the often awkward questions frequently posited him by his friends , coworkers , and students ; the stark dissimilarities between the Japanese and the American-style classroom ; the extent to which Feiler's foreign appearance and personality caused him to stand out amid an otherwise fairly uniform populace . In nearly every chapter , I found myself laughing out loud . As the book progressed , however , I became disturbed by the author's general exclusion of personal reflections on his experiences . For example , it remains ambiguous whether the author is interested in trying nanpa - - a procedure in which strangers pick up on women in bars , discos , or similar environments , mostly popular among young Japanese men - - out of a genuine desire to procure a Japanese girlfriend , or merely in demonstration of a detached cultural curiosity . He interjects almost no explicit discussions of his feelings or emotional reactions toward the many shocking , challenging , and even tragic events that he encounters throughout the narrative . As someone interested in going to Japan to teach English , and curious about the types of experiences had by Americans who have done so in the past , this particular quality of Feiler's narrative was a bit disappointing .
By the end of the book , however , I came to the realization that the very inclusion of certain information in Feiler's memoir speaks volumes on the nature of the clash between Western and Japanese culture . The details that Feiler includes on the overbearingly autocratic leadership style of his school principle , the structure of a seventh-grade fieldtrip to Disneyland Tokyo , and the reaction of Japanese students toward his unorthodoxly American pedagogical style all attest to the impression that Feiler was deeply moved and challenged by his interactions with Eastern culture . And the laughter and tears that several of his anecdotes drew forth compel me to conclude that these passages were not written without emotional affectation .
In my preparation to move overseas to teach and live among an unfamiliar society , I found this book deeply enlightening and encouraging . As previous experiences abroad have taught me , being a foreigner in a new country can be a direly lonely and often stressful experience . Feiler has given us an insightful and meaningful account of what Americans moving to Japan ought to expect from the culture clash , as well as detailed many interesting aspects of Japanese society that outsiders interested in the country might not otherwise consider . I highly recommend it .
001 4 The primary strength of this book is the writing style . Unlike many books about Japanese culture , this book is funny and living . The book contains a series of anecdotes , each one focusing on a particular experience that Bruce S . Feiler had during his stay . The stories are written as first-person memoirs , and cover such broad topics as Hiroshima and Nagasaki to how to date a Japanese girl . The writing is clever and engaging .
The only thing I felt this book was lacking was an update of some sort . Written about 11 years ago , Learning to Bow is about Japan during the bubble economy . Japan has gone through severe economic and societal changes since then , and I wonder how much of the information is still current . Surely , with the JET program in full swing for several decades now , the presence of foreigners is not such a surprise anymore . Also , the place of women has gone through some significant changes since this book was written .
Still , anyone planning a long-term stay in Japan should read this book . It is fun , insightful and has great tips for climbing Mt . Fuji .
002 4 If I hadnt actually lived in Japan i could see how i could mistake this thing for authoritive , but it amazes me that anyone who has lived out here more than a year could see this as much more than the bag of wind it is . With its pretentious title and lofty quotations of translated haikus , Feiler proves he knows how to make a good impression . The problem is , if you actually read it , you realize he isnt much good at doing anything else .
At the time of writing this book , Feiler had been living out here a year as JET highschool teacher ( though he doesnt actually admit to that in so many words - to hear him tell it , he was here on special invite from the japanese goverment , as if he was some kind of high-ranking diplomat ) . The title ( Inside the heart of Japan ) and chapter headings ( Drinking alone in rural Japan , for example ) , suggest that by reading it you'll gain powerful , poetic realities about this mysterious country . But every chapter left me unsastisfied . He has a habit of starting chapters with an overwritten account of the kind of thing everyone does within a week of being here , and then , when its time to actually say anything , starts quoting press articles off the english language news services wire . If you comb the book carefully to seperate these rote repetitions of facts already freely available from what he actually writes himself , you'll be left with a very slim and trite account of japan indeed .
Its a good thing for the author there are so few books of this type about Japan out there , because if people had more to compare it with they'd realize how bad it is . Anyone who came out here to teach english for a year and scanned the internet for newspaper articles to quote from for padding could have written this book .
003 4 Bruce Feiler was one of the first participants on the JET program , a program sponsored by the Japanese government to bring foreign young people to Japan for the purposes of education and internationalization . While Feiler's experiences are a little unusual , in that he can already speak Japanese when he arrives and the events at his school are rather dramatic , overall his story reflects the life of a typical JET program participant . The culture shock , the unbending bureaucracy , the complex and often disaffected attitudes of students , the instant celebrity and lack of privacy that goes with it , are all symptoms that JETs experience . I read the book and often found myself nodding in agreement , having experience the same events and feelings myself . If you want to have an intimate look at the world of education in Japan today , Feiler's book is an excellent place to start . If you are thinking about joining the JET program , this book is a must , along with Importing Diversity .
