{"title":"Books on Japan","description":"","products":[{"product_id":"9781786274984-dorodango-the-japanese-art-of-making-mud-balls","title":"Dorodango: The Japanese Art of Making Mud Balls","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAuthor: Bruce Gardner \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFormat: Hardback \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNumber of Pages: 128\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe exquisite Japanese hikaru dorodango, or shiny mud ball, is created by rolling earth by hand into a perfect sphere and polishing it until it gleams. Not only are the results truly impressive, but this calm and meditative practice, once a playground game, has been rediscovered as a peaceful pastime. Known for inducing flow, the ultimate state of happiness, this simple art is being adopted by people of all ages. Alongside beautiful photographs of the process, master dorodango maker Bruce Gardner covers every aspect of making and finishing your dorodango, accompanied by inspiring words on the mindful qualities of this earthy activity.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Book Grocer","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":39404768362693,"sku":"9781786274984","price":12.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0523\/7646\/9701\/files\/9781786274984.jpg?v=1725597476"},{"product_id":"9780143790747-the-narrow-road-to-the-deep-north","title":"The Narrow Road to the Deep North","description":"\u003cstrong\u003eAuthor: Richard Flanagan\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\nFormat: Paperback \/ softback\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\nNumber of Pages: 480\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWinner of the Man Booker Prize 2014. A novel of the cruelty of war, tenuousness of life and the impossibility of love.  Winner of the Man Booker Prize 2014. 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The Narrow Road is an extraordinary piece of writing and a high point in an already distinguished career.' - Michael Williams, The Guardian","brand":"Book Grocer","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":39870647992517,"sku":"9780143790747","price":19.54,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0523\/7646\/9701\/products\/th_f00cb0e8-cb81-4e2c-a036-7d503a17640a.jpg?v=1626849187"},{"product_id":"9781786691378-pachinko-the-new-york-times-bestseller","title":"Pachinko: The New York Times Bestseller","description":"\u003cstrong\u003eAuthor: Min Jin Lee\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\nFormat: Paperback \/ softback\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\nNumber of Pages: 560\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA victorian epic transplanted to Japan, following a Korean family of immigrants through eight decades and four generations.    * The million-copy bestseller*  * National Book Award finalist *  * One of the New York Times's 10 Best Books of 2017 *  * Selected for Emma Watson's Our Shared Shelf book club *   'This is a captivating book ... Min Jin Lee's novel takes us through four generations and each character's search for identity and success. It's a powerful story about resilience and compassion' BARACK OBAMA.   Yeongdo, Korea 1911. In a small fishing village on the banks of the East Sea, a club-footed, cleft-lipped man marries a fifteen-year-old girl. The couple have one child, their beloved daughter Sunja. When Sunja falls pregnant by a married yakuza, the family face ruin. But then Isak, a Christian minister, offers her a chance of salvation: a new life in Japan as his wife.   Following a man she barely knows to a hostile country in which she has no friends, no home, and whose language she cannot speak, Sunja's salvation is just the beginning of her story.   Through eight decades and four generations, Pachinko is an epic tale of family, identity, love, death and survival.","brand":"Book Grocer","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40623248900293,"sku":"9781786691378","price":12.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0523\/7646\/9701\/products\/aA6b0HFsEHFGLuAy33LOwS0CXXuSV_nZ5J5fra8zqtYWAg_60_60.jpg?v=1632197913"},{"product_id":"9781784708139-stranger-in-the-shoguns-city-a-womans-life-in-nineteenth-century-japan","title":"Stranger in the Shogun's City: A Woman's Life in Nineteenth-Century Japan","description":"\u003cstrong\u003eAuthor: Amy Stanley\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\nFormat: Paperback \/ softback\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\nNumber of Pages: 352\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA groundbreaking new history of Edo, now modern-day Tokyo, that will change our understanding of Japanese history, placing women's lives back in the historical picture  Shortlisted for the Baillie Gifford Prize 2020, a vivid work of history that explores the life of an unconventional woman in Edo - now known as Tokyo - and a portrait of a great city on the brink of momentous change  'Compelling... Deeply absorbing' Guardian  The daughter of a Buddhist priest, Tsuneno was born in 1804 in a village in Japan's snow country and was expected to lead a life much like her mother's. Instead - after three divorces and with a temperament much too strong-willed for her family's approval - she ran away to follow her own path in Edo, the city we now call Tokyo.  Stranger in the Shogun's City is a rare, captivating portrait of one woman as she endeavours to recreate herself and her life, and provides a window into the drama and excitement of Japan at a pivotal moment in history.  'Marvellous... Stanley builds up a picture of Tsuneno's world, immersing us in an experience akin to time travel' TLS  * Winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award for Biography 2020 * * Finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Biography 2021 * * Winner of the PEN\/Jacqueline Bograd Weld Award for Biography * * Longlisted for the HWA Non-Fiction Crown *","brand":"Book Grocer","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42444771557595,"sku":"9781784708139","price":19.54,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0523\/7646\/9701\/products\/9781784708139.jpg?v=1644974545"},{"product_id":"9781398806580-the-way-of-the-samurai","title":"The Way of the Samurai","description":"\u003cstrong\u003eAuthor: Inazo Nitobe \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Format: Paperback \/ softback \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Number of Pages: \u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis classic text by Inazo Nitobe defining the moral code of the warrior class or Samurai has had a huge impact both in the West and in Japan itself. 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'Intimate and brutal, written in cool, lucid prose it is a novel whose psychological empathy and historical truths are outstanding' Mail on Sunday","brand":"Secondhand Stock","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43821506461915,"sku":"9780099771517-SECONDHAND","price":10.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0523\/7646\/9701\/products\/9780099771517-us-300.jpg?v=1671532024"},{"product_id":"9780857980366-secondhand-the-narrow-road-to-the-deep-north","title":"The Narrow Road to the Deep North","description":"\u003cstrong\u003eNB: This is a secondhand book in very good condition.  See our FAQs for more information. Please note that the jacket image is indicative only.  A description of our secondhand books is not always available.  Please contact  us if you have a question about this title.\u003cbr\u003e\n\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAuthor: Richard Flanagan\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\nFormat: Paperback \n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\nNumber of Pages: 480\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWinner of the Man Booker Prize 2014. A novel of the cruelty of war, tenuousness of life and the impossibility of love.  August, 1943. In the despair of a Japanese POW camp on the Thai-Burma death railway, Australian surgeon Dorrigo Evans is haunted by his love affair with his uncle's young wife two years earlier. Struggling to save the men under his command from starvation, from cholera, from beatings, he receives a letter that will change his life forever.   This savagely beautiful novel is a story about the many forms of love and death, of war and truth, as one man comes of age, prospers, only to discover all that he has lost.  