I grabbed this to add to the 100 pounds of travel guides I brought with on my London/Paris vacation-travelling from my home in Tokyo-and toted along purely for reading pleasure.

It wasn’t my intention for this book to fit in with my trip, but it seems to be working out that way: the book opens in London-where I just was-with the kinds of cultural/societal observations he usually applies to future worlds. I’m finding it very engrossing, particularly since the protaganist happens to share my interest in Muji. Even more startling is the plot sending the protaganist off to Tokyo, to walk streets familiar to me, even at this distance.

When I’m through, I think I’ll be passing it onto someone I know in London, someone who spent a couple of years in Tokyo and might appreciate the nuances.