004 4 I was very disappointed in this book . I have lived in Japan for 6 years ( and still do ) , married and taught on the JET Programme . As a former JET I was disheartened as this book does not paint an accurate picture of life in Japan as a JET . Granted people's experiences differ from prefecture to prefecture and from school to school , but Learning to Bow's anecdotes and observations about Japan are far too extreme and at times border on lies . Also the frequent use of sarcasm and satire is not in anyway humorous and portrays the author as god's gift to English teaching . For anyone curious about life on the JET Programme , teaching English in Japan or life in Japan in general , I do not recommend this book .
005 4 I can understand how people who haven't lived in Japan could mistake this book as authoritive , but it amazes me that anyone who has lived out here more than a year could see this as much more than the bag of wind it is . With its pretentious title and lofty quotations of translated haikus , Feiler proves he knows how to make a good impression . The problem is , if you actually read it , you realize he isn't much good at doing much else as a writer .
Stylistically , this book is an imitation of travel writer Pico Iyer's The Lady and the Monk : Four Seasons in Kyoto , but while Feiler has the poetic trappings down , he doesn't have the insight into Japan to back it up .
At the time of writing this book , Feiler had been living out here a year as JET highschool teacher ( though he doesnt actually admit to that in so many words - to hear him tell it , he was here on special invite from the Japanese goverment , as if he was some kind of high-ranking diplomat ) . The title ( Inside the heart of Japan ) and chapter headings ( Drinking alone in rural Japan , for example ) , are great - they suggest that by reading it you'll gain powerful , poetic realities about this mysterious country . But every chapter left me unsastisfied . He has a habit of starting chapters with an overwritten account of the kind of thing everyone does within a week of being here ( drinking in a Karaoke bar , bathing at an Onsen , etc ) , and then , when its time to actually say anything , starts quoting press articles off the english language news services wire , listing off statistics about how many hours kids study after school and so on . If you comb the book carefully to seperate these rote repetitions of facts already freely available from what he actually writes himself , you'll be left with a very slim and trite account of japan indeed .
Its a good thing for the author there are so few books of this type about Japan out there , because if people had more to compare it with they'd realize how bad it is . Anyone who came out here to teach english for a year and scanned the internet for newspaper articles to quote from for padding could have written this book .
If you want to know more about life in Japan , Try the book by Pico Iyer it was cribbed from , or better still , Hitching Rides with the Buddha , by Will Ferguson . Not as flashy in style , but a lot more knowledgeable and heavier in substance .
006 4 As one who logged a few years teaching in Japan around the same era , the subject matter certainly interests me , and this is an interesting study of Japanese culture and the experience of AETs as existed in the late 1980s .
However , the book is a bit dated and I don't know how accurate of a portrayal it'd be for those interested in the Japan teaching experience of today . During the author's experience , the JET program was in its early years and gaijin in the classrooms was still a novelty . In the last 20 years or so , however , an entire generation has grown up accustomed to native english teachers and encounters with foreigners no longer prompt the level of surprise , ignorance , and curiosity portrayed by this author . Also , this book was written at the apex of Japan's bubble economy , and SO many of the attitudes , beliefs and opinions expressed in the book about Japan and its future are the product of that era , circumstances that have obviously changed dramatically in the years since the bubble burst .
Also found parts to be exaggerated . As one example , the author repeatedly informs us of what a rural backwards hamlet he was assigned to , I believe at one point even alleging that most people in his town had never seen a foreigner before him . I found these descriptions dubious : in reality Tochigi contains about 2 million people , is located in the most populous region of Japan on the outskirts of the Kanto plain right next to Tokyo , and contains sites like Nikko that attract thousands of foreign tourists every year . It is hardly the inaka backwoods outpost depicted in this book .
Also found it a bit odd the way the author seemed intent on avoiding mentioning that he was actually just a teacher in the JET Programme , which is well-known and imports thousands of new young english teachers every year to serve in public schools throughout Japan . Instead , he described his job in vaguely pretentious terms along the lines of I was selected by Japan's Ministry of Education , as if to imply that he alone was some sort of specially selected ambassador .
Nonetheles , despite having aired these pet peeves , I must admit that I still enjoyed the read because it brought me back to an earlier much enjoyed time in my life . I'd recommend the read to Japan has beens like myself , but not necessarily to those seeking an accurate portrayal of today's Japan teaching experience .
007 4 Like many people in Japan this book was recommended to me but I didn't want to read it . A friend gave me a copy and eventually I read it .
The author gets so many things wrong about Japan that I wonder if he really spoke as much Japanese as he suggests . I often found my self scoffing at his opinions and explanations . It seems this was the end of his Japanese experience as he has gone on to write books on other topics .
He also strikes me as quite a loner , if this is the summary of his social interaction he must have had a lonely time , which on the JET Programme is not uncommon .
However he has a very good writing style which makes up for a lot of his failures . I'd suggest reading it and enjoying his perspective but be wary of his explanations .
008 4 Feiler's book is entertaining at times and tiresome at others . The entertaining parts are the stories he tells about his experiences ; however , his attempt to analyze Japan sound too much like a regurgitation of other books that purport to introduce Japanese culture .