'The Narrow Road to the Deep North is a big, magnificent novel of passion and horror and tragic irony. Its scope, its themes and its people all seem to grow richer and deeper in significance with the progress of the story, as it moves to its extraordinary resolution. It's by far the best new novel I've read in ages.' - Patrick McGrath   'Beyond comparison . . . an immense achievement . . . Wilfred Owen wrote of his Great War verse- \"My subject is war, and the pity of war. The poetry is in the pity.\" Flanagan's triumph is to find poetry without any pity at all.' - Geordie Williamson, The Australian  'A story of war and star-crossed lovers, the novel is also a profound meditation on life and time, memory and forgetting . . . a magnificent achievement.' - Katharine England, Adelaide Advertiser  'A masterpiece . . . The Narrow Road is an extraordinary piece of writing and a high point in an already distinguished career.' - Michael Williams, The Guardian","brand":"Secondhand Stock","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43934747787483,"sku":"9780857980366-SECONDHAND","price":12.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0523\/7646\/9701\/files\/Screenshot2025-11-11at12.30.11pm.png?v=1762824621"},{"product_id":"9781740453714-secondhand-little-taste-of-japan","title":"Little Taste of Japan","description":"\u003cstrong\u003eNB: This is a secondhand book in very good condition.  See our FAQs for more information. Please note that the jacket image is indicative only.  A description of our secondhand books is not always available.  Please contact  us if you have a question about this title.\u003cbr\u003e\n\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAuthor: Unknown\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\nFormat: Paperback \n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\nNumber of Pages: 256\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA Little Taste of Japan presents a showcase of the best of Japanese cuisine. The emphasis is less on the traditional, highly rigid, Japanese food and more on the delicious flavours and tastes of modern Japanese food. It shows you that Japanese food is quite simple to prepare and can be enjoyed by everyone. The beautiful photography, shot on location, evokes the colours and details of its distinctive culture and culinary traditions.","brand":"Secondhand Stock","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44185938788571,"sku":"9781740453714-SECONDHAND","price":10.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0523\/7646\/9701\/products\/md31358243978.jpg?v=1689737861"},{"product_id":"9781922182340-secondhand-the-snow-kimono","title":"The Snow Kimono","description":"\u003cstrong\u003eNB: This is a secondhand book in very good condition.  See our FAQs for more information. Please note that the jacket image is indicative only.  A description of our secondhand books is not always available.  Please contact  us if you have a question about this title.\u003cbr\u003e\n\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAuthor: Mark Henshaw\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\nFormat: Paperback \/ softback\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\nNumber of Pages: 416\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThere are times in your life when something happens after which you're never the same. It may be something direct or indirect, or something someone says to you. But whatever it is, there is no going back. And inevitably, when it happens, it happens suddenly, without warning.    Paris: 1989. Recently retired Inspector of Police Auguste Jovert receives a letter from a woman who claims to be his daughter. Two days later, a stranger comes knocking on his door.   Set in Paris and Japan, The Snow Kimono tells the stories of Inspector Jovert, former Professor of Law Tadashi Omura, and his one-time friend the writer Katsuo Ikeda. All three men have lied to themselves, and to each other. And these lies are about to catch up with them.    A quarter of a century after the award-winning bestseller Out of the Line of Fire, Mark Henshaw returns with an intricate psychological thriller that is also an unforgettable meditation on love and loss, on memory and its deceptions, and the ties that bind us to others.","brand":"Secondhand Stock","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44187277492443,"sku":"9781922182340-SECONDHAND","price":5.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0523\/7646\/9701\/products\/9781922182340-us-300.jpg?v=1689826529"},{"product_id":"9781922400703-meshi-a-personal-history-of-japanese-food","title":"Meshi: A personal history of Japanese food","description":"\u003cstrong\u003eAuthor: Katherine Tamiko Arguile\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\nFormat: Hardback\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\nNumber of Pages: 416\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFor Katherine Tamiko Arguile, the Japanese food her mother cooked was a portal to a part of her that sometimes felt lost in the past. In Japan, food is never just food: it expresses a complex and fascinating history, and is tied to tradition and spirituality intrinsic to Japanese culture.    Exploring the meals of her childhood through Japan's twenty-four sekki (seasons), Katherine untangles the threads of meaning, memory and ritual woven through every glistening bowl of rice, every tender slice of sashimi and each steaming cup of green tea.     With rich, visceral prose, vivid insight and searing emotional honesty, Meshi ('rice' or 'meal') reveals the culture and spirit of one of the world's most beloved cuisines.","brand":"Book Grocer","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44233824108763,"sku":"9781922400703","price":15.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0523\/7646\/9701\/products\/9781922400703.jpg?v=1693377029"},{"product_id":"9781101871119-every-human-intention-japan-in-the-new-century","title":"Every Human Intention: Japan in the New Century","description":"\u003cstrong\u003eAuthor: Dreux Richard\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\nFormat: Hardback\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\nNumber of Pages: 448\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA thoughtful, illuminating exploration of modern Japanese politics and culture through the eyes of an investigative reporter  A stunning blend of investigative journalism, authoritative science writing, and embedded ethnography. Every Human Intention captures the unsettling, lyrical beauty of the intimate moments and buried secrets that form Japan's national drama.  \"An absolute marvel. Reveals the innerworkings of modern-day Japan like no other work of literary nonfiction I have read, and does so with the smooth story-telling expertise of a novelist.\"-Richard Wiley, author of Soldiers in Hiding   Every Human Intention takes us beyond political debates and news analysis, into the infinite complexity of historically significant events as they unfold. Admitted to the innermost corridors of Japan's bureaucracy, Richard witnesses the near-collapse of the nation's nuclear regulator and meticulously documents the way this upheaval is concealed from the public. Through his decade-long relationship with Japan's Nigerian community, he pursues the elaborate cover-up at the heart of Japan's immigration system. On the nation's northern border, he follows the region's youngest census worker through a landscape of abandoned homes and vanishing lives. In Richard's poised narration, there are no simple answers or elegant conclusions-only the unsettling, lyrical beauty of the intimate moments and buried secrets that form Japan's national drama.","brand":"Book Grocer","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44262911181019,"sku":"9781101871119","price":20.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0523\/7646\/9701\/products\/9781101871119.jpg?v=1694485089"},{"product_id":"9780733621260-secondhand-harsh-cry-of-the-heron","title":"Harsh Cry of the Heron","description":"\u003cstrong\u003eNB: This is a secondhand book in very good condition.  See our FAQs for more information. Please note that the jacket image is indicative only.  A description of our secondhand books is not always available.  Please contact  us if you have a question about this title.