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Japan
Adult Non-Fiction |
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 by Michael G. LaFosse
Advanced Origami: An Artist's Guide to Performances in Paper
Published 2005 by Tuttle Publishing
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"Advanced Origami" provides unparalleled instruction in how to create master-class level paper folding projects. The origami designs are challenging-they require considerable folding experience-but the results are more art than craft-you'll create projects that you can display or give as gifts.
Sophisticated origami or paper crafts fans will appreciate the ten unique origami designs included in the book--with complete how-to instructions and photographs.
The book also features information on paper selection and preparation, advance techniques such as "wet folding," and making your own paper.
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 by Kenji Ekuan
The Aesthetics of the Japanese Lunchbox
Published 1998 by Mit Press
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Not surprisingly, this book is modeled on the Japanese lunchbox in both form and spirit: the reader opens the square cover and experiences a richness of content with an exquisite layout. Ekuan, Japan's foremost industrial designer and the author of seven previous books, has succeeded in explaining the essence and intersection of design and life by relating the lunchbox to all aspects of Japanese civilization. Ekuan is expert in supplying stimulating thoughts about the metaphorical meaning of the lunchbox. He compares the lunchbox to a unified-world mandala and the quadripartite structure of the lunchbox to the four seasons. A brief history is included. A delicious treat, although the print is a little too small for relaxed reading.
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 by Robert Harvey
American Shogun: General MacArthur, Emperor Hirohito and the Drama of Modern Japan
Published 2006 by Overlook Press
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As revealed by Harvey, today's partnership between modern Japan and the United States was forged by the confrontation, and finally the reconciliation, of two competing agendas and cultures in World War II, personified by two men: General Douglas MacArthur and Emperor Hirohito.
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 by John Tateishi
And Justice for All
Published 1984 by Random House
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At the outbreak of World War II, more than 115,000 Japanese American civilians living on the West Coast of the United States were rounded up and sent to desolate "relocation" camps, where most spent the duration of the war. In this poignant and bitter yet inspiring oral history, John Tateishi allows thirty Japanese Americans, victims of this trauma, to speak for themselves. And Justice for All captures the personal feelings and experiences of the only group of American citizens ever to be confined in concentration camps in the United States. In this new edition of the book, which was originally published in 1984, an Afterword by the author brings up to date the lives of those he interviewed.
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 by Jonathan Clements
The Anime Encyclopedia: A Guide to Japanese Animation Since 1917
Published 2006 by Stone Bridge Press
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Forty percent larger than previous editions with all-new entries on hundreds of anime released after 2001, updates on older entries, and more than 50,000 words on anime creators and genres, this comprehensive volume will delight anime fans.
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 by Delphine Hirasuna
The Art of Gaman: Arts and Crafts from the Japanese American Internment Camps 1942-1946
Published 2005 by Ten Speed Press
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A celebration of the nobility of the human spirit under adversity. The art of Gaman presents more than 150 examples of art created by internees, along with a history of the camps.
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 by Michiko Young
The Art of the Japanese Garden
Published 2005 by Tuttle Publishing
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Winner of the 2006 American Horitcultural Society Book Award!
Gardening has reached new heights of sophistication, and this book profiles a number of the most notable gardens in Japan and beyond. The goal of a Japanese garden is to suggest a landscape, to depict famous natural scenes, or to evoke a particular artistic quality or atmosphere. Graveled courtyards, early aristocratic gardens, Zen gardens, and several other elements all play key roles in these extravagant landscapes.
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 by Herb L. Gustafson
The Art of Japanese Gardens: Designing & Making Your Own Peaceful Space
Published 1999 by Sterling Publishing
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A Japanese garden is, indeed, a thing of beauty and tranquility. Gustafson gives a multitude of ideas and suggestions for creating such a garden, but a rather large lot would be needed--not to mention the expense. In a chapter on boundaries, the author discusses the function of cedar and bamboo fences, safety rails, retaining walls, gates, and tile roofs. In a chapter on rocks, boulders, and stones, he writes about their uses in bridges, walkways, and paths. Water is a large part of Japanese gardens, and Gustafson focuses on its use in ponds, waterfalls, and streams. He suggests having a pavilion or teahouse constructed and offers advice on the use of such garden ornaments as a water basin, rain-catching stones, bronze cranes and deer, stone lanterns, benches, and bridges. There's a chapter on garden design and a list of suitable plants, trees, hedges, vines, and ground covers for the garden.
