003 4 It is a great pleasure to be able to casually open A YEAR IN JAPAN , which stays next to my desk , and find a page by chance . On any given day , I might see a lovely two-page spread of maple leaves ; an absorbing story ( one of my favorites ) in the author's fine print / cursive mix about her task of carefully tracing out the characters of a sutra in order to gain admittance to the Moss Temple ; a tempting diagram of sweets made especially for moon viewing ; an account of GUYS AND DOLLS performed by an all-female , Japanese cast ; an illustration of a very comforting view from the inside of a Japanese taxi .
Every page is a pleasant portal into a world other than my own . The book is built loosely around the seasons and their shifting , and is thus also exciting as a work to be read through from front cover to back . Occasional references to the seasons provide an anchor for the reader , for example , you find out how traditional Japanese sweets have a specific shape and flavor in autumn , and about the kinds of umbrellas available during the rainy season .
The illustrations and texts are crafted with such thoughtfulness , brightness and love ( much like the above-mentioned sutra text ) that I am immediately transported into the author's world when I open the book , and feel delighted to share in her enchantment and exploratory spirit .
I always show friends this book when they visit .
004 4 All of the above reviews are right , incl . the guy who said it lacks depth . Yes , if what you are searching for is a travel guide or a novella , this is not it . If you are however , looking for a beautiful book of visuals and yummy little insights on Japanese culture , then you will not be disappointed .
I've not lived there , have visited a number of times , but the very day I received this book , I made plans to get back there ASAP !
Inspiring !
048 4 The positive reviews for this book must have been written by the author's friends . I was tricked into buying it by the hype and it turned up at the top of my Amazon search . There are some occasionally charming water colors but almost no text . The text that is present is adolescent , trivial and always mundane . This is not a book for anyone about to go to Japan or who has any interest in the subject . Absolutely no meat . Lots of watercolors of socks and wash clothes without any commentary other than I have never seen so may beautiful socks or so many stores devoted entirely to them . This advanced sock culture can be attibuted in part to the custom of removing one's shoes upon entering a home . This is 6 pages of the book and there is no further commentary _ WHY DO WE REMOVE OUR SHOES ? ? ! Do not bother with this silly and overpriced book . THis book came up on my search Japanese History _ BUYER BEWARE
Plum Blossoms , Signature Songs , Elegant Taxis , Electric Rugs , Indigo Fireflies , Lunch with a Geisha .
Kate T . Williamson designed and illustrated her book as well as wrote a journal of her year in Kyoto , Japan . She was enamoured with Japanese customs and objects ( like apples in foam cozies and mangos impaled on chopsticks to make less-sticky eating ) and created a book to celebrate them .
Williamson , who lives in New York City , studied filmmaking at Harvard University . Her love of travel and interest in sock design , along with a postgraduate fellowship , took her to Kyoto . For a year , she filled journals with her thoughts and sketches .
While reading of Williamson's discoveries during her year of noticing , I was reminded of Natalie Goldberg who has also written of her travels to Japan to explore the land of her Zen teacher . But mostly I'm reminded of Goldberg because of the attention paid to the celebration and naming of everyday things . As Goldberg says , naming something wakes you up to it . Both writers illustrate their work and I find pure delight in Goldberg's naive drawings , accompanying her poetry , just as I enjoyed Williamson's drawings and watercolours .
As for the names , Williamson gives the names of the ordinary things in Japanese as well as English . Green tea is matcha , used in tea ceremonies . To sweeten the matcha one eats a piece of wagashi , of molded sugar or bean paste . The illustration is a cup of green on a stark white page as if the artist has just drawn it and presented it to the reader .
Among Williamson's drawings are four pages of socks . She believes the popularity of sock stores and the proliferation of sock designs is partially due to the custom of removing one's shoes upon entering a home . She also studied shiborizome , a traditional textile art using sewing and indigo-dyeing . One of the first things Williamson noticed when she left the train station in Kyoto , was a display of washcloths in plaids and polka dots , orange and turquoise , red and magenta , lime and navy . Women carry them in their purses for drying their hands in public washrooms . Of course Williamson drew them too .