\u003cbr\u003e\n\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAuthor: Lian Hearn\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\nFormat: Hardback\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\nNumber of Pages: 720\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe world of the Otori has entranced readers since the first book in the Trilogy, ACROSS THE NIGHTINGALE FLOOR, was published in 2002. Now Lian Hearn again takes us back to a land that might be feudal Japan or may be another place altogether in the stunning sequel, THE HARSH CRY OF THE HERON. Find out who lives and dies, who conquers, and who is still loved. The story winds up to an unexpected and moving conclusion that will make you want to start reading the Trilogy all over again.    Lord Otori Takeo and his consort Kaede have ruled for over sixteen years. The Three Countries are rich, peaceful and prosperous. The sacred birds, the Honou, nest at Terayama and a fabled creature, the Kirin, has appeared on their shores. Heaven seems to smile on them.    Yet their very success has attracted the attention of the distant Emperor and his general, the warlord Saga Hideki, who covet all the wealth of the Three Countries, especially Takeo's heir, his eldest daughter, Shigeko, now of marriageable age.","brand":"Secondhand Stock","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44275198197979,"sku":"9780733621260-SECONDHAND","price":12.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0523\/7646\/9701\/products\/9780733621260-us-300.jpg?v=1695367311"},{"product_id":"9780008555368-retail-empire-of-the-sun-collins-modern-classics","title":"Empire of the Sun (Collins Modern Classics)","description":"\u003cstrong\u003eAuthor: J. G. 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Rooted as it is in the author's own disturbing experience of war in our time, it is one of a handful of novels by which the twentieth century will be not only remembered but judged.","brand":"Book Grocer","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44280321999067,"sku":"9780008555368-RETAIL","price":18.39,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0523\/7646\/9701\/products\/9780008555368_ce59bbf8-7e41-4898-a1a9-5b9becdb5c4b.jpg?v=1695785092"},{"product_id":"9781648291524-retail-kinfolk-islands","title":"Kinfolk Islands","description":"\u003cstrong\u003eAuthor: John Burns\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\nFormat: Hardback\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\nNumber of Pages: 256\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eJoin Kinfolk on a journey off the beaten track, to islands big and small, in this collection of eighteen new travel stories. Whether it's a tour of the otherworldly landscape of Socotra in Yemen or a hike into the old growth of a Japanese forest on Yakushima, each slow travel itinerary invites you to set sail at a pace that allows for true discovery and immersion.   Filled with ideas and inspiration for where to escape, explore and unwind, Kinfolk Islands is full of vibrant photography, practical guidance and thoughtful reflections on why the idea of an island embodies so many of our travel fantasies. There are the charms of urban islands, including Montreal's beloved Mile End neighborhood. Truly unexpected destinations, like Hormuz, off the coast of Iran, with its psychedelic scenery and bohemian spirit. Italy's sun-soaked Ponza, perfect for languid afternoons. And of course some of the world's most beautiful beaches, from jungle-fringed Caribbean sands to rugged and remote Nordic shores.   Believing that travel is as much a state of mind as an action or itinerary, Kinfolk celebrates a way of exploring our world that not only fosters thoughtful perspectives on the places we visit but also deepens our relationship with home once the journey is over.","brand":"Book Grocer","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44280345690331,"sku":"9781648291524-RETAIL","price":52.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0523\/7646\/9701\/products\/9781648291524_d73b5411-a9a1-455a-9171-c62f3677b5e2.jpg?v=1695786372"},{"product_id":"9781783785698-retail-earthlings","title":"Earthlings","description":"\u003cstrong\u003eAuthor: Sayaka Murata\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\nFormat: Paperback \n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\nNumber of Pages: 256\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNatsuki isn't like the other girls. She has a wand and a transformation mirror. She might be a witch, or an alien from another planet. 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Reading this book made me feel like I was in an unstable and strange world.' - Sayaka Murata  I suppose what I'm trying to say is that I've been wanting to become the friend of the Woman in the Purple Skirt for a very long time...   The Woman in the Purple Skirt seems to live in a world of her own. She appears to glide through crowded streets without acknowledging any reaction her presence elicits. Most afternoons, she sits on the same park bench, eating a pastry and ignoring the local children who make a game of trying to get her attention.   The Woman in the Purple Skirt is being watched. Someone is following her, always perched just out of sight, monitoring which buses she takes; what she eats; whom she speaks to. But this invisible observer isn't a stalker - it's much more complicated than that.  'A breathless novel ... 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A handy and affordable Japanese to English and English to Japanese reference for every day, including short grammars of Japanese and English. Offers travellers and learners at home, school or in the office extensive and up-to-date coverage of Japanese and English in a portable format.  27,000 translations.  Designed for all those studying Japanese who need maximum information in a handy travel format.  Offers comprehensive and up-to-the-minute coverage of Japanese and English, with additional notes warning the user of those words which are easily confused.  Delivers the accuracy and reliability you expect from the Collins name. With natural, idiomatic example phrases, in-depth treatment of the most important core vocabulary and help to find the exact translation you want.  All Japanese words, phrases and translations are shown with their romanized transcription - ideal for beginners.","brand":"Book Grocer","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44886203367643,"sku":"9780008270711-RETAIL","price":16.99,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0523\/7646\/9701\/products\/9780008270711.jpg?v=1708644965"},{"product_id":"9780063208087-gigi-and-ojiji-whats-in-a-name","title":"Gigi and Ojiji: What's in a Name?","description":"\u003cstrong\u003eAuthor: Melissa Iwai\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\nFormat: Paperback \n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\nNumber of Pages: 32\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eGigi wants to go by something besides her baby name-but her full name, Geraldine, is too long to write and Hanako, her middle name, doesn't feel quite right. 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A must-buy.\" -School Library Journal (starred review)  \"The text is well supported by the endearing illustrations, which capture all of Gigi's big emotions and depict her as a biracial child, with a white father and Japanese mother.\" -Booklist (starred review)  \"An affirming option in the quickly diversifying field of early-reader books.\" -Kirkus  A 2023 Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor title  El dia de los ninos, el dia de los libros selection 2023  ALSC Notable 2023  CBC Teacher and Librarian Favorites Award 2023  A Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year in the 5-9 beginning reader category (2023)","brand":"Book Grocer","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44905980592347,"sku":"9780063208087","price":8.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0523\/7646\/9701\/products\/9780063208087.jpg?v=1709118718"},{"product_id":"9781646433612-retail-whisky-rising-the-second-edition-the-definitive-guide-to-the-finest-japanese-whiskies-and-distillers","title":"Whisky Rising: The Second Edition: The Definitive Guide to the Finest Japanese Whiskies and Distillers","description":"\u003cstrong\u003eAuthor: Stefan Van Eycken\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\nFormat: Hardback\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\nNumber of Pages: 640\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis fully updated guide by whisky authority and Japanese whisky expert Stefan Van Eycken takes you on a tour of some of the most coveted whiskies in the world. 