Announcement of books and related - Japan (English)
John Iriya
Summer 2002 - book news
About six to eight times per year we send out publications news. We hope you will like and benefit from eNews.
TOKYO: City on the Edge, by Todd Crowell and Stephanie Forman Morimura,
hardcover, 228pages, A5, $19.00, published 2002 by Asia 2000.
On the edge of disaster? Probably. All great cities eventually crumble,
but for now Tokyo is the greatest of the great metropolises. For a country
that seems to be in perpetual recession, Tokyo today is remarkably unconcerned.
"TOKYO: City on the Edge" is not a travel guide and too small to be a heavyweight
historical document. Each chapter takes a central theme to explore. The
reader will thus receive an interesting and informative intro on such themes
as: Viewpoints, Movement, Money, People, Style, Outsiders, Food, Fun, Pretensions,
Horizons, Past. This book should soon be in the bookstores, and it can NOW
be ordered from IMC. (This book was recently reviewed in the IHT/Asahi by
Keith McPhalen.)
Todd Crowell has also published in 2002 (Asia 2000) a walking guide to
Macau. Suggest you pick up a copy in Hong Kong before taking the ferry to
Macau, but we can supply it if needed here in Tokyo. DISCOVER MACAU: 8
Walks in Macau - A Guide and History (paperback, pocket size, 118pp).
This book will get you to venture beyond the casinos, and it will make some
old musty buildings and parks come alive with life and history.
FACES IN THE CROWDS: a Tokyo international anthology
, edited by Hillel Wright , paper, 254pages, A5, Yen 2,500, published May
2002
Poetry and short prose from Tokyo's "What the Dickens"
group, the "Tokyo Writers Group," the "Temple University Japan Poets,"
and others. More details and prices will be found by clicking
HERE
. FACES is now in the bookstores in Japan and is being well received.
It can be ordered from any shop that is supplied by Yohan. You can also order
from us at IMC.
In case you do not know it, the JET program is hugely important. Each year 6,000+ young foreigners, mostly from English-speaking countries but including men and women from nearly 40 countries, are hired to assist in teaching language in Japanese public middle and high schools. Spread throughout Japan, these JETs (foreign participants in the program) probably have more impact on youth in Japan than all the other foreigners (missionary, business, military, teaching, etc) who live in Japan. But there are problems. "Getting Both Feet Wet" presents 14 essays, seven by former JETs, seven by Japanese English teachers who work with JETs. The result neither condemns nor excessively praises the JET program, rather a balanced, friendly, but critical view emerges. This is a MUST book for those who want to know The JET Program.
JPGSpress, publishers of "Getting Both Feet Wet," is a new small press in Tokyo. JPGSpress seeks to help authors publish their books and assists with distribution in and outside Japan. Contact us at imcbook.net if you are an author/publisher who would like to cooperate with JPGSpress.
LONELY PLANET travel guides are available throughout Japan from all bookstores served by the major distributors of English books. Contact IMC if you have trouble finding the book thatyou want.
magazines and other periodicals
TOKYO JOURNAL, quarterly. Just Yen 1,950 per year. Subscribe from Summer issue (now available) or from next issue. TJ, like Tokyo has a long history of ups and downs. The summer issue has the smiling face of Konishiki on the cover. Get it at your English bookstore or subscribe. Come to think of it, Konishiki had plenty of ups and downs during his long sumo career, but managed to bounce back and, of course, keep a smile. Click the link for subscription info on TJ and popular magazines .
DAILY YOMIURI - Get the news delivered early every day. The English edition of Japan's largest newspaper. Click to order .
events
ALISHAN ORGANIC MARKET DAY - The Tengu Organic Food Shop will be offering discounts on everything. August 25, 10am-9pm, tel 0429-82-4811. For address see http://www.alishan-organic-center.com .
Jimbocho Book Festival - Coming in October. Tokyo's biggest annual book event. Bigger and better this year. This street fair (cancel on days of rain) will be extend to three days. Details will be online soon. All the book stores will be open and making special offers. We will have a wagon in the street fair. Almost all Japanese, except for us, but this Festival is great fun and free. Be prepared for lots of walking and big crowd.
To stop receiving "imcbook eNews" reply with "disable" in the Subject line. To add a new email address reply with "add" in the Subject line and put the new email address along with any comment in the body. "imcbook eNews" is a free occasional service of Intercontinental Marketing Corp. to announce new English publications, events and more that will be of interest to people living/working in Japan. An "Overseas ed" is available for people outside Japan who are interested in Japan and East Asia. Librarians and researchers should subscribe to the free "JPGS eNews" which is published about twice monthly. Our office is in Iriya.