Rather than a chronological travelogue about her encounters and places visited , Williamson has written light-hearted and whimsical descriptions to remember Japanese customs , old and new . One of the old customs is moon-viewing . Many old residences have special platforms or rooms where nobles would gather to write moon-related verse as they gazed at the sky or into the moon's reflection in a nearby pond . There are sweets made especially for moon-viewing called tsukimi dango .
Among Williamson's watercolour illustrations are those of Kyoto's flowers and plant life . Some of the coloured drawings take up a two-page spread such as the hydrangea ( ajisai ) and cherry blossoms ( sakura ) . Cherry blossoms last for only a week and their fleeting beauty and impermanence is a reminder to be aware and present . I am reminded of Basho's haiku about the cherry blossom as a threshold between our inner and outer worlds .
As in a journal , there are no page numbers . The type is even in script so that it is like a traveller's journal full of memories - - but so very much neater ! Williamson took such pleasure in how much thought goes into appearances and actions in Japan so that details of beauty and nuances of word and deed are both expected and appreciated .
Whether you can visit Japan or not , the book is a reminder and tribute to all things Japanese . It's also a reminder to appreciate what is unique and precious about what's in front of us . You could call it an appreciation practice .
by Mary Ann Moore
for Story Circle Book Reviews
www.storycirclebookreviewsorg
reviewing books by , for , and about women
001 4 It's actually an interesting exercise to compare this colorful journal with Karin Muller's recent Japanland : A Year in Search of Wa . Whereas Muller approaches her sojourn as an almost anthropological expedition , author-artist Kate Williamson takes a decidedly more visual approach based on her own yearlong stay in Kyoto where she was studying , of all things , sock design . What sets apart Williamson's book are the bright watercolor illustrations that depict somewhat random aspects of Japanese life and culture . They show a sharp eye for authenticity and concurrently a sense of playfulness that reinforces the allure of Japan to the foreigner's eye .
She is fascinated by the famous wedded rocks at Meoto-Iwa , the patterns on washcloths , the colors available for backpacks , the foam cozies around apples , the difference in accessories between maiko girls and geishas , the everyday dress of sumo wrestlers , and the delicacies in a bento box . Luckily so am I . In between the pictures are brief essays that serve to provide back stories for the illustrations . Her impressions reflect an idiosyncratic eye , and her topics range from Hiroshima's one thousand paper cranes to karaoke private rooms to the details of the vegetarian cuisine of shojin-ryori to the rock n ' roll-obsessed temple carpenters of the Kyoto Rockabilly Club . It is obvious her designer instincts are well stimulated by the variety of textiles , umbrellas and accessories she discovers there . Williamson is able to bring this all together thanks to her singular perspective and an eye for minutiae that can truly define a culture . Nippon-ophiles can rejoice at her graphically pleasing book .
002 4 This witty , finely observed book is reflective about Japan and travel in ways that traditional guidebooks are not . With beautiful drawings and carefully chosen text , it provides insight into a culture that outsiders often find difficult to penetrate . More broadly , it is a moving and understated story of visiting a new place for the first time .
I'll give this book as a gift to friends with an interest in Japan or plans to visit , and would use it as a supplement to traditional tourist guides in my own travels there . I only wish that that there were more books like this one , striving to represent the spirit of a place instead of just telling you about its tourist sites .
005 4 A Year in Japan plays-up the quirky side of Japanese culture with observations of the random differences an American student encounters in the Japanese culture . All short descriptions are illustrated in delicate watercolor paintings . The pages of full of vibrancy , life and a sense of humor , while it remains clear that the artist / author still appreciates and admires the culture she is experiencing .
006 4 I love this book . It beautifully and poignantly focuses on observing the smallest details of Japanese life , and through these details creates a portrait of a culture , and of a place . What I found really refreshing was the book's unique , personal point of view . The handwritten text and striking illustrations , the delicately written observations , and the spare layouts are reverant and perfectly pitched .
