Tokyo Fashion City – A Guide to Tokyo’s Trendiest Fashion Districts by Philomena Keet, with photography by Yuri Manabe (Tuttle, 2016) is a fantastically detailed fashion bible, perfect for anyone with an interest in Japanese fashion, street fashion and Japanese culture. It is packed with colourful pictures of young fashionistas on the streets of Tokyo, reminding … Continue reading
Miso Tasty, my favourite supplier of miso (みそ) in the UK, created by chef and food blogger extraordinaire Bonnie Chung, has just published a fantastic new cookbook! Not only is this a lovely book to have on your shelf (it feels nice and fabricy and is beautifully designed with delicious photos throughout), it’s also packed … Continue reading
The Bullet Train Murder is the latest in Fran Pickering‘s ‘Josie Clark in Japan’ mystery series: When a body’s found on Japan’s famous bullet train it’s got nothing to do with Josie Clark. Or has it? Tokyo-based expat Londoner Josie Clark hopes her transfer to Osaka will give her career a boost, even though it means commuting weekly … Continue reading
With Smiling Sushi Roll lunch can resemble great works of art, like Munch’s “The Scream,” and Rodin’s “The Thinker.” In this unique and humorous sushi book, illustrator and maki artist Tama-chan (Takayo Kiyota) shows how basic ingredients like rice, seaweed, pickles, and cucumber can be used like paint and ink to create maki that is … Continue reading
In Dharma Delight, abstract artist and Zen practitioner Rodney Greenblat uses light-hearted narrative and vivid pop art paintings to celebrate the joys of living life from the inside out. Part graphic guide, part personal testimony, part art book, Dharma Delight illustrates how seeking the path of compassion and acceptance can be as zany and exuberant … Continue reading
I recently had the pleasure of receiving some sample copies of one of Seigensha Art Publishing‘s latest offerings: 360° BOOK. These two books, Mount Fuji (富士山) and Snow White (白雪姫), are really fun, beautiful books, and they would make great gifts. Seigensha say of this series: The 360° BOOK is a new revolutionary format that enables the … Continue reading
Ever since watching the Grand Designs episode about the Japanese-style house in Monmouthshire, east Wales (and possibly for a long time before that), I’ve dreamt of having my own, beautifully designed Japanese house here in the UK. (I’ve just discovered that this property is actually available to rent for holidays now and have started dreaming … Continue reading
The bastard child of Haruki Murakami’s 1Q84 and Stephen King’s Carrie, Kai explores how one innocent girl becomes the target of enormous rage living inside another girl-who is seemingly from another world. Satsuki Takamoto is an invisible otaku teenager in Hiroshima. The only thing she has going for her is the upcoming birth of her … Continue reading
Thank you to everyone who entered my competition for a chance to win a copy of Tokyo: Capital of Cool by Rob Goss (see the review and competition post here). The winner has been selected by a random draw, and will be contacted shortly. I’m delighted to announce that the winner is… ☆★☆ Kavey ☆★☆ Kavey said: “For me … Continue reading
Tokyo: Capital of Cool by Rob Goss (Tuttle, 2015) is a really gorgeous book, and so much more than just a city guide. This book takes you on a journey through Japan’s capital and its surrounding areas, illustrated beautifully with vivid colour photos which really capture the essence of this vibrant city. Tokyo: Capital of Cool … Continue reading
Haikugirl's Japan 