Uniquely Japan: A Comic Book Artist Shares Her Personal Faves - Discover What Makes Japan the Coolest Place on Earth!

by Abby Denson

Lavishly decorated manhole covers, pink polka-dotted backhoes, toilets with warmable seats, blow dryers (and other bells and whistles). It's just another day in Japan, where the futuristic and zany stands side-by-side with the rooted and the venerable, and there's a festival going on somewhere almost every day of the year.

In Uniquely Japan, Abby Denson—author of Cool Japan Guide and Cool Tokyo Guide—uses her own personal drawings and photos to highlight the things that make Japan truly different from every other place on the planet. From the ramen and sushi we've all come to love to the fantastic creatures who now star in their own video games and anime, the comic artist takes you on a romp through Japan's distinctive popular and traditional culture.

Genres: Japan, Travel, Nonfiction, Graphic Novels, Asia, Graphic Novels Comics, Comics

128 pages, Hardcover

Published March 22, 2022

About the author

Cartoonist Abby Denson is the author of Uniquely Japan, the Kitty Sweet Tooth series (illustrated by Utomaru), the fun and fully-illustrated cartoon travel guides, Cool Tokyo Guide and Cool Japan Guide, out from Tuttle Publishing. She is the creator of the graphic novels Dolltopia (which won a Moonbeam Children’s Book Award and an International Manga Award) and Tough Love: High School Confidential, which was originally serialized in XY Magazine. She has scripted comics for Amazing Spider-Man Family, Powerpuff Girls Comics, Simpsons Comics, Sabrina The Teenage Witch, Josie and the Pussycats, Disney Adventures, and comics for Nickelodeon Magazine. She has taught comics classes and workshops at various venues including the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art, Sophia University, and Eugene Lang College at The New School.

Reviews

[Tissie]

What a cool little concept book! Uniquely Japan is the travel guide you wouldn’t expect, full of drawings and personal pictures. There’s something liberating about breaking the status quo just to reinvent it, which is what Denson does here. She takes the ‘think outside the box’ advice a step further, something I really appreciate.

[Martha]

A fun, breezy introduction to the culture of Japan, packed with bright cartoon-style illustrations and photos. The author assumes the reader has some prior knowledge of Japan, as some items — such as mochi —are not described or defined and many illustrations are not labeled, making it difficult to identify them. Nevertheless, the book’s minimal text and colorful presentation will appeal to reluctant readers and could provide a good research starter for students seeking to pick a Japan-related topic.

[Rel]

cute and fun and informative

[Mehsi]

Short review to come.

[Jbussen]

What a nice cute little book. I am half Japanese and enjoyed this book imensely. This book filled me with joy and wonder. Quite an achievement for a book of this type.

[Alicia]

This is a bittersweet read. I requested this from Edelweiss because I was taking almost twenty of my high school students to Japan in June. Alas, I found out this week that the travel company cannot send us because the pandemic is still wreaking havoc on everything. I wanted to read it to get my hyped. Today I'm reading it almost in tears.

It's AMAZING. And I'm now even more sad about not getting to get there this year (after three years of delays) because there is so much to look forward to. I will get there one day. This graphic novel travelogue absolutely takes the cake featuring locations, food, sights, and sounds with a fun explanation that's brief and focused and excites the traveler in anyone. Bright and vivid.

[Ayun Halliday]

If this doesn't get a gaijin fired up to take a trip to Japan, I don't KNOW what! It certainly gave me a hankering to return ... and til then, revisit some of my favorite Japanese establishments here in NYC.

It makes me recall a long ago encounter with a first time, fairly fresh off the plane backpacker in a train station in Bangkok. He was tentative about engaging with the culture, had been eating nothing but Western-style fast food in tourist areas. (We lugged him along for a quick meal of street stall noodles in an alley behind the station, and wished him the best...)

Abby Denson, with her cheery illustrations, enthusiastic embrace of all things Japanese, and copious use of exclamation points (not a criticism - it's good to see someone so robustly enjoying life) will reassure reticent first time travelers, while firing up all prospective travelers, armchair and otherwise, about uniquely Japanese food, souvenirs, traditions, and other cultural benchmarks.

Obviously not every aspect of Japanese culture is represented, but come on, half the fun is discovering stuff for yourself. Abby's just there to get you started. The simple, brightly colored graphics and non-professional photos convey a sense that these adventures are open to all.

Good for all ages too.

Dōmo arigatōgozaimasu!

[GONZA]

It is certainly not a text for experts, but certainly for those who are approaching Japanese customs and traditions for the first time, it allows them to remember many things more quickly and painlessly.

Non é certo un testo per esperti, ma sicuramente per chi si avvicina per la prima volta agli usi e costumi giapponesi, permette di ricordare molte piú cose in modo piú rapido ed indolore.

I received from the Publisher a complimentary digital advanced review copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.

[Sophie Crane]

Such an amazing guide for someone who is interested in the food and culture of Japan. With a really fun and personal approach to the info, this feels like a friend giving you advice on cool things to see and experience on your next trip. There is a lot of stuff here that other guides gloss over and I appreciate a more considered look at some of those aspects that speak more to culture than just tourism. Makes a great gift for anyone travelling to the country or just generally interested in all that Japan has to offer.

[Reyes Jones]

Tengo muchos (MUCHOS) libros sobre Japón y este es uno de los más flojitos.

Está dividido en secciones y aunque algunas son interesantes, toda la información que proporciona es muy superficial.

Luego está la maquetación. Jo, la maquetación. Me recuerda a los trabajos que hacen mis alumnos menos habilidosos.

Continuamos con las ilustraciones. Puff. Para eso, no haberlas incluido. Hay libros divulgativos con ilustraciones preciosas que, evidentemente, son mucho más atractivas que estas. De nuevo me acuerdo de esos alumnos a los que no se les da (nada) bien dibujar.

[Sylvia]

Very cute. A quick overview of the uniqueness of Japanese life and culture. The only thing I would have a complaint about is that I wish the photographs that she used throughout the bookwould have been larger.

[Andréa]

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.

[Books on Asia]

All the fun things about Japan in one book.

[Amanda [Novel Addiction]]

Fun and quick read.

[Jason]

(2022 - #89)
1) Whimsical and informational; Contains photos and drawings
2) Excellent cross-section of Japan culture
3) Where's the mochi and manju? Too obvious perhaps.
Enjoyment: 3.5

[Georgie]

⭐️3.5 stars! A fun way to introduce kids to the culture of Japan.

[angelofmine1974]

My review of this book can be found on my YouTube Vlog at:

https://youtu.be/_Qp7mp45Jo8

Enjoy!

[Terry]

Great fun! Looking forward to our trip next March.

[Julia Sundari]

Fun way to get excited about Japan

[Nancy]

It is really cute and a good introduction for kids or adults on different things you will find unique to Japan.

[sara]

cute ❤️‍🩹 es genial para niños o para adultos que no sabemos demasiado sobre japón

[Edhigueras]

Divertida forma de ver curiosidades de Japón. de su cultura su gastronomía. Las ilustraciones son bonitas y ayudan mucho. Un complemento para si vas a visitar el país asiático.

[Nike Andaru]

18 - 2026

Sukaaa..
Buat koleksi

[Claire]

I love this! It brought back so many fun memories from my trip to Japan-and gave me ideas for my next trip.

[Piper Winchester]

Cute and interesting