This book meditates on and explores Japan generously and honestly . It doesn't claim to be definitive , doesn't attempt to objectively document Japan as a monolithic , easily consumed thing . It instead , through the accretion of detail , leaves one with a sense of wonder , a sense of timelessness , and a sense of grace .
The tone is personal and diaristic , but what emerges is an experience that the reader is engaged in and delighted by , and suggests an enriching , enchanting way of seeing and interacting with the world .
I felt like the book , and the author , were sharing with me .
Very highly recommended .
007 4 This is a very nice book capturing the Japanese culture and everyday life . The wonderful drawings make this book unique . Excellent for anyone looking for something besides the ordinary travel guide .
008 4 I hesitated buying this book but I'm so glad I did ! It's simply beautiful . It makes a great gift for anybody with an appreciation for art or an interest in Japan .
009 4 This beautiful book contains a wealth of detail , both in the artwork itself and in the author's commentary . The scenes will be instantly familiar to anyone who has visited Japan , and if you haven't , this book just might make you want to go . The artwork is complemented by the author's observations on Japanese visual culture - everything from package-wrapping to geisha style . The book allows you to see Japan not from a tourist's point of view but through an artist's eye .
In my opinion , some reviewers have missed the point - this book does not claim to be a novel , a travel guide , or even a memoir . It's simply a window into the everyday beauty of life in Japan .
010 4 Even before looking inside A Year in Japan , the fold-out back and front covers are wonders to behold . They contain smaller versions of the colourful interior illustrations and list topics that could be prompts for poems : Plum Blossoms , Signature Songs , Elegant Taxis , Electric Rugs , Indigo Fireflies , Lunch with a Geisha .
Kate T . Williamson designed and illustrated her book as well as wrote a journal of her year in Kyoto , Japan . She was enamoured with Japanese customs and objects ( like apples in foam cozies and mangos impaled on chopsticks to make less-sticky eating ) and created a book to celebrate them .
Williamson , who lives in New York City , studied filmmaking at Harvard University . Her love of travel and interest in sock design , along with a postgraduate fellowship , took her to Kyoto . For a year , she filled journals with her thoughts and sketches .
While reading of Williamson's discoveries during her year of noticing , I was reminded of Natalie Goldberg who has also written of her travels to Japan to explore the land of her Zen teacher . But mostly I'm reminded of Goldberg because of the attention paid to the celebration and naming of everyday things . As Goldberg says , naming something wakes you up to it . Both writers illustrate their work and I find pure delight in Goldberg's naive drawings , accompanying her poetry , just as I enjoyed Williamson's drawings and watercolours .
As for the names , Williamson gives the names of the ordinary things in Japanese as well as English . Green tea is matcha , used in tea ceremonies . To sweeten the matcha one eats a piece of wagashi , of molded sugar or bean paste . The illustration is a cup of green on a stark white page as if the artist has just drawn it and presented it to the reader .
Among Williamson's drawings are four pages of socks . She believes the popularity of sock stores and the proliferation of sock designs is partially due to the custom of removing one's shoes upon entering a home . She also studied shiborizome , a traditional textile art using sewing and indigo-dyeing . One of the first things Williamson noticed when she left the train station in Kyoto , was a display of washcloths in plaids and polka dots , orange and turquoise , red and magenta , lime and navy . Women carry them in their purses for drying their hands in public washrooms . Of course Williamson drew them too .
Rather than a chronological travelogue about her encounters and places visited , Williamson has written light-hearted and whimsical descriptions to remember Japanese customs , old and new . One of the old customs is moon-viewing . Many old residences have special platforms or rooms where nobles would gather to write moon-related verse as they gazed at the sky or into the moon's reflection in a nearby pond . There are sweets made especially for moon-viewing called tsukimi dango .
Among Williamson's watercolour illustrations are those of Kyoto's flowers and plant life . Some of the coloured drawings take up a two-page spread such as the hydrangea ( ajisai ) and cherry blossoms ( sakura ) . Cherry blossoms last for only a week and their fleeting beauty and impermanence is a reminder to be aware and present . I am reminded of Basho's haiku about the cherry blossom as a threshold between our inner and outer worlds .
