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By Patricia Belyea
WAUCONDA WA Many of the books in my library are old and out-of-print. I collect them from used bookstores and online websites like abebooks.com. And, occasionally, I receive books about Japan from folks who are downsizing their homes.
Here are some of my most useful, memorable, or favorite reads:
FOR TRAVEL:
Old Kyoto: A Guide to Traditional Shops, Restaurants, and Inns | Diane Durston
This essential guidebook reveals what’s behind the noren hanging in the doorways of Kyoto’s traditional businesses. Durston tours you around fascinating neighborhoods to find 100-year-old confection shops, antique doll dealers, lantern makers, and more—to discover the real Kyoto.
Japan At A Glance | International Internship Programs
Here’s a book that gives you a full understanding of Japan in bite-size bits of info with lots of simple yet effective illustrations. This book is an invaluable introduction to a country rich in culture, tradition, and unique customs.
Midnight in Broad Daylight: A Japanese American Family Caught Between Two Worlds | Pamela Rotner Sakamoto
A true epic about a Japanese American family during World War II — with two brothers on either side of the Pacific. It was the first time I had read about civilian life in Japan during the conflict. Highly detailed and mind-provoking.
A Boy Called H: A Childhood in Wartime Japan | Kappa Senoh
Senoh paints a gripping story of civilian life during World War II in Japan. Seen through the eyes of a precocious child, the propaganda and daily deprivations are revealed with a questioning intelligence at a time when no one questioned anything. My top read in a long time.
Learning To Bow: Inside the Heart of Japan | Bruce Feiler
Feiler, a NYT best-selling author, knows how to spin a compelling story. This book relates Feiler’s one-year of teaching in a small town in Japan. The details of his experiences and his authentic responses to the people around him make Feiler’s everyday life engrossing.
Memories of Silk and Straw: A Self-Portrait of Small-Town Japan | Dr. Junichi Saga
Dr. Saga, a country doctor, interviewed his elderly patients in his off hours. The stories of farmers, fishermen, a geisha, soldiers, students, and so many more come together to build a portrait of Japan in the early 20th century—so different from today’s modern Japan. (I have read this book twice!)
Geisha | Liza Dalby
I got on a jag, for about six months, reading any book I could find about the flower and willow world. The personal story of Liza Dalby, a graduate student who traveled to Kyoto to learn from geisha captured my attention. Before her visit was over, Liza trained as a geisha and became the first “American Geisha”.
I Am A Cat | Sōseki Natsume
Written by one of Japan’s literary giants early in the 20th century, I Am A Cat chronicles a wandering kitten who observes the foibles of humans around him. Set in the late-Meiji period when Japan experienced rapid social change, this classic work was written with great insight and sardonic humor.
The Kimono Mind | Bernard Rudofsky
An Austrian writer and thinker, Rudofsky traveled extensively. In the 1960s, he lived in Japan for two years. His impressions of the Japanese and their ways show a depth of perception that is totally captivating. Regretfully much of what he wrote about has already been lost in the last 60 years.
At Home In Japan: A Foreign Woman’s Journey of Discovery | Rebecca Otowa
In the beginning of this memoir the author, a young American student, marries her Japanese boyfriend. Otowa presents short vignettes that weave together memories of her 30 years living in a 350-year old family home in the countryside outside Kyoto. By the end of the book, you just want to meet Otowa and have a cup of tea in her home!
Books by Amy Katoh
Katoh, a champion of traditional Japanese arts and crafts, has authored many lifestyle books filled with gorgeous photos. Her hand-crafted mini-books and self-published calendars are my favorite—available through Blue & White, her iconic shop in Tokyo.
ABOUT US: Okan Arts, a petite family business, is co-owned by mother-daughter duo Patricia Belyea and Victoria Stone. Patricia and Victoria sell Japanese textiles online, host creative quilting experiences, and lead quilting & textile tours to Japan.
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