If you recognize your email, congratulations! You just won a copy of Folk Tales of Japan by Kyota Ko! If you think this is you, shoot a message to JapanagramJonelle@gmail.com and let me know if you’d like the Kindle version or a paperback. If you’d like the Kindle version, let me know which email you’d like meContinueContinue reading “Did you win the Nov-Dec Book Giveaway?”
Category Archives: Book Review & Giveaway
Folk Tales of Japan
By Kyota Ko Background photo thanks to Untapped Kumamoto Setting & details: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Authenticity of Japanese characters & dialogue: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Translation quality: N/AEntertainment value: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐My recommendation: These folk tales are not the ones told over and over in the West—they’re unusual legends that reveal a lot about Japan, and Kyota Ko does a very entertaining job ofContinueContinue reading “Folk Tales of Japan”
Did you win the September Book Giveaway?
If you recognize your email, congratulations! You just won a copy of Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford! If you think this is you, shoot a message to JapanagramJonelle@gmail.com and let me know if you’d like the Kindle version or a paperback. If you’d like the Kindle version, let me know whichContinueContinue reading “Did you win the September Book Giveaway?”
Did you win the Jul-Aug Book Giveaway?
If you recognize your email, congratulations! You just won a copy of Daikon by Samuel Hawley! If you think this is you, shoot a message to JapanagramJonelle@gmail.com and let me know if you’d like the Kindle version or a paperback. If you’d like the Kindle version, let me know which email you’d like me to send theContinueContinue reading “Did you win the Jul-Aug Book Giveaway?”
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet
By Jamie Ford Setting & details: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Authenticity of Japanese characters & dialogue: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Translation quality: N/AEntertainment value: ⭐⭐⭐⭐My recommendation: A tale of two friends parted by the internment of Japanese-Americans during WWII, this book brings to life what it felt like to be sent away or left behind. Another wartime tale, this one is set inContinueContinue reading “Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet”
Daikon
By Samuel Hawley Setting & details: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Authenticity of Japanese characters & dialogue: ⭐⭐⭐⭐Translation quality: N/AEntertainment value: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐My recommendation: A what-if scenario set in the final days of WWII, this novel imagines what might have happened if the Japanese captured an unexploded A-bomb in the days before Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Rigorous research and the author’s timeContinueContinue reading “Daikon”
Did you win the May-Jun Japan Swag Giveaway?
If you recognize your email, congratulations! You just won a Japanese summer wind chime! If you think this is you, shoot a message to JapanagramJonelle@gmail.com and tell me where to send it. If I didn’t pull your name from the hat this time,I hope you get lucky next time! One lucky subscriber will win every two months,ContinueContinue reading “Did you win the May-Jun Japan Swag Giveaway?”
Did you win the Mar-Apr Book Giveaway?
If you recognize your email, congratulations! You just won a copy of How to Shop for Kimonos by Anji Salz! If you think this is you, shoot a message to JapanagramJonelle@gmail.com and tell me where to send it. (She publishes it as a PDF, so give me the email address you’d like her to send it to—youContinueContinue reading “Did you win the Mar-Apr Book Giveaway?”
How to Shop for Kimonos
By Anji Salz Author’s experience & expertise: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Accuracy of information: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Quality of recommendations & advice: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐My recommendation: If you’ve ever wanted to collect kimonos and accessories—either to wear or display—this comprehensive guide will help you shop like an expert and put together an ensemble like someone with years of experience. Anji Salz has been dressingContinueContinue reading “How to Shop for Kimonos”
Did you win the Jan-Feb Book Giveaway?
If you recognize your email, congratulations! You just won a copy of They Hang Me in Tokyo! If you think this is you, shoot a message to JapanagramJonelle@gmail.com and tell me where to send it. (I’ll need an email address if you’d like the e-book or a mailing address if you’d like a paperback). If I didn’tContinueContinue reading “Did you win the Jan-Feb Book Giveaway?”
They Hang Me in Tokyo
A barbarian artist’s life-changing journey to master nihonga, the traditional art of Japan By Allan West Setting & details: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Authenticity of Japanese characters & dialogue: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Translation quality: N/AEntertainment value: ⭐⭐⭐⭐My recommendation: This account of what it’s like to master one of the oldest forms of painting in the world and carve out a place inContinueContinue reading “They Hang Me in Tokyo”
Did you win the Nov-Dec Book Giveaway?
