Asia has always attracted the “white man” with its otherness. America, by and large, isn’t that different from Europe these days. There’s almost nothing left of its authentic culture, and everything else has been imported from the Old World, though slightly transformed over time. Russians also differ culturally from Europeans and Americans. But none of these differences compare to how distinct we are from Asian cultures. For millennia, they developed in their own way, and this has influenced their way of life, traditions, and even values.
Modern globalization is blurring these boundaries, and cities like Tokyo resemble other major metropolises in America. However, there are still many things that can’t be changed in just a hundred or two hundred years.
Japan is one of those countries. That’s why it was so fascinating to read the thoughts of someone born in Japan, who then left, only to return to live there again after turning forty.
Yutaka Yazawa did not attempt to create a detailed academic work about his homeland but instead sought to highlight interesting aspects of Japanese history and everyday life through a series of short essays. His book, How to Live Japanese, is essentially half photo album, half personal perspective on Japanese life through the eyes of someone who has also absorbed Western culture.
The book is relatively small, just over 200 pages, and when you consider that almost half of it consists of photographs, it turns out to be quite a short read. Yet, each essay offers a small glimpse into something new about Japanese life.
Yazawa doesn’t delve into well-known facts but instead focuses on small details. Some things are unusual, while others are surprising. For example, how the celebration of Valentine’s Day has transformed in Japan, or the fact that sushi, despite its fame, is a relatively young dish in Japanese history and was originally known only in the area around modern-day Tokyo.
The book is an easy and quick read. The only downside, in my opinion, is its somewhat superficial nature. The author touches briefly on many facts, while some topics aren’t given attention at all. However, as an introduction to the history and culture of this unique country, I highly recommend it.
My rating: 4/5
