Square Watermelons: A Journey to Self-Discovery and Life-Transformation While Living in Japan

by Marcus Chen

When Marcus arrived in Sydney to celebrate the millennium after a four-month journey across fifteen countries, he realized his solo backpacking trip had been the best learning experience of his life. Hungry for more adventures and travels, he was determined to pursue a career abroad.

From feeling illiterate and enduring awkward moments with colleagues to surviving a near-death experience climbing Mt Fuji, expat life after landing his dream job in Tokyo wasn't all glamorous. Finding ways to deal with the adversities, he embraced the beauty that Japan has to offer, built meaningful friendships, and found new purpose in life.

Perfect for fans of Tune in Tokyo: The Gaijin Diaries by Tim Anderson, Pretty Good Number One: An American Family Eats Tokyo by Matthew Amster-Burton, and 21 Years of Wisdom: One Man's Extraordinary Odyssey in Japan by Darrell Gartrell.

Genres: Travel

288 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 2, 2019

Reviews

[Robert Fear · Rating 5 out of 5]

A memoir as intriguing as the title suggests.

This book begins in Australia at the end of 1999. In a life-changing year, the author had given up his job, travelled around Europe and Asia, and planned to start Business School back in the States. Time away from home had broadened his outlook and propelled him to set a goal of becoming a global marketing executive.

After graduation, working abroad was always the author’s aim. He took a few years to achieve this. Having studied six languages, he expected to end up in a country where he would be familiar with the language and the culture. Instead, he landed a three-year contract in Japan. His decision to accept the offer was difficult because his wife was studying at Law School in New York. She persuaded him to grab the opportunity and promised to join him later.

Marcus Chen is a skilled writer and immerses you in Japanese society as though you are there with him. There is much to get used to apart from understanding the nuances of the language and cultural differences. He takes a few weeks to acclimatise to his new surroundings and the silences in the office where conversations with his colleagues are non-existent. It is only in out-of-work drinking sessions that fellow workers are more forthcoming. Descriptions of the goings-on at several of these are hilarious.

A highlight of the book to me was the story of how three friends from Business School joined the author to climb Mt. Fuji. They were unprepared for this adventure. It was fortunate they survived the experience.

This is a well-written memoir and is as intriguing as the title suggests. I recommend it to anyone interested in travel.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a most interesting memoir about the author’s time living and working in Japan. It’s a bit of a culture shock but somehow, he manages to take everything in his stride and embraces Japanese culture. However, it must have been so strange to have to work in silence as talking in the office wasn’t allowed. He learns the language and even takes lessons in Aikido.
I particularly enjoyed his descriptions of places he visited. For anyone who has never been to Japan, like me, it’s fascinating. He and his friends decide on impulse to climb Mt. Fuji. They did it despite being spectacularly unprepared! It’s well written and with touches of humour which adds to the enjoyment. Of course, you will also discover the reason for the intriguing title. I will look forward to more from Marcus Chen.

[E.J. Bauer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes. There really are square watermelons in Japan, the author saw them gift wrapped with a ribbon at an outrageous price. He also relates the plusses and pitfalls of moving to Tokyo, including language hurdles (although it seems he performed quite well), fabulous food (as long as it's bolted down in 10 minutes flat), office etiquette (no talking whatsoever) and how not to climb Mt. Fuji. I loved the writing style and honest introspections but the biggest plus for me was that there will be a second book in this series

[Brandon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Right off the bat, it is important to acknowledge that Square Watermelons: A Journey to Self-Discovery and Life-Transformation While Living in Japan is only the first half of Marcus Chen's memoir reflecting back on his three year stint living in Tokyo as an expat. Keeping this in mind, most of what has been recalled are the sorts of circumstances and experiences that while superficially profound are setting the foundation for what I can only assume to be the genuinely profound experiences to come in Part II. I say this because while this expat lifestyle comes across as absolutely glorious and so very far from what the average joe would find themselves experiencing, especially, through work of all places, it is perhaps excessively so.

I mean this in the sense that, for those of you that have come to profound paradigm shifting realisations in life, specifically in regards to fulfilment, you will know that everything external to us can only fulfil us relative to how fulfilled we are internally - that is, fundamentally, and not relative to anyone/thing/place outside of us - However, in the case of those with particularly extraordinary circumstances as is with Marcus in Square Watermelons, the actual level of fulfilment can be blurred by focusing one's attention outwardly.

