About book A Geek In Japan: Discovering The Land Of Manga, Anime, Zen, And The Tea Ceremony (2011)
A light Japanese cultural guide that doesn't get particularly geeky until the final third of the book.I don't do much non-fiction but this was surprisingly interesting. Full of 1-2 page summaries of Japanese historical and cultural points: the gals movement, the salaryman lifestyle, martial arts, the Edo period and its long-term influence, Japanese alphabets (plural!), shinto, Buddhism, longevity, formality, the country's elevated suicide rates and methods, the causes of yakuza and workaholism.Late in the book the focus moves to otaku, manga, Japanese music and television, and anime, and finally to travel guidiness. I have no intention of going to Japan so I found the last parts boring and unnecessary. The title is makes you groan a bit. The contents are much better. The book is useful in understanding the Japanese culture enough for short visits, but not for much longer.I've had the luck of working together with Japanese colleagues for several years now. This book got many things right - things like Tokyo logistics, politeness etc. But it also got many things wrong. I think that all the traditions are not so predominant anymore. People have been touched by the global world and have joined it. Well, at least the internationally active people that I interact with.I would not dare to live in Japan for longer periods only based on this book. You always have to look out what the people are really doing.But if you are a geek and have an interest in Japan, this book actually is for you.
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Very helpful!Tells you about history, kanji, and customs.Very well done.
—lyss105
