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Under the Osakan Sun
An intimate account of a college graduate's three years teaching English in Japan, this book follows a young man's experience diving headfirst into a new culture and way of life. From an elderly couple who take him on nerve-wracking expeditions to the junior high school students he must teach despite a complete lack of experience, this hilarious, intimate account unravels the cultural mysteries of modern Japan.
- GenresJapanTravelNonfiction
304 pages, Paperback
First published September 19, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 11, 2018
A really fun read and relatable to anyone who has spent an extended amount of time in Japan as a foreigner. Even without the added context of having lived in Japan the book is written well enough to be enjoyed by anyone who is interested in what life might be like in The Land of the Rising Sun.
February 21, 2009
An enjoyable, if disjointedly narrated, memoir of a young New Zealander's experiences while participating in the JET program in a small town in Osaka, Japan. One passage stood out to me as well-written, memorable, and quintessentially Japanese:
"Do not be sad to leave, sensei," she said soothingly. "You had a good life in Japan, but you cannot stop time. Nobody can. You should not be afraid of change: it is part of life. You are experiencing life. Do not be sad for the past. Look forward to a happy future."
Certainly there were moments of humor, although I rarely found myself laughing aloud. The disappointing part of the book is how the author will begin a thread of story and then simply neglect to tell you how it progresses. For instance, several chapters are devoted to Hamish's search for a Japanese girlfriend. When he finally succeeds in his mission, he spends about a page on how happy and in love he is, then hardly mentions her for the next forty pages (when he finally leaves Japan).
Give it a read, though, especially if you're interested in how cultures mesh and contrast.
"Do not be sad to leave, sensei," she said soothingly. "You had a good life in Japan, but you cannot stop time. Nobody can. You should not be afraid of change: it is part of life. You are experiencing life. Do not be sad for the past. Look forward to a happy future."
Certainly there were moments of humor, although I rarely found myself laughing aloud. The disappointing part of the book is how the author will begin a thread of story and then simply neglect to tell you how it progresses. For instance, several chapters are devoted to Hamish's search for a Japanese girlfriend. When he finally succeeds in his mission, he spends about a page on how happy and in love he is, then hardly mentions her for the next forty pages (when he finally leaves Japan).
Give it a read, though, especially if you're interested in how cultures mesh and contrast.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 10, 2021
Although this is much newer, Learning to Bow was a more well-rounded book with studied cultural experiences.
July 3, 2023
The charming and exuberant three-year journey of a young New Zealander putting his Japanese speaking skills to the test as an English teacher in Osaka Japan.
Hamish's narrative style is captivating and energetic, giving you a vibrant picture of the Osakan landscape and the incredible inhabitants of the little corner of Japan that Hamish called home.
I love the pace and organization of this book. Every story flows to the next naturally and keeps you looking forward to the next escapade.
As a visual reader and a lover of anime, it was easy to picture all the stories and people Hamish encountered through his time in Osaka. A relaxing, casual read that was easy to pick up at any point for minutes to hours of fun.
Hamish's narrative style is captivating and energetic, giving you a vibrant picture of the Osakan landscape and the incredible inhabitants of the little corner of Japan that Hamish called home.
I love the pace and organization of this book. Every story flows to the next naturally and keeps you looking forward to the next escapade.
As a visual reader and a lover of anime, it was easy to picture all the stories and people Hamish encountered through his time in Osaka. A relaxing, casual read that was easy to pick up at any point for minutes to hours of fun.
September 13, 2024
This was a fun read
April 10, 2012
Really good travel writing right here. What's even more perfect is that its from a kiwi perspective. So the humour just cracked me up. One story in particular, Hamish has dinner with his students family. The parents ask him while eating dinner "what kind of porn do you like"?... this led to the father asking "which do you prefer foreign porn or Japanese porn?"...and his student protesting that he always watches porn with his father. After the awkward dinner, the family give him a bag of porn and videos. Ohhhh Japan! ;)
One chapter in the novel talks about Lake Biwa and a city which I stayed in called Otsu. How Hamish writes about his experience around Lake Biwa brought back memories of staying in Japan with my awesome friends. The cleanliness of Japan, the super friendly and respectful elderly people, the quietness and the hospitality I received in Japan was all alive in this novel. And it was awesome bringing those memories which I hardly think about back. I think I need to make a trip back to Japan. Or even better-TEACH THERE!!
Reading this novel reminded me of my experiences, friendships, teaching and hard ships I faced while living in Korea. The final chapter talks about his farewell from 3 years in Japan. Leaving his friends, school, neighbours, students, girlfriend, town... something I can definitely relate to.
Fully inspired me to teach in Japan now and maybe even produce my own piece of travel writing from all I have learned in South Korea.
One chapter in the novel talks about Lake Biwa and a city which I stayed in called Otsu. How Hamish writes about his experience around Lake Biwa brought back memories of staying in Japan with my awesome friends. The cleanliness of Japan, the super friendly and respectful elderly people, the quietness and the hospitality I received in Japan was all alive in this novel. And it was awesome bringing those memories which I hardly think about back. I think I need to make a trip back to Japan. Or even better-TEACH THERE!!
Reading this novel reminded me of my experiences, friendships, teaching and hard ships I faced while living in Korea. The final chapter talks about his farewell from 3 years in Japan. Leaving his friends, school, neighbours, students, girlfriend, town... something I can definitely relate to.
Fully inspired me to teach in Japan now and maybe even produce my own piece of travel writing from all I have learned in South Korea.
October 21, 2014
For anyone who has taught abroad in Asia, this is for you.
As a former teacher in Korea, there was a lot about this book that I was able to connect with right away. Granted, Mr. Hamish's book is about a bloke from New Zealand going to Japan via the JET program for three years. I, on the other hand, was an American going to Korea for one year. The stories might be different, but I found that there were still a lot of things that I had in common with Beaton's narrative.
Each chapter focus on a particular big idea, such as getting lost around town, his search for a girlfriend, or his epic attempt at a bike ride vacation. All of them, in my book, would be considered misadventures. And misadventures are the best part about life. Things don't always go as planned, and that's what makes it interesting. I enjoyed living vicariously through his experiences, and a lot of what he wrote about brought back memories of my own of my own experiences teaching abroad.
A great book to read for anyone that wants to relive their experiences teaching abroad…without actually having to do so.
As a former teacher in Korea, there was a lot about this book that I was able to connect with right away. Granted, Mr. Hamish's book is about a bloke from New Zealand going to Japan via the JET program for three years. I, on the other hand, was an American going to Korea for one year. The stories might be different, but I found that there were still a lot of things that I had in common with Beaton's narrative.
Each chapter focus on a particular big idea, such as getting lost around town, his search for a girlfriend, or his epic attempt at a bike ride vacation. All of them, in my book, would be considered misadventures. And misadventures are the best part about life. Things don't always go as planned, and that's what makes it interesting. I enjoyed living vicariously through his experiences, and a lot of what he wrote about brought back memories of my own of my own experiences teaching abroad.
A great book to read for anyone that wants to relive their experiences teaching abroad…without actually having to do so.
January 23, 2015
I read this three times before embarking on the JET Programme myself. In the months leading up to my departure there was a time where I was trying to absorb as much relevant info as possible in anticipation. This book really struck a chord with me. Beaton has a nice, easy going writing style and his book was an enjoyable read.
December 9, 2014
Very warm, very simple compared to Peter Hessler for example. Got a little aimless at times. Didn't care about that when it finished very strong.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews