John Grant

In this episode of the BOA podcast, host Amy Chavez talks with John Ross, a New Zealand writer based in Taiwan. Ross has spent three decades in Asia, starting as a freelance photojournalist then becoming an English teacher and author. His works include Formosan Odyssey: Taiwan, Past and Present, You Don’t Know China: Twenty-Two Enduring Myths Debunked, and Taiwan in 100 Books. He co-founded  Camphor Press, a publishing house focused on East Asia called and co-hosts Formosa Files, a weekly podcast on the history of Taiwan.John Ross lives in a small town in Taiwan, known as the birthplace of the inventor of instant noodles: Momofuku Ando. Ross explains why he moved to Taiwan in 1994 and how his plans for writing a book about the Mongolian manbeast was waylaid as he instead embarked on an epic journey in 1999 that became Formosan Odyssey: Taiwan, Past and Present. This first book is about travel, history, and small-town life in Taiwan.Amy and John talk about Japan’s occupation of Taiwan and the legacies the Japanese left behind such as education, infrastructure, and railroads. Ross talks about Taiwan’s long history of attempted colonization by the Dutch, French, and Ming Loyalists.Next, Ross talks about Taiwan in 100 Books, how he chose the volumes that tell the story of Taiwan through their interesting backstories, controversial texts, and fabulist authors who brought the first information about Taiwan to readers around the world.In You Don’t Know China: Twenty-Two Enduring Myths Debunked Ross explicates common misunderstood facts about various topics, including the Great Wall, Chinese medicine, fortune cookies, eating dogs, and Lord Macartney’s mission to China in 1793.Lastly, Amy and John talk about other authors, their books, and what led John Ross, Michael Cannings, and Mark Swofford to form Camphor Press in February 2014. Ross, in charge of acquisitions, talks about filling the void between academic and big box presses. He gives kudos to other small presses such as Earnshaw Books, Stone Bridge Press, and Blacksmith Books, who are all invested in bringing quality books to readers.Amy introduces some Camphor Press books based on her own library. John adds some more titles to her list, including two by winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature Pearl S. Buck: The Exile: Portrait of an American Mother, and Fighting Angel: Portrait of a Soul.John talks about the lost art of the travelogue and how the 1990s and the internet destroyed what should be an enduring genre.They discuss great travel writers such as Heinrich Harrer, Bill Bryson, and Ernest Hemingway.John and Amy talk about how the travel genre is changing and where it is headed. Amy also mentions Alex Kerr’s upcoming book Hidden Japan: An Astonishing World of Thatched Villages, Ancient Shrines and Primeval Forests (Sept. 2023, but you can pre-order here) and how the author advises people to not go to these places, but rather be happy reading about them instead.John Ross’s favorite travelogues are:Seven Years in Tibet by Heinrich HarrerLand of Jade: A journey through India Through Northern Burma to China (1996), by Bertil LintnerIn the Footsteps of Genghis Khan, by John DeFrancisRoss’s three Favorite Books on Japan are:On the Narrow Road to the Deep North: Journey into a Lost Japan by Leslie DownerIn Search of Japan’s Hidden Christians, by John DougillCharinko by Tom Gibb (an upcoming Camphor Press title)Be sure to check out John Ross’s books at the Camphor Press website or via Amazon. You can also visit him on social media at the following links:Taiwan in 100 BooksCamphor Press (Sign up for the Camphor Press Newsletter by scrolling to the bottom of that page)Formosa Files PodcastThe Books on Asia Podcast is sponsored by Stone Bridge Press, publisher of fine books on Asia for over 30 years. Subscribe to the Books on Asia Podcast. Subscribe to the BOA podcast at https://linktr.ee/booksonasia

In this episode of the BOA podcast, host Amy Chavez talks with John Ross, a New Zealand writer based in Taiwan. Ross has spent three decades in Asia, starting as a freelance photojournalist then becoming an English teacher and author. His works include <a href="https://www.camphorpress.com/books/formosan-odyssey/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Formosan Odyssey: Taiwan, Past and Present</a>, <a href="https://www.camphorpress.com/books/you-dont-know-china/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">You Don’t Know China: Twenty-Two Enduring Myths Debunked,</a> and <a href="https://www.camphorpress.com/books/taiwan-in-100-books/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Taiwan in 100 Books.</a> He co-founded  Camphor Press, a publishing house focused on East Asia called and co-hosts <a href="https://www.formosafiles.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Formosa Files</a>, a weekly podcast on the history of Taiwan.John Ross lives in a small town in Taiwan, known as the birthplace of the inventor of instant noodles: Momofuku Ando. Ross explains why he moved to Taiwan in 1994 and how his plans for writing a book about the Mongolian manbeast was waylaid as he instead embarked on an epic journey in 1999 that became <a href="https://www.camphorpress.com/books/formosan-odyssey/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Formosan Odyssey: Taiwan, Past and Present</a>. This first book is about travel, history, and small-town life in Taiwan.Amy and John talk about Japan’s occupation of Taiwan and the legacies the Japanese left behind such as education, infrastructure, and railroads. Ross talks about Taiwan’s long history of attempted colonization by the Dutch, French, and Ming Loyalists.Next, Ross talks about <a href="https://www.camphorpress.com/books/taiwan-in-100-books/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Taiwan in 100 Books,</a> how he chose the volumes that tell the story of Taiwan through their interesting backstories, controversial texts, and fabulist authors who brought the first information about Taiwan to readers around the world.In <a href="https://www.camphorpress.com/books/you-dont-know-china/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">You Don’t Know China: Twenty-Two Enduring Myths Debunked</a> Ross explicates common misunderstood facts about various topics, including the Great Wall, Chinese medicine, fortune cookies, eating dogs, and Lord Macartney’s mission to China in 1793.Lastly, Amy and John talk about other authors, their books, and what led John Ross, Michael Cannings, and Mark Swofford to form Camphor Press in February 2014. Ross, in charge of acquisitions, talks about filling the void between academic and big box presses. He gives kudos to other small presses such as Earnshaw Books, Stone Bridge Press, and Blacksmith Books, who are all invested in bringing quality books to readers.Amy introduces some Camphor Press books based on her own library. John adds some more titles to her list, including two by winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature Pearl S. Buck: <a href="https://www.camphorpress.com/books/the-exile-pearl-buck/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Exile: Portrait of an American Mother</a>, and <a href="https://www.camphorpress.com/books/fighting-angel/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Fighting Angel: Portrait of a Soul</a>.John talks about the lost art of the travelogue and how the 1990s and the internet destroyed what should be an enduring genre.They discuss great travel writers such as Heinrich Harrer, Bill Bryson, and Ernest Hemingway.John and Amy talk about how the travel genre is changing and where it is headed. Amy also mentions Alex Kerr’s upcoming book <a href="https://amzn.to/3p5ajZf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Hidden Japan: An Astonishing World of Thatched Villages, Ancient Shrines and Primeval Forests</a> (Sept. 2023, but you can pre-order <a href="https://amzn.to/3oWc37e" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>) and how the author advises people to not go to these places, but rather be happy reading about them instead.John Ross’s favorite travelogues are:<ul><li><a href="https://amzn.to/3Nc6IRe" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Seven Years in Tibet</a> by Heinrich Harrer</li><li><a href="https://amzn.to/3NtgCiK" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Land of Jade: A journey through India Through Northern Burma to China</a> (1996), by Bertil Lintner</li><li><a href="https://amzn.to/42HfkF1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">In the Footsteps of Genghis Khan</a>, by John DeFrancis</li></ul>Ross’s three Favorite Books on Japan are:<ul><li><a href="https://amzn.to/3CvTTfB" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">On the Narrow Road to the Deep North: Journey into a Lost Japan</a> by Leslie Downer</li><li><a href="https://amzn.to/3Nt7Xwy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">In Search of Japan’s Hidden Christians</a>, by John Dougill</li><li>Charinko by Tom Gibb (an upcoming <a href="https://www.camphorpress.com/shop/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Camphor Press</a> title)</li></ul>Be sure to check out John Ross’s books at the <a href="https://www.camphorpress.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Camphor Press website</a> or via <a href="https://amzn.to/3CNY3jf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Amazon</a>. You can also visit him on social media at the following links:<ul><li><a href="https://www.camphorpress.com/books/taiwan-in-100-books/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Taiwan in 100 Books</a></li><li><a href="https://www.camphorpress.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Camphor Press</a> (Sign up for the Camphor Press Newsletter by scrolling to the bottom of that page)</li><li><a href="https://www.formosafiles.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Formosa Files Podcast</a></li></ul>The Books on Asia Podcast is sponsored by <a href="http://www.stonebridge.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Stone Bridge Press</a>, publisher of fine books on Asia for over 30 years. <a href="https://linktr.ee/booksonasia" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Subscribe</a> to the Books on Asia Podcast. Subscribe to the BOA podcast at <a href="https://linktr.ee/booksonasia" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://linktr.ee/booksonasia</a>

John Grant Ross on Taiwan & Japan

John Rucynski

In 2021 John Rucynski--who has been living in Japan on and off since 1994--self-published A Passion for Japan through Blue Sky Publishing. In this anthology, which includes 31 writers, he asks not why the writers came to Japan but why they stayed. Here is a list of the essays and writers included, from the Table of ContentsShodō: Finding My Way in The Way of WritingKaren Hill AntonOne Year with the Guardians of the PhoenixCarmen Săpunaru TămașMatsuri MadnessDavid M. WeberWadaiko: Drumming to Our Own BeatDaniel LilleyFollow the Sound of the Drums: My Passion for EisaJudy KambaraA Love of Indie Music and a Seat behind the GoalAdrianne Verla UchidaSumo and MeTim CraigA Pushover for SumoKatrina WattsBaseball, Blogging, and BelongingTrevor RaichuraComing Home: The Search for Belonging in Rural JapanVictoria YoshimuraLooking for the Good Life: Living as a Local In a Zero Waste VillageLinda Mengxi DingGaijin in the Garden: Where Ganbaru is GoldenRobert McLaughlinFrom Bruce Lee to The Way of TeaRandy Channell SoeiFrom the Land of the Indomitable Lions to the Land of the Blue Samurai: A Personal StorySamuel NforThe Long Road from Clay to Pot, and What I Learned along the WayIrina HolcaThe Man Who Stepped into YesterdayEdward J. TaylorKumano Leap – Local Heritage Adopts a Wandering Soul: Q &amp; A with Mike RhodesMike RhodesLife Lessons Learned in Japan’s MountainsWes Lang“Banzai!” on a Spanish Island: Playing Chess in Japan’s ColorsSimon BibbyWho, Me?! Volleyball Refereeing in JapanGreg RouaultPassion in a Community: Finding My Japan through JALTWayne MalcolmCome Sail Away: Finding My Passion on the Ship for World YouthJohn RucynskiThe Inner Game of the Japanese: Going Back Home with TennisHaru YamadaWho Am I? In Search of My IdentityMargaret C. KimMy Love for Traditional Rituals and Customs of JapanHiya MukherjeeDiscovering Japanese Fusion of Religions on the Pilgrimage Island of ShikokuSteve McCartyFeeling at Home with the Great Literary MastersVicky Ann RichingsToo Many Novels I Want to Translate: Q &amp; A With Emily BalistrieriEmily BalistrieriLiterature and Legacy: Stories of Hansen’s Disease in JapanKathryn M. TanakaRoof Spotting in JapanWendy BiglerA Passion for the Place: Swept Off My Feet by a Japanese FarmhouseRebecca OtowaThe book is available exclusively onAmazon USA / Amazon JapanFollow the book on Instagram, Facebook, and Goodreads.At the end of the podcast, Amy asks John what his top 3 books on Japan are and why. He gives 4:You Gotta Have Wa, by Robert WhitingThe Roads to Sata, by Alan BoothCool Japan, by Tim CraigPure Invention, by Matt AltJohn Rucynski, editor of A Passion for Japan: A Collection of Personal Narratives, is originally from upstate New York and has been living in Japan on and off since 1994. He is currently associate professor in the Center for Language Education at Okayama University. His main research interest is the role of humor in language acquisition and intercultural communicative competence, and he has edited two volumes on this topic.The Books on Asia Podcast is sponsored by Stone Bridge Press, publisher of quality books on Japan and Asia for over 30 years. Go to their website at https://www.stonebridge.com/

In 2021 John Rucynski--who has been living in Japan on and off since 1994--self-published <a href="https://amzn.to/3Mf64Dk" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">A Passion for Japan</a> through Blue Sky Publishing. In this anthology, which includes 31 writers, he asks not why the writers came to Japan but why they stayed. Here is a list of the essays and writers included, from the Table of Contents<ol><li>Shodō: Finding My Way in The Way of Writing Karen Hill Anton</li><li>One Year with the Guardians of the Phoenix Carmen Săpunaru Tămaș</li><li>Matsuri Madness David M. Weber</li><li>Wadaiko: Drumming to Our Own Beat Daniel Lilley</li><li>Follow the Sound of the Drums: My Passion for Eisa Judy Kambara</li><li>A Love of Indie Music and a Seat behind the Goal Adrianne Verla Uchida</li><li>Sumo and Me Tim Craig</li><li>A Pushover for Sumo Katrina Watts</li><li>Baseball, Blogging, and Belonging Trevor Raichura</li><li>Coming Home: The Search for Belonging in Rural Japan Victoria Yoshimura</li><li>Looking for the Good Life: Living as a Local In a Zero Waste Village Linda Mengxi Ding</li><li>Gaijin in the Garden: Where Ganbaru is Golden Robert McLaughlin</li><li>From Bruce Lee to The Way of Tea Randy Channell Soei</li><li>From the Land of the Indomitable Lions to the Land of the Blue Samurai: A Personal Story Samuel Nfor</li><li>The Long Road from Clay to Pot, and What I Learned along the Way Irina Holca</li><li>The Man Who Stepped into Yesterday Edward J. Taylor</li><li>Kumano Leap – Local Heritage Adopts a Wandering Soul: Q &amp; A with Mike Rhodes Mike Rhodes</li><li>Life Lessons Learned in Japan’s Mountains Wes Lang</li><li>“Banzai!” on a Spanish Island: Playing Chess in Japan’s Colors Simon Bibby</li><li>Who, Me?! Volleyball Refereeing in Japan Greg Rouault</li><li>Passion in a Community: Finding My Japan through JALT Wayne Malcolm</li><li>Come Sail Away: Finding My Passion on the Ship for World Youth John Rucynski</li><li>The Inner Game of the Japanese: Going Back Home with Tennis Haru Yamada</li><li>Who Am I? In Search of My Identity Margaret C. Kim</li><li>My Love for Traditional Rituals and Customs of Japan Hiya Mukherjee</li><li>Discovering Japanese Fusion of Religions on the Pilgrimage Island of Shikoku Steve McCarty</li><li>Feeling at Home with the Great Literary Masters Vicky Ann Richings</li><li>Too Many Novels I Want to Translate: Q &amp; A With Emily Balistrieri Emily Balistrieri</li><li>Literature and Legacy: Stories of Hansen’s Disease in Japan Kathryn M. Tanaka</li><li>Roof Spotting in Japan Wendy Bigler</li><li>A Passion for the Place: Swept Off My Feet by a Japanese Farmhouse Rebecca Otowa</li></ol>The book is available exclusively on <a href="https://amzn.to/3UiBiM6" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Amazon USA</a> / <a href="https://amzn.to/3zCdcCs" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Amazon Japan</a>Follow the book on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/a_passion_for_japan/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/433875752018367" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, and <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21677181.John_Rucynski_Jr_" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>.At the end of the podcast, Amy asks John what his top 3 books on Japan are and why. He gives 4:<ul><li><a href="https://booksonasia.net/podcast/boa-podcast-11-robert-whiting-talks-baseball-and-tokyo-junkie/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">You Gotta Have Wa</a>, by Robert Whiting</li><li><a href="https://booksonasia.net/book/the-roads-to-sata/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Roads to Sata</a>, by Alan Booth</li><li><a href="https://amzn.to/3NZzF4K" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Cool Japan</a>, by Tim Craig</li><li><a href="https://amzn.to/3puQYjP" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Pure Invention</a>, by Matt Alt</li></ul>John Rucynski, editor of <a href="https://amzn.to/3UiBiM6" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">A Passion for Japan: A Collection of Personal Narratives, </a>is originally from upstate New York and has been living in Japan on and off since 1994. He is currently associate professor in the Center for Language Education at Okayama University. His main research interest is the role of humor in language acquisition and intercultural communicative competence, and he has edited two volumes on this topic.The Books on Asia Podcast is sponsored by <a href="https://www.stonebridge.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Stone Bridge Press</a>, publisher of quality books on Japan and Asia for over 30 years. Go to their website at <a href="https://www.stonebridge.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.stonebridge.com/</a>

Japan's 31 Passions, with John Rucynski

Stephen Mansfield

Stephen Mansfield, author of Tokyo: A Biography (Tuttle, 2017), is a British writer and photo-journalist based in Japan. His photo-journalism work has appeared in over 60 magazines, newspapers, and journals worldwide including the Kyoto Journal, CNN Travel and Nikkei Asia. To date, he has had twenty books published, four of them on the culture and people of Laos and several on Japanese gardens. He also has a chapter and essay in the anthology Inaka: Portraits of Rural Life in Japan (Camphor Press, 2020). In today's podcast he talks about, of course, Tokyo. o us about Tokyo: A Biography.

Stephen Mansfield, author of <a href="https://amzn.to/3l4pEXA" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tokyo: A Biography</a> (Tuttle, 2017), is a British writer and photo-journalist based in Japan. His photo-journalism work has appeared in over 60 magazines, newspapers, and journals worldwide including the Kyoto Journal, CNN Travel and Nikkei Asia. To date, he has had twenty books published, four of them on the culture and people of Laos and several on Japanese gardens. He also has a chapter and essay in the anthology <a href="https://amzn.to/3HQ7roD" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Inaka: Portraits of Rural Life in Japan</a> (Camphor Press, 2020). In today's podcast he talks about, of course, Tokyo. o us about <a href="https://amzn.to/3l4pEXA" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tokyo: A Biography.</a>

Stephen Mansfield Talks Tokyo

In this episode of the Books on Asia Podcast, host Amy Chavez sits down with writer, translator, and professor of Japanese at Western Michigan University, Jeffrey Angles. He is the first non-native poet writing in Japanese to win the Yomiuri Prize for Literature, a highly coveted prize for poetry. His translation of the modernist classic The Book of the Dead by Shinobu Orikuchi won both the Miyoshi Award and the Scaglione Prize for translation. He is with us today to talk about his translation of the just-released book by Hiromi Ito, The Thorn Puller. Hiromi Ito, author of The Thorn Puller (Toge-nuki Jizo: Shin Sugamo Jizo engi) came to national attention in Japan in the 1980s for her groundbreaking poetry about pregnancy, childbirth, and female sexuality. After relocating to the U.S. in the 1990s, she began to write about the immigrant experience and biculturalism. In recent years, she has focused on the ways that dying and death shape human experience.

In this episode of the Books on Asia Podcast, host Amy Chavez sits down with writer, translator, and professor of Japanese at Western Michigan University, Jeffrey Angles. He is the first non-native poet writing in Japanese to win the Yomiuri Prize for Literature, a highly coveted prize for poetry. His translation of the modernist classic The Book of the Dead by Shinobu Orikuchi won both the Miyoshi Award and the Scaglione Prize for translation. He is with us today to talk about his translation of the just-released book by Hiromi Ito, The Thorn Puller. Hiromi Ito, author of The Thorn Puller (Toge-nuki Jizo: Shin Sugamo Jizo engi) came to national attention in Japan in the 1980s for her groundbreaking poetry about pregnancy, childbirth, and female sexuality. After relocating to the U.S. in the 1990s, she began to write about the immigrant experience and biculturalism. In recent years, she has focused on the ways that dying and death shape human experience.

Translating Hiromi Ito's "The Thorn Puller" with Jeffrey Angles

Sarah Coomber is the author of The Same Moon (Camphor Press, 2020), a memoir about what happened when she traded out her wrecked Minnesota life for two years in rural Japan. The Same Moon is possibly the only book about the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program (JET) experience written from a woman's point of view. Sarah joined the program in 1996, when the government-sponsored program was in its infancy.In this episode of the Books on Asia Podcast, she talks about being a single woman in Japan at that time, expectations at work, and how things have changed, or not, since then. Finally she gives some advice on what women should consider before moving to Japan to teach English.At the very end of the podcast, Sarah shares with us her top three books on Japan:1. Shogun, by James Clavell2. The Accidental Office Lady: An American Woman in Corporate Japan by Laura Kriska3. A Half-Step Behind: Japanese Women Today, by Jane Condon Author Bio: Sarah Coomber has  worked in public relations, journalism, science writing and advocacy, and has taught English at the college level. She has an MFA in creative writing from Eastern Washington University, a master’s in mass communication from the University of Minnesota, and level-four certification in the Seiha School of koto. A resident of Minnesota, she writes, manages communications projects, coaches other writers, and teaches yoga.Find her online at her website or sign up for her newsletter. You'll also find her at the following social media links:Twitter: @CoomberSarahInstagram: @sarahcoomberwriterFacebook: @sarahcoomberwriterLinkedIn: @sarahcoomber

Sarah Coomber is the author of <a href="https://amzn.to/3Hp43T1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Same Moon</a> (Camphor Press, 2020), a memoir about what happened when she traded out her wrecked Minnesota life for two years in rural Japan. <a href="https://amzn.to/3Hp43T1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Same Moon</a> is possibly the only book about the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program (JET) experience written from a woman's point of view. Sarah joined the program in 1996, when the government-sponsored program was in its infancy.In this episode of the Books on Asia Podcast, she talks about being a single woman in Japan at that time, expectations at work, and how things have changed, or not, since then. Finally she gives some advice on what women should consider before moving to Japan to teach English.At the very end of the podcast, Sarah shares with us her top three books on Japan:1. <a href="https://amzn.to/3UFkOfy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Shogun</a>, by James Clavell2. <a href="https://amzn.to/3FEFbFh" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Accidental Office Lady: An American Woman in Corporate Japan</a> by Laura Kriska3. <a href="https://amzn.to/3hkwPcB" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">A Half-Step Behind: Japanese Women Today</a>, by Jane Condon Author Bio: Sarah Coomber has  worked in public relations, journalism, science writing and advocacy, and has taught English at the college level. She has an MFA in creative writing from Eastern Washington University, a master’s in mass communication from the University of Minnesota, and level-four certification in the Seiha School of koto. A resident of Minnesota, she writes, manages communications projects, coaches other writers, and teaches yoga.Find her online at her <a href="https://sarahcoomber.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">website</a> or <a href="https://sarahcoomber.us19.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=e1c221dbcf4a9939747bf0440&amp;id=32a6c74e37" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">sign up for her newsletter</a>. You'll also find her at the following social media links:Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/CoomberSarah" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@CoomberSarah</a> Instagram: @sarahcoomberwriter Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SarahCoomberWriter" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@sarahcoomberwriter</a> LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahcoomber/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@sarahcoomber</a>

Sarah Coomber and the Female Experience Teaching in Japan

In this episode of the BOA podcast, host Amy Chavez talks with Azby Brown, a long-time resident of Japan and author of Just Enough: Lessons from Japan for Sustainable Living, Architecture, and Design. Some topics discussed are Edo Period sustainability measures, STG’s, architecture of old Japanese houses, the Kamikatsu Zero Waste town, and future measures Japan is taking to become more sustainable.

In this episode of the BOA podcast, host Amy Chavez talks with Azby Brown, a long-time resident of Japan and author of <a href="https://amzn.to/3TbvX7z" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Just Enough: Lessons from Japan for Sustainable Living, Architecture, and Design</a>. Some topics discussed are Edo Period sustainability measures, STG’s, architecture of old Japanese houses, the Kamikatsu Zero Waste town, and future measures Japan is taking to become more sustainable.

Azby Brown on Sustainability and his Book “Just Enough”

Maud Rowell

In this episode of the BOA podcast, host Amy Chavez talks with Maud Rowell about her new book Blind Spot: Exploring and Educating on Blindness (404 Ink, 2021). Maud is a freelance journalist and writer from London. She went blind at 19 while traveling in South Korea. Two months later, she went on to begin a four-year degree in Japanese Studies at University of Cambridge including one year at Doshisha University in Kyoto. She trained in journalism at City, University of London, and over the course of the pandemic, wrote her first book Blind Spot: Exploring and Educating on Blindness published by 404 Ink in November 2021. In the summer of 2021, she won the Holman Prize run by San Francisco Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired and received a grant to travel around Japan and write about her experiences.

In this episode of the BOA podcast, host Amy Chavez talks with Maud Rowell about her new book <a href="https://amzn.to/3DGIOKl" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Blind Spot: Exploring and Educating on Blindness</a> (404 Ink, 2021). Maud is a freelance journalist and writer from London. She went blind at 19 while traveling in South Korea. Two months later, she went on to begin a four-year degree in Japanese Studies at University of Cambridge including one year at Doshisha University in Kyoto. She trained in journalism at City, University of London, and over the course of the pandemic, wrote her first book <a href="https://amzn.to/3DGIOKl" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Blind Spot: Exploring and Educating on Blindness</a> published by 404 Ink in November 2021. In the summer of 2021, she won the Holman Prize run by San Francisco Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired and received a grant to travel around Japan and write about her experiences.

Traveling Japan as a Blind Person, with Maud Rowell

Iain Maloney

In this episode of the Books on Asia podcast, podcast host and island-dweller Amy Chavez and Gifu countryside villager Iain Maloney discuss their experiences living in Japan's countryside. Iain's book The Only Gaijin in the Village: A Year Living in Rural Japan is dedicated to the subject of himself moving to the the countryside with his Japanese wife, while Amy in her latest book The Widow, the Priest and the Octopus Hunter: Discovering a Lost Way of Life on a Secluded Japanese Island documents the countryside-living experience with an emphasis on the Japanese people she lives among. See what similarities and differences these authors reveal in this "shared experience" of moving to Japan's countryside.Some helpful vocabulary for this episode:gaijin: a non-Japanese personhoncho: the head of a local neighborhood area or associationchonaikai: Neighborhood Associationkairanban: a notebook sponsored by the Neighborhood Association that acts as a communication tool and is passed from house to house to inform of local events. One reads the notice, checks off they've read it, then the notebook is walked to the next person's house and turned over to them.akiya: an empty or abandoned houseakiya taisaku: measures taken to fill empty houses with tenantsfudosan: real estate agentmurahachibu: ostracization, non-acceptance of outsidershanko: one's seal or stamp used on official documents (mortgages, legal documents, etc.)danka: a parishoner or member of a Buddhist templeshimatsukuriinkai: similar to a town hall meeting as applied to an islandAmy starts off asking Iain what influenced his decision to move to Japan's countryside. They  discuss the odd lack of livestock, which is one of the first things Westerners associate with the bucolic countryside.Amy then asks Iain how he and his wife went about selecting a house, if they had to fix it up themselves, and about the process of moving in. They compare houses, repairs, especially toilets. Iain talks about the things that confounded their real estate agent when they were house hunting. Amy explains the much more complicated process of moving to the island where she lives.Amy talks about having moved to Shiraishi Island by herself, and how she later brought a foreign husband into the mix, and asks Iain what aspects make it easier or more difficult to move to the countryside with a Japanese spouse. They talk about the pros and cons of being "accepted" into a Japanese community, including ostracism (murahachibu), which also applies to Japanese people. They also discuss good foreigner/bad foreigner stereotypes that exist for non-Japanese. Amy talks about how she grew to understand the real issues behind murahachibu.Each village is different and every area has its own customs, rules, and ways of doing things, so Amy and Iain compare Neighborhood Associations, the volunteer fire department, and taking part in town-hall meetings as well as dealing with neighbors, their indirectness and how the power of suggestion plays a role in Japanese society.They talk about akiya taisaku attempts to lure Japanese people into countryside living, and Amy talks about the people who helped her integrate into her community.Lastly, Iain's names his favorite books as related to Japan's countryside:Inaka: Portraits of Rural Life in Japan (an anthology)Lost Japan, by Alex KerrUnbeaten Tracks in Japan, by Isabella BirdKanazawa, by David joinerThe Easy Life in Kamusari by Shion Miura (transl. Juliet W. Carpenter)The Books on Asia Podcast is sponsored by Stone Bridge Press. Check out their books on Japan at www.stonebridge.com.Your podcast host is Amy Chavez, author of Amy’s Guide to Best Behavior in Japan, and The Widow, the Priest and the Octopus Hunter: Discovering a Lost Way of Life on a Secluded Japanese Island.Don’t miss out on upcoming episodes with Asia's best authors and translators by subscribing to the Books on Asia podcast.

In this episode of the Books on Asia podcast, podcast host and island-dweller Amy Chavez and Gifu countryside villager Iain Maloney discuss their experiences living in Japan's countryside. Iain's book <a href="https://amzn.to/3zb8FGw" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Only Gaijin in the Village: A Year Living in Rural Japan</a> is dedicated to the subject of himself moving to the the countryside with his Japanese wife, while Amy in her latest book The Widow, the Priest and the Octopus Hunter: Discovering a Lost Way of Life on a Secluded Japanese Island documents the countryside-living experience with an emphasis on the Japanese people she lives among. See what similarities and differences these authors reveal in this "shared experience" of moving to Japan's countryside.<h2>Some helpful vocabulary for this episode:</h2>gaijin: a non-Japanese personhoncho: the head of a local neighborhood area or associationchonaikai: Neighborhood Associationkairanban: a notebook sponsored by the Neighborhood Association that acts as a communication tool and is passed from house to house to inform of local events. One reads the notice, checks off they've read it, then the notebook is walked to the next person's house and turned over to them.akiya: an empty or abandoned houseakiya taisaku: measures taken to fill empty houses with tenantsfudosan: real estate agentmurahachibu: ostracization, non-acceptance of outsidershanko: one's seal or stamp used on official documents (mortgages, legal documents, etc.)danka: a parishoner or member of a Buddhist templeshimatsukuriinkai: similar to a town hall meeting as applied to an islandAmy starts off asking Iain what influenced his decision to move to Japan's countryside. They  discuss the odd lack of livestock, which is one of the first things Westerners associate with the bucolic countryside.Amy then asks Iain how he and his wife went about selecting a house, if they had to fix it up themselves, and about the process of moving in. They compare houses, repairs, especially toilets. Iain talks about the things that confounded their real estate agent when they were house hunting. Amy explains the much more complicated process of moving to the island where she lives.Amy talks about having moved to Shiraishi Island by herself, and how she later brought a foreign husband into the mix, and asks Iain what aspects make it easier or more difficult to move to the countryside with a Japanese spouse. They talk about the pros and cons of being "accepted" into a Japanese community, including ostracism (murahachibu), which also applies to Japanese people. They also discuss good foreigner/bad foreigner stereotypes that exist for non-Japanese. Amy talks about how she grew to understand the real issues behind murahachibu.Each village is different and every area has its own customs, rules, and ways of doing things, so Amy and Iain compare Neighborhood Associations, the volunteer fire department, and taking part in town-hall meetings as well as dealing with neighbors, their indirectness and how the power of suggestion plays a role in Japanese society.They talk about akiya taisaku attempts to lure Japanese people into countryside living, and Amy talks about the people who helped her integrate into her community.Lastly, Iain's names his favorite books as related to Japan's countryside:<a href="https://booksonasia.net/2020/10/07/review-inaka-portraits-of-life-in-rural-japan/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Inaka: Portraits of Rural Life in Japan</a> (an anthology)<a href="https://booksonasia.net/book/lost-japan/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lost Japan</a>, by Alex Kerr<a href="https://booksonasia.net/book/unbeaten-tracks-in-japan/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Unbeaten Tracks in Japan</a>, by Isabella Bird<a href="https://booksonasia.net/2022/01/05/review-kanazawa-by-david-joiner/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Kanazawa</a>, by David joinerThe Easy Life in Kamusari by Shion Miura (transl. Juliet W. Carpenter)The Books on Asia Podcast is sponsored by Stone Bridge Press. Check out their books on Japan at <a href="http://www.stonebridge.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.stonebridge.com</a>.Your podcast host is Amy Chavez, author of <a href="https://amzn.to/3ME4d8R" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Amy’s Guide to Best Behavior in Japan</a>, and <a href="https://amzn.to/39HuHHN" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Widow, the Priest and the Octopus Hunter: Discovering a Lost Way of Life on a Secluded Japanese Island</a>.Don’t miss out on upcoming episodes with Asia's best authors and translators by <a href="https://linktr.ee/Booksonasia" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">subscribing</a> to the Books on Asia podcast.

Moving to Japan's Countryside with Iain Maloney

Podcast host Amy Chavez talks to Robert Weis, curator of the Luxembourg Natural History Museum's upcoming exhibit, “Spirit of Shizen – The Nature of Japan through 72 Seasons,” running from July 1 to August 31, 2022. An accompanying catalogue, in the form of an anthology, will be published featuring essays by prominent writers on Japan's seasons.Amy starts off the show asking  Weis, a paleontologist, how he ended up curating the exhibition “Spirit of Shizen” Weis explains his childhood fascination with fossils, his work at the museum, and his love for Japan. He says Mark Horvane, a Kyoto-based garden designer, was an adviser to the exhibition.Amy expounds upon the meaning of "72-microseasons" as outlined in Mark Horvane's essay of the same title included in the museum catalogue/anthology.While some Japanese arts and activities have obvious links to nature, such as  Ikebana flower arrangement, bonsai, gardens or cherry-blossom viewing, Weis notes that other links may not be so obvious, such as those in haiku poetry, Japanese sweets, or even the passing of time. These tie-ins to the seasons will brought into focus via workshops, demonstrations, and a publication that focuses on Japanese culture and nature.Workshops include a Miksang contemporary photography workshop with John Einarsen, a calligraphy session by Japanese artist Rie Takeda, an exploration into the tea ceremony by Bruce Hamana, and a workshop on the seasons as related to Zen, presented by French Buddhist nun and author Kankyo Tannier. A movie, produced by Felicity Tillack especially for the exhibition, will delve into the seasons of Kyoto, and a gastronomic event coordinated with a local Japanese restaurant will look at the role of the seasons in Japanese cuisine. Visitors can enjoy a mock tea-house with tatami mats or enjoy tea in the museum's garden."Spirit of Shizen" (shizen means "nature" in Japanese), also offers an accompanying catalog/anthology of essays penned by prominent writers on Japan. The publication will be available in the Museum Store and as an online purchase.Following is the contents of the publication, which is divided into four parts, with Pico Iyer penning an introductory essay for each section/season."Spirit of Shizen" AnthologyTable of ContentsAUTUMN – Radiant Wistfulness, by Pico IyerMomiji-gari - Tracking Down the Colored Leaves, by Rebecca OtowaA Late Autumn Walk in Nara, by Robert WeisNaturally Attuned to the Seasons, by Edward LevinsonThe Japanese 72 Micro-seasons, by Mark HovaneWINTER – Blue Invigoration, by Pico IyerFirst Winter in Ohara, by Patrick ColganOntakesan - Seasonal Elements of a Sacred Japanese Mountain, by Jann WilliamsKigo: Seasonal Words and Seasonality in Haiku, by Kawaharada MayumiNature is Culture, by Sébastien RaizerSPRING – Pink-and-white Flutter, by Pico IyerPetals on a Wet Black Bough, by Amanda HugginsSakura, by Naoko AbeSeasons of the Seto Inland Sea, by Amy ChavezThe Beauty of Japanese Gardens, by Yuri UgayayaSUMMER – Festivals in the Sultry Nights, by Pico IyerThe Message in the Garden, by Marc Peter KeaneAwareness of the Seasons in the Tea Ceremony (Chanoyu), by Bruce HamanaMosses for the Ages, by Karen Lee TawarayamaNotes on Ikebana, by Mark HovaneTsuyu – Between the Sheets, by Edward J. TaylorWeis advises that there are no coronavirus restrictions right now for visiting Luxembourg or the museum.At the end of the show, Amy asks Weis to name his favorite books on Japan:The Lady and the Monk: Four Seasons in Kyoto, by Pico IyerSouth of the Border, West of the Sun, by Haruki MurakamiThe Japanese Chronicles, by Nicolas BouvierAbout Robert WeisRobert Weis is the author of over thirty scientific publications about Jurassic fossils. He has nourished a deep interest in Eastern Asian cultures, and especially Japan, since his childhood. He practices Zen meditation and the art of Bonsai and is especially interested in Japanese garden culture. Accounts on his Japanese travels can be found on his blog theroutetokyoto.com. He is the curator of the exhibition “Spirit of Shizen – The Nature of Japan through 72 seasons,” to be held at the Luxembourg Natural History Museum during summer 2022. He is also a travel writer for Luxembourg’s travel magazine "DIARIES OF." His book Rocklines: A Geopoetic Journey across the Minett Unesco Biosphere, co-authored with Italian geopoet Davide S. Sapienza, will be on release in July 2022.The Books on Asia Podcast is sponsored by Stone Bridge Press. Check out their books on Japan at www.stonebridge.com.Your podcast host is Amy Chavez, author of Amy’s Guide to Best Behavior in Japan, and The Widow, the Priest and the Octopus Hunter: Discovering a Lost Way of Life on a Secluded Japanese Island.Don’t miss out on upcoming episodes with Asia's best authors and translators by subscribing to the Books on Asia podcast.

Podcast host Amy Chavez talks to Robert Weis, curator of the Luxembourg Natural History Museum's upcoming exhibit, “Spirit of Shizen – The Nature of Japan through 72 Seasons,” running from July 1 to August 31, 2022. An accompanying catalogue, in the form of an anthology, will be published featuring essays by prominent writers on Japan's seasons.Amy starts off the show asking  Weis, a paleontologist, how he ended up curating the exhibition “Spirit of Shizen” Weis explains his childhood fascination with fossils, his work at the museum, and his love for Japan. He says Mark Horvane, a Kyoto-based garden designer, was an adviser to the exhibition.Amy expounds upon the meaning of "72-microseasons" as outlined in Mark Horvane's essay of the same title included in the museum catalogue/anthology.While some Japanese arts and activities have obvious links to nature, such as  Ikebana flower arrangement, bonsai, gardens or cherry-blossom viewing, Weis notes that other links may not be so obvious, such as those in haiku poetry, Japanese sweets, or even the passing of time. These tie-ins to the seasons will brought into focus via workshops, demonstrations, and a publication that focuses on Japanese culture and nature.Workshops include a Miksang contemporary photography workshop with John Einarsen, a calligraphy session by Japanese artist Rie Takeda, an exploration into the tea ceremony by Bruce Hamana, and a workshop on the seasons as related to Zen, presented by French Buddhist nun and author Kankyo Tannier. A movie, produced by Felicity Tillack especially for the exhibition, will delve into the seasons of Kyoto, and a gastronomic event coordinated with a local Japanese restaurant will look at the role of the seasons in Japanese cuisine. Visitors can enjoy a mock tea-house with tatami mats or enjoy tea in the museum's garden."Spirit of Shizen" (shizen means "nature" in Japanese), also offers an accompanying catalog/anthology of essays penned by prominent writers on Japan. The publication will be available in the Museum Store and as an <a href="https://www.mnhn.lu/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">online purchase</a>.Following is the contents of the publication, which is divided into four parts, with Pico Iyer penning an introductory essay for each section/season."Spirit of Shizen" AnthologyTable of ContentsAUTUMN – Radiant Wistfulness, by Pico Iyer<ul><li>Momiji-gari - Tracking Down the Colored Leaves, by Rebecca Otowa</li><li>A Late Autumn Walk in Nara, by Robert Weis</li><li>Naturally Attuned to the Seasons, by Edward Levinson</li><li>The Japanese 72 Micro-seasons, by Mark Hovane</li></ul>WINTER – Blue Invigoration, by Pico Iyer<ul><li>First Winter in Ohara, by Patrick Colgan</li><li>Ontakesan - Seasonal Elements of a Sacred Japanese Mountain, by Jann Williams</li><li>Kigo: Seasonal Words and Seasonality in Haiku, by Kawaharada Mayumi</li><li>Nature is Culture, by Sébastien Raizer</li></ul>SPRING – Pink-and-white Flutter, by Pico Iyer<ul><li>Petals on a Wet Black Bough, by Amanda Huggins</li><li>Sakura, by Naoko Abe</li><li>Seasons of the Seto Inland Sea, by Amy Chavez</li><li>The Beauty of Japanese Gardens, by Yuri Ugayaya</li></ul>SUMMER – Festivals in the Sultry Nights, by Pico Iyer<ul><li>The Message in the Garden, by Marc Peter Keane</li><li>Awareness of the Seasons in the Tea Ceremony (Chanoyu), by Bruce Hamana</li><li>Mosses for the Ages, by Karen Lee Tawarayama</li><li>Notes on Ikebana, by Mark Hovane</li><li>Tsuyu – Between the Sheets, by Edward J. Taylor</li></ul>Weis advises that there are no coronavirus restrictions right now for visiting Luxembourg or the museum.At the end of the show, Amy asks Weis to name his favorite books on Japan:<a href="https://amzn.to/3NXULxd" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Lady and the Monk: Four Seasons in Kyoto</a>, by Pico Iyer<a href="https://booksonasia.net/book/south-of-the-border-west-of-the-sun/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">South of the Border, West of the Sun</a>, by Haruki Murakami<a href="https://amzn.to/3NZoWE9" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Japanese Chronicles</a>, by Nicolas BouvierAbout Robert WeisRobert Weis is the author of over thirty scientific publications about Jurassic fossils. He has nourished a deep interest in Eastern Asian cultures, and especially Japan, since his childhood. He practices Zen meditation and the art of Bonsai and is especially interested in Japanese garden culture. Accounts on his Japanese travels can be found on his blog <a href="http://theroutetokyoto.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">theroutetokyoto.com</a>. He is the curator of the exhibition “Spirit of Shizen – The Nature of Japan through 72 seasons,” to be held at the Luxembourg Natural History Museum during summer 2022. He is also a travel writer for Luxembourg’s travel magazine "DIARIES OF." His book Rocklines: A Geopoetic Journey across the Minett Unesco Biosphere, co-authored with Italian geopoet Davide S. Sapienza, will be on release in July 2022.The Books on Asia Podcast is sponsored by Stone Bridge Press. Check out their books on Japan at <a href="http://www.stonebridge.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.stonebridge.com</a>.Your podcast host is Amy Chavez, author of <a href="https://amzn.to/3ME4d8R" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Amy’s Guide to Best Behavior in Japan</a>, and <a href="https://amzn.to/39HuHHN" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Widow, the Priest and the Octopus Hunter: Discovering a Lost Way of Life on a Secluded Japanese Island</a>.Don’t miss out on upcoming episodes with Asia's best authors and translators by <a href="https://linktr.ee/Booksonasia" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">subscribing</a> to the Books on Asia podcast.

The Spirit of Shizen: The Nature of Japan through 72 Seasons, with Robert Weis

Amy asks Poulton to explain the difference between reading Noh plays and seeing a Noh performance. Poulton goes into great detail on the subject, including why and how the same Noh play covered in a few pages of text becomes a one-and-a-half hour play when performed. He quotes from Arthur Waley's The Noh Plays of Japan to explain the concept of length and time.He further introduces Kan'ami and Zeami, father and son, who elevated the art of Noh to what it has become and discusses the Tokugawa Shogunate's influence on Noh and gagaku (court music). Poulton notes that the flute, drum, and howling in Noh are designed to help take the audience into a different time and space. This is especially important to plays that focus on stories of ghosts, demons, and natural spirits (such as those of trees and plants).Noh performances are known for their ability to induce drowsiness and even sleep among the audience. Poulton explains how this induced hypnotic state can effectively transport the audience to a liminal awareness between reality and dreams."There is a transcendental boredom to Noh. We have to slow down our consciousnesses to get into the space of the performance. Time and space expand into infinity and eternity and this is how we can contact those things." —Cody PoultonNext Poulton expands on the structure of Noh plays and the use of dreams as devices in two well-known performances: "Hagoromo," an encounter of a human being and a supernatural creature, and "Yamamba" the mountain crone (See BOA Podcast 14: Yamamba: Japanese Mountain Witch with Rebecca Copeland and Linda Erlich). He explains the role of Noh masks and costumes. He further comments on "Funabenke" a demon play.Amy mentions "Takasago" and its continued reference in modern-day Japan.  Poulton responds that Noh often has a liturgical purpose, a way of blessing or commemorating an event similar to a requiem, and gives three modern examples of Japanese tragedies linked to Noh plays. He sum up his comments with:When bad things happen, we go back to ceremony, to ritual, to try to give shape to our feelings, and Noh is a beautiful device for doing that.Next is a discussion about the author Izumi Kyōka and how he came from a long line of Noh musicians and artists. Kyoka himself wrote plays about the supernatural and became a model of the counterculture of the 1960s in Japan. His uncle, Matsumoto Kintaro, was a famous Noh actor of the Meiji period. Poulton mentions the plays "Uta andon" and "Ama.""Saigyozakura" (Saigyo's Cherry Tree) is a play about the poet's trip to a temple to get away from the crowds at cherry-viewing time in search of a quiet and peaceful place to view the trees. But the cherry tree he finds at the temple chastises Saigyo for being a party pooper, telling him that people partying under the blossoms are celebrating his and the other trees' beauty. Poulton uses this as an example of how flowers and trees come to life and talk back to the humans via Noh plays.Lastly, Amy asks Poulton to recommend some books for those wanting to learn more about the Japanese performing arts:History of Japanese Theatre (Cambridge University Press, 2016), edited by Jonah SalzTraditional Japanese Theater (Columbia University Press), edited by Karen BrazellJapanese No Dramas (Penguin Classics, 1993) by Royall TylerKabuki Plays on Stage (4 Vols) (University of Hawaii Press, 2002-3) by James R. Brandon and Samuel L. LeiterBackstage at the Bunraku (Weatherhill, 1985) by Barbara C. AdachiThe Columbia Anthology of Modern Japanese Drama (Columbia University Press, 2017), co-edited by M Cody Poulton with Thomas Rimer, Mitsuya Mori, et al.Anthology of Japanese Short Stories (Oxford University Press, 2010), edited by Theadore W Goosen, which includes the story "Portrait of an Old Geisha" by Okamoto Kanoko (trans. Cody Poulton)About Cody Poulton:Cody Poulton taught Japanese literature, theater, and culture in the Department of Pacific and Asian Studies at the University of Victoria, Canada, for thirty-two years before retiring in 2021. Active as a translator of Japanese fiction and drama, he is author of Spirits of Another Sort: The Plays of Izumi Kyōka (2001) and A Beggar's Art: Scripting Modernity in Japan, 1900-1930. He is also co-editor, with Mitsuya Mori and J. Thomas Rimer, of The Columbia Anthology of Modern Japanese Drama and a contributing editor to History of Japanese Theatre. He is editor and chief translator of Citizens of Tokyo: Six Plays by Oriza Hirata (2019) and co-editor, with Barbara Geilhorn, Peter Eckersall, and Andreas Regelsberger, of Okada Toshiki and Japanese Theatre (2021).The Books on Asia Podcast is sponsored by Stone Bridge Press. Check out their books on Japan at www.stonebridge.com. Read a BOA review of their publication Yamamba: In Search of the Japanese Mountain Witch (edited by Rebecca Copeland and Linda C Ehrlich).Your podcast host is Amy Chavez, author of Amy’s Guide to Best Behavior in Japan, and The Widow, the Priest and the Octopus Hunter: Discovering a Lost Way of Life on a Secluded Japanese Island.Don’t miss out on upcoming episodes with Asia's best authors and translators by subscribing to the Books on Asia podcast.