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 by Deborah Gesensway
Beyond Words: Images from America's Concentration Camps
Published 1987 by Cornell University Press
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More than 100,000 Americans of Japanese descent were interned in camps during World War II. This moving book developed from the discovery of art work done by detainees during their stay in the camps. The authors found and taped conversations with some of the surviving artists. They reproduce here over 75 art works and excerpts from recollections, four in their entirety. The remembrances are even more powerful than the pictures. The authors provide three chapters of historical narrative, which curiously are neither in chronological sequence nor presented conveniently for those unfamiliar with the broader context. Nevertheless, this is, overall, a highly recommended book.
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 by M. G. Sheftall
Blossoms in the Wind: Human Legacies of the Kamikaze
Published 2005 by New American Library
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An independent scholar, long a resident of Japan, has produced a superior addition to the literature on Japan's tokko, or suicide, warriors. Suicidal missions—in the air (both conventional aircraft and the ineffective Ohka guided bomb) and at sea (the even less effective Kaiten manned torpedo)—had been under development during much of WWII, but the large-scale operations were launched in defense of the Philippines in October 1944. Thanks to unparalleled access to the surviving tokko personnel and a gift for characterization worthy of a first-rank novelist, the author gives us an extraordinary range of humanity, including Toshio Yoshitake, who flew obsolete attack planes all over the Philippines; Tokuro Takei, who became a suicide pilot while a teenager; and Iwao Fukagawa, holding his father's hand in farewell—as well as tokko founding father Adm. Onishi Takijirou. The author's description of the right-wing Japanese politics surrounding this part of WWII history and the resentment of many Japanese at comparisons of 9/11 to the tokko missions may raise eyebrows, but the book is remarkably evenhanded as to the vexed question of war guilt, and enormously rewarding if read carefully.
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 by Norio Yamanaka
Book of Kimono
Published 1997 by Kodansha America
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This practical and attractive book makes available for the first time the basic knowledge and vocabulary needed to select and put on a kimono and obi.
Whether for women or men, all kimono are cut and sewn essentially from a single pattern, but a number of variations must be considered, depending on the occasion. Guidelines are given to making these choices, and the way to dress in a kimono, from the preliminaries to tieing the bustle sash, is
described in detail and fully illustrated. For women, there are formal kimono, obi and accessories, and the lightweight summer yukata; for men, the yukata and the ceremonial ensemble of kimono, haori coat and hakama skirt. Children's kimono for festive events are also described.
Kimono fashions have evolved over the centuries in response to varied influences. Today modern innovations are making the wearing of kimono at home and elsewhere an attractive alternative to Western garments. These are included here, along with a discussion of aesthetics, the history of the kimono,
and the meaning that kimono culture can have for wearers and admirers throughout the world.
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 by Reiko Suzuki
Business Japanese: Over 1,700 Essential Business Terms in Japanese
Published 2006 by Tuttle Publishing
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"Business Japanese" is for students of the Japanese language with a special interest in business, finance, and economics. Appropriate for self-study or classroom use, it teaches more than 1,700 kanji frequently used in Japanese business and economic newspapers and magazines. Written in both Japanese and English, this book is designed for students with a basic level of Japanese language skills. Students will be able to learn enough kanji to read and digest even the most arcane or technical business articles.
"Business Japanese" is an invaluable learning tool for anyone who wants to do business in Japan or keep up with important developments in the world's second-largest economy.
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 by Greg Robinson
By Order of the President: FDR and the Internment of Japanese Americans
Published 2001 by Harvard University Press
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In 1942, FDR authorized the army to evacuate more than 100,000 Japanese-Americans from the Pacific Coast states, stripping them not of their citizenship, which he considered "absolute," but of their civil rights, which he considered "contingent." Robinson, a historian at George Mason University, argues that, because of FDR's deserved reputation as a humanitarian, this action has been treated as an aberration and, therefore, not thoroughly explored. In this lucid, comprehensive and balanced examination, Robinson maintains that Roosevelt's decision was, in fact, "not fundamentally inconsistent with his overall political philosophy and world view." Rather, a deep-seated belief that Japanese-Americans were biologically "incapable of being true Americans" enabled FDR, though he "deplored open prejudice," to be "willingly misled" by bad counsel and misinformation about the perceived Japanese-American threat, despite reliable reports, including one by J. Edgar Hoover, to the contrary. Since boyhood, FDR had admired Japan's naval strength, but following Japan's victory over Russia in 1904-1905 and its invasion of China in the 1930s, Roosevelt saw Japan as a potent economic and political rival. Consequently, after the Pearl Harbor attack incited anti-Japanese hysteria, West Coast politicians and the military pressured FDR to take action at home; the president's racist views, compounded by what Robinson describes as his loose administrative style and lack of moral leadership, contributed to his passive indifference toward the physical and psychological fate of a group of Americans. Robinson's conscientious arguments and meticulous documentation movingly clarify a little-understood failure of American democracy.
