Rating: 
Summary: Anthology of impressions
Review: "Japan : True Stories of Life on the Road" is a collection of anecdotal stories told by people who have journeyed to Japan. The strength of the book lies in the different points of view. Each traveler experienced a different Japan and has different things to say about the country and it's people. Some of the tales are funny, some are serious and some are informative. The book has a nice balance of styles, and there is very little replication. What is it like to go to a Love Hotel? What do you do when you are served living squid for dinner? What is a Kabuki play like? These are the type of questions answered by this book. It's weakness lies in the fact that many of these tales have been published elsewhere. If you have read many books on Japan, chances are you will have already read many of these stories. Several selections from "Learning to Bow," "Dave Barry does Japan" and "36 Views of Mt. Fuji" are here. All in all, it is a good book, and worth reading.
Rating:
Summary: Anthology of impressions
Review: "Japan : True Stories of Life on the Road" is a collection of anecdotal stories told by people who have journeyed to Japan. The strength of the book lies in the different points of view. Each traveler experienced a different Japan and has different things to say about the country and it's people. Some of the tales are funny, some are serious and some are informative. The book has a nice balance of styles, and there is very little replication. What is it like to go to a Love Hotel? What do you do when you are served living squid for dinner? What is a Kabuki play like? These are the type of questions answered by this book. It's weakness lies in the fact that many of these tales have been published elsewhere. If you have read many books on Japan, chances are you will have already read many of these stories. Several selections from "Learning to Bow," "Dave Barry does Japan" and "36 Views of Mt. Fuji" are here. All in all, it is a good book, and worth reading.
Rating: 
Summary: Travelers' Tales Japan
Review: "The personal accounts here offer a wide-ranging, idiosyncratic introduction to Japan-and to the considerable joys and frustrations of being a foreigner in that fascinating land."-Time "This collection of tales from a variety of authors will delight you, warn you, make you laugh, and even shock you. You'll even find useful information on contacts, weather, and when to go."-Des Moines Register "Disturbing, enlightening, humorous, and sometimes sentimental...All [the essays] provide insights into an often baffling, endlessly intriguing land."-San Francisco Examiner "The latest offering from the unique series Travelers' Tales Guides is about Japan, and it lives up to the reputation established by its two dozen predecessors."-Japan Airlines
Rating: 
Summary: Loved this book!!!
Review: As the editor promised, reading this book is rather like listening to friends' travel tales over a big plate of sushi. These are personal tales, up-close and detailed. From the "electric bath" to the "odori-sushi" (dancing sushi- you figure it out!) this is a look at Japan that you won't want to miss.
Rating:
Summary: A nice collection of short travelogues
Review: For the casual travelogue reader (or someone with varried interests in Japan), this book is quite good. But you must keep in mind that all of the stories are short -- many of them were taken from longer travelogues and books. Sometimes I found myself wanting more. And I thought that some of the writings were by unexperienced, travelers with a Western bias and a limited understanding of Japan. But this is a great introdction to experienced Japan travel writers such as Alan Booth and Cathy Davidson. And many of the travelogues in this book (though short) are very well written. Booth's poignent piece about his experience in Hiroshima is wonderful. The short observation by Pico Iyer about English in Japan is downright hilarious, and Michael Ward's detailed description about missing the last train is very detailed and is a common dilema for the foregin traveler in Japan. Yes, I would recommend this book. However if you are truly interested in Japan, I think you would also enjoy some longer travelogues.
Rating:
Summary: A nice collection of short travelogues
Review: For the casual travelogue reader (or someone with varried interests in Japan), this book is quite good. But you must keep in mind that all of the stories are short -- many of them were taken from longer travelogues and books. Sometimes I found myself wanting more. And I thought that some of the writings were by unexperienced, travelers with a Western bias and a limited understanding of Japan. But this is a great introdction to experienced Japan travel writers such as Alan Booth and Cathy Davidson. And many of the travelogues in this book (though short) are very well written. Booth's poignent piece about his experience in Hiroshima is wonderful. The short observation by Pico Iyer about English in Japan is downright hilarious, and Michael Ward's detailed description about missing the last train is very detailed and is a common dilema for the foregin traveler in Japan. Yes, I would recommend this book. However if you are truly interested in Japan, I think you would also enjoy some longer travelogues.
Rating:
Summary: Life for foreigners in Japan, from all angles - a must.
Review: Gets under the skin of life in Japan. Thoughtful and well-crafted, leaves you with lasting visual and emotional impressions. Bike rides through the night, Shinto temples, planting rice, delightful grannies, laughter, dealing with grief, the kindness of strangers. Just as I wanted it, this book has me looking forward to visiting Japan, feeling prepared and intrigued.
Rating:
Summary: An education in all things Japanese... from a Western view
Review: Great ride! The stories and anecdotes collected here are an invitation to wanderlust. I want, now more than ever, to travel to this land of mystery and technology. George and Greimann Carlson have compiled an anthology of Western experiences that left me, at times, breathless with laughter or awe--sometimes both. Fun reading. "Dare No Te?"
Rating:
Summary: Best book on Japan
Review: I am planning a trip to Japan this summer and have been reading everything I could find. This book is the best! It has stories that touch every aspect of the culture - food, arts, business, entertainment, history, social relations, sex, everything. The stories are taken from about 30 or 40 different books about Japan. Some stories have been so enjoyable or informative that I have since ordered two of the books. I have not seen these in bookstores and never would have known about them. High recommendation!
Rating:
Summary: Best book on Japan
Review: I am planning a trip to Japan this summer and have been reading everything I could find. This book is the best! It has stories that touch every aspect of the culture - food, arts, business, entertainment, history, social relations, sex, everything. The stories are taken from about 30 or 40 different books about Japan. Some stories have been so enjoyable or informative that I have since ordered two of the books. I have not seen these in bookstores and never would have known about them. High recommendation!
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