As in a journal , there are no page numbers . The type is even in script so that it is like a traveller's journal full of memories - - but so very much neater ! Williamson took such pleasure in how much thought goes into appearances and actions in Japan so that details of beauty and nuances of word and deed are both expected and appreciated .
Whether you can visit Japan or not , the book is a reminder and tribute to all things Japanese . It's also a reminder to appreciate what is unique and precious about what's in front of us . You could call it an appreciation practice .
by Mary Ann Moore
for Story Circle Book Reviews
www.storycirclebookreviewsorg
reviewing books by , for , and about women
012 4 A Year in Japan is full of small , beautiful ( and sometimes very amusing ) , observations about daily life in Japan . It does not aim to be a guide book or a history of Japan . Instead , it is a beautifully illustrated look at some of the things which make Japan so interesting to outsiders - - from soy sauce containers shaped like little fish to sumo wrestlers and bento boxes . I've shown this book to people who know Japan well , and people who know nothing about it , and they've all been charmed by Ms . Williamson's drawings and wit .
013 4 Not only does Kate Williamson notice all the quirky kinds of details I really want people to notice when they visit a place ( the way apples are packaged , what women wear to see a musical , candy wrappers , etc . ) she draws these details in such a wonderful , whimsical , simple and beautiful way , I find myself wanting to take the book with me wherever I go . I very much hope that another book of Kate's drawings will appear someday soon !
014 4 A year in Japan is a beautifully written , illustrated diary book documenting the experience of an American art student in Japan .
It's organized around vignettes following no particular order , faithful to the experience of what it's like to visit and learn about an alien culture - winding back and forth from food presentations to clothing designs , back to food presentations , on to meeting Sumo wrestlers . . .
The illustrations are crisp , detailed watercolors that manage to bring together ceremonial with kitsch , solemnity with light-heartedness . Everyone I've shown the book to has been fascinated by them . I highly , LOUDLY recommend this to anyone interested in Japan , cross-cultural encounters or just contemplating beautiful watercolors .
015 4 I purchased this based on reviews and the fact that I'm fascinated by Japanese culture . It's a jewel of a book - the illustrations are beautiful and I was really suprised as the quality of the text . It's as if a good friend came back from her travels and shared wonderful stories of her time spent in Japan . It's also a lovely book if you like using art journals as inspiration for your creative pursuits , plus it would make a great gift .
016 4 I am so glad that people like Kate T . Williamson and her publishing company , Princeton Architectural Press , are brave enough to create such a refreshing work of art ! This book is exquisite . It is more than art , it is more than a travelogue - - it is a woman's perception of an amazing culture through lovely watercolors and quirky tales . I was sad when I quickly devoured the entire volume in one sitting , and found myself wishing Williamson had more books of this stature and mood , one for every nation there is . A Year in Japan is my favorite book now , and I find myself having to tote it everywhere , to puruse when I have down time .
DELIGHTFUL .
017 4 This review is from :
A Year in Japan ( Paperback )
This isn't a Happy Meal or a steak dinner or an endless buffet of plot twists . It's a perfect balance of subtle flavors .
Inside the immaculately printed and bound pages of this book are a series of delicious and light courses . Small tastes of the exotic , the amusing , the beautiful , and the unique are served on heavy pagestock for the reader's pleasure .
Completely satisfying .
018 4 This isn't a Happy Meal or a steak dinner or an endless buffet of plot twists . It's a perfect balance of subtle flavors .
Inside the immaculately printed and bound pages of this book are a series of delicious and light courses . Small tastes of the exotic , the amusing , the beautiful , and the unique are served on heavy pagestock for the reader's pleasure .
Completely satisfying .
019 4 This review is from :
A Year in Japan ( Paperback )
A book full of fun and humor by Kate T . Willamson is just the thing I needed to relax this past week . With colorful images and interesting observations she brings a small piece of Japan for the readers to enjoy . Socks , blossoms , food and people are all subjects of interest to the author as she traveled about Japan for a year . Just have to wonder about her footwear fetish .