Amy asks Poulton to explain the difference between reading Noh plays and seeing a Noh performance. Poulton goes into great detail on the subject, including why and how the same Noh play covered in a few pages of text becomes a one-and-a-half hour play when performed. He quotes from Arthur Waley's <a href="https://amzn.to/38eoWRG" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Noh Plays of Japan</a> to explain the concept of length and time.He further introduces Kan'ami and Zeami, father and son, who elevated the art of Noh to what it has become and discusses the Tokugawa Shogunate's influence on Noh and gagaku (court music). Poulton notes that the flute, drum, and howling in Noh are designed to help take the audience into a different time and space. This is especially important to plays that focus on stories of ghosts, demons, and natural spirits (such as those of trees and plants).Noh performances are known for their ability to induce drowsiness and even sleep among the audience. Poulton explains how this induced hypnotic state can effectively transport the audience to a liminal awareness between reality and dreams.<blockquote>"There is a transcendental boredom to Noh. We have to slow down our consciousnesses to get into the space of the performance. Time and space expand into infinity and eternity and this is how we can contact those things." —Cody Poulton</blockquote>Next Poulton expands on the structure of Noh plays and the use of dreams as devices in two well-known performances: "Hagoromo," an encounter of a human being and a supernatural creature, and "Yamamba" the mountain crone (See <a href="https://booksonasia.net/podcast/podcast-14-yamamba-japanese-mountain-witch-with-rebecca-copeland-and-linda-c-ehrlich/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">BOA Podcast 14: Yamamba: Japanese Mountain Witch with Rebecca Copeland and Linda Erlich</a>). He explains the role of Noh masks and costumes. He further comments on "Funabenke" a demon play.Amy mentions "Takasago" and its continued reference in modern-day Japan.  Poulton responds that Noh often has a liturgical purpose, a way of blessing or commemorating an event similar to a requiem, and gives three modern examples of Japanese tragedies linked to Noh plays. He sum up his comments with:<blockquote>When bad things happen, we go back to ceremony, to ritual, to try to give shape to our feelings, and Noh is a beautiful device for doing that.</blockquote>Next is a discussion about the author Izumi Kyōka and how he came from a long line of Noh musicians and artists. Kyoka himself wrote plays about the supernatural and became a model of the counterculture of the 1960s in Japan. His uncle, Matsumoto Kintaro, was a famous Noh actor of the Meiji period. Poulton mentions the plays "Uta andon" and "Ama.""Saigyozakura" (Saigyo's Cherry Tree) is a play about the poet's trip to a temple to get away from the crowds at cherry-viewing time in search of a quiet and peaceful place to view the trees. But the cherry tree he finds at the temple chastises Saigyo for being a party pooper, telling him that people partying under the blossoms are celebrating his and the other trees' beauty. Poulton uses this as an example of how flowers and trees come to life and talk back to the humans via Noh plays.Lastly, Amy asks Poulton to recommend some books for those wanting to learn more about the Japanese performing arts:<a href="https://amzn.to/3MCOFSt" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">History of Japanese Theatre</a> (Cambridge University Press, 2016), edited by Jonah Salz<a href="https://amzn.to/3MCWLL5" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Traditional Japanese Theater</a> (Columbia University Press), edited by Karen Brazell<a href="https://amzn.to/387KwXM" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Japanese No Dramas</a> (Penguin Classics, 1993) by Royall Tyler<a href="https://amzn.to/3MzXn42" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Kabuki Plays on Stage</a> (4 Vols) (University of Hawaii Press, 2002-3) by James R. Brandon and Samuel L. Leiter<a href="https://amzn.to/3ME0ND3" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Backstage at the Bunraku</a> (Weatherhill, 1985) by Barbara C. Adachi<a href="https://amzn.to/3MF6ArX" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Columbia Anthology of Modern Japanese Drama</a> (Columbia University Press, 2017), co-edited by M Cody Poulton with Thomas Rimer, Mitsuya Mori, et al.<a href="https://amzn.to/3MEN6ng" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Anthology of Japanese Short Stories</a> (Oxford University Press, 2010), edited by Theadore W Goosen, which includes the story "Portrait of an Old Geisha" by Okamoto Kanoko (trans. Cody Poulton)About Cody Poulton:Cody Poulton taught Japanese literature, theater, and culture in the Department of Pacific and Asian Studies at the University of Victoria, Canada, for thirty-two years before retiring in 2021. Active as a translator of Japanese fiction and drama, he is author of Spirits of Another Sort: The Plays of Izumi Kyōka (2001) and <a href="https://amzn.to/3wC6Ylf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">A Beggar's Art: Scripting Modernity in Japan, 1900-1930</a>. He is also co-editor, with Mitsuya Mori and J. Thomas Rimer, of <a href="https://amzn.to/3MF6ArX" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Columbia Anthology of Modern Japanese Drama</a> and a contributing editor to <a href="https://amzn.to/3MCOFSt" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">History of Japanese Theatre</a>. He is editor and chief translator of <a href="https://amzn.to/3LEZJNR" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Citizens of Tokyo: Six Plays by Oriza Hirata</a> (2019) and co-editor, with Barbara Geilhorn, Peter Eckersall, and Andreas Regelsberger, of Okada Toshiki and Japanese Theatre (2021).The Books on Asia Podcast is sponsored by Stone Bridge Press. Check out their books on Japan at <a href="http://www.stonebridge.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.stonebridge.com</a>. Read a BOA <a href="https://booksonasia.net/2021/05/20/review-yamamba-in-search-of-the-japanese-mountain-witch/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">review</a> of their publication Yamamba: In Search of the Japanese Mountain Witch (edited by Rebecca Copeland and Linda C Ehrlich).Your podcast host is Amy Chavez, author of <a href="https://amzn.to/3ME4d8R" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Amy’s Guide to Best Behavior in Japan</a>, and <a href="https://amzn.to/39HuHHN" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Widow, the Priest and the Octopus Hunter: Discovering a Lost Way of Life on a Secluded Japanese Island</a>.Don’t miss out on upcoming episodes with Asia's best authors and translators by <a href="https://linktr.ee/Booksonasia" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">subscribing</a> to the Books on Asia podcast.

Cody Poulton on Japanese Performing Arts

Books on Asia is your guide to finding quality books on Japan and Asia, including travel, literature, current events, and culture. By offering thought-provoking  author interviews and commentary, we hope to create an intelligent space for people to explore issues on Asia in-depth. Hosted by Amy Chavez and sponsored by Stone Bridge Press.

John Stevens

This week author and translator John Stevens joins us from Hawaii. Stevens has penned many books over his long career, mainly dealing with Japanese martial arts, poetry, and biography.“A book should be enlightening for the writer, and for the people reading it.” —John StevensAmy starts off the show mentioning the books of Stevens that she has read: The Marathon Monks of Mt. Hiei; The Essence of Aikido: Spiritual Teachings of Morihei Ueshiba; Dew Drops on a Lotus Leaf: Zen Poems of Ryokan; and Mountain Tasting: Haiku and Journals of Santoka Taneda. Yet that is only a fraction of the works that Stevens has produced over his life.He explains his translation style and how he manages to capture the essence of haiku in his translations. He names Arthur Waley as an exemplar of the craft.“A good translation has to be good literature, fine literature."Stevens talks about his first book, One Robe, One Bowl (Tuttle Publishing).His second book was Mountain Tasting: Haiku and Journals of Santoka Taneda (White Pine Press). Of his books on aikido, he says the most popular has been The Art of Peace: Teachings of the Founder of Aikido (Shambhala), which has over 2,300 ratings on Amazon and has been further translated into over 20 languages.Amy reads a poem from Dew Drops on a Lotus Leaf (Shambhala), which prompts Stevens to talk about his passion for poetry and translation:"If you don’t feel the passion and the poignancy, then it’s not a translation.”When talking about the writing process:"Writing a book should be enlightening, for both you writing it and for the people reading it," says Stevens. "My writing was an extension of my [Aikido] practice.”Other popular books by Stevens are The Essence of Aikido: Spiritual Teachings of Morihei Ueshiba (Kodansha International), and The Marathon Monks of Mt. Hiei (Echo Point Books &amp; Media).Stevens tells a story of going to Sendai to meet a master Aikido teacher, Shirata-sensei, in Yamagata. "I’d arrive at the dojo, no one was there. He was there. He was never not there. And he was sitting, meditating. I learned something: that if you’re a teacher, you’ve got to be there all the time.”The author and translator also talks about his book Lust for Enlightenment (Shambhala) and why it was controversial, as well as Tantra of Tachikawa Ryu: Secret Sex Teachings of the Buddha (Stone Bridge Press).More recently, Stevens has been working with art exhibitions and writing exhibition catalogues. He is currently working on a display in Spain centered around the Kyoto poet and Buddhist nun Rengetsu at the Gothic Monastery of Pedralbes in Barcelona until May 27, 2022. If you need a primer before you go, get a copy of Stevens's Rengetsu: Life &amp; Poetry of Lotus Moon (Echo Point Books &amp; Media). The Barcelona exhibit, which has been open to the public since November 2021 and is titled "La lluna de Lotus" in Spanish, includes 36 ceramic pieces and 30 paintings and calligraphy by the female artist. Lastly, Amy asks Stevens what his favorite books on Japan are:Poetry and Zen: Letters and Uncollected writings of R.H. Blyth by R.H. Blyth and Norman WaddellZen and Japanese Culture by Daisetzu T. SuzukiThe Unknown Craftsman: A Japanese Insight into Beauty by Soetsu Yanagi and Bernard LeachDon't miss John Stevens next book The Art of Budoh: Painting and Calligraphy by Japanese Masters (Shambhala, Dec 2022).More Books by John Stevens:Seeing Zen (Floating World Editions)Sacred Calligraphy of the East (Echo Point Books &amp; Media)Extraordinary Zen Masters; A Maverick, A Master of Masters, and a Wondering Poet (Echo Point Books &amp; Media)Budo: Teachings of the Founder of Aikido (Kodansha USA)The Secret Teachings of Aikido (Kodansha USA)The Heart of Aikido; The Philosophy of Takemusu Aiki (Kodansha International)Wild Ways: Ikkyu (White Pine Press)Philosophy of Aikido (Echo Point Books &amp; Media)And many, many more!

This week author and translator John Stevens joins us from Hawaii. Stevens has penned many books over his long career, mainly dealing with Japanese martial arts, poetry, and biography.<blockquote>“A book should be enlightening for the writer, and for the people reading it.” —John Stevens</blockquote>Amy starts off the show mentioning the books of Stevens that she has read: <a href="http://he Marathon Monks of Mt. Hiei" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Marathon Monks of Mt. Hiei</a>; <a href="https://amzn.to/3LaKvje" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Essence of Aikido: Spiritual Teachings of Morihei Ueshiba</a>; Dew Drops on a Lotus Leaf: Zen Poems of Ryokan; and <a href="https://amzn.to/39MHSHo" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mountain Tasting: Haiku and Journals of Santoka Taneda</a>. Yet that is only a fraction of the works that Stevens has produced over his life.He explains his translation style and how he manages to capture the essence of haiku in his translations. He names Arthur Waley as an exemplar of the craft.<blockquote>“A good translation has to be good literature, fine literature."</blockquote>Stevens talks about his first book, <a href="https://amzn.to/3PubV7k" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">One Robe, One Bowl</a> (Tuttle Publishing).His second book was <a href="https://amzn.to/39MHSHo" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mountain Tasting: Haiku and Journals of Santoka Taneda</a> (White Pine Press). Of his books on aikido, he says the most popular has been <a href="https://amzn.to/3wox0HA" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Art of Peace: Teachings of the Founder of Aikido</a> (Shambhala), which has over 2,300 ratings on Amazon and has been further translated into over 20 languages.Amy reads a poem from Dew Drops on a Lotus Leaf (Shambhala), which prompts Stevens to talk about his passion for poetry and translation:<blockquote>"If you don’t feel the passion and the poignancy, then it’s not a translation.”</blockquote>When talking about the writing process:<blockquote>"Writing a book should be enlightening, for both you writing it and for the people reading it," says Stevens. "My writing was an extension of my [Aikido] practice.”</blockquote>Other popular books by Stevens are <a href="https://amzn.to/3LaKvje" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Essence of Aikido: Spiritual Teachings of Morihei Ueshiba</a> (Kodansha International), and <a href="https://amzn.to/3Lc38Ub" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Marathon Monks of Mt. Hiei</a> (Echo Point Books &amp; Media).Stevens tells a story of going to Sendai to meet a master Aikido teacher, Shirata-sensei, in Yamagata. "I’d arrive at the dojo, no one was there. He was there. He was never not there. And he was sitting, meditating. I learned something: that if you’re a teacher, you’ve got to be there all the time.”The author and translator also talks about his book <a href="https://amzn.to/3syEuX9" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lust for Enlightenment</a> (Shambhala) and why it was controversial, as well as <a href="https://amzn.to/3FKApVu" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tantra of Tachikawa Ryu: Secret Sex Teachings of the Buddha </a>(Stone Bridge Press).More recently, Stevens has been working with art exhibitions and writing exhibition catalogues. He is currently working on a display in Spain centered around the Kyoto poet and Buddhist nun Rengetsu at the Gothic Monastery of Pedralbes in Barcelona until May 27, 2022. If you need a primer before you go, get a copy of Stevens's <a href="https://amzn.to/3l77uBl" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rengetsu: Life &amp; Poetry of Lotus Moon</a> (Echo Point Books &amp; Media). The Barcelona exhibit, which has been open to the public since November 2021 and is titled "La lluna de Lotus" in Spanish, includes 36 ceramic pieces and 30 paintings and calligraphy by the female artist. Lastly, Amy asks Stevens what his favorite books on Japan are:<a href="https://amzn.to/3FGIytL" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Poetry and Zen: Letters and Uncollected writings of R.H. Blyth</a> by R.H. Blyth and Norman Waddell <a href="https://amzn.to/3l80Uus" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Zen and Japanese Culture</a> by Daisetzu T. Suzuki <a href="https://amzn.to/38qBPYS" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Unknown Craftsman: A Japanese Insight into Beauty</a> by Soetsu Yanagi and Bernard LeachDon't miss John Stevens next book The Art of Budoh: Painting and Calligraphy by Japanese Masters (Shambhala, Dec 2022).More Books by John Stevens:<a href="https://amzn.to/3yF8yEF" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Seeing Zen</a> (Floating World Editions) <a href="https://amzn.to/38jFx6I" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sacred Calligraphy of the East</a> (Echo Point Books &amp; Media) <a href="https://amzn.to/3l5j3sD" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Extraordinary Zen Masters; A Maverick, A Master of Masters, and a Wondering Poet</a> (Echo Point Books &amp; Media) <a href="https://amzn.to/3MdMeWi" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Budo: Teachings of the Founder of Aikido</a> (Kodansha USA) <a href="https://amzn.to/3swNOeh" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Secret Teachings of Aikido</a> (Kodansha USA) <a href="https://amzn.to/39kSPQs" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Heart of Aikido; The Philosophy of Takemusu Aiki</a> (Kodansha International) <a href="https://amzn.to/3MemrgL" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Wild Ways: Ikkyu</a> (White Pine Press)<a href="https://amzn.to/3l2VErY" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Philosophy of Aikido</a> (Echo Point Books &amp; Media)And <a href="https://amzn.to/3yAueBM" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">many, many more</a>!

John Stevens, a lifetime of publishing

Abby Denson is the award-winning author of Cool Japan Guide: Fun in the Land of Manga, Lucky Cats and Ramen, Cool Tokyo Guide: Adventures in the City of Kawaii Fashion, Train Sushi and Godzilla and the Kitty Sweet Tooth series (with Utomaru). Her most recent book, which we’re going to talk about today, is Uniquely Japan: A Comic Book Artist Shares Her Personal Faves - Discover What Makes Japan The Coolest Place on Earth!Abby has scripted comics for Amazing Spider-Man Family, Powerpuff Girls comics, Simpsons comics, Sabrina The Teenage Witch, Josie and the Pussycats, Disney Adventures, and many others.We start  off the show with Abby helping define for our listeners the difference between Japanese manga, graphic novels, superhero comics, and American style comics.Amy talks about how she used to read Japanese manga to study Japanese language, and tells what she thinks distinguishes manga from other types of comics including Abby’s. She gives some of the features of Abby's books that make them stand out from others.Abby talks about the role of color in her comic-drawing and names Keith Haring as one of her inspirations. She especially loves drawing desserts and all kinds of foods!Abby talks about some of the challenges of putting together her two Japan guides and her latest, Uniquely Japan, which was much more of a multimedia effort.Amy mentions she especially likes the tips in the book, such as suggesting people order the teishoku daily special (set menu) when people go to a restaurant to get the chance to sample as many amazing Japanese foods as possible.Abby says the book aims to provide a fun way to learn about different Japanese topics. Parfaits for example! “You can see gorgeous parfait displays everywhere,” she says, referring to the plastic food models in the display window of many restaurants and cafes in Japan. "I find them so dazzling,” Abby says. This launches into a discussion of Japan being a very visual culture.Abby says Uniquely Japan is different from her previous books because Cool Japan and Cool Tokyo were conceived as guidebooks. They have travel tips and information helpful for tourists planning their first trip to Japan. Uniquely Japan can be read just to learn about Japanese culture.Abby elaborates on the reception of her books in Japan and some surprising feedback she received from Japanese readers of the book.She also elaborates on the “Street Sites” chapter in her book that highlights decorative manhole covers, police boxes, and the specific design motifs of each town you can discover. "As a visual artist, it really makes you feel validated to see all this amazing graphic design everywhere. I feel like it's used so much more aesthetically, and in a more visually pleasurable manner in Japan than other in other places. The little accents and the motifs come together for a visually pleasurable experience.”Amy mentions Abby’s use of stamps in Uniquely Japan, referring to the rubber stamps at every railway station that you can press into your diary or journal. The stamp features a graphic of the place you visited along with that town’s motif. This leads to a discussion of “stamp rallies” (and where to find them) and also collecting the beautifully brushed goshuin stamps from temples.When Amy asks Abby for an interesting backstory to one of her books, Abby tells the story of writing Kitty Sweet Tooth, a collaboration that started with a random meeting of an artist in a bar. The first book, Kitty Sweet Tooth, was published last year and the next book, Kitty Sweet Tooth Makes a Movie, will be published this fall.Lastly, Abby reveals her 3 favorite books on Japan and why:1. Manga! Manga!: The World of Japanese Comics by Frederik L. Schodt2. Tokyo on Foot: Travels in the City's Most Colorful Neighborhoods by Florent Chavouet3 Himawari House, a fictional graphic novel by Harmony BeckerAmy ends the podcast by suggesting what Abby’s next book should be to which Abby responds that her husband keeps telling her the same thing. So maybe, just maybe …You can find Abby Denson on social media and at the following places:Instagram @abbydensonTwitter @abbydensonwebsite: abbydenson.com

Abby Denson is the award-winning author of <a href="https://amzn.to/3Dwmtgs" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Cool Japan Guide: Fun in the Land of Manga, Lucky Cats and Ramen</a>, <a href="https://amzn.to/3Dv1V8h" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Cool Tokyo Guide: Adventures in the City of Kawaii Fashion, Train Sushi and Godzilla </a>and the <a href="https://amzn.to/3wTJuZz" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Kitty Sweet Tooth</a> series (with Utomaru). Her most recent book, which we’re going to talk about today, is <a href="https://amzn.to/3qXulCz" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Uniquely Japan: A Comic Book Artist Shares Her Personal Faves - Discover What Makes Japan The Coolest Place on Earth!</a>Abby has scripted comics for Amazing Spider-Man Family, Powerpuff Girls comics, Simpsons comics, Sabrina The Teenage Witch, Josie and the Pussycats, Disney Adventures, and many others.We start  off the show with Abby helping define for our listeners the difference between Japanese manga, graphic novels, superhero comics, and American style comics.Amy talks about how she used to read Japanese manga to study Japanese language, and tells what she thinks distinguishes manga from other types of comics including Abby’s. She gives some of the features of Abby's books that make them stand out from others.Abby talks about the role of color in her comic-drawing and names <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keith_Haring" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Keith Haring</a> as one of her inspirations. She especially loves drawing desserts and all kinds of foods!Abby talks about some of the challenges of putting together her two Japan guides and her latest, <a href="https://amzn.to/3qXulCz" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Uniquely Japan</a>, which was much more of a multimedia effort.Amy mentions she especially likes the tips in the book, such as suggesting people order the teishoku daily special (set menu) when people go to a restaurant to get the chance to sample as many amazing Japanese foods as possible.Abby says the book aims to provide a fun way to learn about different Japanese topics. Parfaits for example! “You can see gorgeous parfait displays everywhere,” she says, referring to the plastic food models in the display window of many restaurants and cafes in Japan. "I find them so dazzling,” Abby says. This launches into a discussion of Japan being a very visual culture.Abby says <a href="https://amzn.to/3qXulCz" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Uniquely Japan</a> is different from her previous books because <a href="https://amzn.to/3Dwmtgs" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Cool Japan</a> and <a href="https://amzn.to/3Dv1V8h" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Cool Tokyo</a> were conceived as guidebooks. They have travel tips and information helpful for tourists planning their first trip to Japan. <a href="https://amzn.to/3qXulCz" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Uniquely Japan</a> can be read just to learn about Japanese culture.Abby elaborates on the reception of her books in Japan and some surprising feedback she received from Japanese readers of the book.She also elaborates on the “Street Sites” chapter in her book that highlights decorative manhole covers, police boxes, and the specific design motifs of each town you can discover. "As a visual artist, it really makes you feel validated to see all this amazing graphic design everywhere. I feel like it's used so much more aesthetically, and in a more visually pleasurable manner in Japan than other in other places. The little accents and the motifs come together for a visually pleasurable experience.”Amy mentions Abby’s use of stamps in <a href="https://amzn.to/3qXulCz" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Uniquely Japan</a>, referring to the rubber stamps at every railway station that you can press into your diary or journal. The stamp features a graphic of the place you visited along with that town’s motif. This leads to a discussion of “stamp rallies” (and where to find them) and also collecting the beautifully brushed goshuin stamps from temples.When Amy asks Abby for an interesting backstory to one of her books, Abby tells the story of writing <a href="https://amzn.to/3wTJuZz" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Kitty Sweet Tooth</a>, a collaboration that started with a random meeting of an artist in a bar. The first book, Kitty Sweet Tooth, was published last year and the next book, Kitty Sweet Tooth Makes a Movie, will be published this fall.Lastly, Abby reveals her 3 favorite books on Japan and why:1. <a href="https://amzn.to/3uNK0pp" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Manga! Manga!: The World of Japanese Comics </a>by Frederik L. Schodt2. <a href="https://amzn.to/3IZit9h" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tokyo on Foot: Travels in the City's Most Colorful Neighborhoods</a> by Florent Chavouet3 <a href="https://amzn.to/3qVw77q" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Himawari House</a>, a fictional graphic novel by Harmony BeckerAmy ends the podcast by suggesting what Abby’s next book should be to which Abby responds that her husband keeps telling her the same thing. So maybe, just maybe …You can find Abby Denson on social media and at the following places: Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/abbydenson/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@abbydenson</a> Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/AbbyDenson" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@abbydenson</a> website: <a href="http://www.abbydenson.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">abbydenson.com</a>

Abby Denson talks Japan via Comics

In this episode of the Books on Asia Podcast, sponsored by Stone Bridge Press, podcast host Amy Chavez talks with novelist David Joiner about his new novel that takes place in Kanazawa, in Japan’s Ishikawa Prefecture.The novel introduces the city of Kanazawa, its connection to the famous Japanese literary master Izumi Kyōka, and its setting for the novel. The story revolves around an American married to a Japanese, and the Japanese family's dynamics. Highlighted are some of the differences between traditional and modern Japan and the foreigner’s place in it.Finally, Amy asks Joiner what his 3 favorite books on Japan are, and he elaborates on his choices:1. Snow Country and Sound of the Mountain, both by Yasunari Kawabata.2. Dawn to the West by Donald Keene3. Roads to Sata, by Alan BoothRead a review of David Joiner’s novel Kanazawa by Tina DeBellegarde.The Books on Asia Podcast is sponsored by Stone Bridge Press. Check out their books on Japan at the publisher’s website. Amy Chavez, podcast host, is author of Amy’s Guide to Best Behavior in Japan and the upcoming The Widow, the Priest, and the Octopus Hunter: Discovering a Lost Way of Life on a Secluded Japanese Island (May, 2022) Subscribe to the Books on Asia podcast.

In this episode of the Books on Asia Podcast, sponsored by Stone Bridge Press, podcast host Amy Chavez talks with novelist David Joiner about his new novel that takes place in Kanazawa, in Japan’s Ishikawa Prefecture.The novel introduces the city of Kanazawa, its connection to the famous Japanese literary master Izumi Kyōka, and its setting for the novel. The story revolves around an American married to a Japanese, and the Japanese family's dynamics. Highlighted are some of the differences between traditional and modern Japan and the foreigner’s place in it.Finally, Amy asks Joiner what his 3 favorite books on Japan are, and he elaborates on his choices:1. Snow Country and Sound of the Mountain, both by Yasunari Kawabata.2. Dawn to the West by Donald Keene3. Roads to Sata, by Alan Booth<a href="https://booksonasia.net/2022/01/05/review-kanazawa-by-david-joiner/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Read a review</a> of David Joiner’s novel Kanazawa by <a href="https://booksonasia.net/boa_author/tina-debellegarde/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tina DeBellegarde</a>.The Books on Asia Podcast is sponsored by Stone Bridge Press. Check out their books on Japan at the <a href="https://www.stonebridge.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">publisher’s website</a>. Amy Chavez, podcast host, is author of <a href="https://www.stonebridge.com/catalog-2020/Amy’s-Guide-to-Best-Behavior-in-Japan" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Amy’s Guide to Best Behavior in Japan</a> and the upcoming The Widow, the Priest, and the Octopus Hunter: Discovering a Lost Way of Life on a Secluded Japanese Island (May, 2022) <a href="https://linktr.ee/Booksonasia" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Subscribe </a>to the Books on Asia podcast.

Novelist David Joiner talks “Kanazawa"

In this episode of the Books on Asia Podcast, sponsored by Stone Bridge Press, host Amy Chavez talks with anthropologist, shamisen player, author, and translator Liza Dalby about her books and her new translation of the recently deceased novelist cum Buddhist nun Jakuchō Setouchi's memoir "Places."Liza is author of the Geisha, Kimono: Fashioning Culture, East Wind Melts the Ice: A Guide to Serenity Through the Seasons, and  Hidden Buddhas: A Novel of Karma and Chaos. Her previous translations include Little Songs of Geisha: Traditional Japanese Ko-Uta.Amy and Liza talk about Liza's long career writing about Japan, starting with Geisha and how that world of women changed along with the modernization of Japanese society, why the geisha survive today, and the meaning of the word "kimono." They also discuss different kinds of kimono, the difference between the yukata (often called a "summer kimono") and a robe. Liza lets us in on the controversy behind the original cover of Tale of Murasaki and how and why she convinced the publisher to change it to the current one.They also talk about the controversies behind Setouchi Jakuchō, how Liza came to translate her autobiography, and how she missed a chance to talk to Jakuchō during a visit to Kyōto.Lastly, Liza reveals her  favorite books on Japan:The Tale of Genji, by Murasaki ShikibuRobin Gill's translations of haikuthe woodblock prints of Yoshi Toshi and the late John Stevenson's booksVisit Liza Dalby's website.The Books on Asia Podcast is sponsored by Stone Bridge Press. Check out their books on Japan at the publisher's website.

In this episode of the Books on Asia Podcast, sponsored by Stone Bridge Press, host Amy Chavez talks with anthropologist, shamisen player, author, and translator Liza Dalby about her books and her new translation of the recently deceased novelist cum Buddhist nun Jakuchō Setouchi's memoir "Places."Liza is author of the <a href="https://amzn.to/3JXSdhg" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Geisha</a>, <a href="https://amzn.to/3JWiQmX" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Kimono: Fashioning Culture</a>, <a href="https://amzn.to/34DxfUW" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">East Wind Melts the Ice: A Guide to Serenity Through the Seasons</a>, and  <a href="https://amzn.to/3HViuLg" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Hidden Buddhas: A Novel of Karma and Chaos</a>. Her previous translations include <a href="https://amzn.to/3zY8NJD" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Little Songs of Geisha: Traditional Japanese Ko-Uta</a>.Amy and Liza talk about Liza's long career writing about Japan, starting with <a href="https://amzn.to/3JXSdhg" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Geisha</a> and how that world of women changed along with the modernization of Japanese society, why the geisha survive today, and the meaning of the word "kimono." They also discuss different kinds of kimono, the difference between the yukata (often called a "summer kimono") and a robe. Liza lets us in on the controversy behind the original cover of <a href="https://amzn.to/3HRJPxZ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tale of Murasaki</a> and how and why she convinced the publisher to change it to the current one.They also talk about the controversies behind Setouchi Jakuchō, how Liza came to translate her autobiography, and how she missed a chance to talk to Jakuchō during a visit to Kyōto.Lastly, Liza reveals her  favorite books on Japan:<ul><li><a href="https://amzn.to/334YFCE" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Tale of Genji</a>, by Murasaki Shikibu</li><li>Robin Gill's <a href="https://amzn.to/31KVeAv" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">translations of haiku</a></li><li>the woodblock prints of <a href="https://amzn.to/334Y6sw" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Yoshi Toshi</a> and the late <a href="https://amzn.to/3fd981c" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">John Stevenson's books</a></li></ul>Visit Liza Dalby's <a href="https://www.lizadalby.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">website.</a>The Books on Asia Podcast is sponsored by Stone Bridge Press. Check out their books on Japan at <a href="http://www.stonebridge.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">the publisher's website.</a>

Liza Dalby on Geisha, Kimonos, and Translating Setouchi Jakucho's "Places"

Kathleen Burkinshaw

In this episode of the Books on Asia Podcast, sponsored by Stone Bridge Press, podcast host Amy Chavez talks with Kathleen Burkinshaw in the U.S. about her book The Last Cherry Blossom, and about hibakusha, the Japanese word that refers to victims of the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki that ended WWII."My mother was 12 and a half when the bomb was dropped. She grew up in Hiroshima and she was about two miles away from the epicenter. So the journey of the book is kind of how I found out about my mother's story because I did not know she was from Hiroshima until I was 11. She always told people she was from Tokyo."

In this episode of the Books on Asia Podcast, sponsored by <a href="http://www.stonebridge.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Stone Bridge Press</a>, podcast host Amy Chavez talks with Kathleen Burkinshaw in the U.S. about her book <a href="https://amzn.to/3F2ISl9" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Last Cherry Blossom</a>, and about hibakusha, the Japanese word that refers to victims of the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki that ended WWII."My mother was 12 and a half when the bomb was dropped. She grew up in Hiroshima and she was about two miles away from the epicenter. So the journey of the book is kind of how I found out about my mother's story because I did not know she was from Hiroshima until I was 11. She always told people she was from Tokyo."

Kathleen Burkinshaw, second-generation A-bomb victim

Meredith McKinney

On this episode of the Books on Asia Podcast, sponsored by Stone Bridge Press, we have guest interviewer Lisa Wilcut speaking with award-winning writer and translator Meredith McKinney. McKinney is translator of many Japanese classics such as Sei Shonagon's 11th-century "The Pillow Book" and the 14th-century "Essays in Idleness," which was published along with "Hōjōki." She has also translated "Kusamakura" and "Kokoro" (see our review) by Natsume Sōseki, one of Japan's most celebrated modern writers. Today, she is going to talk about her long career and also about her just-released book on the wandering poet Saigyō called "Gazing at the Moon" (Shambala, September, 2021).The Books on Asia Podcast is sponsored by Stone Bridge Press, publisher of fine books on Asia for over 30 years. Subscribe to the Books on Asia Podcast.About the InterviewerLisa Wilcut is a writer, editor, translator, and educator based in Yokohama. She writes and edits works on Japanese culture for both scholarly and general audiences and teaches courses in Japanese society and culture as well as philosophy at the University of Maryland Global Campus in Yokosuka. She holds an MA in Japanese language and literature from Stanford University and an MA in philosophy from San Francisco State University. She also writes short fiction and poetry. Find her on LinkedIn.

On this episode of the Books on Asia Podcast, sponsored by Stone Bridge Press, we have guest interviewer Lisa Wilcut speaking with award-winning writer and translator Meredith McKinney. McKinney is translator of many Japanese classics such as Sei Shonagon's 11th-century "The Pillow Book" and the 14th-century "Essays in Idleness," which was published along with "Hōjōki." She has also translated "Kusamakura" and "Kokoro" (see our <a href="https://booksonasia.net/2021/10/06/review-kokoro-by-natsume-soseki/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">review</a>) by Natsume Sōseki, one of Japan's most celebrated modern writers. Today, she is going to talk about her long career and also about her just-released book on the wandering poet Saigyō called "Gazing at the Moon" (Shambala, September, 2021).The Books on Asia Podcast is sponsored by <a href="http://www.stonebridge.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Stone Bridge Press</a>, publisher of fine books on Asia for over 30 years. <a href="https://linktr.ee/booksonasia" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Subscribe</a> to the Books on Asia Podcast.About the InterviewerLisa Wilcut is a writer, editor, translator, and educator based in Yokohama. She writes and edits works on Japanese culture for both scholarly and general audiences and teaches courses in Japanese society and culture as well as philosophy at the University of Maryland Global Campus in Yokosuka. She holds an MA in Japanese language and literature from Stanford University and an MA in philosophy from San Francisco State University. She also writes short fiction and poetry. Find her on <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisawilcut/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a>.