As others have pointed out , the information is quite dated and Japanese high schools have changed greatly . It suffers also from some rather curious translations , which mystify rather than clarify . I'm not sure I'd call shiso mint or edible chrysanthemum a bright yellow daisy . Even more mysterious is how he manages to translate higaisha as one who receives pressure when the characters literally mean receiving injury person . A much better translation is victim , and in fact Japan's victim consciousness is an important theme in how they understand WWII . James Orr's book Victim as Hero explores this theme carefully .
If you're interested in finding out about Japanese culture , read something by a trained anthropologist . If you're interested in someone's experiences in Japan in the late 1980s then parts of this book will serve you well .
009 4 Every gaijin ( foreigner ) who visits or lives in Japan is going to have a completely different experience , and thankfully , Feiler wrote his impressions down . My uncle gave me this book in hardback when it first came out in 1991 because Feiler is from his hometown of Savannah , Georgia . I'm glad to see it's still in print in paperback because it's a classic that anyone interested in Japanese culture should read .
Feiler begins his book by bravely stating , I dropped my pants and felt a rush of cool wind against my legs . He's standing on a stone path in the cool of evening his first night out of Tokyo . Twelve sets of eyes peer curiously at him , whom we learn are his new co-workers in the school where he's teaching . Yes , this is quite a bit of culture shock . Whereas in the states , a new teacher might be taken to a luncheon , Feiler says , As a newcomer in Japan , I would be welcomed into my office as I was welcomed into the world : with a bare body and a fresh bath .
The author's sense of humor is evident throughout the book , and he spices up a tremendous volume of research with his engaging narrative . Since he's encountering everything for the first time , he describes his reactions in a way that helps initiate readers into Japan's fascinating and unique culture .
I found it amazing that Feiler could experience so much in one year . For example , he breaks his ankle and must visit a hospital , which makes one understand why studying the Japanese language before embarking can come in handy . ( Feiler appears to be fluent ; did he learn that at Yale ? ) He attends sports day , field trips , city and small-town events , a wedding , and of course , the climactic journey up Mt . Fuji .
Feiler's trip up Mt . Fuji was my favorite part of the book , and something I longed to do when I visited the Tokyo area - - yet I traveled mid-peak by car instead of on foot . When the author finally makes it to the top , he describes his view for us armchair travelers : Standing on an isolated spot atop this ancient volcano , far removed from the crowds of Tokyo . . . we popped open our bottle of imported champagne and beheld the sight that has inspired a nation since the gods of heaven first descended the bridge to the Land of the Central Plain : the caress of the Rising Sun . ( This ancient myth is explained in detail in the book . )
If you're planning on going to teach or travel in Japan , Feiler's work is a must-read ; for no other reason , it will whet your appetite for writing down your own experiences ( yes , he must have carried a notebook everywhere he went ! ) . But you definitely should read more recent literature written by other travelers , as well as by native Japanese . I also recommend a good basic Nihongo course , so you'll be able to navigate the train systems in case you journey outside of the major cities . Or if by chance you end up in the hospital with a broken something or other .
- - Reviewed by Heather Lynn Ivester
010 4 This book is well-written and flows very well . However , some of the events in the book and the way that they are described are too black and white for my tastes . A good read , but if you are considering teaching or living in Japan , take this book with a grain of salt .
011 4 This book is very good . Having lived in Japan for a year and a half , I knew some of the realities of school life . This book de-mythologizes the educational system and shows you not only its impressive strengths , but also its fatal flaws . I thought it had a very balanced approach . It would be great to read whenever you feel that the American educational system is being left in the dust . It will raise your spirits .
012 4 Many of the previous reviews have pointed out Mr Feller's haughty condescension but what really makes his book a drag is how breathtakingly boring it is . Naked with other men in a hot spring bath ? Good gracious me ! As another reviewer pointed out , anybody who comes to Japan will experience virtually everything in this book in the first week ; what that other reviewer failed to mention is that nobody else will decide to write a tedious book about it all . Filled with shallow ' insights ' and yawn-inducing ' adventures ' , Feller's book is a soporific account of a dull year as lived by a dull individual who managed , somehow , to con a publisher into releasing this dull book . The fact that it's still in print boggles the mind .
If you're interested in a good read on Japan look for either of Alan Booth's books ( Looking For The Lost & The Roads To Sata ) , John Morley's Pictures From The Water Trade , Will Ferguson's Hokkaido Highway Blues , or anything by Lafcadio Hearn . All of those authors deliver . Mr Feller's book might be useful for chronic insomniacs but everybody else should steer well clear .
013 4 Into both the strengths and weakness of not only Japan's educational system , but its culture as a whole . We as Westerners have a tendency to perceive the Japanese as having a perfect society , but this book helps to expose its flaws . Yes , their economy , schools , etc , etc are ( or at least often seem ) superior to our own , but as Mr . Feiler points out rather repeatedly , is it worth the price of ultimate conformity they are asked to pay ? While I certainly think we can learn many , many things from them , they can also learn much from us . I would rather come from the inferior American educational system than give up so many of my freedoms of personal expression .
