The Little Book of Japanese Living

A fascinating look at Japan parts of the country I had never heard of.I really enjoyed learning about the people the culture history traditions a really interesting read.#netgalley#quartobooks

I was so pleasantly surprised by this guide to Japan by Japanese writer Yutaka Yazawa. I expected a glowing how-to guide similar to French Women Don’t Get Fat. Instead, this book was incredibly well balanced in its examination of Japan’s values and sensibilities.

The introduction offers something of an apology from the author for criticising certain aspects of his country. However, this is what sets this book apart from other guides to Japan. Reading this book is like meeting a friend for a drink and getting their honest opinion on the Japanese regions, culture and lifestyles.

Each area of Japan is described in just one page, but you will feel like you’ve heard insider knowledge. For example, it includes commentary about what different regions think about each other or a note on how Kyoto people are the masters of condescension. Of course the section on food outlines their admirable approaches to health and lifestyle, but it also mentions the dangers of Japan’s high sodium intake. Helpfully the author includes the kanji for low sodium products, as well many other vocabulary words throughout this book. The pages are also beautifully filled with large photographs and illustrations.

Concepts such as wabi sabi , ikigai and fuzei are well explained in their own sections or in the guide for “Words with no Direct Translation.” It’s an impressive summary of ambiguous Japanese aesthetic senses. I especially enjoyed the comparison of Western to Japanese film plots to illustrate the Japanese concept of ikigai. This idea of allegiance to and dependence on a community and how it ties into your own sense of self-worth is a fascinating subject.

Although these complex artistic and sociological concepts are discussed, this book would still be a wonderful choice for a first time visitor to Japan. This small guide would help you understand and appreciate the interiors of a ryokan, traditional meals and the significance of famous sightseeing locations. This book doesn’t just explain different Japanese foods, it also explains the economic and cultural factors which have led to Japan having so many Michelin stars. It’s because of these unique perspectives and well considered observations that this book would be a smashing choice for the first time tourist or the Japanophile.

An advance copy of this book was provided by the publisher for review. I am concerned that the cover seems to have the author’s name spelled incorrectly?

A fantastic book with detailed pictures and giving essential information about Japanese culture, history and beliefs. A must read for anyone traveling to this fascinating country.

This is a great little easy to read snapshot into Japanese history, life and culture. The book is beautifully organised with a page or two for each aspect of Japanese living, from food, to untranslatable words, from sport to pastimes.
It is the sort of book you can happily dip in and out of, or keep at hand for reference.
It is informative but not heavy-going at all, so would be suitable also for children learning about different cultures.
In addition to being set out clearly, there are stunning colour photographs throughout the pages.
The growing trend of interest in Japanese culture means this little guide will surely be a welcome stocking filler this Christmas, or a useful addition to any home or classroom bookshelf.

Though compact, as the title suggests, The Little Book of Japanese Living contains a wealth of information that encompasses history, culture and language. As someone currently learning Japanese, I appreciated the inclusion of kanji/kana alongside the romanised rendering of any Japanese terms and names. This was a quick read, but one I feel I would like to return to. Therefore, I do plan to buy a copy for my shelf once the book releases next year. Recommended for anyone interested in Japanese history and culture who is looking for a simple place to start.

This book sounded great, and the cover picture drew me in. Unfortunately I could not open this format on my phone or tablet so could not read and review it.

Solid read explaining the origin of a lot of Japanese cultural practices and how history shaped them.

This is a beautiful book. There is a wide variety of information presented to the reader in an easy to access manner. The photographs are breathtaking. Even if you are not planning a trip to Japan anytime soon, this book will make you feel like you experienced it.

As a Japanese fan I can say this is a really good book. It's very useful if you want to visit Japan or just find new informations about Japanese food and places and even history. I would love to buy the book too.

Thank you NetGalley for this opportunity to read the book!

A Japanese miniature delight. Always interested in all things Japanese, I was intrigued and not disappointed. A concise book, pruned like a bonsai tree to showcase enticing snippets of Japanese culture. Definitely makes you want to explore more of this fascinating and varied country.

Very cute book that lightly covers many topics regarding to living in or visiting Japan. More helpful for short visits than for those living or studying in Japan. The photos were hit and miss - some seemed not to fully capture the accompanying 'essay.' There was a feeling of stock photos used rather than photos taken specifically for the book.

I didn’t know what to expect… but I was pleasantly surprised.
It is, in essence, a guide to Japan – from history and beliefs to food culture, education and family – written by a Japanese-born author.
If you have an interest in travel, in culture, in geography or Asia, you will enjoy it.
“Japanese people believe in climate change. If the sea levels hadn't risen to submerge the land and separate continental Asia from the archipelago that would become Japan, you would still be able to walk from Korea to Japan. You don't need a PhD in international relations to see the significance: geography creates history.”
The book is divided into eight sections, each separated into small, one to two page chapters, making it easy to navigate, not too much detail on each subject, but just enough information and plenty of beautiful photography.
I especially liked the very clear – for non-Japanese – descriptions of the “words without translation” and the famous Ikigai.

This book is a small gem. Having lived in Japan for many years, I don't really expect to learn anything new when I read a book like this, but Yazawa manages to liberally slip in fascinating tidbits of information that surprised and educated me!