Meredith McKinney on Saigyō and "Gazing at the Moon"

Alex Kerr

On this episode of the Books on Asia Podcast, sponsored by Stone Bridge Press, Alex Kerr is returning to the show. Alex is author of such notable books as Lost Japan, Dogs and Demons, Finding the Heart Sutra, and Another Kyoto. Today he talks to podcast host Amy Chavez about his latest book, Another Bangkok, released on July 1, 2021. He introduces Thailand's capital city via its architecture, arts, and culture, and shows us how they are similar to Japan's. NOTE TO LISTENERS: In addition to the podcast, Alex has provided some visuals of the interior pages of the book, which can be accessed on the Books on Asia YouTube channel.Show NotesKerr starts out the show explaining that Another Bangkok is not a "new" book but a rewrite of a book previously called Bangkok Found. He talks about why and how he rewrote major sections of the book. (The previous version of the book was published by River Books, and "Another Bangkok" is with Penguin. The book is available on Amazon Japan  and Amazon.com from July 1.)Alex says that in this version of the book, the subjects are broader, with topics such as living in an old house vs. living in a modern apartment, modern Thai design, Thai etiquette, and Thai food. But what all the topics share is a deep penetration into the traditional Thai culture. Alex reads a few lines from the preface that point out that while tourists come to Japan to see and experience the culture, people visit Thailand for fun, shopping, and beaches. People don't see Thailand as a place to go for rich culture and thus often dismiss it because there is nothing written down that explains the culture. Thus, this book.Amy asks Alex what kind of changes were made to the original and what the experience of rewriting it was like.He says that after writing Finding the Heart Sutra, he learned to simplify his writing and streamline it to make the book shorter, sharper, and more readable. He also updated it, as a decade had passed since it was first published as Bangkok Found. In all, it took him three years to rewrite the current book.Getting back to what the book contains, Alex says there is a chapter on traditional Thai ceramics, such as the bowl seen on the cover of the book, and he focuses on one of the Thai hallmarks of their culture, sanuk,  which means "fun."The story starts with Alex as a student in the 70s visiting Thailand (the video shows a photo of the City Pillar) and how difficult it was for him to find the history about this Pillar, the known geographical center of Bangkok. He reveals that in Thailand there are multiple meanings of so many things, including history. Alex's quest was to unearth this history and its roots.He uses the Grand Palace in Bangkok as another example, citing the fact that most people don't really understand what the meaning of the Grand Palace is. This launches into a discussion of architecture, and Alex explains how Thai buildings resemble other Asian structures but are elongated to have soaring stupas and spires. He talks about an old traditional house he lived in as well as some street scenes such as a street vendor, the BTS sky train entrance, and Motorcycle boys who act as taxis by taking on pillion passengers.The conversation turns to etiquette, which Alex is very aware of as one of Amy's passions (see Amy's Guide to Best Behavior in Japan) and talks about how etiquette is very important in Thai society and, as in Japan, is so much more than what one sees or can observe on the surface. There is much more, for example, to the Thai smile that tourists find so charming. Marayat, as Thai etiquette is called, compares to Japanese keigo in that it is complex and used to create a mood of gentleness. Thais are horrified by loud talk or slamming of doors, getting angry or showing anger, etc.Amy asks how it is different from Japanese etiquette, since she thinks the Japanese are also threatened by such inharmonious behaviors.Alex agrees that indeed, they are similar, which is why Japanese people are so comfortable visiting Thailand. Thailand has the same concepts such as seiza (proper sitting) and enryo (self-restraint), but the difference is more obvious in Japan's bolder gestures, which aren't present in Thai culture: The militaristic rigidness and the shouting of "Arigato gozaimasu!" are absent among Thais, who prefer gentleness in every aspect. Etiquette is also ingrained in Thai culture from childhood as marayat is taught in school, and there are even marayat contests, judged not just on how correctly you perform an act, but how beautifully you do it. This is one of the keys to the charm of Thailand.Amy, fascinated, asks Alex to explain a photo showing four kinds of the wai, the Thai gesture of putting the hands together in a prayer gesture in front of the chest while bowing the head. In each photo, the placement of the thumb and fingers change. In the first illustration, showing the wai given to a friend or equal, the hands are at the chest height, head not bowed. In the second, used to a superior, the hands are held further up toward the nose. The third, with hands placed yet further up the face to the forehead, is for a salutation to a monk, and the fourth with the finger tips touching the hairline, is afforded a king or royal. Kerr says there are equally specific ways to walk, sit, and receive something.He briefly discusses the Three Worlds Cosmology used by Thais to navigate their own level in the wider world. He compares this to a mandala, a Japanese pagoda, and other symbols in Asia.He shows Lai Thai designs, that,  like Japanese calligraphy, have an ancient tradition of lines and styles that stretch back to Angkor Wat, Java, and India. Flame-like designs and roof finials are examples as well as some more contemporary digitized versions. (Images of these and other subjects discussed on the podcast are available on the YouTube video.) Kerr elaborates on the Thai Food and costume chapters, contrasting them with Japan. Whereas Japanese food is about the feel of the moment, the seasonal and distinct tastes, Thai food is mixed and mingled with other flavors to create a fusion, which is what makes the food so fantastic. Thais applied the same concept to  clothing, by incorporating Western styles and mixing them with their own, something that never really happened with Japanese clothing. As a result, the Japanese kimono is basically the same as it has always been, but also remains too impractical for modern, everyday activities.Kerr also has a chapter in his book on baisri, which is Thai flower arrangement. He notes that, unlike Japanese ikebana, nothing ends up looking like it did when it started. Things are folded and shaped into very different representations, some very elaborate, while others are subject to much modernization. He has also included a chapter on Thai dance, known for its two classic hand gestures, and talks about the evolution of contemporary Thai dance.Of course, Kerr also talks about his Thai art collection, including prehistoric pots and modern Thai ceramics. There is also a chapter on foreigners in Thailand and how for him the tables were turned when he started visiting Thailand as a foreigner who didn't speak the language or know much about the culture. In Thailand, he finds himself more in the role of an expat than he does while living in Japan, since so many of his friends in Japan are Japanese. He highlights the long tradition of foreigners being welcomed to Thailand and suggests that in some ways Japanese culture is easier to penetrate and to be accepted in as a foreigner than Thailand is.Lastly, there is a chapter on religion, folk religions, and customs like the good-luck beckoning lady similar to Japan's maneki neko beckoning cat.Another Bangkok is a cultural guidebook but served with a bit of lightness, intended to introduce Thailand to people in a gentle, fun, sanuk kind of way.Kerr winds up the podcast by introducing his new YouTube channel "Secrets of Things," where he introduces Asian arts such as paintings, screens, scrolls, and other pieces, mostly from his own collection, and tells what makes these pieces so special.Listen to our previous podcast with Alex Kerr about Finding the Heart Sutra.The Books on Asia Podcast is sponsored by Stone Bridge Press, publisher of fine books on Asia for over 30 years. Subscribe to the Books on Asia Podcast.Books on AsiaTwitter: @BooksOnAsiaFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/booksonasia/

On this episode of the Books on Asia Podcast, sponsored by <a href="http://www.stonebridge.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Stone Bridge Press</a>, Alex Kerr is <a href="https://booksonasia.net/podcast/boa-podcast-8-alex-kerr-author-of-finding-the-heart-sutra/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">returning to the show</a>. Alex is author of such notable books as Lost Japan, Dogs and Demons, <a href="https://booksonasia.net/2020/12/01/book-review-finding-the-heart-sutra-by-alex-kerr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Finding the Heart Sutra</a>, and <a href="https://booksonasia.net/book/another-kyoto/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Another Kyoto</a>. Today he talks to podcast host Amy Chavez about his latest book, Another Bangkok, released on July 1, 2021. He introduces Thailand's capital city via its architecture, arts, and culture, and shows us how they are similar to Japan's. NOTE TO LISTENERS: In addition to the podcast, Alex has provided some visuals of the interior pages of the book, which can be accessed on the Books on Asia <a href="https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU2_1RWOOMtklRb8q8s6JR-c4nO437Ysy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">YouTube channel</a>.Show NotesKerr starts out the show explaining that Another Bangkok is not a "new" book but a rewrite of a book previously called Bangkok Found. He talks about why and how he rewrote major sections of the book. (The previous version of the book was published by River Books, and "Another Bangkok" is with Penguin. The book is available on <a href="https://amzn.to/3i5xueh" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Amazon Japan</a>  and <a href="https://amzn.to/3xG8JMr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Amazon.com</a> from July 1.)Alex says that in this version of the book, the subjects are broader, with topics such as living in an old house vs. living in a modern apartment, modern Thai design, Thai etiquette, and Thai food. But what all the topics share is a deep penetration into the traditional Thai culture. Alex reads a few lines from the preface that point out that while tourists come to Japan to see and experience the culture, people visit Thailand for fun, shopping, and beaches. People don't see Thailand as a place to go for rich culture and thus often dismiss it because there is nothing written down that explains the culture. Thus, this book.Amy asks Alex what kind of changes were made to the original and what the experience of rewriting it was like.He says that after writing <a href="https://booksonasia.net/2020/12/01/book-review-finding-the-heart-sutra-by-alex-kerr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Finding the Heart Sutra</a>, he learned to simplify his writing and streamline it to make the book shorter, sharper, and more readable. He also updated it, as a decade had passed since it was first published as Bangkok Found. In all, it took him three years to rewrite the current book.Getting back to what the book contains, Alex says there is a chapter on traditional Thai ceramics, such as the bowl seen on the cover of the book, and he focuses on one of the Thai hallmarks of their culture, sanuk,  which means "fun."The story starts with Alex as a student in the 70s visiting Thailand (the video shows a photo of the City Pillar) and how difficult it was for him to find the history about this Pillar, the known geographical center of Bangkok. He reveals that in Thailand there are multiple meanings of so many things, including history. Alex's quest was to unearth this history and its roots.He uses the Grand Palace in Bangkok as another example, citing the fact that most people don't really understand what the meaning of the Grand Palace is. This launches into a discussion of architecture, and Alex explains how Thai buildings resemble other Asian structures but are elongated to have soaring stupas and spires. He talks about an old traditional house he lived in as well as some street scenes such as a street vendor, the BTS sky train entrance, and Motorcycle boys who act as taxis by taking on pillion passengers.The conversation turns to etiquette, which Alex is very aware of as one of Amy's passions (see <a href="https://booksonasia.net/book/guide-to-best-behavior-in-japan/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Amy's Guide to Best Behavior in Japan</a>) and talks about how etiquette is very important in Thai society and, as in Japan, is so much more than what one sees or can observe on the surface. There is much more, for example, to the Thai smile that tourists find so charming. Marayat, as Thai etiquette is called, compares to Japanese keigo in that it is complex and used to create a mood of gentleness. Thais are horrified by loud talk or slamming of doors, getting angry or showing anger, etc.Amy asks how it is different from Japanese etiquette, since she thinks the Japanese are also threatened by such inharmonious behaviors.Alex agrees that indeed, they are similar, which is why Japanese people are so comfortable visiting Thailand. Thailand has the same concepts such as seiza (proper sitting) and enryo (self-restraint), but the difference is more obvious in Japan's bolder gestures, which aren't present in Thai culture: The militaristic rigidness and the shouting of "Arigato gozaimasu!" are absent among Thais, who prefer gentleness in every aspect. Etiquette is also ingrained in Thai culture from childhood as marayat is taught in school, and there are even marayat contests, judged not just on how correctly you perform an act, but how beautifully you do it. This is one of the keys to the charm of Thailand.Amy, fascinated, asks Alex to explain a photo showing four kinds of the wai, the Thai gesture of putting the hands together in a prayer gesture in front of the chest while bowing the head. In each photo, the placement of the thumb and fingers change. In the first illustration, showing the wai given to a friend or equal, the hands are at the chest height, head not bowed. In the second, used to a superior, the hands are held further up toward the nose. The third, with hands placed yet further up the face to the forehead, is for a salutation to a monk, and the fourth with the finger tips touching the hairline, is afforded a king or royal. Kerr says there are equally specific ways to walk, sit, and receive something.He briefly discusses the Three Worlds Cosmology used by Thais to navigate their own level in the wider world. He compares this to a mandala, a Japanese pagoda, and other symbols in Asia.He shows Lai Thai designs, that,  like Japanese calligraphy, have an ancient tradition of lines and styles that stretch back to Angkor Wat, Java, and India. Flame-like designs and roof finials are examples as well as some more contemporary digitized versions. (Images of these and other subjects discussed on the podcast are available on the <a href="https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU2_1RWOOMtklRb8q8s6JR-c4nO437Ysy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">YouTube video</a>.) Kerr elaborates on the Thai Food and costume chapters, contrasting them with Japan. Whereas Japanese food is about the feel of the moment, the seasonal and distinct tastes, Thai food is mixed and mingled with other flavors to create a fusion, which is what makes the food so fantastic. Thais applied the same concept to  clothing, by incorporating Western styles and mixing them with their own, something that never really happened with Japanese clothing. As a result, the Japanese kimono is basically the same as it has always been, but also remains too impractical for modern, everyday activities.Kerr also has a chapter in his book on baisri, which is Thai flower arrangement. He notes that, unlike Japanese ikebana, nothing ends up looking like it did when it started. Things are folded and shaped into very different representations, some very elaborate, while others are subject to much modernization. He has also included a chapter on Thai dance, known for its two classic hand gestures, and talks about the evolution of contemporary Thai dance.Of course, Kerr also talks about his Thai art collection, including prehistoric pots and modern Thai ceramics. There is also a chapter on foreigners in Thailand and how for him the tables were turned when he started visiting Thailand as a foreigner who didn't speak the language or know much about the culture. In Thailand, he finds himself more in the role of an expat than he does while living in Japan, since so many of his friends in Japan are Japanese. He highlights the long tradition of foreigners being welcomed to Thailand and suggests that in some ways Japanese culture is easier to penetrate and to be accepted in as a foreigner than Thailand is.Lastly, there is a chapter on religion, folk religions, and customs like the good-luck beckoning lady similar to Japan's maneki neko beckoning cat.<a href="https://amzn.to/3xG8JMr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Another Bangkok</a> is a cultural guidebook but served with a bit of lightness, intended to introduce Thailand to people in a gentle, fun, sanuk kind of way.Kerr winds up the podcast by introducing his new YouTube channel "<a href="https://booksonasia.net/2021/06/30/alex-kerrs-new-youtube-channel-secrets-of-things/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Secrets of Things</a>," where he introduces Asian arts such as paintings, screens, scrolls, and other pieces, mostly from his own collection, and tells what makes these pieces so special.Listen to our <a href="https://booksonasia.net/podcast/boa-podcast-8-alex-kerr-author-of-finding-the-heart-sutra/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">previous podcast</a> with Alex Kerr about Finding the Heart Sutra.The Books on Asia Podcast is sponsored by <a href="http://www.stonebridge.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Stone Bridge Press</a>, publisher of fine books on Asia for over 30 years. <a href="https://linktr.ee/booksonasia" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Subscribe</a> to the Books on Asia Podcast.<a href="http://booksonasia.net" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Books on Asia</a>Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/BooksOnAsia" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@BooksOnAsia</a>Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/booksonasia/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/booksonasia/</a>

Alex Kerr Discusses his Latest Book—Another Bangkok

Linda C. Ehrlich

Rebecca Copeland

Today on the Books on Asia Podcast, host Amy Chavez talks with the co-editors of Yamamba: In Search of the Japanese Mountain Witch, just released by Stone Bridge Press. Rebecca Copeland is a professor of Japanese literature, a writer of fiction (The Kimono Tattoo) and literary criticism, and a translator of Japanese literature (Grotesque, The Goddess Chronicle). Linda C. Ehrlich is an independent scholar and poet who has published on world cinema and traditional theater.Podcast Show NotesAmy asks Linda and Rebecca how they came to publishYamamba: In Search of the Japanese Mountain Witch, and why, of all Japan'syōkai, they chose the mountain witch.Rebecca starts off explaining that the Yamamba is often depicted as a wicked old woman who takes advantage of hapless travelers. But she is also described as a nurturing entity who helps the weaver at the loom and the farmer with the fields. She is complex, representing all the mysterious and unexplainable as played out on the noh stage, the setsuwa and folklore stories over the centuries. Rebecca is interested in modern, 20th-century portrayals of the Yamamba image and how contemporary women writers have drawn on her subversive powers. This led both the co-editors to explore how art inspires and how it is diverse and dynamic, resulting in this anthology that includes poems, shorts stories, and interviews, comprising an eclectic array of presentations of the Yamamba.Amy asks about the image of the Yamamba as old crones living in the mountains, and Rebecca confirms this is so, adding that it is usually villagers who encounter the Yamamba on their way through the mountains.Linda Ehrlich, who comes from a background of traditional theater from the University of Hawaii, explains more about the noh play that appears in the beginning of the anthology. She says that Ann Sherif translated the interview about the production, which was unique in that the two noh performers were women. In the play, she says, "Yamamba is mysterious but not as grotesque as she is portrayed as elsewhere. She is a force of nature but controlled by nature, so she is beyond all binaries. So we have different voices for the Yamamba that work together." Rebecca later conducts an interview with a performer who portrays a more current, updated version of the Yamamba reflecting the body, gender, and so on.Rebecca discusses Ōba Minako's "The Smile of the Mountain Witch" describing how she was one of those 20th-century writers who reappropriated the Yamamba image, challenging the idea of the Yamamba as always being an old woman. Perhaps she could have been a young girl at times too? How did she become a Yamamba? The story charts how a young girl who can mind-read and who has a capacity for great joy is taught to deny her talents in order to fit in. So to Rebecca this suggests all women have a Yamamba potential for strength and reliance that we've been taught to deny ourselves. Oba uses an ancient legend to comment on contemporary gender discrimination.Amy mentions that Aoko Matsuda has, with her recent book Where the Wild Ladies Are, done something similar, recasting and updating traditional Japanese folktales with strong contemporary female characters.Amy asks Linda and Rebecca about how they put together the anthology. They relate there was lots of editing, discussion, compromising, and refining and they mention the uniqueness of the anthology's hybrid approach containing both scholarly and creative writing, a result of reaching out to writers, scholars, and visual artists. They talk about contributing articles themselves: Linda's poem translated into Japanese and Rebecca's short story. It took a year to collect the material for the manuscript and another year for editing.Linda says that the book isn't just for women, and that there is one male contributor. Linda points out that when the noh actors portray the Yamamba, it hasn't so much to do with gender but more to do with the performance of power and awesomeness.Linda talks about the images in the book, combining some that were specific and some that were abstract to give a mix. Amy mentions that Jann Williams, who reviewed the book for Books on Asia, wrote that "readers are left to imagine the Yamamba in her various forms and the freedom to do so adds depth to the reading experience."Amy asks both Linda and Rebecca about projects they are currently working on. Amy mentions she saw Rebecca's name mentioned as writing an introduction or foreword for a new book by Liza Dalby. Rebecca confirms, saying Dalby has translated Setouchi Jakucho's work called "Places," a self-reflective study of the places that Jakucho has been and how these places have influenced the Buddhist nun, writer, and activist. Rebecca also mentions she has just published her first novel, The Kimono Tattoo, a mystery set in Kyoto.Linda has just finished audio commentary for the new DVD for Hirokazu Koreeda's film Afterlife that will appear from Criterion in August. She has a new poetry collection called Citron just released.Lastly, Amy asks Rebecca and Linda about their favorite books on Japan:LindaThe Pillow Book by Sei ShonaganEssays in Idleness by Yoshida Kenko"Take Kurabe" a short story by Higuchi Ichiyo (translated as either "Growing Up" or "Comparing Heights")In the Shade of Spring Leaves, about Higuchi IchiyoRebeccaDangerous Women, Deadly Words by Nina CornyetsThe Uses of Literature in Modern Japan by Sari KawanaMaiko Masquerade: Crafting Geisha Girlhood in Japan by Jan Bardsley Read our review ofYamamba: In Search of the Japanese Mountain WitchThe Books on Asia Podcast is sponsored by Stone Bridge Press, publisher of fine books on Asia for over 30 years. Sign up for the Books on Asia Podcast here.