As an added bonus , Mr . Feiler's book is not only immensely informative , it is a fun read with lots of interesting nuggets of trivia about Japanese culture and history . And the way the chapters are broken down into very specific themes ( they are even each introduced with a quote to help illuminate that chapter's theme ) would make it an excellent choice to use in the classroom at the high school or college level , in segments or as a whole .
Overall , highly recommended !
014 4 As an employee of a Japanese company I expecially enjoyed this insightful revelation of everyday life in small town Japan . The writing is very clear and fast paced . I could feel myself in his shoes much of the time and at several points laughed out loud . He has a strong entry to start the book that hooked me within 10 pages . I strongly reccommend this for anyone curious about the world and especially for anyone working with or for the Japanese . Great cultural insights are provided as well as a clear explanation of the mechanisms , style , strengths and weaknesses of their school system , parenting and home life
015 4 I was extremely put off by the disrespectful perspective the author used to describe the people that befriended him in a country where he was a guest . Instead of progressing to some enlightenment , the author's descriptions continued to be universally shallow and derisive . He showed a definite lack of understanding about the ancient culture that he encountered . His prejoritive names for families and coworkers were offensive to me , and I imagine would be highly unkind should they be read by the people who were kind to him and allowed him into their home and their lives .
It should be noted that he did attempt to comprehend reasons for some behaviors and practices that seemed counter-productive to the students that he taught . In this way , he may have attempted to break down barriers . However , he reverted to describing people and events in detail to point out what appeared ridiculous to him .
Ever hopeful that the author would arrive at some self-awareness and some respect for the culture that received him , I read the book to the end . Unfortunately , the author never changed in his attitude , continuing to prove that he learned little about himself in that year abroad .
The result was that he provided the perfect reason why Americans are viewed as arrogant , uneducated and disrespectful of anyone except themselves .
. . . . The author truely revealed himself as the prototype Ugly American .
Don't waste your time . He never Learned to Bow .
017 4 I remember when this book came out , and was a must-read for any American doing business in Japan . I didn't read it then because I ' d spent time in Japan myself , had my own ideas about it , and had many Japanese friends ( Japanese-born and working abroad ) living here in the United States . I figured I had better things to do than read what I suspected were the gosh-gee musings of a southern-born Yale boy , fresh out of college . Well , I just read it recently because I happened to find it lying around here ( my husband's purchase , way back when ) , and I have discovered that my suspicions were correct . Feiler writes with a poorly disguised superiority , in which the wry amusement and wonder he aims for come across as slightly cranky paternalism . This kind of book works only when the writer ( generally one more mature and less stick-up-the-wazoo than Feiler ) , genuinely loves the people and culture he's writing about . Or , conversely , when he's honest about disliking the country and it's people and he has the writing chops to make such misanthropy funny . Feiler straddles here . Furthermore , his writing is immature and poorly edited . He actually misuses the two-dollar word enamored , writing enamored with instead of enamored of ! In such ways do I judge young writers . If you want to sound like a big ol ' Yale man , use a stlylebook and dictionary . Or get a better editor .
Don't bother with this over-hyped and outdated book .
018 4 I came to Japan at the invitation of the Japanese Ministry of Education . . . indeed ! Feiler has a very high opinion of himself . And isn't it a bit inappropriate for a teacher to kiss the hand of a junior high girl , let alone a junior high girl of another culture ? I've been reading a lot of Japanese non-fiction and travel essays since a recent visit to Japan and so far this book ranks low in terms of enjoyment , educational value and insight because of its pretentious tone .
019 4 Bruce Feiler spent a year teaching English in a Japanese junior high school in Tochigi prefecture . His book contains both his observations on the Japanese school system and his own experiences as an American living in Japan for the first time . He also takes time to explain unfamiliar aspects of the culture , from Shinto religious practices to the evolution of the Japanese school lunch . This is a very appealing introduction to Japan from a young man who admires many aspects of Japanese culture but does not hesitate to criticize other aspects . There are some wonderful set pieces , such as his introduction to an onsen ( hot spring ) communal bath , his stay in a hospital , and his climb of Mt . Fuji . Feiler was in Japan in the late 80 ' s , so some of his observations are , of course , dated , but that's hardly a good reason not to read this fine book . How could a memoir not be dated in the sense that it conveys a particular time and place ? Feiler's strength as a writer is the blend of sharp observation and humor ( including the self-deprecating kind ) that he brings to his book . He depicts very well the sort of lost in translation moments that any traveler to Japan ( or any other unfamiliar place ) is bound to have . A further plus is the way he avoids the hushed , reverential tone found in some other accounts by travelers to Japan . This is a particularly useful book if you are planning a trip to Japan yourself .
020 4 If you think that traveling means staying in one place for awhile , then you'll love this book . Learning to Bow gives readers a look not at the urban Japanese who are already beginning to live slightly outside the boundaries of their society's expectations , but the village Japanese . These are the people who sometimes do not even travel to Tokyo , much less Hawaii , S.F . or NYC ! Feiler treats his subjects with kindess an affection , and admits that he is comparing Japanese society to American society . I couldn't put it down .