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 by Ruth Benedict
The Chrysanthemum and the Sword: Patterns of Japanese Culture
Published 2006 by Mariner Books
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Essential reading for anyone interested in Japanese culture, this unsurpassed
masterwork opens an intriguing window on Japan. Benedict's World War
II-era study paints an illuminating contrast between the culture of Japan and that of the United States. The Chrysanthemum and the Sword is a revealing look at how and why our cultures differ, making it the perfect introduction to Japanese history and customs.
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 by D. C. Palter
Colloquial Kansai Japanese: The Dialects and Culture of the Kansai Region
Published 2006 by Tuttle Publishing
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"Maido, maido" and welcome to the Kansai region of western Japan. Whether visiting or living in this area, you will quickly notice the locals aren't speaking standard Japanese taught in textbooks and classrooms. The language on the streets is Kansai-ben: a dialect said to be earthier and more direct. With clear explanations of grammar, a Kansai-ben dictionary, and a helpful index, "Colloquial Kansai Japanese" is an indispensable guide to the rich speech of Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe.
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 by Hiroko Storm
Complete Japanese: The Basics
Published 2005 by Living Language
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The top-selling "Complete series has been fully revised, with all new supplemental material and a bonus wallet phrase card for travelers. Each program contains everything a beginner needs--a coursebook with 40 lessons, three hours of recordings on three CDs, a quick-reference learner's dictionary, and an all-new indispensable wallet phrase card, all in a convenient and compact package.
The courses still use the popular and effective conversation building-block method, but all content has been thoroughly updated and now includes e-mail essentials and internet resources for each of the eight languages in the series. In addition, 18 supplemental vocabulary sections, covering such topics as "Family and Relationships," "On the Job," "Sports and Recreation," and "Around Town," are now included. As an added bonus, the new handy wallet phrase card with 300 essential words and phrases is the perfect reference for on-the-go learners, travelers, and businesspeople.
With a fresh look, great new features, and the same rock-solid approach to language learning, the best-selling "Complete series is better than ever!
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 by Roger Daniels
Concentration Camps: North American Japanese in the United States & Canada During World War II
Published 1993 by Krieger Publishing Company
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 by Etsuko Tsujita
Conversational Japanese in 7 Days
Published 2004 by McGraw-Hill Companies
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 by Kate Klippensteen
Cool Tools: Cooking Utensils from the Japanese Kitchen
Published 2006 by Kodansha America
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What do chefs use to grate wasabi, the eyewatering Japanese "horse radish?" To pick up the delicate cubes of tofu from boiling water? To slice sashimi? Or scoop freshly steamed rice from the pot?
Cool Tools reveals the answers to these questions and much more, as it explores the Japanese kitchen, finding a treasure trove of fascinating and practical items that are used by Japanese chefs in their daily culinary endeavors.
Japanese cuisine is flourishing among the food-conscious all over the world-as are the cookbooks featuring recipes from a wide variety of styles. Now, Cool Tools goes deep inside the kitchen, into the cupboards and the drawers, to the stove tops and wall hangers where all sorts of utensils are
stored. Here are the items being manipulated by the hands of the famous in their awe-inspiring kitchens-and the not-so-famous in their homes.
As with so many Japanese creations, the utensils are both functional and artistic. And the pieces that are the focus of this book are treated as both works of art and items of practical interest. The photography, by one of Japan's leading lensmen, celebrates the care in materials and design.
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 by Akihiro Kasuya
Creating Ikebana
Published 2005 by Japan Publications Trading Company
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Ikebana is perhaps the most well-known and actively practiced of all Japan's traditional arts. Its origin dates back over six-centuries and it continues to be a vital art form today. There are numerous schools of ikebana, each with its own set of rules and techniques. One such school is the
Ichiyo School. Ichiyo, pronounce ee-chee-yo, meaning "one leaf" in Japanese, refers to the logo of the school. The School was founded in 1937 by a brother and sister, Meikof and Ichiyo Kasuya, who sought to create original ikebana that would be more suitable for modern lifestyles and environments.
Today the Ichiyo School instructs students worldwide and in 1996 the School founded centers for instruction both in Europe and the United States. They focus on two types of flower arrangement: one to fit diversified personal surroundings, from traditional Japanese tokonoma, or alcoves, to Western entry tables, and another for public spaces, from stage settings to hotel lobbies.
Akihiro Kasuya is the third son of Meikof Kasuya and became the school's third Iemoto (Headmaster) in 1983. CREATING IKEBANA beautifully illustrates some of Kasuya's most extraordinary creations, such as large displays featuring the school's tradition of the flowing and crossing forms, the use of color and emptiness, and the balance of asymmetry.
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