Strange But True Stories from Japan

by Jack Seward

Japanese Studies, Crime Studies

Genres: Japan, Nonfiction

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Since 1941 Jack Seward has been involved with the Japanese language as student, teacher, and author of more than 30 books. He has also been a lecturer on Japanese culture and communication as well as a professional interpreter and translator. In 1986 the Emperor of Japan awarded Seward the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Third Class, for his efforts. Seward now lives in his native Texas with his Japanese wife.

Reviews

[Bryan W · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unimpressed really. This book contained a few mildly interesting stories but majority of the content barely kept my interest. Maybe I would have enjoyed it more if I was reading it on my way to Japan for the first time. As it is, I knew many of the so called "strange" stories before, and there weren't many truly strange stories contained in this account anyway.

[Dennis · Rating 2 out of 5]

An even more accurate title for this book would be Strange but True and Mostly Uninteresting Stories from Japan. Seward's writing is bone-dry and utterly humorless, lacking even a hint of charm, wit, or warmth. Much more befitting a textbook author (which he was) more than a historical or cultural interest writer. As a pseudo-educational reference though, I suppose it's not bad.

[Laurel · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is a rare example of a book I'm unable to finish. I've rarely read anything less engagingly written, which should be literary crime enough. But his ethnocentric sneering, and frequent misogynistic commentary is so off-putting to me that I just can't persevere.

[Leonca · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very mixed bag. Some of the historical segments were interesting, like the introduction of Christianity and the sudden change in attitudes toward raising beef cattle. The writing style could feel a bit clunky though, which sometimes made it hard to connect with the material.

[Marija S. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mosaic, anectodal, fun to read.

[Libby · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book only served to increase my fascination with Japanese culture. I loved all of it and only wished there was more to read. I was very glad the author included references at the end of each chapter as I will be looking intently for quite a few of them.

My favourite chapter was on the food, I love Japanese food, though
I wouldnt go as far as putting myself in the getemono-gui category. I have always thought that it was best to not eat anything that I couldn't kill myself and it was with great pleasure that I discovered that this was a common belief in Japan.

I enjoyed the Phallic follies/Manga section but thought that the author could have greatly expanded upon the "strangeness" of Japanese attitudes to sexuality - perhaps more on manga, something on the infamous trains and objects found in vending machines would have been nice. I guess the topic could fill a book in itself.

The story of the kitten broke my heart and I will never, ever forget it...

I also found the authors word use interesting. I liked his mostly personal, casual style but found it strange when all of a sudden he would throw an obscure word into the mix - I actually had to look two up in the dictionary (not that I am a word snob or anything :p). Perhaps he was thinking in Japanese and writing in English or maybe the longer you are living in a country not of your birth and being actively bi-lingual the more the languages get mushed up in your head until you think/speak in half and half all the time - thus making it harder to limit yourself to the one, such as is needed when writing a book in the one language.

[Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not quite what I expected but gave me an interesting perspective on Japan.

At some point I'd love to go there, and this book has only re-enforced that.

There were a nice variety of stories in here, I liked the fractured English and food chapters, but I must admit my favourite part was "...must have come as a surprise to Lord Kenshin Uesugi."

[Alstrong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating! A must read if you love all things Japan.....and even if you don't.