021 4 I may not a good reviewer because I stopped reading at page 50 but I believe this is not at all a good book to read if you want to learn about Japanese culture . As a Japanese born and raised in Japan I find this book extremely humiliating .
022 4 While it was maybe more relevant back when it was written there are a few things that have changed . Yes , Sano is now not what I would consider country-side . It is much more grown up , and even has an outlet mall ! And Japan is no longer in the bubble-era , which means that excessive spending has been capped .
However , most startling are the things that haven't changed in Japan . The education system has changed little . The main difference being that the students are more used to seeing a foreigner in their school as the JET program and other similar companies have been around for a number of years .
I was also surprised at the author's often ethnocentric views . For someone who says he studied Japanese language ( and one would assume at least a little of the culture from the language lessons ) , he seemed surprisingly ignorant about Japan . It is even more shocking since he says that he studied in Japan for 6 months . I can understand certain moments of disbelief - I still have them after being here for some time - but his lack of cultural understanding was unacceptable . What exactly did he learn in his Japanese classes ? Or was he exaggerating his ability , like he exaggerated many other points in his book ? The way in which he would just confront people , openly , rather than simply accepting the differences , or at least being less confrontational , was mind-boggling .
It isn't a bad book , per se , but some of his claims are not substantiated which makes it hard to take him seriously at parts . When read along other accounts it helps to paint a picture of Japan , but it shouldn't be read on its own .
023 4 Bruce Feiler gives a delightfully humorous and fascinating narration of his experience as an English teacher in a junior high in Japan with an often surprising inside look at the culture . I loved the first part of the book , with many laugh out loud parts , and gained quite of bit of insight into the hearts and minds of the Japanese living outside the large metro areas in the 80 ' s , but felt well enough saturated by the subject matter and anecdotes two-thirds of the way through , and more was too much .
024 4 I loved this book . I had to keep in mind though , Japan has changed a lot since the author was a teacher in Japan .
025 4 Bruce Feiler was one of the first JET English language teachers in Japan , and chronicles his experiences with his Japanese students , supervisors and colleagues with an observant eye towards Japanese society and culture . Bruce-san takes us along on his eye-opening hospital stay , on learning how to pick up Japanese girls at bars , on seasonal trips for fall viewings , skiing , and more .
One obvious advantage in Bruce's camp was the fact that he already spoke Japanese and had previously lived in Japan , easing his transition . Although the portrait of Japanese society is somewhat dated ( late ' 80s , much has transpired since then with the Japanese economy ) , his portrayal of a country at odds with its unique culture versus globalization , of the schools serving as parents and educators combined , and of the group , rather than the individual , as a unit captures the Japanese spirit . This was a delightful book in the vein of Will Ferguson's Hokkaido Highway Blues and Dave Barry's Dave Barry Does Japan . If you're considering teaching in Japan through the JET program , this is an excellent introduction to the Japanese school system and of the early JET program .
026 4 This review is from :
Learning to Bow : Inside the Heart of Japan ( Paperback )
Bruce Fielder pens the story of his experience as an English Teacher in Japan . Similar to You Gotta Have Wa , this book is more about the experiences of an outsider fitting in to Japan than the occupational hazards of teaching English . To use his own words , Fielder really does cut into the heart of Japan . Interspersed between stories of the challenges of the educational system are many deeper lessons . Included are an explanation of the importance of group harmony and identity , how co-workers balance formal working relationships with personal bonds , and how personal development differs between Japan and the West .
Perhaps my only struggle was hearing how hard it was for the author to find a date in Japan . Japan is legendary for English teachers punching above their weight and finding girlfriend's well out of their league in the US . But perhaps the book would have lost it's tone and cultural insights if it degenerated into a story of how many girls the author picked up .
The book has held up remarkably over the past 10 years . Despite the bursting of the Japanese bubble , the cultural lessons ring true today . I recommend the book to anyone interested in Japan , independent of occupation .
027 4 Bruce Fielder pens the story of his experience as an English Teacher in Japan . Similar to You Gotta Have Wa , this book is more about the experiences of an outsider fitting in to Japan than the occupational hazards of teaching English . To use his own words , Fielder really does cut into the heart of Japan . Interspersed between stories of the challenges of the educational system are many deeper lessons . Included are an explanation of the importance of group harmony and identity , how co-workers balance formal working relationships with personal bonds , and how personal development differs between Japan and the West .
Perhaps my only struggle was hearing how hard it was for the author to find a date in Japan . Japan is legendary for English teachers punching above their weight and finding girlfriend's well out of their league in the US . But perhaps the book would have lost it's tone and cultural insights if it degenerated into a story of how many girls the author picked up .
The book has held up remarkably over the past 10 years . Despite the bursting of the Japanese bubble , the cultural lessons ring true today . I recommend the book to anyone interested in Japan , independent of occupation .