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Find out why, when it comes to whisky, all eyes are on Japan with Whisky Rising: The Second Edition.   ","brand":"Book Grocer","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44986002014427,"sku":"9781646433612-RETAIL","price":50.39,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0523\/7646\/9701\/products\/9781646433612_27405c8d-0a5d-4165-ac3c-000bd3dccb14.jpg?v=1709632530"},{"product_id":"9781784886608-ramen-forever-recipes-for-ramen-success","title":"Ramen Forever: Recipes for Ramen Success","description":"\u003cstrong\u003eAuthor: Tim Anderson\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\nFormat: Hardback\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\nNumber of Pages: 224\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn Ramen Forever, Tim Anderson shows you the way to enjoy delicious homemade ramen on a regular basis, and gives you the tools to build your own ramen, just the way you like it!    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With recipes for beginners and casual cooks as well as serious noodle nerds, you can enjoy this superlative Japanese comfort food at home, regardless of your skill level.","brand":"Book Grocer","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45063562068187,"sku":"9781784886608","price":27.5,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0523\/7646\/9701\/products\/9781784886608_2a3e3ed6-1509-4469-8921-d62fd6d287d2.jpg?v=1710753062"},{"product_id":"9780063158450-retail-the-tatami-galaxy-a-novel","title":"The Tatami Galaxy: A Novel","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAuthor: Tomihiko Morimi \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFormat: Paperback\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNumber of Pages: 352\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e*SHORTLISTED FOR THE PEN TRANSLATION PRIZE* An unfulfilled college student hurtles through four parallel realities to explore the what-might've-been and the what-should-never-be in this Groundhog Day meets The Midnight Library-esque novel from one of Japan's most popular authors. Our protagonist, an unnamed junior at a prestigious university in Kyoto, is on the verge of dropping out. After rebelling against the dictatorial jock president of the film club, he and his worst and only friend, the diabolical creep Ozu, are personas non grata on campus. For two years, our protagonist has made all the wrong decisions, and now he's about to make another mistake. He and Ozu are preparing for revenge-a fireworks attack at the film club's welcoming party for new members. Then, a chance encounter with a self-proclaimed god sets the confused and distraught young man on a new course. Destiny will bring him together with Akashi, the blunt but charming sophomore he has a crush on-if he's brave enough to make a move. Yet our protagonist cannot get beyond his profound disillusionment and the moment is lost. But what if there's a universe where he did join the club of his dreams, ditched Ozu for good, and was confident enough to get the girl A realm of possibility opens up for our protagonist as time rewinds, and from the four-and-a-half-mat tatami floor of his dorm room, he is plunged into a series of adventures that will take him to four parallel universes. In each universe, he is given the opportunity to start over as a freshman, in search of a rose-colored campus life. The inspiration behind the much-loved anime series, Tomihiko Morimi's contemporary classic is a fantastic journey through time and space, where a half-eaten castella cake, a photograph from Rome, and a giant cavity in a wisdom tooth hold the keys to self-discovery. 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There are two things that I can simply not tolerate: feminists and margarine.  Gourmet cook Manako Kajii sits in Tokyo Detention Centre convicted of the serial murders of lonely businessmen, who she is said to have seduced with her delicious home cooking. The case has captured the nation's imagination but Kajii refuses to speak with the press, entertaining no visitors. That is, until journalist Rika Machida writes a letter asking for her recipe for beef stew and Kajii can't resist writing back.  Rika, the only woman in her news office, works late each night, rarely cooking more than ramen. As the visits unfold between her and the steely Kajii, they are closer to a masterclass in food than journalistic research. Rika hopes this gastronomic exchange will help her soften Kajii but it seems that she might be the one changing. With each meal she eats, something is awakening in her body, might she and Kaji have more in common than she once thought?  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Wells and Rebecca West's affair through 1930s nuclear physics to Flanagan's father working as a slave labourer near Hiroshima when the atom bomb is dropped, this daisy chain of events reaches fission when Flanagan as a young man finds himself trapped in a rapid on a wild river not knowing if he is to live or to die.  At once a love song to his island home and to his parents, this hypnotic melding of dream, history, place and memory is about how our lives so often arise out of the stories of others and the stories we invent about ourselves.","brand":"Book Grocer","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45507836707035,"sku":"9781761343452","price":29.75,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0523\/7646\/9701\/files\/9781761343452.jpg?v=1715069026"},{"product_id":"9780063208117-gigi-and-ojiji-food-for-thought","title":"Gigi and Ojiji: Food for Thought","description":"\u003cstrong\u003eAuthor: Melissa Iwai\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\nFormat: Paperback \n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\nNumber of Pages: 32\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA Geisel Honor-winning series!   A Chicago Public Library Best of the Best!  Join Gigi as she tries natto, a traditional Japanese food, in this exciting and engaging Level Three I Can Read book by acclaimed author and illustrator Melissa Iwai. Intergenerational relationships, Japanese culture, and social and emotional learning are highlighted in this sweet biracial story, perfect for sharing with children 3 to 6.   Ohayo! It's breakfast time and Gigi can't wait to make her favorite meal-Peanut Butter Toast. Yummy! But Ojiji doesn't like peanut butter. How can anyone NOT like peanut butter Ojiji prefers Japanese foods-like natto, made from fermented soybeans. Will Gigi learn to love a new breakfast treat This story highlights the close relationship of Gigi and her grandfather and the importance of trying new things!  This exciting and engaging I Can Read series is brought to you by author-illustrator Melissa Iwai, whose popular books include Soup Day and Dumplings for Lili.  Gigi and Ojij: Food for Thought is a Level Three I Can Read book. 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A must-buy.\" -School Library Journal (starred review)  \"The text is well supported by the endearing illustrations, which capture all of Gigi's big emotions and depict her as a biracial child, with a white father and Japanese mother.\" -Booklist (starred review)  \"An affirming option in the quickly diversifying field of early-reader books.\" -Kirkus  A 2023 Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor title  El dia de los ninos, el dia de los libros selection 2023  ALSC Notable 2023  CBC Teacher and Librarian Favorites Award 2023  A Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year in the 5-9 beginning reader category (2023)","brand":"Book Grocer","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45602855518427,"sku":"9780063208117","price":7.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0523\/7646\/9701\/files\/9780063208117.jpg?v=1716424723"},{"product_id":"9784805315996-retail-the-ikigai-journey-a-practical-guide-to-finding-happiness-and-purpose-the-japanese-way","title":"The Ikigai Journey: A Practical Guide to Finding Happiness and Purpose the Japanese Way","description":"\u003cstrong\u003eAuthor: Hector Garcia\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\nFormat: Hardback\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\nNumber of Pages: 224\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIkigai is the place where our passion (what we love), mission (what we hope to contribute), vocation (the gifts we have to offer the world) and profession (how our passions and talents can become a livelihood) converge, giving us a personal sense of meaning. This book helps you bring together all of these elements so that you can enjoy a balanced life.  