As you read this, Our Man is either:
a) Getting rescued on the slopes of Mount Fuji after losing one of his mountain flip flops.
b) Being drowned in spray from his daughters' backstroke swimming demonstration.
c) Supping a white wine while reading one of his new books.
Here's hoping for option c) because Our Man picked up a couple of good un's the other day for his jolly holidays -
Alex Kerr's Dogs and Demons (all about how Japan has been sold down the river by the pols), Tokyo Underworld by Robert Whiting (all about Da Yakuza and such) and What I talk about when I talk about running by Haruki Murakami (all about, er, like it says).
Book reports may follow, if he makes it back alive.
6 comments:
Tokyo Underworld is great. Robert Whiting really did his research on that one. I especially liked the part on Rikidozan. You know he's working on a followup to that book...
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fl20090801a1.html
I reckon someone like you would also enjoy Alan Booth's "The Roads to Sata: A 2000-mile walk through Japan"
http://www.amazon.com/Roads-Sata-2000-Mile-Through-Japan/dp/1568361874
I read that when I first got here and probably re-read it at least once a year -- especially when I'm feeling fed up with the big Nippon.
someone I know was banging on about kant this morning.he said kant was good.
ol doc k replies
'well if he's that good,how come he's dead' QED etc etc
don't know what's worse,kant's 'critique of pure reason' or the people who read it he's good.
I <3 Haruki Murakami. I'm reading "After Dark". (I'm betting I'm the first person to comment on your blog with a <3...you are ruined now, haha).
Tokyo Underworld sounds like my cup of tea. Might have to give it a go when I'm finished with the aforementioned.
Dogs and Demons is a classic, although rather sensationalist. It is certainly a wake up call for those who buy in to the "beautiful", "aesthetic", "high-tech" Japan myth.
I agree with jljzen88, if you have not yet read Booth, please do so. Not only was he a most erudite and insightful Brit' and one time thespian, but he also had a sharp wit and just enough bitterness to give his view of Japan some real bite.
He was also fond of a drink... As one reviewer said of his book (Roads to Sata), "It nothing more than a 2000 mile pub crawl."
Splendid!
Thanks all, will check it out, though three books about Japan is about all Our Man can handle at a go.
Speaking of Kant, Doc, have you heard this gem?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFFXQ6iz3jE
Or this one with people and words!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_WRFJwGsbY
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