by Lucy Softich

Japan Ai: A tall girl’s adventures in Japan, by Aimee Major Steinberger
$9.95

Plot
Six-foot-tall self-proclaimed geek, Aimee, takes her dream trip to Japan, and immortalizes it in this illustrated journal and guide. She visits Tokyo, Kyoto, a stunning Onsen (hotsprings), and has the ultimate fangirl experience: Harajuku, Tokyo Tower, ball-jointed dolls, Lolita, and a host of adventures.

First Impressions
There are way more illustrations and way less text than I had expected, but the drawings are very charming

Lasting Impressions
This is an adorable book, and very entertaining. I went to Japan myself in high school, and some of Aimee’s experiences are so close to my own that it was almost scary (are there hidden cameras somewhere?). The book is also rife with very accurate and concise cultural information, and her insights are both hilarious and spot-on.

Behind the Scenes
There’s a full glossary in the back of the book detailing any possibly unfamiliar term that comes up, and there’s even a list of the stores she mentions, complete with links to their websites. There are also a number of maps sprinkled throughout the book, mostly of shopping districts in Tokyo.

Audience
This book is a must-have for any anime/manga/Lolita fan, but also great for anyone studying the language or planning to visit Japan. There were a lot of terms in here I remember learning in high school and college Japanese, so students will really enjoy it.

Posted in Have You Read ... ?.
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