020 4 A book full of fun and humor by Kate T . Willamson is just the thing I needed to relax this past week . With colorful images and interesting observations she brings a small piece of Japan for the readers to enjoy . Socks , blossoms , food and people are all subjects of interest to the author as she traveled about Japan for a year . Just have to wonder about her footwear fetish .
021 4 As a child , I always had the fantasy of digging a hole all the way through to the other side of the world and taking a peek at life there . This book allows me to relive this fantasy . It is truly a gem and a breath of fresh air . As a kind of picture book for adults , it is filled with wonderful illustrations and interesting tidbits on life in Japan . It is a very relaxing book and a pure joy to read . Even though this book can be read in one sitting , I felt like I had traveled to Japan and back . Williamson does an outstanding job in presenting Japanese life , traditions , and culture .
022 4 This book is journal of first hand experiences of the author and the year she spent in Japan . The drawings and entries she leaves can only have come from someone that went with Open Eyes . Her entries are not judgmental but instead give the reader a taste of Japan . It has been almost a year since I was in Kyoto , and this book has me wanting to go back soon .
023 4 This book is exquisite ! I highly recommend it for anyone interested in Japan , art or travel journals . Though it does not provide maps , train schedules , or restaurant recommendations , the reader will be left with a very vivid and idiosyncratic impression of a most fascinating ( and aesthetically fertile ) culture . Ms . Williamson's observations are keen and wry - her paintings lovely . This book is the perfect gift .
024 4 This book is awesome ! It's inspiring for both kids and adults to see Williamson's unique noticings about Japan . It naturally broadens one's ideas about the question : What is culture ? Williamson melds intellectual musings with aesthetic explanations in the most charming way .
025 4 This is an art book . I don't think it's meant to be a travel guide - - tho it could give one some ideas for what to see in Japan . It's the insightful experiences of a young woman's year in Japan . The illustrations are lovely and quirky . It's a graphic memoir . This is a book to be saved - - not read once and tossed away . It's a collector's item and a gift book .
026 4 I recommend A Year in Japan to anytone who is interested in Japanese culture and to everyone who appreciates the beauty of line and color and artistic expression . This book not only feeds the mind but is a feast for the eye as well . A wonderful idea for a gift but once you leaf through the pages , I believe you will be compelled to purchase a second copy for your own enjoyment .
027 4 I love this book . It's simple and beautiful and a great gift for anyone interested in Japan . I've found kids love it too , since it's illustration-based . Great job , Kate .
028 4 This is an amazing book . I lived in Japan for two years , and this book gave my family a feeling for why I loved spending time in Japan so much . She finds fascinating little details of the culture , which she illustrates in nice watercolors and writes about .
029 4 I bought this book just before moving to Osaka , Japan , and I must say Williamson's observations of the small details of that strange and endearing land are so perfect , that by the end of my time there , I felt as though A Year in Japan was MY travel journal . Her whimsical illustrations done in delicate watercolors , and her brief writing to accompany the images , are not meant to be a travel guide informing you on the best udon shop or the cheapest place to stay , but rather to point out all the little things that make Japan unique . I will forever treasure this book as if it were my own story of Japan .
This book would be perfect as a gift to someone who is interested in Japanese culture or for someone who has lived there . It would also make a great coffee table book . It is NOT meant to be a travel guide . There's very little to read ; it's more about the illustrations .
030 4 This review is from :
A Year in Japan ( Paperback )
Like Williamson's other book At a Crossroads , this book is also stylishly illustrated and personal . The author definitely has an eye for details and has made astute observations about a foreign culture . It's an enjoyable , pictorial journal of one's post-college travel . A pleasant read .
031 4 Like Williamson's other book At a Crossroads , this book is also stylishly illustrated and personal . The author definitely has an eye for details and has made astute observations about a foreign culture . It's an enjoyable , pictorial journal of one's post-college travel . A pleasant read .
032 4 This is such a lovely book , with each page a gift of grace and beauty and humor as it seems to capture through its aesthetic , the sensibilities , colors and tone of Japan and the Japanese people . I have not yet had the opportunity to travel to this rich and fascinating country , but Kate Williamson's book is a delicious enticement to make it happen .