If you recognize your email, congratulations! You just won a copy of Tokyo Noir! If you think this is you, shoot a message to JapanagramJonelle@gmail.com and tell me where to send it. (I’ll need an email address if you’d like the e-book or a mailing address if you’d like a paperback). If I didn’t pull your nameContinueContinue reading “Did you win the Nov-Dec Book Giveaway?”
Tokyo Noir
By Jake Adelstein Enter to win a copy! Become a Japanagram subscriber by December 31, 2024and you’ll be entered to win ヽ(*＾ω＾*)ﾉ It’s free! Setting & details: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Authenticity of Japanese characters & dialogue: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Translation quality: N/AEntertainment value: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐My recommendation: A worthy and page-turny sequel to Tokyo Vice If you liked Tokyo Vice, you’re going toContinueContinue reading “Tokyo Noir”
Did you win the Sep-Oct Book Giveaway?
If you recognize your email, congratulations! You just won a copy of The Final Curtain! If you think this is you, shoot a message to JapanagramJonelle@gmail.com and tell me where to send it. (I’ll need an email address if you’d like the e-book or a mailing address if you’d like a paperback). If I didn’t pull yourContinueContinue reading “Did you win the Sep-Oct Book Giveaway?”
The Final Curtain
By Keigo Higashino Setting & details: ⭐⭐⭐Authenticity of Japanese characters & dialogue: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Translation quality: ⭐⭐⭐⭐Entertainment value: ⭐⭐⭐⭐My recommendation: The latest murder mystery from bestselling author Keigo Higashino delivers the usual meticulous puzzle solving we expect of detectives Kaga and Matsumiya, and will not disappoint those who love detailed police procedurals. Keigo Higashino is one ofContinueContinue reading “The Final Curtain”
Did you win the Jul-Aug Book Giveaway?
If you recognize your email, congratulations! You just won a copy of The Emissary by Yoko Tawada! If you think this is you, shoot a message to JapanagramJonelle@gmail.com and tell me where to send it. (I’ll need an email address if you’d like the e-book or a mailing address if you’d like a paperback). If I didn’tContinueContinue reading “Did you win the Jul-Aug Book Giveaway?”
The Emissary
By Yoko Tawada Setting & details: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Authenticity of Japanese characters & dialogue: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Translation quality: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Entertainment value: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐My recommendation: This winner of the National Book Award for translated literature is not only one of the best books by a Japanese author I’ve ever read—and the most stunningly excellent literary translation I’ve ever read—it’s one of theContinueContinue reading “The Emissary”
Did you win the May-Jun Book Giveaway?
If you recognize your email, congratulations! You just won a copy of The Kamogawa Food Detectives! If you think this is you, shoot a message to JapanagramJonelle@gmail.com and tell me where to send it. (I’ll need an email address if you’d like the e-book or a mailing address if you’d like a paperback). If I didn’t pullContinueContinue reading “Did you win the May-Jun Book Giveaway?”
The Kamogawa Food Detectives
By Hisashi Kashiwai If you loved Midnight Diner, you’ll like this book. Setting & details: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Authenticity of Japanese characters & dialogue: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Translation quality: ⭐⭐⭐⭐Entertainment value: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐My recommendation: If you loved Midnight Diner as much as I did, this book is for you. By recreating special dishes remembered by his customers, a retired police detective andContinueContinue reading “The Kamogawa Food Detectives”
Did you win the Mar-Apr Book Giveaway?
If you recognize your email, congratulations! You just won a copy of Before the Coffee Gets Cold! If you think this is you, shoot a message to JapanagramJonelle@gmail.com and tell me where to send it. (I’ll need an email address if you’d like the e-book or a mailing address if you’d like a paperback). If I didn’tContinueContinue reading “Did you win the Mar-Apr Book Giveaway?”
