Giving books for Christmas is a great idea, although finding the right book for the people on your list can be tricky. Here are a few of my favorites from the Japanese American bookshelf. Young Children “Kika, My First Word Book†by Fukiko Yamamoto; Chronicle Books; 2006 “Mad at Mommy†by Komako Sakai; Arthur A. […]
Finding rare books, inner peace at Forest Books
April 5, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Situated in the Buchanan Mall (Osaka Way) just a few stores away from Sutter Street is Forest Books, where the books are rare and the zendo floats. A 40-year zen Buddhist who studied writing, Forest Books owner Gregory Wood said he wanted to open a business that followed the Buddhist idea of right livelihood — […]
Hunger Games v. Battle Royale: Deja vu in simplification
April 3, 2012 by 1 Comment
No. No, no, no, no, no. For once, I will step out of my normal realm of being ironic and trite to give a solid argument on something that has been bothering me for the past few weeks. Hunger Games v. Battle Royale “The Hunger Games†by Suzanne Collins and “Battle Royale†By Koushun Takami […]
A legendary artist’s lifetime of loneliness
August 11, 2011 by Leave a Comment
THE EAST-WEST HOUSE: Noguchi’s Childhood in Japan By Christy Hale (New York: Lee and Low Books, 2009, 32 pp., $17.95, hardcover) Always having been curious about the life of biracial artist Isamu Noguchi, I was pleased to receive this book to review. Palo Alto, Calif. author and illustrator Christy Hale has created a lovely picture […]
Reading for recovery
August 5, 2011 by Leave a Comment
In the aftermath of the March 11 earthquake, tsunami and ongoing nuclear crisis, social media played a key role in raising funds for victims in the earthquake and tsunami-hit region. Through social media and e-book publications, several fundraising efforts have come to fruition in the form of books. Here are two books that support relief […]
Rice, it’s what’s for dinner
August 5, 2011 by Leave a Comment
THE HAWAI’I BOOK OF RICE: TALES, TRIVIA AND 101 GREAT RECIPES By Cheryl Chee Tsutsumi (Honolulu: Watermark Publishing, 2011, $15.95, paperback) A blend of history book, storybook and cookbook, “The Hawai’i Book of Rice†introduces readers to rice through a collection of personal anecdotes and original recipes gathered from chefs, individuals, and organizations. The influence […]
Anecdotes from times now past
August 5, 2011 by Leave a Comment
THE DEMON AT AGI BRIDGE AND OTHER JAPANESE TALES Edited by Haruo Shirane and translated by Burton Watson (New York: Columbia University Press, 2010, 160 pp., $22.50, paperback) Ancient texts from Japan are always a pleasure to read. They are filled with some of most fanciful stories available to readers, and provide enchanting tales similar […]
The father of Japanese American baseball
August 4, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Kenichi Zenimura: Japanese American Baseball Pioneer By Bill Staples Jr. (Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers, 2011, 282 pp., $40, paperback) Â As a fan of Japanese American baseball history, I have been anticipating the release of what is one of only a handful of books written on the subject so far. The book thoroughly […]
Life, nature, humanity and haiku
August 4, 2011 by Leave a Comment
COOL MELONS — TURN TO FROGS! THE LIFE AND POEMS OF ISSA Story and translations by Matthew Gollub, illustrated by Kazuko G. Stone (New York: Lee and Low Books, 1998, 40 pp., $9.95, paperback) Poignant English translations of Issa’s haiku, the same poem written in Japanese calligraphy, accompanied by biographical material about the life of […]
Man charged with English teacher’s murder releases a book about his years on the run
January 27, 2011 by 1 Comment
The man charged with killing a young English conversation teacher in Japan in 2007 has released a book about the 31 months he spent avoiding capture. In March 2007, Lindsay Ann Hawker, a 22-year-old British teacher, met Tatsuya Ichihashi at a cafe for an English lesson. She’d expressed some misgivings about him to her friends, […]
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