Our ikigai is very similar to change: it is a constant that transforms depending on which phase of life we are in. Our 'reason for being' is not the same at 15 as it is at 70. Through three sections, this book helps you to accept and embrace that - acting as a tool to revolutionize your future by helping you to understand the past, so you can enjoy your present.    Section 1: Journey Through the Future: Tokyo (a symbol of modernity and innovation) Section 2: Journey Through the Past: Kyoto (an ancient capital moored in tradition) Section 3: Journey Through the Present: Ise (an ancient shrine that is destroyed and rebuilt every twenty years)  Japan has one of the longest life spans in the world, and the greatest number of centenarians - many of whom cite their strong sense of ikigai as the basis for their happiness and longevity. Unlike many 'self-care' practices, which require setting aside time in an increasingly busy world, the ikigai method helps you find peace and fulfillment in your busy life.  'From the authorsof Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life comes a sequelthat goes beyond the concept of understanding and empowering all aspects ofikigai (one's purpose in life). Garcia and Miralles use the metaphor of thebusiest train in Japan, taking readers through various stations in the future,past, and present. Along each stop readers are instructed how to developpatience and perseverance, cultivate undivided attention, and tune in to lifegoals. Ikigai adherents can find their ultimate purpose by listing theirattributes in a Venn diagram to point the way to the intersection of what theyare good at, what the world needs, what they love, and what they can be paidfor to live out their ikigai...Beneficial for readers who find theconcept of ikigai intriguing.' - Library Journal  Praise for Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life:    'Ikigai urgesindividuals to simplify their lives by pursuing what sparks joy for them...Much in the same way that The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up emphasises'choosing what we want to keep, and not what we want to get rid of,' [Ikigai]demonstrates that aging could be an opportunity to keep working,keep smiling, keep active, and keep beingsocial.' -KonMari Newsletter  'Want to live longer? Keep super busy. If hygge is the art ofdoing nothing, ikigai is the art of doing something - and doing it withsupreme focus and joy...Pack up those cozy blankets and candles youpurchased in last year's hygge-fueled Ikea spree. Fall's biggestimported lifestyle trend is ikigai, and it might help you live to 100.' - New York Post    'Persuasively shows that small changes can helpreaders find more joy and purpose in their lives [with] clear, succinctinformation...skillfully compiled...into an engaging, easily accessibleformat with lists, charts, and illustrations.' - Publishers Weekly","brand":"Book Grocer","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45662695588059,"sku":"9784805315996-RETAIL","price":23.79,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0523\/7646\/9701\/files\/9784805315996.jpg?v=1717123738"},{"product_id":"9784805317815-retail-kawaii-doodles-supercute-drawings-in-four-easy-steps-with-over-1-250-illustrations","title":"Kawaii Doodles: Supercute Drawings in Four Easy Steps (with over 1,250 illustrations)","description":"\u003cstrong\u003eAuthor: Yuu\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\nFormat: Paperback \n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\nNumber of Pages: 128\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAge range 7+  Doodling is cute, fun, and creative - the very essence of Kawaii culture!  Japanese illustrator Yuu is known for her super-cute style. Now you can draw like her, in four easy steps! Wide-eyed and smiling, these easy-to-create doodles transform everyday objects into supercute Kawaii illustrations.  With its step-by-step instructions and lots of craft \u0026amp; project ideas, Kawaii Doodles fuses two books into one:    With over 1,250 illustrations to walk you through the simple steps: no prior artistic training required Use your drawings to decorate your accessories, dress up your home and personalize gifts and possessions Ideal for doodlers of all ages - this book teaches you to create Kawaii doodles anywhere - at home, at school, in the office or on the go  Yuu rounds up the usual Kawaii suspects: silly, smiling popsicles and ice cream cones, funny-faced flowers and goofy, grinning kitty cats and teddy bears. How about your favorite animal? 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Cute doodles and adorable drawings in four easy steps!","brand":"Book Grocer","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45662696997083,"sku":"9784805317815-RETAIL","price":25.49,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0523\/7646\/9701\/files\/9784805317815.jpg?v=1717123789"},{"product_id":"9784805317167-retail-learn-to-draw-exciting-anime-manga-characters-lessons-from-100-professional-japanese-illustrators-with-over-600-illustrations-to-improve-your-digital-or-by-hand-techniques","title":"Learn to Draw Exciting Anime \u0026 Manga Characters: Lessons from 100 Professional Japanese Illustrators","description":"\u003cstrong\u003eAuthor: Sideranch\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\nFormat: Paperback \n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\nNumber of Pages: 216\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis complete guide provides lessons and insights from 100 professional artists!  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Like Shirasu, Kerr travels to remote and lesser-known places around Japan where pockets of traditional culture can still be found. Some are faraway--like Aogashima Island, 200 miles south of Tokyo--while others are easy to reach, such as Mii-dera temple just east of Kyoto. The ten engaging essays in this book describe surprising remnants of Japan's fragile physical and cultural environment, including:      Avant-garde Butoh dancing in the remote village of Tashiro in Akita Prefecture How shochu liquor is distilled from tropical ferns on the Pacific island of Aogashima An austere but delicious kaiseki meal in rural Tottori Prefecture composed of local herbs and meats Anecdotes relating to Kerr's childhood growing up in Japan and his passion for restoring old houses The damage caused by governmental infrastructure and reforestation policies, as well as by tourism Plus many other topics!  Kerr's sharp eye for detail and exquisite descriptions of Japanese, arts, architecture and foods will inspire readers who already appreciate his unique look at the \"reality\" of Japan beyond the romance. His personal involvement and obvious love for his subjects encourage us all to think more carefully about our own traditions and environment, and to challenge ourselves to search for better solutions to preserve what is of value all around us.    'A sharp-tongued spokesman for Japan's environment and traditions'  The New York Times","brand":"Book Grocer","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45662704697563,"sku":"9784805317518-RETAIL","price":23.79,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0523\/7646\/9701\/files\/9784805317518.jpg?v=1717124011"},{"product_id":"9784805316894-retail-learn-japanese-with-manga-volume-one-a-self-study-language-book-for-beginners-learn-to-read-write-and-speak-japanese-with-manga-comic-strips-free-online-audio-volume-1","title":"Learn Japanese with Manga Volume One: A Self-Study Language Book for Beginners - Learn to read, write and speak Japanese with manga comic strips! 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Readers will find:    Help with learning to write and pronounce the 92 Hiragana and Katakana letters plus 160 basic Kanji characters Hundreds of useful words and phrases--from numbers and greetings to expletives and insults! Seven manga stories woven throughout the book, reinforcing your grasp of the language The basic vocabulary and grammar needed to communicate in Japanese! Hundreds of exercises with free online audio recordings by Japanese native speakers A bidirectional dictionary and answer keys for all the exercises  **Recommended for language learners 16 year old \u0026amp; up. 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In this book, she presents simple instructions for models containing the 26 letters of the alphabet and 10 numbers, along with 40 other models of animals, tasty foods and other fun objects!  