Today on the Books on Asia Podcast, host Amy Chavez talks with the co-editors of <a href="https://booksonasia.net/2021/05/20/review-yamamba-in-search-of-the-japanese-mountain-witch/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Yamamba: In Search of the Japanese Mountain Witch</a>, just released by Stone Bridge Press. Rebecca Copeland is a professor of Japanese literature, a writer of fiction (<a href="https://amzn.to/3w1xpNW" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Kimono Tattoo</a>) and literary criticism, and a translator of Japanese literature (<a href="https://amzn.to/2Ueq8x6" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Grotesque,</a> <a href="https://amzn.to/360dPXO" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Goddess Chronicle</a>). Linda C. Ehrlich is an independent scholar and poet who has published on world cinema and traditional theater.Podcast Show NotesAmy asks Linda and Rebecca how they came to publish<a href="https://booksonasia.net/2021/05/20/review-yamamba-in-search-of-the-japanese-mountain-witch/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Yamamba: In Search of the Japanese Mountain Witch</a>, and why, of all Japan'syōkai, they chose the mountain witch.Rebecca starts off explaining that the Yamamba is often depicted as a wicked old woman who takes advantage of hapless travelers. But she is also described as a nurturing entity who helps the weaver at the loom and the farmer with the fields. She is complex, representing all the mysterious and unexplainable as played out on the noh stage, the setsuwa and folklore stories over the centuries. Rebecca is interested in modern, 20th-century portrayals of the Yamamba image and how contemporary women writers have drawn on her subversive powers. This led both the co-editors to explore how art inspires and how it is diverse and dynamic, resulting in this anthology that includes poems, shorts stories, and interviews, comprising an eclectic array of presentations of the Yamamba.Amy asks about the image of the Yamamba as old crones living in the mountains, and Rebecca confirms this is so, adding that it is usually villagers who encounter the Yamamba on their way through the mountains.Linda Ehrlich, who comes from a background of traditional theater from the University of Hawaii, explains more about the noh play that appears in the beginning of the anthology. She says that <a href="https://booksonasia.net/book/lizard/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ann Sherif</a> translated the interview about the production, which was unique in that the two noh performers were women. In the play, she says, "Yamamba is mysterious but not as grotesque as she is portrayed as elsewhere. She is a force of nature but controlled by nature, so she is beyond all binaries. So we have different voices for the Yamamba that work together." Rebecca later conducts an interview with a performer who portrays a more current, updated version of the Yamamba reflecting the body, gender, and so on.Rebecca discusses Ōba Minako's "The Smile of the Mountain Witch" describing how she was one of those 20th-century writers who reappropriated the Yamamba image, challenging the idea of the Yamamba as always being an old woman. Perhaps she could have been a young girl at times too? How did she become a Yamamba? The story charts how a young girl who can mind-read and who has a capacity for great joy is taught to deny her talents in order to fit in. So to Rebecca this suggests all women have a Yamamba potential for strength and reliance that we've been taught to deny ourselves. Oba uses an ancient legend to comment on contemporary gender discrimination.Amy mentions that Aoko Matsuda has, with her recent book <a href="https://booksonasia.net/book/where-the-wild-ladies-are/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Where the Wild Ladies Are</a>, done something similar, recasting and updating traditional Japanese folktales with strong contemporary female characters.Amy asks Linda and Rebecca about how they put together the anthology. They relate there was lots of editing, discussion, compromising, and refining and they mention the uniqueness of the anthology's hybrid approach containing both scholarly and creative writing, a result of reaching out to writers, scholars, and visual artists. They talk about contributing articles themselves: Linda's poem translated into Japanese and Rebecca's short story. It took a year to collect the material for the manuscript and another year for editing.Linda says that the book isn't just for women, and that there is one male contributor. Linda points out that when the noh actors portray the Yamamba, it hasn't so much to do with gender but more to do with the performance of power and awesomeness.Linda talks about the images in the book, combining some that were specific and some that were abstract to give a mix. Amy mentions that Jann Williams, who reviewed the book for Books on Asia, <a href="https://booksonasia.net/2021/05/20/review-yamamba-in-search-of-the-japanese-mountain-witch/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">wrote</a> that "readers are left to imagine the Yamamba in her various forms and the freedom to do so adds depth to the reading experience."Amy asks both Linda and Rebecca about projects they are currently working on. Amy mentions she saw Rebecca's name mentioned as writing an introduction or foreword for a new book by Liza Dalby. Rebecca confirms, saying Dalby has translated Setouchi Jakucho's work called "Places," a self-reflective study of the places that Jakucho has been and how these places have influenced the Buddhist nun, writer, and activist. Rebecca also mentions she has just published her first novel, <a href="https://amzn.to/3w1xpNW" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Kimono Tattoo</a>, a mystery set in Kyoto.Linda has just finished audio commentary for the new DVD for Hirokazu Koreeda's film <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/After_Life_(film)" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Afterlife</a> that will appear from Criterion in August. She has a new poetry collection called <a href="http://braidednarrative.com/citron/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Citron</a> just released.Lastly, Amy asks Rebecca and Linda about their favorite books on Japan:Linda<a href="https://amzn.to/3vY7c2N" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Pillow Book</a> by Sei Shonagan<a href="https://amzn.to/2UbXoFa" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Essays in Idleness</a> by Yoshida Kenko"Take Kurabe" a short story by Higuchi Ichiyo (translated as either "Growing Up" or "Comparing Heights")<a href="https://amzn.to/2SCLHH8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">In the Shade of Spring Leaves</a>, about Higuchi IchiyoRebecca<a href="https://amzn.to/2TkdOei" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dangerous Women, Deadly Words</a> by Nina Cornyets<a href="https://amzn.to/3h2pV8X" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Uses of Literature in Modern Japan</a> by Sari Kawana<a href="https://amzn.to/3qC4nmL" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Maiko Masquerade: Crafting Geisha Girlhood in Japan</a> by Jan Bardsley Read our review of<a href="https://booksonasia.net/2021/05/20/review-yamamba-in-search-of-the-japanese-mountain-witch/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Yamamba: In Search of the Japanese Mountain Witch</a>The Books on Asia Podcast is sponsored by <a href="http://www.stonebridge.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Stone Bridge Press</a>, publisher of fine books on Asia for over 30 years. Sign up for the Books on Asia Podcast<a href="https://linktr.ee/booksonasia" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> here</a>.

The Yamamba--Japanese Mountain Witch--with Rebecca Copeland and Linda C. Ehrlich

Catherine Pawasarat

Cathrine Pawasarat, author of Gion Festival: Exploring its Mysteries, is one of the founders of the Clear Sky Retreat Center in British Columbia, Canada. Her previous book is From Wasteland to Pureland: Reflections on the Path to Awakening. The former Kyoto resident talks with us today about Kyoto's most famous event, the Gion Festival that happens every July in the former capital.Amy starts out the podcast describing Kyoto's Gion Festival, the giant floats with the tall towers on the top as they parade down the street among crowds of bystanders. Catherine explains that Kyoto's neighborhoods work year-round on the preparations for the festival, which itself lasts the entire month of July.Catherine lived in Kyoto 20 years and first found out about the festival when she practically ran into one of the gigantic wheels of a float when walking out of her accommodations one day. This led her to start asking questions about the festival, and she found that the locals themselves couldn't exactly explain what it was all about.So, what is it about? Catherine explains that one role of the festival is to serve as a giant purification ritual and another is to serve as a community bonding event across multiple generations.What is the status of the festival in the modern context? Some of the major challenges are high real estate prices and urban flight. Promising developments are also emerging such as neighborhoods using the festivals to rebuild their communities and allowing the public to join in.Amy asks about the social impact of the Gion Festival and its sustainability, to which Catherine discusses some aspects such as the case of the funeboko festival float that looks like a boat, and the plans through high precision digital measurements to recreate and reinstate it. Catherine goes on to talk about why the float is in the shape of a boat and tells a story that involves Empress Jingu.Catherine says that her bookThe Gion Festival: Exploring its Mysteries covers the many stories behind the floats that are directly related to Japanese legends and myths, including those from the Kojiki, the Nihongi, and the Tale of the Heike. There are 34 floats that participate in the festival, and the book dedicates a page to each float and the history behind it.Amy asks Catherine why she brought out the book in two separate versions, print and e-book, and to elaborate on the differences. They talk about the pros and cons of both print and digital books. Catherine hopes that by offering both formats she can provide two very different reader experiences. Amy mentions that Cody Poulton, who reviewed the book on the Books on Asia site, was so intrigued with the idea of two different formats that he bought them both.Catherine says she was inspired by the book Gateway to Japan, a Kodansha guide written by June Kinoshita and Nicholas Palevsky and wanted to provide engrossing information for the sights. She also realizes that guidebooks are heavy to carry around. So the e-book version has hyperlinks to  other related information on the festival, its components, legends, noh theater, etc..Amy asks Catherine what it takes to put together a book like this. Catherine said it started with her writing a couple of articles for the Japan Times. One of the articles was about women being able to participate in the musical troupes after an absence of 300 years. This sparks  a discussion on women's roles in festivals, and although women might not be seen in the procession, they actually do have very important, but more hidden, roles. Catherine talks about how the women are the main representatives of historic families that the floats are oriented around. There are two sides to whether women should participate or even whether they want to participate.Getting back to writing the book, Catherine says she lived in one of the Gion Festival neighborhoods for three years so she had a lot of opportunities to become familiar with it, ask questions, and take notes. There were challenges to putting together a print book with so many photos while having to be mindful of the price of the book.Catherine realized there wasn't much information available in English, and so she wanted to publish a book. That was 15 years ago. She also talks about the Japanese way of doing things, in which one dedicates their whole life to something before they actually "know" anything about it, so while she realized she probably knew more than any native speaker about the Gion Festival, she still felt she had to do more research. This research has been cultivated over 15 years. In the meantime, the self-publishing industry has become robust enough for her to take a chance at self-publishing the book herself.  Dhe went to a writing retreat so she could give herself the time to just write and write and write. She had been taking photos for many years, so she already had something to work from.Amy says she has heard that at the Gion Festival tourists are invited into the houses of the locals to see their family heirlooms. Catherine responds by saying that no, this is a false rumor! People are supposed to admire the artworks from he outside. But the doors are left open, so tourists might think they can walk in.This sparks a discussion on tourist manners in Japan. Catherine says she has a section on dos and don'ts. She notes that the Kyoto people all volunteer to do these things for the festival, so this generosity really needs to be respected.Amy, who wrote "Amy's Guide to Best Behavior in Japan," says she always advises people to ask before they do anything in Japan. So even if the doors are open, don't presume you can just walk in. If you ask first, it allows the person to politely decline, and Catherine points out that it also gives them the opportunity to educate us.Catherine talks about the two parts of the festival, the "before festival" July 10-17, which is the biggest, with 23 floats, street stalls, street food and such, and the "after festival," July 18-24 with 11 floats.Catherine says research is important for the festival and she is happy to be a resource for people interested in doing their own research on the festival and who need help on where to go to learn more. She talks about the role writers have in helping the festival survive, especially since the popularity of the festival also inherently endangers it. She says she wrote the book to help it remain sustainable and to help people understand that it is not just a tourist event but  a spiritual ritual that is put on voluntarily so that we can enjoy it. Having a sense of appreciation and meaning helps ground it and make it a more thoughtful experience for everyone.Find out more information on Catherine Pawasarat and visit her website GionFestival.org and social media channels: Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Get a free excerpt of the Gion Festival book here: gionfestival.org/booksonasiaCatherine can also be found at planetdharma.comLastly, Amy asks Catherine what her favorite books on Japan are:Gateway to Japan by June KinoshitaOld Kyoto: Guide to Traditional Shops, Restaurants and Inns by Diane DurstonLost Japan by Alex KerrMemories of Silk and Straw by Jun'ichi SagaEngendering Faith: Women and Buddhism in Premodern Japan, edited by Barbara RuchThe Books on Asia Podcast is sponsored by Stone Bridge Press, publisher of fine books on Asia for over 30 years.Books on AsiaTwitter: @BooksOnAsiaFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/booksonasiahttps://www.facebook.com/amyonasia/ 

