If you are passionate about Japan, or just mildly curious—this is a great book. The writer carefully documents her mistakes as well as her triumphs(Trust me there are more mistakes)as she journeys into Japan in search of Wa (Harmony). The reader really gets to experience the struggles of getting to know a new land, trying to understand the complexities of Japan and Japanese culture and hiearchy, and in the end, are reborn—inspired—and a little touched by how human the writer is. I was impressed at how candid she was, and though it wasn’t the best piece of writing, it has soul and a realness to it. The writer has a human voice, one we don’t hear to often in daily clutter.

There are some fantastic revelations about the Japanese, and in the end she comes to an understanding about how they’ve come to be the way they are, and the beauty in the masks they wear. It is a soulful yet human journey into the mysterious world of what it means to be a good Japanese.

I just started this. So excited.

Finished Japanland. First half of the book makes use of the stupid foreigner stereotype but it doesn’t seem to be a stereotype. Very embarrassing to read author being so ignorant of the people who were nice enough to house her. Second half of book on the misfits aand forgotten of society moch more informative and entertaining.