These clever paper models are ideal for caregivers and children to fold together. They provide a great way for kids to learn - through play! The models require very few steps, making them easy for youngsters (and parents!) to fold.  Origami offers kids the chance to engage their minds and develop their motor skills. Older children will enjoy combining the letters into words and names, and making decorative banners for special events or bulletin boards. 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Lucky symbols, lucky numbers, lucky charms and luck-creating rituals  how is it that a disciplined and hard-working country like Japan is so invested in the idea of luck? And what, exactly, does 'good luck' mean?  This insightful book by a leading expert on the subject explores the ways in which luck-encouraging and misfortune-repelling rituals  long woven into the fabric of Japanese life--are used in tandem with diligence and a positive attitude to engender a healthy optimism that helps people survive all of life's many twists, turns and bad patches. It explores how customs and beliefs play a vital role in creating positive personal expectations  not only in Japan, but in all cultures around the world.  Author Nobuo Suzuki acquaints us with beloved Japanese icons of luck, prosperity, and goal-setting and explains what they truly represent  including Maneki Neko (the 'Lucky Cat'), Daruma (the 'Lucky Buddha') and the Seven Lucky Gods of Good Fortune. We even meet some quirky and much beloved modern Japanese symbols of luck like the \"Golden Poop\" (yes, you read that right!). And we learn how these symbols all foster a sense of community which contributes to the happiness and well-being of all individuals in Japan.  This book explains how 'good luck' in Japan is actually a way of looking at life, rather than of wishing for random chance or divine intervention. Concepts such as Ikigai and Ganbatte are presented as components of good luck, and vice-versa. Practical exercises to encourage positivity demonstrate how the Japanese are able to put good and bad times into perspective  and teach us the art of living happier and more fulfilled lives.  With this book, luck becomes a matter of self-understanding and connection to others rather than something that exists outside of ourselves and other people. 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Coloring is the perfect activity for people of all ages, and no experience or training is needed to bring the adorable characters to life. And with so many templates to choose from, there is sure to be something for everyone in the family. Whether you're looking to de-stress, meditate, unlock your inner creative self, or simply pass the time, these adorable coloring pages are sure to keep you entertained for hours-while also stealing your heart.","brand":"Book Grocer","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45728695386331,"sku":"9780785841371","price":17.5,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0523\/7646\/9701\/files\/9780785841371_vaNXPXKLpNZT26MShiYNNo.jpg?v=1718348405"},{"product_id":"9781780232027-designing-modern-japan","title":"Designing Modern Japan","description":"\u003cstrong\u003eAuthor: Sarah Teasley\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\nFormat: Hardback\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\nNumber of Pages: 272\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFrom cars to cameras, design from Japan is ubiquitous. So are perceptions of Japanese design, from calming, carefully crafted minimalism to avant-garde fashion and street subcultures. 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Her meticulously detailed account of Japanese design history gives a satisfyingly complete picture of design as a practice that people have  and continue  to use for their own end. Teasley's insistence that design not only intrudes into what historians, politicians and economists have commonly thought of as history but was the result of a continuous interplay between abstract thought and concrete application is brilliant. Ultimately, she has provided a dynamic model for interpreting the underlying questions of modern Japanese history.' - Elizabeth Guffey, Professor of Art and Design History, Theory, Criticism at SUNY Purchase and founding editor of Design and Culture   'This shrewd and elegantly illustrated book shows how Japanese designers and manufacturers have used design \"to weather change and sometimes as a lever to accelerate change.\" Focusing on their institution-building and meaning-making activities, Sarah Teasley traces how a variety of carefully-designed objects and images circulated around Japan, through the empire, and across the globe. The result, like the objects under study, is the narrative they created of Japan itself as transnational, modernist, and enduring.' - Laura Hein, Harold H. and Virginia Anderson Professor of History at Northwestern University and author of Post-Fascist Japan: Political Culture in Kamakura after the Second World War.","brand":"Book Grocer","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45866696442075,"sku":"9781780232027","price":25.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0523\/7646\/9701\/files\/9781780232027.jpg?v=1721371976"},{"product_id":"9781740513258-secondhand-wrong-about-japan","title":"Wrong About Japan","description":"\u003cstrong\u003eNB: This is a secondhand book in very good condition.  See our FAQs for more information. Please note that the jacket image is indicative only.  A description of our secondhand books is not always available.  Please contact  us if you have a question about this title.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAuthor: Peter Carey\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\nFormat: Paperback \n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\nNumber of Pages: 128\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFor Peter Carey, a trip to Japan with his twelve-year-old son Charley would be a unique opportunity to share and learn something about his son's passion for Japanese comics and animated film, otherwise known as manga and anime.  Convinced that there is 'a whole history and culture hidden between the frames', Carey hopes that this journey will help him to break the skin of Japanese culture. Charley, on the other hand, simply wants to buy cool manga. Either way, Carey looks forward to forging some indelible memories with his thoughtful, reticent son. And while some of the memories they create are not those that Carey might have wished for - such as Charley's ill-concealed boredom when forced to sit through four hours of traditional Japanese theatre, and Carey's own less-than-joyful reaction to Sega World - nonetheless it's an unforgettable and precious time, a time Carey considers a privilege, most especially for the pleasure of sharing his son's enchanted response to the adventure.","brand":"Secondhand Stock","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45942961897691,"sku":"9781740513258-SECONDHAND","price":10.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0523\/7646\/9701\/files\/9781740513258-us-300.jpg?v=1723426058"},{"product_id":"9781921150203-samurai-kids-1-white-crane","title":"Samurai Kids 1: White Crane","description":"\u003cstrong\u003eAuthor: Sandy Fussell (Author)\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\nFormat: Paperback \n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\nNumber of Pages: 256\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCan a one-legged boy train to become a great samurai warrior?  Niya Moto is the only one-legged Samurai kid in Japan, famous for falling flat on his face in the dirt. None of the samurai schools will teach Niya, until a letter of offer arrives from the legendary samurai warrior Ki-Yaga, sensei of the Cockroach Ryu. Niya joins the four other students of the Cockroach Ryu, all with barriers of some sort, and as they learn traditional samurai skills they become firm friends. But their skills will be tested as they make the treacherous journey to the annual Samurai Games and face their mighty opponents, the Dragon Ryu. Will they be able to overcome their gravest fears in time?","brand":"Book Grocer","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45943679451355,"sku":"9781921150203","price":8.