This book feels very fresh in comparison to other guides to Japan. It is highly readable and whether you know nothing or almost everything about Japan this book could be on your list of Must-Reads. Equally impressive is the presentation of information and what Yazawa has chosen to highlight. It's truly a taste of Japan that will leave the reader wanting another helping. It is also visually attractive and I'd easily recommend it to anyone planning a trip to Japan. If you've read a number of guides to Japan and are ready for something different--and better, this is your book.

An insider overview of Japanese locations / history and culture with good photos and illustrations.
Very useful as a travel / tourist guide, pocket sized and compact.
Overall simple and elegant.

Japan has been a bit of a scary place from cultural point of view for those thinking of a long term visit or exploring the whole country, this book helps.

This book / guide helps you with some basic pointers and gives you a practical knowledge base for all things Japanese.

I have to say that after finishing the book, I think that the "scandi" one was way weaker than this one.

When I finished the last page, all I could think about was that I really want to visit Japan. There is not much to add.

I quite enjoyed this book, it's chock-full of interesting tidbits about Japanese life. The author has mostly glowing things to say, but is honest with his views on certain things, which is refreshing, and makes the book feel like a friend is talking to you. The information is concise, but full- you won't feel shortchanged. This is a perfect read for anyone getting ready to travel to Japan, anyone interested in Japan, and let's not forget any non-Japanese otaku!

#TheLittleBookofJapaneseLiving #NetGalley

Having living in Japan for a short while, I thought this book was a lovely companion to refresh my fondness for Japan. It did a wonderful job of examining the Japanese way of life, culture, values and how they maintain it today.
Visually, it was well organized and easy to read - I highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley for an arc of The Little Book of Japanese Living.

I was unable to download the PDF so I had to wait until I picked up a hardcover.

I love Japan and all things Japanese and this little book is exactly what it touts itself to be; a little book about Japan, the Japanese, their incredible culture, the cities, the people, the food, the life, their rituals and their ceremonies.

The book ideally encapsulates the traditional and modernity of Japan, offering locals and travel lovers a CliffsNotes version of all there is to experience, enjoy and love about Japan.

I love Japan and I love this book!

This is an interesting book for anyone with an interest in learning more about Japanese culture. I don't fully agree that the title suits the book though as initially the book is very focused on explain the different cities and islands of Japan which I felt wasn't necessary to get a sense of what the culture of Japan is like. Having lived in Japan myself I think it is a good book for anyone who has been to Japan and wanted to find out more or maybe someone who has a strong interest in Japanese culture. I have seen similar books like this before on Japanese culture so I don't believe it is an original idea.

I found quite some books about quick Japanese culture on my last month's visit to the local East Asian Museum Bookshop. Those books are written mostly in English, explaining the adaption of Japanese culture in modern globalised society. One of my favourite books is an explanation on each Emoji that originated from Japan. However, none of these books I found better than "The Little Book of Living Japanese".

First of all, I praise for adding Japanese after each mentioned specific terms. There are many books in English that only provide the romanisation, which in my opinion is a pity. Reading original Japanese gives a very positive vibe, and for those who cannot read Japanese or Chinese, it is definitely not a bother. Characters or the Japanese writing system is one of the most important bearers of its fantastic culture, and certainly it deserves to be there. In addition, by having Japanese added after each geographic terms, for readers who have an actual interesting in visiting Japan, visually is a great help.

Moreover, the author has a very humorous way of expression. His opinion is objective mostly, to the point, informative and funny. He explains lots of concept, some of them are originated from China or other countries, but his explanations make the concept very well elaborated.

Last but not least, the illustrations are quite nice too. They are simple, quite Zen, so to speak. They match concepts such as Wabi Sabi, etc. The combination of ancient and modern, the smooth transition between past and future are all well presented in the book.

It's a light weighted read, relaxing and definitely boosted my interest to visit Japan.

The book I downloaded seemed a little off and a lot of interconnecting words seemed missing. It seemed to be a fascinating collection of random information that usual guide books will not provide about another's country.
I would have liked to read the full version but since I did not, I am reviewing only what I saw and will be unable to post this rating on social media sites

Thank you to Netgalley and White Lion Publishing for sharing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a nice little book all about Japan. The first part of the book addresses the regions of the country. Further along subjects as diverse as foods and anime get a look in with a fair bit of information included for all the bigger the book is. There are plenty of photographs to accompany text and make it a good book to pick up for a little look every now and then.

Overall, I'd give this a solid 3.5 stars.

Un sunto semplice ma efficace dei principi base della vita giapponese.
Al momento sono forse troppo pubblicizzati e rimasticati in semplicistiche istruzioni, ma se si riesce a guardarne la sostanza molto rimane valido e applicabile a una vita più serena e ordinata.

This book is more than a travel inspiration, as it offers useful insights into the history, culture, geography and everyday life. It is helpful if you want to plan a comprehensive non-touristy itinerary or just to get an introduction to Japan. In less than 100 pages one can discover the basic information about this country. The illustrations are also inspired and match the text nicely. I particularly liked the section dedicated to literature and poetry, but it's a pity it does not include a paragraph of references to contemporary voices (not necessarily Murakami).

*received for free from netgalley for honest review* This was a really fascinating book! I learned a lot of things I didn't know that were really interesting. For how short this book is it has so much information! some amazing photos as well.

This book was exactly what it said in the tin: a little book of Japanese Living! It was delightful to navigate through the culture and streets of Japan from the comfort of my sofa. It had the right amount of information and the photos were very beautiful and complementary to the narrative. I loved the section at the end that mimicked a calendar with all of the events and cultural traditions that characterise each Month in Japan. Overall a great book any tourist should read.