028 4 The author , Feiler , took up a year long tenture in a Japanese secondary school to teach English . As such , most of the chapters in this book are concentrated on comparisons between the Japanese school system and its American counter part . The author did an excellent analysis on this subject matter , there were lots of insightful ideas within the chapters . The writing style of this book is crisp and clear , sparkled with touches of humors at various places . Overall , it's an excellent book to be used for cross-cultural research , as well as a fun and educational book to read about . The only slight complain I have regarding this book is that since the author had concentrated heavily on the subject matter of ' schools ' , therefore he had to left many of the other fanscinating aspects of the Japanese culture unmentioned . It's not an all-around cross-cultural book .
029 4 An unusual view of Japanese society . Seen not as usual through the eyes of a tourist , journalist , or other professional observer , but from the viewpoint of someone living there . Mr Fieler must not only learn a new job , but a new culture .
030 4 This review is from :
LEARNING TO BOW : An American Teacher in a Japanese School ( Hardcover )
I lived in Japan and taught English in a small town Junior High School at about the same time Bruce Feiller was living the experience he relates in the book . It was so much fun to relive that time in my life through another person's eyes . The author's writing style is fluid , easy to read and very engaging , not to mention funny ! You do not have to be a former english teacher in order to truly enjoy his experiences . Learning to Bow is light and enjoyable . This book gives the reader insight into a culture that can is full of contradictions that only make sense once you've experienced them first hand . A must read for anyone thinking of travelling to Japan especially if he / she will be teaching . For everyone else it will be a very enjoyable , light story of a young man's adventures in a very foreign country .
031 4 I lived in Japan and taught English in a small town Junior High School at about the same time Bruce Feiller was living the experience he relates in the book . It was so much fun to relive that time in my life through another person's eyes . The author's writing style is fluid , easy to read and very engaging , not to mention funny ! You do not have to be a former english teacher in order to truly enjoy his experiences . Learning to Bow is light and enjoyable . This book gives the reader insight into a culture that can is full of contradictions that only make sense once you've experienced them first hand . A must read for anyone thinking of travelling to Japan especially if he / she will be teaching . For everyone else it will be a very enjoyable , light story of a young man's adventures in a very foreign country .
032 4 Learning to Bow : Inside the Heart of Japan
Taking a break from all my fictional reading , I was handed a copy of ' Learning to Bow : Inside the Heart of Japan ' . I know a few people that went to Japan to teach English . I think quite a few of us have considered this option in our early 20 ' s ; the glitz and glamour of going to another country and learning a new culture and escaping the pressures of youth .
This story is a first person account of an individual that went over to Japan to teach English in a small Japanese town , and his learnings of Japanese culture . At first , I found the book interesting and enjoyed learning more about Japanese culture . By the middle of the book , though , I found his commentary redundant and slowing down . By the end of the book , I was flipping through pages , waiting for something new to be said .
Since it's a quick read , I recommend it to anyone really interested in learning more about other cultures , in particular , Japanese culture from a gai-jin perspective .
033 4 This book is useful for anyone moving to Japan , either as part of the JET Programme or any other reason . After living in Japan for a few years ( not on the JET Programme ) I recognized a lot of truth to what Feiler had to say . This book also provided me with an inside look at and the pros and cons of the Japanese school system . Through my own experience , I honestly am amazed at the amount of pressure placed on students to do well in school in Japan . For the most part , the students ' effort pays off when they are accepted into a great high school or college , regardless of the two-hour-one-way commute some of them endure . At the same time , however , I wish the school system in Japan encouraged students to be more creative and that the environment allowed them to learn more about the world around them . Despite that , though , the Japanese people make great students and are some of the nicest people you'll meet in your life . This book , through the author's experiences in Tochigi Prefecture , show this and more , all in an entertaining , well-written way . And if for that reason alone , this book is worth reading once for anyone interested in Japan .
034 4 There is no one experience that could somehow describe them all . I didn't find the book very interesting , nor would I recommend it as reading for those who are going to go on the JET Programme sometime in the future . In fact , I recommend you read very little of the ' foreigner does Japan ' genre and stick with facts , figures and Japanese language . And basics of English language teaching . Believe me , you will enjoy your 1 - 3 years in isolation and miscommunication without your head full of pop-anthropological nonsense and you will come to know your full self .
035 4 As I made my way through Feiler's account , I was primarily amused by his humorous initial encounters with Japanese culture : the often awkward questions frequently posited him by his friends , coworkers , and students ; the stark dissimilarities between the Japanese and the American-style classroom ; the extent to which Feiler's foreign appearance and personality caused him to stand out amid an otherwise fairly uniform populace . In nearly every chapter , I found myself laughing out loud . As the book progressed , however , I became disturbed by the author's general exclusion of personal reflections on his experiences . For example , it remains ambiguous whether the author is interested in trying nanpa - - a procedure in which strangers pick up on women in bars , discos , or similar environments , mostly popular among young Japanese men - - out of a genuine desire to procure a Japanese girlfriend , or merely in demonstration of a detached cultural curiosity . He interjects almost no explicit discussions of his feelings or emotional reactions toward the many shocking , challenging , and even tragic events that he encounters throughout the narrative . As someone interested in going to Japan to teach English , and curious about the types of experiences had by Americans who have done so in the past , this particular quality of Feiler's narrative was a bit disappointing .