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0523\/7646\/9701\/files\/9781921150203_f8V5ivDbczAbgUuKqJNbiv.jpg?v=1723455784"},{"product_id":"9780691225906-retail-what-a-mushroom-lives-for-matsutake-and-the-worlds-they-make","title":"What a Mushroom Lives For: Matsutake and the Worlds They Make","description":"\u003cstrong\u003eAuthor: Michael J. Hathaway\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\nFormat: Paperback \n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\nNumber of Pages: 296\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhat a Mushroom Lives For pushes today's mushroom renaissance in compelling new directions. For centuries, Western science has promoted a human- and animal-centric framework of what counts as action, agency, movement and behaviour. But, as Michael Hathaway shows, the world-making capacities of mushrooms radically challenge this orthodoxy by revealing the lively dynamism of all forms of life.  The book tells the fascinating story of one particularly prized species, the matsutake, and the astonishing ways it is silently yet powerfully shaping worlds, from the Tibetan plateau to the mushrooms' final destination in Japan. Many Tibetan and Yi people have dedicated their lives to picking and selling this mushroom - a delicacy that drives a multibillion-dollar global trade network and that still grows only in the wild, despite scientists' intensive efforts to cultivate it in urban labs. But this is far from a simple story of humans exploiting a passive, edible commodity. Rather, the book reveals the complex, symbiotic ways that mushrooms, plants, humans and other animals interact. It explores how the world looks to the mushrooms, as well as to the people who have grown rich harvesting them.  A surprise-filled journey into science and human culture, this exciting and provocative book shows how fungi shape our planet and our lives in strange, diverse, and often unimaginable ways.","brand":"Book Grocer","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45945336856795,"sku":"9780691225906-RETAIL","price":25.49,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0523\/7646\/9701\/files\/9780691225906.jpg?v=1723516506"},{"product_id":"9784805318003-retail-hojoki-a-buddhist-reflection-on-solitude-imperfection-and-transcendence-bilingual-english-and-japanese-texts-with-free-online-audio-recordings","title":"Hojoki: A Buddhist Reflection on Solitude: Imperfection and Transcendence - Bilingual English and Japanese Texts with Free Online Audio Recordings","description":"\u003cstrong\u003eAuthor: Kamo no Chomei\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\nFormat: Hardback\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\nNumber of Pages: 192\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDiscover the tranquil wisdom of Chomei's 13th-century masterpiece, Hojoki, as it unveils the beauty of imperfection and the serenity of a simple life amidst the chaos of existence.  Hojoki is an introspective poem written in the 13th century by the enigmatic Japanese hermit Kamo no Chomei, who as a young man served in the capital as official court poet but later in life withdrew from society.  Composed in a time of devastating fires, floods, earthquakes, droughts and famines, Chomei's masterpiece reflects on the impermanence of things, expressing life's mysterious beauty and the profound wisdom to be found in nature.  Chomei paints a vivid picture of the chaos and suffering of the human condition. Amidst this turmoil, he discovers an oasis of calm in a simple mountain hut, where he contemplates the virtues of nature and the wabi sabi beauty of imperfection in all things.  In their friends, People like to find affluence and a ready smile.  Compassion and honesty, Not so much.  So why not make friends with music and nature instead: The moon; the flowers?  ******** I know my needs, And I know the world.  I want for nothing, And do not labor to acquire things.  Quietude is all I desire: To be free from worry is happiness enough.  This new translation by Matthew Stavros, presented alongside the original Classical Japanese, perfectly captures the profound serenity of Chomei's writings. His poignant verses serve as timely reminders that amidst the uncertainty of this world, true contentment can often be found in the simple life, in embracing fleeting moments, and in seeking solace in nature's beauty.","brand":"Book Grocer","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45945337970907,"sku":"9784805318003-RETAIL","price":25.49,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0523\/7646\/9701\/files\/9784805318003_quEyQCRkWZZPWy6KYN1x2q.jpg?v=1723516538"},{"product_id":"9784805317785-retail-its-okay-not-to-look-for-the-meaning-of-life-a-zen-monks-guide-to-living-stress-free-one-day-at-a-time","title":"It's Okay Not to Look for the Meaning of Life: A Zen Monk's Guide to Living Stress-Free One Day at a Time","description":"\u003cstrong\u003eAuthor: Jikisai Minami\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\nFormat: Hardback\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\nNumber of Pages: 192\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFree yourself from stress with simple, no-nonsense advice from a zen monk!  Zen monk Jikisai Minami takes the things we are supposed to strive for and turns them on their head. The 35 short, thought-provoking essays in this book are divided into four chapters about our sense of self, our hopes and dreams, our personal relationships and how to face death. Each essay begins with a deliberately controversial point of view to help us look at life's problems through fresh eyes.  Each chapter features a number of short, thought-provoking essays providing fresh perspectives on familiar problems that can change your life! The essays include:    People Can Live Without Dreams and Hopes You Don't Have to Be 'Who You Want to Be' When Your Head Is Full of Anger, Do Routine Work Do Things for Yourself, Not for Others It's Natural for Life to Be Negative If It's Not a Life or Death Problem, You Can Handle It People Can Be Saved Just by Speaking Their True Feelings Wanting Things Creates Anxiety If You Grieve as Much as You Want To, the Time Will Come When You Can Laugh It's Absurd to Worry About 'The Other World' Rather Than 'This World' A Person with Good Relationships Passes Away Beautifully  Although the author's messages may seem harsh at first, his teachings help us reduce anxiety in our daily lives. Being bound by the belief that 'I have to do X' or 'I need to achieve Y' causes immense stress. The author encourages us to accept our reality and live our lives from that starting point. This, he believes will free us from anxiety, relationship problems and negative emotions.  This book has been a huge hit in Japan, with reader comments such as:    'I realized that I had made my life difficult by thinking, I always have to be ambitious about my work.' (Female, age 50) 'I was deeply moved by the idea that you don't have to find the meaning of life. This is a book I cherish.' (Male, age 34)","brand":"Book Grocer","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45945338724571,"sku":"9784805317785-RETAIL","price":21.24,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0523\/7646\/9701\/files\/it-s-okay-not-to-look-for-the-meaning-of-life.jpg?v=1723516546"},{"product_id":"9784805314654-retail-47-ronin-the-classic-tale-of-samurai-loyalty-bravery-and-retribution","title":"47 Ronin: The Classic Tale of Samurai Loyalty, Bravery and Retribution","description":"\u003cstrong\u003eAuthor: John Allyn\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\nFormat: Paperback \n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\nNumber of Pages: 256\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA classic tale that will captivate lovers of Japan, history, and epic adventure alike.  Japan's most celebrated tale of chivalry, loyalty and revenge  and the basis for a Hollywood feature film starring Keanu Reaves  47 Ronin is the epic tale of a heroic band of Samurai warriors who defy the Japanese Emperor to avenge the honour of their fallen master.  The story begins in 1701 when the noble Lord Asano attacks an official at court. His punishment is swift and harsh  the Emperor orders Lord Asano to commit ritual suicide (harikiri). His lands are confiscated, his family exiled, and his Samurai warrior brigade is disbanded  becoming Ronin or masterless, wandering renegades.  While appearing to follow the Emperor's instructions, the 47 Ronin plot in secret for many years, biding their time until the moment to strike is right. Like the story of the Knights of the Round Table, the Ronin's deeds became legendary, iconic examples of courage, cunning and loyalty in an age when the Samurai were true heroes and honor was something worth dying for.  