033 4 This book is gorgeous ! Filled with beautiful watercolors and quirky / poignant observations . It definitely gives you a unique sense of what it's like to live in Japan .
034 4 I've always wanted to go to Japan but haven't had the chance to . This book enables me to travel and participate in the culture / society without leaving my chair . It also makes me want to , more than ever , see the country in person . It is the perfect collection of observations on pop culture , the everyday , food , nature , and tradition in Japan . The author manages to be both sensitive in her descriptions as well as entertaining . Her illustrations are wonderfully vibrant . The flowers are gorgeous and the food tempts me to reach into the pages for a taste . This would be a great book for anyone with an interest in Japan , or even someone who is not yet familiar with this complex culture .
035 4 Ms . Williamson's book is a fine example of an artist taking her observations of the world and presenting them to the reader in a way that makes everyday life into something magical and rich with her uniquely beautiful illustrations and commentary . The reader is taken into this world that many of us only get to glimpse - - this is a true gift that the author gives us that anyone would happily appreciate !
036 4 This book is beautifully written and illustrated . It gives thoughtful insights into the Japanese culture .
037 4 I love this book . It's simple and beautiful and has made a great present for everyone I know , especially those with an interest in Japan . Also , kids I take care of have also really enjoyed it , as it's illustration-based . Get it !
038 4 This review is from :
A Year in Japan ( Paperback )
I got the book and had it finished in the same day , a good book , very fast . The book is very personal and not full of facts , its a good look at the authors view of Japan , but if your looking for some facts about Japan then try another book .
039 4 I got the book and had it finished in the same day , a good book , very fast . The book is very personal and not full of facts , its a good look at the authors view of Japan , but if your looking for some facts about Japan then try another book .
040 4 A Year in Japan is a lovely coffeetable or quick skim to get fun snippets of Japanese life . It has lovely images . I read it in 20 minutes .
042 4 This is an even more beautiful book than I thought it would be . As with all illustrated books , how much you like it will depend on how much you like the illustrator's style . Luckily , I love Kate T . Williamson's style , rendered simply with black outlines and bright colours . I lived in Tokyo for three years and felt that she captured much of what is memorable and visually interesting about Japan - that I would've liked to capture myself if I could draw . . .
044 4 This review is from :
A Year in Japan ( Paperback )
This book was not what I expected . It is a picture book with some basic stories . It lacks depth and excitement . The book is mainly a collection of watercolors and basic observations of Japan . The observations / text are typically 1 page each and look like copies of her handwritten journal . For someone who is going to Japan and has never been to Japan or likes Japanese art this might be a good gift . For someone who has been to Japan and knows about Japanese culture this book is not that interesting unless you are looking for a very basic intro to Japan and some Japanese art in one book . The book did offer a creative style and nice pictures , but it was simply too light and lacking for me . For a far better story and much book on Japan overall checkout Karin Muller , A Year in Search of Wa .
046 4 Don't spend your money on this book . I was through within 30 minutes . It's a bunch of drawn pictures with a few sentences to each picture . I don't quite know what to say to this book , but it's really not a book . It's more like a well-meant children's diary with drawn illustrations ( sometimes 1 small branch over 2 pages and nothing more ) . There is SOOOOOO much wasted space and paper ! There is no subsence to this book whatsoever and very few and poor explanations . I think the author would have been better off taking beautiful pictures of Japan , which speak for themselves , instead of these child-like drawings that bring you anything but close to Japan . I hate to be so mean , but the book really isn't even worth $5 . I just don't understand the purpuse of so much wasted space and paper . It's almost like she didn't know how to fill all those pages . . . .
047 4 Why bother with this book ? If the author were creating this for herself ( i.e . , like the way we write in our own journals ) that's perfectly fine . But for an audience other than the self , this books is useless , and meaningless . For an audience other than the self , the author needs to give more in-depth illustrations and textual explanations . Pictures do not speak for themselves when one is a stranger to the place the pictures come from .
Do not buy this book . Go to your local bookstore and read / glance at the darn thing for 20 minutes ( or less ) and you'll be done .
