The Shyest Man in Japan: And Other Stories

by Lawrence Knipfing

Did you know that Japan is not only sushi, Mt Fuji and geisha? The Shyest Man in Japan is a collection of seven uniquely written, mainly humorous short stories that will make you laugh, cry, and shake your head in amazement at a Japan you never knew. Starting in spring and continuing into summer, autumn and winter, the collection includes stories of mystery, baseball (for Ichiro and Matsui lovers!), romance, beautiful ghosts, fame, adventure and many facets of love. Go back in Japan's history, be immersed in her culture, and understand the secrets of one of the most beautiful, friendly and fascinating countries in the world. This book is a must for all Japan Fans, for anyone planning to visit Japan, for anyone who has ever been or lived there, and especially for anyone who has ever asked I wonder what Japan is all about? A labor of love 20 years in the making, The Shyest Man in Japan will leave you wanting much, much more of the country you never knew.

130 pages, Paperback

First published June 2, 2003

Reviews

[Kelley Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

The stories are fun and very entertaining especially for someone who has spent over 20 years in Japan and can really relate to experiences from a gaijin's perspective since I have been there been done that. I have to admit thought that some of the inside humor may be difficult for people who haven’t actually lived in Japan to relate too. All in all the story telling is good and my favorite story is the one about the Cherry Blossoms.

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

All the stories were fun and entertaining. Almost all the stories were very relatable, from a gaijin's perspective. The story about faxing oneself, well couldn't really relate to that. If I hadn't moved to Japan, I probably couldn't appreciate some of the gaijin insider humor.