Cathrine Pawasarat, author of <a href="https://booksonasia.net/2021/04/27/review-the-gion-festival-exploring-its-mysteries/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Gion Festival: Exploring its Mysteries</a>, is one of the founders of the Clear Sky Retreat Center in British Columbia, Canada. Her previous book is <a href="https://booksonasia.net/book/wasteland-to-pureland/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">From Wasteland to Pureland: Reflections on the Path to Awakening</a>. The former Kyoto resident talks with us today about Kyoto's most famous event, the Gion Festival that happens every July in the former capital.Amy starts out the podcast describing Kyoto's Gion Festival, the giant floats with the tall towers on the top as they parade down the street among crowds of bystanders. Catherine explains that Kyoto's neighborhoods work year-round on the preparations for the festival, which itself lasts the entire month of July.Catherine lived in Kyoto 20 years and first found out about the festival when she practically ran into one of the gigantic wheels of a float when walking out of her accommodations one day. This led her to start asking questions about the festival, and she found that the locals themselves couldn't exactly explain what it was all about.So, what is it about? Catherine explains that one role of the festival is to serve as a giant purification ritual and another is to serve as a community bonding event across multiple generations.What is the status of the festival in the modern context? Some of the major challenges are high real estate prices and urban flight. Promising developments are also emerging such as neighborhoods using the festivals to rebuild their communities and allowing the public to join in.Amy asks about the social impact of the Gion Festival and its sustainability, to which Catherine discusses some aspects such as the case of the funeboko festival float that looks like a boat, and the plans through high precision digital measurements to recreate and reinstate it. Catherine goes on to talk about why the float is in the shape of a boat and tells a story that involves Empress Jingu.Catherine says that her book<a href="https://booksonasia.net/2021/04/27/review-the-gion-festival-exploring-its-mysteries/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Gion Festival: Exploring its Mysteries</a> covers the many stories behind the floats that are directly related to Japanese legends and myths, including those from the Kojiki, the Nihongi, and the Tale of the Heike. There are 34 floats that participate in the festival, and the book dedicates a page to each float and the history behind it.Amy asks Catherine why she brought out the book in two separate versions, print and e-book, and to elaborate on the differences. They talk about the pros and cons of both print and digital books. Catherine hopes that by offering both formats she can provide two very different reader experiences. Amy mentions that Cody Poulton, who <a href="https://booksonasia.net/2021/04/27/review-the-gion-festival-exploring-its-mysteries/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">reviewed the book</a> on the Books on Asia site, was so intrigued with the idea of two different formats that he bought them both.Catherine says she was inspired by the book <a href="https://amzn.to/2TwUPgq" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Gateway to Japan</a>, a Kodansha guide written by June Kinoshita and Nicholas Palevsky and wanted to provide engrossing information for the sights. She also realizes that guidebooks are heavy to carry around. So the e-book version has hyperlinks to  other related information on the festival, its components, legends, noh theater, etc..Amy asks Catherine what it takes to put together a book like this. Catherine said it started with her writing a couple of articles for the Japan Times. One of the articles was about women being able to participate in the musical troupes after an absence of 300 years. This sparks  a discussion on women's roles in festivals, and although women might not be seen in the procession, they actually do have very important, but more hidden, roles. Catherine talks about how the women are the main representatives of historic families that the floats are oriented around. There are two sides to whether women should participate or even whether they want to participate.Getting back to writing the book, Catherine says she lived in one of the Gion Festival neighborhoods for three years so she had a lot of opportunities to become familiar with it, ask questions, and take notes. There were challenges to putting together a print book with so many photos while having to be mindful of the price of the book.Catherine realized there wasn't much information available in English, and so she wanted to publish a book. That was 15 years ago. She also talks about the Japanese way of doing things, in which one dedicates their whole life to something before they actually "know" anything about it, so while she realized she probably knew more than any native speaker about the Gion Festival, she still felt she had to do more research. This research has been cultivated over 15 years. In the meantime, the self-publishing industry has become robust enough for her to take a chance at self-publishing the book herself.  Dhe went to a writing retreat so she could give herself the time to just write and write and write. She had been taking photos for many years, so she already had something to work from.Amy says she has heard that at the Gion Festival tourists are invited into the houses of the locals to see their family heirlooms. Catherine responds by saying that no, this is a false rumor! People are supposed to admire the artworks from he outside. But the doors are left open, so tourists might think they can walk in.This sparks a discussion on tourist manners in Japan. Catherine says she has a section on dos and don'ts. She notes that the Kyoto people all volunteer to do these things for the festival, so this generosity really needs to be respected.Amy, who wrote "<a href="https://amzn.to/3iHtPFC" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Amy's Guide to Best Behavior in Japan</a>," says she always advises people to ask before they do anything in Japan. So even if the doors are open, don't presume you can just walk in. If you ask first, it allows the person to politely decline, and Catherine points out that it also gives them the opportunity to educate us.Catherine talks about the two parts of the festival, the "before festival" July 10-17, which is the biggest, with 23 floats, street stalls, street food and such, and the "after festival," July 18-24 with 11 floats.Catherine says research is important for the festival and she is happy to be a resource for people interested in doing their own research on the festival and who need help on where to go to learn more. She talks about the role writers have in helping the festival survive, especially since the popularity of the festival also inherently endangers it. She says she wrote the book to help it remain sustainable and to help people understand that it is not just a tourist event but  a spiritual ritual that is put on voluntarily so that we can enjoy it. Having a sense of appreciation and meaning helps ground it and make it a more thoughtful experience for everyone.Find out more information on Catherine Pawasarat and visit her website <a href="http://gionfestival.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">GionFestival.org</a> and social media channels: <a href="http://bit.ly/GionFestivalFacebook" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook,</a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/gionfestivalorg/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwp4zjL1K-RuzbBjubIgsWg" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">YouTube</a>. Get a free excerpt of the Gion Festival book here: <a href="http://gionfestival.org/booksonasia" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">gionfestival.org/booksonasia</a>Catherine can also be found at <a href="http://planetdharma.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">planetdharma.com</a>Lastly, Amy asks Catherine what her favorite books on Japan are:<ul><li><a href="https://amzn.to/2TwUPgq" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Gateway to Japan</a> by June Kinoshita</li><li><a href="https://amzn.to/3xnZeko" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Old Kyoto: Guide to Traditional Shops, Restaurants and Inns</a> by Diane Durston</li><li><a href="https://amzn.to/3d0JfRR" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lost Japan</a> by Alex Kerr</li><li><a href="https://amzn.to/3iJpLVs" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Memories of Silk and Straw</a> by Jun'ichi Saga</li><li><a href="https://amzn.to/3pW17Cv" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Engendering Faith: Women and Buddhism in Premodern Japan,</a> edited by Barbara Ruch</li></ul>The <a href="http://booksonasia.net" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Books on Asia Podcast</a> is sponsored by <a href="http://www.stonebridge.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Stone Bridge Press</a>, publisher of fine books on Asia for over 30 years.<a href="http://booksonasia.net/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Books on Asia</a> Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/BooksOnAsia" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@BooksOnAsia</a> Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/booksonasia/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/booksonasia</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/amyonasia/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/amyonasia/</a>

Kyoto's Gion Festival: Exploring its Mysteries with Catherine Pawasarat

Today we're talking with Tina deBellegarde about short stories, what makes a good short story, and why certain short story writers are so appealing. Tina has been nominated for the Agatha Award for Best First Novel, has a short story published in the Mystery Writers of America anthology called "When a Stranger Comes to Town," and most recently won the USA Prize in the Writers in Kyoto annual story competition.Amy congratulates Tina on her contest-winning entry called "Sound Travels" in the WiK writing competition, and Tina mentions that it can be read on the Writers in Kyoto website. Tina tells how the inspiration for the entry came from the current coronavirus situation which has prevented her (living in the US) from seeing her son, (living in Kyoto), for over a year and a half. Her piece was constructed from telephone conversations with her son amidst the background sounds of Kyoto City as he went about his daily activities.They start the topic of the podcast by highlighting some Japanese short story writers such as Haruki Murakami and Banana Yoshimoto, Hiromi Kawakami, Aoko Matsuda, and Kyoko Nakajima. and foreign writers, including Lafcadio Hearn and, more recently, Rebecca Otowa. Amy also mentions two short story collections from China, one by the well-known author Xu Xu called Bird Talk, and an anthology of flash fiction called The Pearl Jacket and Other Stories: Flash Fiction from Contemporary China  which prompts a discussion on flash fiction, which Tina defines for us and elaborates upon, including the works of Mieko Kawakami.Amy asks Tina who her favorite short story authors are and Tina identifies Haruki Murakami and Banana Yoshimoto as definite favorites. Amy decides to give listeners a bit of a taste of Yoshimoto and how she smoothly transitions into "another world" by reading from the introduction of the story "Newlywed" from the short story collection Lizard. Tina notes in this example that some of the best short stories start from such an encounter, or moment, after which, the world is never the same for the protagonist. Trains are often the scene of stories in Japan, since most people in Japan ride trains all throughout their lives and these movable settings involve a revolving door of different kinds of people who visit familiar places at which events can occur. Murakami does this too, especially as seen in the stories in his latest collection First Person Singular. Tina notes that in this sampling of works many of Murakami's moments are merely moments, without morphing into other worlds (the way many of his novels do).Tina admires Murakami for his adeptness at focusing on "small moments" and how he expands them into stories. She talks about his short story "The Second Bakery Attack," (from The Elephant Vanishes) then moves into "Carnaval" (from First Person Singular) and how Murakami contrasts beautiful and "ugly" women in this story (the latter of whom he envies for their skills in communicating and drawing people into their worlds). Amy mentions Books on Asia's Murakami Podcast and Issue, that lists all his books, including his short story collections and fun Murakami trivia.Tina reflects on the BOA Podcast 7: Richard Lloyd Parry and Ghosts of the Tsunami and how Parry said there were so many stories to tell, that he focused on a few that would stand in for all stories, which Tina identifies, is what a good short story should do: allow the reader to connect to the universality of a story. That's what Murakami does when he takes the reader into the everyday life of his characters, and immerses you, so you can connect to all the parts of their story.The discussion turns to some examples of Murakami encounters such as "With the Beatles," and "Carnaval" (from First Person Singular), “On Seeing the 100 percent Perfect Girl One Beautiful April Morning,” (from The Elephant Vanishes). Tina also mentions Naoya Shiga's story "All the Way to Abashiri" fromThe Paper Door collection that takes place on a train while the character considers the woman sitting across from him with her two small children, and wonders what her life is like, what her husband does for a living, etc.Amy notes that Japanese short stories don't always offer hard and fast conclusions and how the reader is expected to linger over endings and think about the possible endings themselves, given different clues from the author. Tina says Japanese literature is often slice-of-life vignettes, where the story starts in the middle and ends in the middle, with the ending left open.Amy observes that in addition to trains, another place that pops up a lot in Japanese literature as a backdrop is the thrift store. Many have read The Nakano Thrift Shop by Hiromi Kawakami, but there is also a thrift store in Kyoko Nakajima's just released collection Things Remembered and Things Forgotten in a piece called "The Life Story of a Sewing Machine." Amy elaborates on the elements that make this story so satisfying to readers such as herself.Another big topic of Japanese short stories is yōkai, or ghosts. They talk about Aoko Matsuda's recent release Where the Wild Ladies Are and how she re-invents traditional Japanese folktales into modern stories with strong women. Amy is hoping this a trend since the upcoming June release of Yamamba: In Search of the Japanese Mountain Witch also re-imagines the Yamamba as a strong woman rather than the scary old crone she is classically portrayed as.Tina and Amy discover they have two different versions of Where the Wild Ladies Are and they compare the U.K. version against the American edition, the latter of which gives much more background information on the origins of the original stories the works are based on.Amy also cites another hopeful trend: that of foreign writers penning short stories on Japan since they give different insights into Japanese culture than Japanese writers do. Lafcadio Hearn is known for his stories on explaining Japanese culture and ghosts, but writers like Rebecca Otowa, who write stories from the point of view of living and experiencing contemporary Japanese culture from a woman's point of view, in addition to being an outsider, is also important. Tina agrees and says that she read Otowa's At Home in Japan before her visit to Japan, and that Otowa was a clearer conduit for her to learn about Japanese customs. We talk about one story "The Turtle Stone" (from The Mad Kyoto Shoe Swapper) as an example of cultural cues we can glean from reading such stories.Lastly, Tina reveals what her favorite books on Japan are:Kyoto: Seven Paths to the Heart of the City by Diane DurstonKokoro by Natsume SōsekiUntangling My Chopsticks by Victoria Abbot RiccardiThe Books on Asia Podcast is sponsored by Stone Bridge Press, publisher of fine books on Asia for over 30 years.

Today we're talking with Tina deBellegarde about short stories, what makes a good short story, and why certain short story writers are so appealing. Tina has been nominated for the Agatha Award for Best First Novel, has a short story published in the Mystery Writers of America anthology called "When a Stranger Comes to Town," and most recently won the USA Prize in the Writers in Kyoto annual story competition.Amy congratulates Tina on her contest-winning entry called "Sound Travels" in the WiK writing competition, and Tina mentions that it can be read on the <a href="https://www.writersinkyoto.com/2021/05/usa-prize-sixth-annual-kyoto-writing-competition/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Writers in Kyoto website</a>. Tina tells how the inspiration for the entry came from the current coronavirus situation which has prevented her (living in the US) from seeing her son, (living in Kyoto), for over a year and a half. Her piece was constructed from telephone conversations with her son amidst the background sounds of Kyoto City as he went about his daily activities.They start the topic of the podcast by highlighting some Japanese short story writers such as <a href="https://booksonasia.net/category/issues/issue-6/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Haruki Murakami</a> and Banana Yoshimoto, Hiromi Kawakami, Aoko Matsuda, and Kyoko Nakajima. and foreign writers, including Lafcadio Hearn and, more recently, <a href="https://booksonasia.net/2019/12/15/revenge-a-village-tale-by-rebecca-otowa/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rebecca Otowa</a>. Amy also mentions two short story collections from China, one by the well-known author Xu Xu called <a href="https://amzn.to/3uaS9BN" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Bird Talk</a>, and an anthology of flash fiction called <a href="https://amzn.to/3ugBixs" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Pearl Jacket and Other Stories: Flash Fiction from Contemporary China  </a>which prompts a discussion on flash fiction, which Tina defines for us and elaborates upon, including the works of Mieko Kawakami.Amy asks Tina who her favorite short story authors are and Tina identifies Haruki Murakami and Banana Yoshimoto as definite favorites. Amy decides to give listeners a bit of a taste of Yoshimoto and how she smoothly transitions into "another world" by reading from the introduction of the story "Newlywed" from the short story collection <a href="https://amzn.to/3yHJfPQ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lizard</a>. Tina notes in this example that some of the best short stories start from such an encounter, or moment, after which, the world is never the same for the protagonist. Trains are often the scene of stories in Japan, since most people in Japan ride trains all throughout their lives and these movable settings involve a revolving door of different kinds of people who visit familiar places at which events can occur. Murakami does this too, especially as seen in the stories in his latest collection <a href="https://booksonasia.net/2021/05/12/review-first-person-singular-by-haruki-murakami/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">First Person Singular</a>. Tina notes that in this sampling of works many of Murakami's moments are merely moments, without morphing into other worlds (the way many of his novels do).Tina admires Murakami for his adeptness at focusing on "small moments" and how he expands them into stories. She talks about his short story "The Second Bakery Attack," (from<a href="https://booksonasia.net/book/the-elephant-vanishes/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> The Elephant Vanishes</a>) then moves into "Carnaval" (from <a href="https://booksonasia.net/2021/05/12/review-first-person-singular-by-haruki-murakami/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">First Person Singular</a>) and how Murakami contrasts beautiful and "ugly" women in this story (the latter of whom he envies for their skills in communicating and drawing people into their worlds). Amy mentions Books on Asia's <a href="https://booksonasia.net/category/issues/issue-6/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Murakami Podcast and Issue</a>, that lists all his books, including his short story collections and fun Murakami trivia.Tina reflects on the <a href="https://booksonasia.net/podcast/hon-podcast-7-richard-lloyd-parry-author-of-ghosts-of-the-tsunami/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">BOA Podcast 7: Richard Lloyd Parry and Ghosts of the Tsunami</a> and how Parry said there were so many stories to tell, that he focused on a few that would stand in for all stories, which Tina identifies, is what a good short story should do: allow the reader to connect to the universality of a story. That's what Murakami does when he takes the reader into the everyday life of his characters, and immerses you, so you can connect to all the parts of their story.The discussion turns to some examples of Murakami encounters such as "With the Beatles," and "Carnaval" (from First Person Singular), “On Seeing the 100 percent Perfect Girl One Beautiful April Morning,” (from <a href="https://booksonasia.net/book/the-elephant-vanishes/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Elephant Vanishes</a>). Tina also mentions Naoya Shiga's story "All the Way to Abashiri" fromThe Paper Door collection that takes place on a train while the character considers the woman sitting across from him with her two small children, and wonders what her life is like, what her husband does for a living, etc.Amy notes that Japanese short stories don't always offer hard and fast conclusions and how the reader is expected to linger over endings and think about the possible endings themselves, given different clues from the author. Tina says Japanese literature is often slice-of-life vignettes, where the story starts in the middle and ends in the middle, with the ending left open.Amy observes that in addition to trains, another place that pops up a lot in Japanese literature as a backdrop is the thrift store. Many have read <a href="https://booksonasia.net/book/strange-weather-in-tokyo/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Nakano Thrift Shop </a>by Hiromi Kawakami, but there is also a thrift store in Kyoko Nakajima's just released collection <a href="https://amzn.to/3ytHHbY" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Things Remembered and Things Forgotten</a> in a piece called "The Life Story of a Sewing Machine." Amy elaborates on the elements that make this story so satisfying to readers such as herself.Another big topic of Japanese short stories is yōkai, or ghosts. They talk about Aoko Matsuda's recent release <a href="https://amzn.to/348Sqe8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Where the Wild Ladies Are </a>and how she re-invents traditional Japanese folktales into modern stories with strong women. Amy is hoping this a trend since the upcoming June release of <a href="https://booksonasia.net/2021/05/20/review-yamamba-in-search-of-the-japanese-mountain-witch/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Yamamba: In Search of the Japanese Mountain Witch</a> also re-imagines the Yamamba as a strong woman rather than the scary old crone she is classically portrayed as.Tina and Amy discover they have two different versions of Where the Wild Ladies Are and they compare the U.K. version against the American edition, the latter of which gives much more background information on the origins of the original stories the works are based on.Amy also cites another hopeful trend: that of foreign writers penning short stories on Japan since they give different insights into Japanese culture than Japanese writers do. Lafcadio Hearn is known for his stories on explaining Japanese culture and ghosts, but writers like Rebecca Otowa, who write stories from the point of view of living and experiencing contemporary Japanese culture from a woman's point of view, in addition to being an outsider, is also important. Tina agrees and says that she read Otowa's <a href="https://amzn.to/3wt0IJE" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">At Home in Japan</a> before her visit to Japan, and that Otowa was a clearer conduit for her to learn about Japanese customs. We talk about one story "The Turtle Stone" (from <a href="https://booksonasia.net/2019/12/15/revenge-a-village-tale-by-rebecca-otowa/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Mad Kyoto Shoe Swapper</a>) as an example of cultural cues we can glean from reading such stories.Lastly, Tina reveals what her favorite books on Japan are:<a href="https://amzn.to/3yuQJ8B" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Kyoto: Seven Paths to the Heart of the City</a> by Diane Durston<a href="https://amzn.to/3yFYsB1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Kokoro </a>by Natsume Sōseki<a href="https://amzn.to/3ytJ9eq" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Untangling My Chopsticks</a> by Victoria Abbot RiccardiThe <a href="http://booksonasia.net" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Books on Asia Podcast</a> is sponsored by <a href="http://www.stonebridge.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Stone Bridge Press</a>, publisher of fine books on Asia for over 30 years.

The Art of the Short Story with Tina deBellegarde

Books on Asia

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