Rumination - I recommend Books about Japan

[k1ngsam]

I just finished Dogs and Demons per your recommendation on myargonauts, and man, it was a good yet sobering read. Oz is revealed.

Anyway, we're still waiting to hear your response to the book, ne?

[TaishaJason]

thanks! I hope to get to those vlogs this month.

[grotop]

Hey Jason, When are you going to do the debunking of the "Dogs and Demon" book? I would really like to hear both side of the story of Japan and your opinion on Japan's dark side.

[TaishaJason]

I was just thinking about that vlog series the other day and I think I'm gonna start it in December, after the JET application deadline, since I don't want to scare away any applicants. :)

[106460]

hi, I enjoy your videos a lot.

I just wish you wouldnt call yourself fat. I think you look GREAT!

Anyway, your videos are very enjoyable. I look forward to the many more to come.

[TaishaJason]

cool! thanks for watching!

[peaceandloveinaction]

aw, no, we just want to get ideas on what to cook when we're absolutely lost in Japan, haha.

[smaviii]

HAHAHA Pepsi Cucumber wtf is that?

[TaishaJason]

trust me, you don't want to know... :)

It tastes horrible

[mountaincritter]

The best Japanese book I've found is Japanese Verbs and Essential Grammar (2nd Edition) by Rita L. Lampkin. It's only $10 and 148 pages, but it covers so much. Verb, noun, and adjective endings in a wonderfullyIt's easy-to-reference style. Plus particles and grammar. You'll probably want a larger textbook as well (for activities and more in-depth explanations), but Lampkin's book catapulted my progress. I learned in mere weeks what I'm sure would have taken months otherwise...

[TaishaJason]

cool - sounds like a good one for me to check out.

[Hikikii]

A couple of really good travel books: Alan Booth - The Roads to Sata, a classic travel book on Japan. He walked from Cape Soya (northern-most point of Japan) all the way to Cape Sata (Southern-most). And a modern follow up, inspired by Booth's book: Will Furguson's Hithching Rides with Buddha (aka: Hokkaido Highway Blues). Furguson hitches from Sata northwards to Soya. Both are really interesting introduction books on Japanese culture/quirks/annoyances. Really funny at times, also. Google them.

[ToniShinobi]

I really loved the TV series "Densha Otoko" - one of my favorites. The movie wasn't too great imo. Thanks for the recommendations! On the same subject, are there any Japanese shows that you usually watch / favorite TV shows watched? I've seen Kasou Taishou is really good from clips on youtube. Also, DownTown's Gaki no Tsukai, numerous Drama's (favorite is IWGP). I know that there isn't alot of subbed stuff, so... what do you watch? Of course there's SUMO every other month :)

[Tnakamura11]

I recommend "You gotta have wa" by Robert Whiting. It's a book about American ball players who came to Japan and had some struggles there. There is a couple of stories about Charlie Manuel in it too.

[42317]

My professor said that Kerr's was a good book after I saw a copy in her office. Really depressing, e.g. illegal trade of toxic waste.

I used to like Usagi Yojimbo, but it turned kinda dark, people got killed, and humor became kinda rare, so I stopped buying it. Plus the German version was censored.

I tried to read "Densha Otoko", but the net-speak deterred me, I found it bothersome.

Actually it was made an equally bothersome TV-series with a few good moments.

[jessman1999]

It's been a while since I've listen to the ESL Teacher Talk podcast, but do you know if that is the same guy (Jay Torres) that writes Love As a Foreign Language?

[TaishaJason]

hmmm - i don't know, but I'll check it out.

[GorillaKickManga]

There was also a TV show of Densha Otoko that was pretty damn good. In my opinion, it was better than the movie, but greater men would differ, I suppose.

[TaishaJason]

yeah - i've seen the TV version and it did look sun, but when the DVDs of the show came out, they didn't include English subs, so I haven't watched anymore.

[IBelieveInFae]

May I also suggest a book for you to try? It's "Japan Ai: A Tall Girl's Adventures in Japan" by Aimee Major Steinberger. It's manga style but reads left to right. I love the book, and my eight year old dos too, but I really shouldn't have let her read it (it's got a tiny bit of sex talk in it).

[TaishaJason]

sounds interesting

[kansaiPJ]

Great taste in books... poor taste in drinks!

[marikotoeii]

densha otoko was very important as it really helped the image of the group of people - known as otaku- in japan. otaku are basically japanese anime, video game, and computer nerds who has a very shall we say extensive interest in their hobbies. becasue there was a very notorious serial killer who just happened to be an otaku, the group got really bad press. densha otoko was great becuase it showed mainstream japan that otaku are people too!

[SchoolhouseTechno]

Oh wow...and it looks like Usagi Yojimbo is left to right...I might pick that up.

I don't know why...but I just don't enjoy flipping through book style comic books.

[SchoolhouseTechno]

I posted before I finished the video...I do that a lot.

Just wanted to say that was kind of funny at the end...with the new kotatsu...and the short sleeves.

[TaishaJason]

right now the kotatsu is keeping me toasty warm! And the short sleeves are gone now, not to be seen again until April or May next year.

[emergencyincas]

I've read a couple of the Usagi Yojimbo books, loved 'em and would love to pick up more eventually. I also generally enjoyed the Densh Otoko drama.

I'm finally gonna make it to Japan next summer through my school. Exciting stuff. Thanks for the videos.

[Feiwill]

I dare add another title into the bunch: "The Blue-Eyed Salaryman" by Niall Murtagh, a former employee at Mitsubishi. It's a first-person description of what things are like in an old-school big Japanese corporation. Entertaining and informative (if you're new to Japan-ology, that is).

[NichiBeiTrader]

Just read it. A good read!

[TaishaJason]

cool -thanks for the rec

[watsursnbaby]

I know exactly what Japan vloggers you were referring to in regards to book vlogs. I made one of those videos also. I believe Ibrahim started that line of posts. Anyway, I loved Densha Otoko (the movie)! I'll for sure have to pick up the book now, but I thought it was a manga?

[spanky812]

Very nice,I've been looking for some good reads =]