simultaneously astonishes, delights, and frustrates travelers. Visit the place of tranquil temples, exquisite ancient inns and lurid love hotels, where electric baths sit beside indoor ski slopes and cheery blossoms fall on kindly grandmothers, cynical salarymen, wise monks, and wild lovers alike.

Contents:
Introduction
"Taiko Drumming," by Alan Booth
"The Magic of Miyajima," by Donald Richie
"I Feel Coke," by Pico Iyer
"When the Heart Becomes Quiet," by John David Morley
"Smo," by Brad Newsham
"Somebody Stab Him Again," by Dave Barry
"The Essence of Japan," by Donald Richie
"When the Cherries Bloom," by Donald W. George
"Into the Denki Furo," by Jeff Greenwald
"P's And Q's and Envelope Blues," by Bruce S. Feiler
"Illiteracy and the Attacking Toilet," by Kevin O'Connor
"Tea with an Old Friend," by Linda Butler
"Back to Izumo, Back to Springtime," by Greg Dvorak
"The Great Tokyo Fish Market," by T.R. Reid
"Department Store Panic," by Jim Leff
"Bilingual Laughter," by Cathy N. Davidson
"The Indoor Slopes of Tokyo," by Jonathan Alter
"Transcendence," by Susan Orlean
"Sandbath Resurrection," by James D. Houston
"Of Gomi and Gaijin," by Steve Bailey
"Osaka: Bumpers and Runners," by Alex Kerr
"Ryoanji Reflections," by Donald W. George
"The Arithmetic of Beauty," by Katherine Ashenburg
"Rain Droppings," by Brad Newsham
"An Alchemy of Absences," by Pico Iyer
"Monster in a Ryokan," by Mary Roach
"Unforgettable," by James D. Houston
"Land of Wonder, Land of Kindness," by Ray Bartlett
"The Tangerine Buddha," by Michael Fessler
"Grief," by Cathy N. Davidson
"Dance Through the Wall of the Body," by David Mura
"In Search of Beauty," by Alex Kerr
"Capsule Cure," by Steven Wardell
"A Yen for Cleaning," by Louise Rafkin
"Love Boat, Japanese-Style," by Cleo Paskal
"A Queer Night in Tokyo," by Marianne Dresser
"Red Lights and Green Tea," by Bruce S. Feiler
"Rice Harvest," by Leila Philip
"Last Train to Takatsuki," by Michael Ward
"The Wa of Baseball," by Robert Whiting
"Whose Hand is This?" by Amy Greimann Carlson
"Every Yen's Worth," by Clayton Naff
"A Thousand Cranes, A Thousand Suns," by Alan Booth
"Why I Burned the Flag," by Cleo Paskal
"Raw Horsemeat," by Alan Booth
"Reflections," by Lafcadio Hearn

Genres: Japan, Travel, Nonfiction

411 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1998

Reviews

[Ian Josh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful collection of writing about Japan up until the publication around 1999. It's set up as a guidebook where you learn about the country through various writings, many taken from larger works and other taken in full from magazines and newspapers.

The selections are vast and encompass a variety of styles and voices. I had read about 1/3 previously, and have already bought 3 other books that I enjoyed the snippets of.

With so many stories there's no use going into details, but was struck most by the writing of Pico Iyer, whose book about Kyoto I will read very soon.

I would say anyone living here would benefit from as well as enjoy this book.

Very highly recommended.

(PS, not sure why Donald Richie is listed as the main author here)

[Kyla]

Loved this - even emailed the author of one of the stories

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

A marvelous look at the essence of Japan, from the perspectives of many globetrotters.

[Gina Long · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS WAS A GREAT READ TO PREPARE FOR MY TRIP TO JAPAN! I LEARNED ALOT & I WOULD RECOMMEND IT FOR ANYONE PLANNING TO VISIT THE COUNTRY.