Windows on Japan -- A Walk Through Place and Perception
In this book I walk across rural Japan and explore centuries-old perceptions about the country that to me appears still prisoner to an isolationist past.
I've written this book for intellectually curious travelers and those interested in Japanese culture, environment, history, language, literature, and politics.
It doesn’t introduce tourist markers -- well, perhaps one or two -- and my walk wasn’t an athletic feat.
Algora Publishing describes Windows on Japan here and I've added chapter excerpts.
The book is informed by this bibliography, the comments and reading of friends, and a Japan residence that spanned 22 years.
It can be purchased most easily from amazon and other Algora titles can be seen at this site.
Here are reviews by The Japan Times and The Daily Yomiuri.
Readers have c0ntributed these corrections and comments.
The two chapters on Paul Theroux have generated the most discussion.
日本 の読者の方々のための 紹介文と前書きはこちら。
I am now writing Letters to Tokyo, which I expect to be published in 2008. Here's the sound bite.
The portrait and envelope photography on this page is by Rachel Venimore of http://www.sureshots.co.nz. If in New Zealand you need help with the Japanese language, please see http://www.japanesesolutions.co.nz . I'm not an agent of these companies but I know that they do good work.