Before the Coffee Gets Cold
By Toshikazu Kawaguchi Setting & details: ⭐⭐⭐⭐Authenticity of Japanese characters & dialogue: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Translation quality: ⭐⭐⭐Entertainment value: ⭐⭐⭐⭐My recommendation: The idea behind these charming connected short stories is a clever one, each one playing out in a way that is uniquely Japanese. The reasons each of these characters longs to go back and relive a momentContinueContinue reading “Before the Coffee Gets Cold”
Did you win the Jan-Feb Book Giveaway?
If you recognize your email, congratulations! You just won a copy of Make It Japanese! If you think this is you, shoot a message to JapanagramJonelle@gmail.com and tell me where to send it. (I’ll need an email address if you’d like the e-book or a mailing address if you’d like the hardcover). If I didn’t pull yourContinueContinue reading “Did you win the Jan-Feb Book Giveaway?”
Did you win the Nov-Dec Book Giveaway?
If you recognize your email, congratulations! You just won a copy of The Last Yakuza! If you think this is you, shoot a message to JapanagramJonelle@gmail.com and tell me where to send it. (I’ll need an email address if you’d like the e-book or a mailing address if you’d like the paperback). If I didn’t pull yourContinueContinue reading “Did you win the Nov-Dec Book Giveaway?”
Make It Japanese: Simple Recipes for Everyone
By Rie McClenny & Sanae Lemoine Authenticity of recipes: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Translation quality: N/AEase of instructions: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Recipe appeal : ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐My recommendation: An excellent Japanese cookbook for people living outside Japan, especially if you’re a novice at Japanese cooking. We all want to eat healthy and delicious food—especially after the holidays—and deciding to eat more Japanese cuisine isContinueContinue reading “Make It Japanese: Simple Recipes for Everyone”
The Last Yakuza: Life and Death in the Tokyo Underworld
By Jake Adelstein Setting & details: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Authenticity of Japanese characters & dialogue: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Translation quality: N/AEntertainment value: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐My recommendation: No one is more qualified than the first foreign reporter to work the crime beat at a major Japanese newspaper when it comes to giving us a peek into the shady underworld of the legendary Japanese gangsContinueContinue reading “The Last Yakuza: Life and Death in the Tokyo Underworld”
Japanese Ghost Stories: Spirits, Hauntings and Paranormal Phenomena
By Catrien Ross Setting & details: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Authenticity of Japanese characters & dialogue: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Translation quality: N/AEntertainment value: ⭐⭐⭐⭐My recommendation: Even if you’re not interested in the paranormal, these folk tales, anecdotes and accounts of supernatural phenomena provide fascinating insights into what scares people in Japan. There are plenty of books about all the scary (and sometimeContinueContinue reading “Japanese Ghost Stories: Spirits, Hauntings and Paranormal Phenomena”
Did you win the Mar-Apr Book Giveaway?
If you recognize your email, congratulations! You just won a copy of Dead-End Memories by Banana Yoshimoto! If you think this is you, shoot a message to JapanagramJonelle@gmail.com and tell me if you’d like an ebook or paperback, and where you’d like me to send it. (I’ll need an email address for the ebook or a mailingContinueContinue reading “Did you win the Mar-Apr Book Giveaway?”
Dead-End Memories
By Banana Yoshimoto Setting & details: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Authenticity of Japanese characters & dialogue: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Translation quality: ⭐⭐⭐⭐Entertainment value: ⭐⭐⭐⭐My recommendation: Although Japanese fiction nearly always loses a lot in translation, this collection of short stories still manages to feature characters and situations that are strangely Japanese, yet truly universal at the same time. If you’ve heard meContinueContinue reading “Dead-End Memories”
Did you win the Jan-Feb Book Giveaway?
If you recognize your email, congratulations! You just won a copy of The Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka! If you think this is you, shoot a message to JapanagramJonelle@gmail.com and tell me if you’d like an ebook or paperback, and where you’d like me to send it. (I’ll need an email address for the ebookContinueContinue reading “Did you win the Jan-Feb Book Giveaway?”
The Buddha in the Attic
By Julie Otsuka Setting & details: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Authenticity of Japanese characters & dialogue: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Translation quality: N/AEntertainment value: ⭐⭐⭐My recommendation: This book is less like a novel than an epic poem, its layer upon layer of luscious details shining light on every facet of the immigrant experience, mostly through the eyes of the Japanese women who cameContinueContinue reading “The Buddha in the Attic”
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