John Allyn's vivid retelling, with a foreword by scholar and film advisor, Stephen Turnbull, presents this epic of Japanese literature in its correct historical context.","brand":"Book Grocer","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45945339314395,"sku":"9784805314654-RETAIL","price":19.54,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0523\/7646\/9701\/files\/9784805314654_eJkAFeY4GeqCzzaDtNGaog.jpg?v=1723516558"},{"product_id":"9781611720822-retail-off-the-beaten-tracks-in-japan-a-journey-by-train-from-hokkaido-to-kyushu","title":"Off the Beaten Tracks in Japan: A Journey by Train from Hokkaido to Kyushu","description":"\u003cp\u003eAuthor: John Dougill\u003cbr\u003eFormat: Paperback, 152mm x 229mm, 308 pages\u003cbr\u003ePublished: Stone Bridge Press, United States, 2023\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eObservations on the people, culture, and history of Japan from a long-time resident riding the rails along the less-traveled western coastline.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis journey the length of Japan takes the reader off the beaten tracks to explore some of the country's remoter regions along the Japan Sea - from Wakkanai in northern Hokkaido to Ibusuki in southern Kyushu - in a fascinating mix of travelogue, anecdote, and personal memoir. At each of the thirty stops along the journey the author, who has lived in Japan for thirty years, goes in quest of the spirit of place, determined to highlight what makes it special. Mixing comments on landscape and culture, the author was inspired by Alan Booth and Donald Richie and brings a contemporary perspective to his writing. The text provides some practical information on travel by rail and railway lines, but goes into far more depth and personal observation than a conventional guidebook for tourists.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eJohn Dougill\u003c\/b\u003e has lived in Kyoto since 1994, before which he taught at Kanazawa University. He is the author of several books about Japan, and his 2012 book, \u003ci\u003eIn Search of Japan's Hidden Christians,\u003c\/i\u003e was hailed as \"one of the most compelling and important books on Japan in recent years.\" He has run Writers in Kyoto for nine years, editing the website and overseeing the group's many activities. He also runs the Green Shinto blog.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Book Grocer","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45945347211483,"sku":"9781611720822-RETAIL","price":29.74,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0523\/7646\/9701\/files\/18e287b79356408aba9c66790d667fa1.png?v=1724214156"},{"product_id":"9781787302778-minas-matchbox","title":"Mina's Matchbox","description":"\u003cp\u003eAuthor: Yoko Ogawa\u003cbr\u003eFormat: Paperback, 136mm x 216mm, 287g, 288 pages\u003cbr\u003ePublished: Vintage Publishing, United Kingdom, 2024\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA story of friendship and family secrets in 1970s Japan, from the prizewinning author of The Memory Police.\n\nOn sleepless nights, I open the matchbox and reread the story of the girl who gathered shooting stars.\n\nAfter the death of her father, twelve-year-old Tomoko is sent to live for a year with her uncle in the coastal town of Ashiya. It is a year which will change her life.\n\nThe 1970s are bringing changes to Japan and her uncle's magnificent colonial mansion opens up a new and unfamiliar world for Tomoko; its sprawling gardens are even home to a pygmy hippo the family keeps as a pet. Tomoko finds her relatives equally exotic and beguiling and her growing friendship with her cousin Mina draws her into an intoxicating world full of secret crushes and elaborate storytelling.\n\nRich with the magic and mystery of youth, Mina's Matchbox is an evocative snapshot of a moment frozen in time, and a striking depiction of a family on the edge of collapse.\n\nPraise for Mina's Matchbox \n\n'I read Mina's Matchbox like a besotted child, enraptured, never wanting it to end.' RUTH OZEKI, author of The Book of Form and Emptiness\n\n'Dreamy and whimsical, Mina's Matchbox traffics in the themes at which Ogawa always excels- memory, identity, and nostalgia' Esquire, Best Books of the Summer \n\n'A conspicuously gifted writer. . . To read Ogawa is to enter a dreamlike state. . . She possesses an effortless, glassy, eerie brilliance' Guardian\n\n 'Evokes the secret crushes and crushing secrets of girlhood with charm and elegance' People\n\n \n\n'Immersive and poignant. . . filled with wonder' Bookpage\n\n\nReader Reviews\n\n'I was totally swept away by it.'\n\n'It's a beautiful coming of age story. I'd recommend it to any lovers of translated fiction!'\n\n'Uplifting. And Pochiko, the pygmy hippo? A wonder.'\n\n'A beautiful coming of age story'\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eYoko Ogawa (Author) \nYoko Ogawa has won every major Japanese literary award. Her fiction has appeared in the New Yorker, A Public Space and Zoetrope. Her works include The Diving Pool, The Housekeeper and the Professor, Hotel Iris and Revenge. Her most recent novel, The Memory Police, was shortlisted for the International Booker Prize.\n\nStephen Snyder (Translator) \nStephen Snyder is a translator and professor of Japanese Studies at Middlebury College, Vermont, USA.\n\nHe has translated works by Kenzaburo Oe, Ryu Murakami, and Miri Yu, among others. His translation of Natsuo Kirino's Out was a finalist for the Edgar Award for best mystery novel in 2004, and his translation of Yoko Ogawa's Hotel Iris was shortlisted for the Man Asian Literary Prize in 2011.?\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Book Grocer","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45980274622683,"sku":"9781787302778","price":29.74,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0523\/7646\/9701\/files\/6164c0f37b824027a9ef385236fa15b8.png?v=1724380386"},{"product_id":"9780233977034-secondhand-pictures-from-the-water-trade-an-englishman-in-japan","title":"Pictures from the Water Trade: An Englishman in Japan","description":"\u003cstrong\u003eNB: This is a secondhand book in very good condition.  See our FAQs for more information. Please note that the jacket image is indicative only.  A description of our secondhand books is not always available.  Please contact  us if you have a question about this title.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAuthor: John David Morley\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\nFormat: Hardback\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\nNumber of Pages: 304\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe book titled Pictures from the Water Trade: An Englishman in Japan by the author John David Morley.  This is a secondhand book.  Please contact us for more information about this title.","brand":"Secondhand Stock","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45996671369435,"sku":"9780233977034-SECONDHAND","price":12.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0523\/7646\/9701\/files\/9780233977034-us-300.jpg?v=1724898068"},{"product_id":"9780732257729-secondhand-the-ministry-inside-japans-ministry-of-finance","title":"The Ministry: Inside Japan's Ministry of Finance","description":"\u003cstrong\u003eNB: This is a secondhand book in very good condition.  See our FAQs for more information. Please note that the jacket image is indicative only.  A description of our secondhand books is not always available.  Please contact  us if you have a question about this title.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAuthor: Peter Hartcher\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\nFormat: Paperback \n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\nNumber of Pages: 220\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe book titled The Ministry: Inside Japan's Ministry of Finance by the author Peter Hartcher. This is a secondhand book.  Please contact us for more information about this title.","brand":"Secondhand Stock","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46088126464219,"sku":"9780732257729-SECONDHAND","price":12.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0523\/7646\/9701\/files\/md31920372119.jpg?v=1727749060"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0523\/7646\/9701\/collections\/1200px-Flag_of_Japan.svg_b075d344-ba30-477e-ac4d-f2285d78a9ab.png?v=1625801586","url":"https:\/\/bookgrocer.com\/collections\/japan\/modern-and-contemporary-fiction-general-and-literary.oembed?page=2","provider":"Book Grocer","version":"1.0","type":"link"}