Description
With nearly 60 per cent of us living in cities, the mega-city of Tokyo, through centuries of raze and rebuild, is surely the guiding light for how we can live together amicably in an ever-urbanising world.
Not only is Japan the mother of all metropolis’ but with two thirds of the country covered in forest, there is still much respect and celebration of the natural world, with people perfectly placed to make the most of the green space around them. From the art of making tea, to going for a hike, or celebrating imperfections, there are ceremonies the Japanese have been honing for centuries that thrive alongside modern traditions and practices of well-being.
From Miyazaki to mountains, sake to sparking joy, find your Zen and make time to learn about how to live Japanese. Whether it’s the cutting edge of film-making, revolutionizing the whisky market or competing with parents on lunchboxes, you’ll be all the better for some time spent with How to Live Japanese.
From Japanese writer, Yutaka Yazawa, this is the ultimate insider’s guide to the country of Japan, full of inspiration and insight to help you experience the very best of Japanese design, cookery, philosophy, and culture. So get outdoors, be gracious to your neighbour and start harmonizing your all too busy life.
Not only is Japan the mother of all metropolis’ but with two thirds of the country covered in forest, there is still much respect and celebration of the natural world, with people perfectly placed to make the most of the green space around them. From the art of making tea, to going for a hike, or celebrating imperfections, there are ceremonies the Japanese have been honing for centuries that thrive alongside modern traditions and practices of well-being.
From Miyazaki to mountains, sake to sparking joy, find your Zen and make time to learn about how to live Japanese. Whether it’s the cutting edge of film-making, revolutionizing the whisky market or competing with parents on lunchboxes, you’ll be all the better for some time spent with How to Live Japanese.
From Japanese writer, Yutaka Yazawa, this is the ultimate insider’s guide to the country of Japan, full of inspiration and insight to help you experience the very best of Japanese design, cookery, philosophy, and culture. So get outdoors, be gracious to your neighbour and start harmonizing your all too busy life.
Review
This is an absolutely beautiful book with many wonderful illustrations and photographs. Unfortunately there is no key to photographs - if you have been to Tokyo many of them you will recognise, but to the uninitiated it may have been nice to give details of the locations. It is also not a complete guide to the regions - I would have loved to have read about the Hokuriku region which is where I visited, but it is not covered.
This is not a book in the style of Marie Kondo with the advice on how to actually live in the Japanese style. Rather it is an observation by a Japanese person who very cleverly interprets for the western mind the culture and essence of Japan. You will not buy this book and begin to live like a Japanese person, you will however have some understanding of why certain things are done they way they are in Japan.
Different areas of Japan are highlighted and a little history about that area. Every aspect of life is covered from birth, naming babies to funerals. Things I have never read in a book about Japan before. Festivals by month are given There is also a small glossary of Japanese phrases that have no literal translation - again not something I have seen written down before.
As someone who has visited Japan I found this book fascinating and a memento of my time there. If you are yet to visit or just intrigued this is a good book to become acquainted with Japan.
I'm giving this book 4 out of 5 stars. My thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of the book.
I'm giving this book 4 out of 5 stars. My thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of the book.
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