It's like putting glitter on a rotting apple - sure, it may look nice and glisten spectacularly under the right lighting conditions but it is nevertheless rotten. Often in life, we see others all glittered up and invest way too much energy in chasing glitter only to realise that if we did the internal work there would be no need for such bedazzling. Sure, we could still do it if we genuinely wanted to for its own essence, but to need and chase is a whole other story. This is often most difficult to realise for those that are living in affluence for while temporary and short lasting, these bouts of entertainment are in great abudance; 'The problem isn't in that you're doing, it's what you're doing' is the mantra of this ego-trap.

I believe this is something the author began to notice within himself as he commenced questioning why he wasn't feeling as good as he felt he was supposedly obligated to be because he was "living the dream" given the nature of his career. However, with this being said, I was left somewhat dissatisfied as I believe this half of the memoir was too skewed in the "journey" of its title rather than the self-discovery and life-transformation. Perhaps for some other readers, the luxurious facade of his escapades are more than stimulating enough. However as I'm sure Marcus himself soon realised given his motivation to write and release these memoirs with such a title, is that real substance and true stimulatory wavelengths run much, much deeper and cannot be enamoured at simply because they are shiny, expensive or exclusive.

What I did quite appreciate though were the countless little translations provided in parenthesis to certain Japanese words and phrases. I'm particularly grateful to this as I've began learning the language myself and highlighted just about all of them so I could review them into the future. I must also concede that Marcus is by no means a boring person, he is actually remarkably impressive, at least on paper - it's just that these recollections are entertaining and well written albeit superficial - I was hoping for more substance and purposely put off writing this review before finishing Part II hoping to have greater perspective as to where my concerns were headed as to not definitively and prematurely discount anything here.

Three stars (***)

[Linda Hawkswell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Very Informative and Fun Read
I was intrigued by the title of this memoir, and its cover, it pulled me in.

This memoir is about Marcus' time living and working in Japan, how he had to acclimatize to a different way of life, in Japan. All a bit of a culture shock, not only for Marcus but for the reader too. The silence in the workspace due to the no talking rule must have taken some getting used to and just does not seem natural. There are lots of insights into his work life, integrating with the locals and socializing with friends and work colleagues. He sets about learning the language and taking lessons in Aikido. Whenever he can he visited many places which all sound so fascinating and, his descriptions brought them to life, including, his impulsive climb of Mount Fuji, which was a life challenging experience.

This definitely gave the feel of how different the culture is in Japan and included lots of factual information. Thank you Marcus for an interesting read.

[Ruth Dresher-Brown]

After completing a 15 hour read I looked for something less intense next. This book was a fairly quick and enjoyable follow-up. Marcus Chen fulfills his vocational goal after a period of struggle after grad school. This, part one of two, shows us his first ex-Pat career move. I enjoyed it for his bluntness and open expression. Some reviews cast it as a man’s book with the many drinking episodes - but that was his story so I respected the lack of self-censoring. He has a long distance marriage that only reunites at the end of this book so he was sort of a bachelor when he took the job in Tokyo. He made sincere steps to become at ease in Japan, new language, new hobbies and learning adventures. I enjoyed reading about those experiences.

[Dyane Harwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the stunning cover to the last page, "Square Watermelons" is a fascinating, well-written read. Chen transports the reader through his unique and compelling perspective. He gives insightful glimpses into some of Japan's major traditions, culture, and modern-day corporate work atmosphere. He skillfully reveals how his time adjusting to Japan affects him on a personal level. Several chapters that depict Chen's climb up famed Mt. Fuji are utterly engrossing, and his experience might even save lives! Chen packs a great deal into this concise book. I didn't want it to end, so I was thrilled to learn the sequel "Unexpected Gifts" would soon be available.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book following Marcus Chen acclimatising himself to his new life in Japan. Lots of factual information about the cultural differences and his own personal challenges. Vivid descriptions about his near-fatal climb of Mount Fuji and lots of insights into his work life, socialising and integrating with the locals. I would recommend this easy flowing memoir to anyone interested in living in Japan or even just visiting.

[LL · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a guys book.

While informative and written well, has cultural and historical information and well described working relationships with the Japinese firm , it has way to many alcoholic parties for this reader. I know it's not just Japan but many other countries that the drink till you drop business meetings occur , but it's not that interesting after discribing the first one. The mountain climb and the fact the author learned the language and culture was great.

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Over all I found the story interesting but the descriptions of drinking binges got repetitive. This book only covers part of the author’s time in Japan so the story continues in at least one more book