By the end of the book , however , I came to the realization that the very inclusion of certain information in Feiler's memoir speaks volumes on the nature of the clash between Western and Japanese culture . The details that Feiler includes on the overbearingly autocratic leadership style of his school principle , the structure of a seventh-grade fieldtrip to Disneyland Tokyo , and the reaction of Japanese students toward his unorthodoxly American pedagogical style all attest to the impression that Feiler was deeply moved and challenged by his interactions with Eastern culture . And the laughter and tears that several of his anecdotes drew forth compel me to conclude that these passages were not written without emotional affectation .
In my preparation to move overseas to teach and live among an unfamiliar society , I found this book deeply enlightening and encouraging . As previous experiences abroad have taught me , being a foreigner in a new country can be a direly lonely and often stressful experience . Feiler has given us an insightful and meaningful account of what Americans moving to Japan ought to expect from the culture clash , as well as detailed many interesting aspects of Japanese society that outsiders interested in the country might not otherwise consider . I highly recommend it .
036 4 This review is from :
Learning to Bow : Inside the Heart of Japan ( Paperback )
This book by Bruce Feiler is not just about the Japanese educational system but about the Japanese themselves . While it does touch on how students and teachers work together , teen suicide and cram school , it also deals with the problems of racism , the way the Japanese balance their lives and their duties to society , and even a few chapters on Japanese dating and marriage . It is full of humor , insight and clear thinking . Mr . Feiler clearly but a lot of thought into his visit and is just as clear in explaining to us what he feels is the important and major issues that Japan has to deal with - not just then but now and in the future . A must for any library on Asia or Japan .
037 4 This book by Bruce Feiler is not just about the Japanese educational system but about the Japanese themselves . While it does touch on how students and teachers work together , teen suicide and cram school , it also deals with the problems of racism , the way the Japanese balance their lives and their duties to society , and even a few chapters on Japanese dating and marriage . It is full of humor , insight and clear thinking . Mr . Feiler clearly but a lot of thought into his visit and is just as clear in explaining to us what he feels is the important and major issues that Japan has to deal with - not just then but now and in the future . A must for any library on Asia or Japan .
038 4 I really enjoyed reading this book , even if at times the author did seem a bit lofty . It was funny and gave a nice peek into some of the mannerisms in Japan . Though there were a few slow areas of the book , for the most part , it flowed nicely !
039 4 Stumbled across this recently and found it an agreeable and on-target accound of life in Japan , based on my own experience . Some parts soar , others drag , but one could say that about almost any biographical work that rings true . I've found one other memoir that more thoroughly nails shut the whole ( surprisingly huge ) teaching in Japan from the male perspective genre , but Feiler's book fills in a lot of blanks for those who wonder what it's like to live and teach in Japan , and does it in an engaging manner .
040 4 Although Feiler paints a detailed , and often humorous picture of life in a Japanese public school , his picture is far too clean . He strikes me as being a bit like the foreign talents that work in Japan who have been neutured by Japanese society to make them more palletable to their xenophbic audience . I felt like the Ministry of Education had come through and ereased the negative comments before I could read them . So , in short : it is a well-written book , but should not be the final word on an outsider's perspective on the Japanese educational system .
041 4 _ Learning to Bow _ is an engaging , very readable , incisive but affectionate memoir of an American teacher's sojourn in rural Japan . Especially hilarious is Feiler's account of preparations for a junior high school fieldtrip to Disneyland that included setting up chairs and practicing getting on and off the bus efficiently . ( Japanese tour groups seem to me to spend a lot of time hovering around outside their busses . ) Assembling for group photos at every stop is another activity I have noticed preoccupying Japanese tour groups in Hawai'i and California . . Japanese ritualism and indirect speech make more sense here than in , say , in James Kirkup's condscending memoirs . Feiler does not overklook Japanese ethnocentrism ( not just we're best but we are so totally unique ) , nor does he recognize some of his own . Cho , a friend , tells Feiler : Everybody says our students have to learn to live in a world that is larger than Japan . But , first , our teachers have to learn that such a world exists
The rural Japanese are continually astounded that an alien can speak Japanese , use chopsticks , and in some ways seems more traditionally Japanese than they are - - though such statements are probably more formulaic than Feiler notices . Nevertheless , he mostly deserves the tributes he receives for trying to understand and respect Japanese lifeways - - and for writing so engagingly about his experiences and feelings there .
Along with Lydia Minatoya's _ Talking to High Monks _ ( only partly about Japan ) , and John Treat's _ Great Mirror Shattered _ , this is my favorite book of Americans recounting extended visits to Japan .
043 4 Although written about experiences the author had about 18 years ago , this remains a useful and entertaining primer for those who are interested in Japanese education . Anyone who has been to Japan or worked as a teacher in Japanese schools will be able to relate to Feiler's predicaments as a novice to this complex culture and mindset . Feiler's research of the history and motivations behind Japan's educational system , as it related to his own situation in Sano's middle schools , is an excellent introduction to the topic . Of course , Japan has changed much since the period this book was written , but not that much that you won't smile at the similar circumstances you may have found yourself in at some point in Japan .
The author takes a difficult route at times in balancing between a review of Japan's educational system and his own interactions with students and fellow teachers . Personally , I would rather have enjoyed reading more stories of his involvement with his students , but Feiler's purpose for this book was more than just a one-year travel diary . And in this regard he does a fine job . The only issue I had with the entire book was the cynical approach used in two chapters describing school graduation and a marriage ceremony . Using just Feiler's depictions , a reader could form quite an unfavorable view of these ceremonies when compared to their Western counterparts . Although many Japanese will not express outward emotion during such important occasions of their life cycles , their inward feelings can be just as strong as any Westerner and should not be judged any differently . But these are small distractions from what is overall a wonderful introduction to the challenging vocation of teaching English in Japan .
It would be great to see a followup article or book by Feiler regarding this topic . Time and experience tend to add so much to one's view of the world , and Feiler certainly shows the literary skills here that would make such a retrospective work eminently worth reading . The only question might be whether the people of Sano would truly welcome Feiler back to write such a book , considering the criticism they and their educational system take in Learning to Bow . Yet somehow I'd be willing to wager that most Sano-ites would not be able to resist Feiler's Southern charm and sincerity anymore now than they could back in 1987 .
044 4 This review is from :
Learning to Bow : Inside the Heart of Japan ( Paperback )
Bruce Feiler shares his experience as a new teacher in Japan and how he accommodates himself to the culture of Japan and its school system . The book includes many humorous episodes as well as studies in how to adapt to new surroundings and to people who have different behaviors from those of our own . The reader will develop a greater appreciation for the way in which the Japanese education system works at the levels described in the book and in how one must develop a thick skin and a great sense of humor in order to be accepted when traveling or working overseas . The characters in this book are real and are brought to life on paper quite effectively . This is a story of shock , adaptation , and , ultimately , but with a lot of hard work - success .
045 4 Bruce Feiler shares his experience as a new teacher in Japan and how he accommodates himself to the culture of Japan and its school system . The book includes many humorous episodes as well as studies in how to adapt to new surroundings and to people who have different behaviors from those of our own . The reader will develop a greater appreciation for the way in which the Japanese education system works at the levels described in the book and in how one must develop a thick skin and a great sense of humor in order to be accepted when traveling or working overseas . The characters in this book are real and are brought to life on paper quite effectively . This is a story of shock , adaptation , and , ultimately , but with a lot of hard work - success .
046 4 I am an easy audience and for the first twenty pages or so , I was really set to enjoy this book .
Then I found myself gradually more and more frustrated when Mr . Feiler would stop to explain how some event or peculiar classroom trend he experienced was obviously due to blah blah blah historical or cultural Japanese dynamic . . . for pages upon pages . If I wanted to study social complexities , I think I could read Reischauer or someone with ample expertise .
He also maintains quite an attitude of American superiority over the absurd Japanese way of doing things . He seems to think himself immune to this , though , because he has learned Japanese . He even goes so far in one chapter to discuss his anxieties about the feasibility of engaging in intimate acts with a Japanese woman due to his highly developed gringo genitalia . He also seemed obsessed with the fact that he was taller than almost all Japanese people . If there is one thing you will learn in this book , it is that Bruce Feiler is 6'4 . His light humility is hardly bevievable .
Despite the vast network of superiority complexes seen in this specimen , this book is periodically entertaining . However , I think it is not worth your time ,
047 4 After all Ive heard about this book was expecting something better . Much of the book is dull and boring . Not very well written .
On the other hand its very easy reading and at times enjpyable . If you're looking to learn something about Japan there isnt very much in there you wouldn't be better off finding somewhere else that has more detail and accuracy . He kinds of glosses over anything worth learning .
048 4 Learning to Bow is a beautifully written memoir concerning Bruce Feiler's year-long excursion with the Japanese Ministry of Education . The novel is rather tedious at times , but Feiler is able to recover with both thoughtful and charming storytelling .
Feiler is simply a masterful observer . He portrays both the attitude and the manner of Japan in a very understandable style . I must say , I was blown away and inspired as I read the last few chapters . This [ book ] should be required reading .
049 4 It was also one of the most helpful and accurate books I read about Japanese education before I travelled there as a Fulbright Memorial Program participant .
050 4 This book is one of many written during the Bubble Era by gaijin ( primarily Americans ) who really knew next to nothing about Japan , yet somehow found a publisher , usually Japanese . Another of this quickie genre published about the same time was a book for teaching profanity to Japanese studying English .
Learning to Bow may by an accurate account of the author's experience living in Japan and teaching in the JET program . However , that's all it is . It's full of cliches , sweeping generalizations , and offers no insight into living in Japan or understanding the culture . What could the writer possibly know after only two years ?
