A Geek in Japan: Discovering the Land of Manga, Anime, ZEN, and the Tea Ceremony (Geek In...guides)

Bought as a present for someone off to Japan next year looks lovely lots of great colour photos and some interesting subject matter inside

This is perfect if you, like me, have a friend obsessed with Japan (or harbour an obsession of all hint Japanese yourself).Over 100 pages long, this book is am excellent mix of intriguing, well styled text and gorgeous, vibrant pictures. There is a variety of ways within the book in which the pages are,laid out, meaning that whether you at looking for a quick read or a long sit, the book has it all. I was also amazed at the variety of subjects within the book, especially as some of the reviews mention wanting more for their money. However, from what I have seen if this book, it ticks all the boxes. Focusing on all aspects of Japanese life and culture: tea ceremonies, language, kanje (excuse the spelling), the way of the samurai, myths and legends, colloquialisms, anime and manga, and places to see in Japan to name but a few, this book covers anything you could ever hope to know about Japan. So, whether you are planning a trip there, or simply wish to know more about Japanese culture, this is the book for you!

It's a shame in a way that the title of this book involves the word 'geek' - while it's true to the author and the name of his blog, it might alienate potential readers who think the focus will be on manga and video games. In reality, this is a beautifully presented, high quality book which covers pretty much any aspect of Japan you might be interested in - not just the geeky bits! I'm most interested in pop culture, fashion and language but I found the sections on history and traditional arts interesting too. It's not encyclopaedic nor does it attempt to be, but is still surprisingly in depth.It's unfortunately a little let down by poor editing. Sometimes Japanese words are used with no definition (e.g. 'daimo' on page 17), people are discussed without introduction (e.g. Takahiro, page 17) and there are a few grammatical and spelling errors (e.g. 'next-door', My Neighbour Tottoro).These errors aside, it's a very enjoyable, well researched book that will get you interested in learning more about the country and its culture.

Bought this for a friend but I had a flick through all the pages. It's a lovely glossy attractive book with lots of bright, fascinating pictures to draw the attention. It seems to cover so much and I think it will be a great guide to getting a basic handle on Japan and Japanese culture, and the more I looked through the more excited I got about going there. Its got a bit of everything for everybody from history, technology, arts etc and has some recommendations and maps at the back. I liked that it also had some tips and information on habits and culture differences when visiting. Maybe not exactly a pocket guide when you're there but useful for pre-planning areas to visit and things to do etc. I knocked a star off only because during my brief flick there seemed to be quite a few typos/missed words?!

Fab book, very interesting and has whet my appetite for my trip later this year!Only negative comment is about the delivery, communication was great, I received specifics about when it was coming, could change delivery day & time to ensure I was home, I got the name of the delivery driver, and what number delivery I was that day, I could track where he was and what number delivery he'd reached... Sounds amazing yeah? Sadly he didn't bother ringing my doorbell, I was home waiting for my two books to be delivered, checking online when he was late only to see that he'd been unable to deliver?! I went to the front porch to find a card saying he'd left my cardboard parcel of books outside my back door for some reason! What was the point of me rearranging the day to ensure I was home if it didn't matter?!?!

As a confirmed Japanophile, I am always drawn to any media products to do with the country. Despite my pre-disposition to find this book interesting, it exceeded my expectations enormously. Having lived there just under two years I thought that I knew a fair bit about the culture, but I learnt a lot through Hector Garcia's astute choice of topics and quite honestly, this is the book I wish I had written while I was there. It is packed full of information - great value for money, a lot of illustrations, pictures and insightful explanations and observations on the culture and Japanese people, I cannot recommend it enough. I look forward to reading anything else by this author and I have thoroughly enjoyed this book!

Book came very quickly and looks good to me

Excellent book to read either before a trip to Japan or if you have a general interest in the country. It gives you so much information about the countrys history and philosophy and how that's evolved into the culture and subcultures they have today. This has hopefully given me a good understanding of what to expect when I go in a few months time and how I can act respectfully. Also has a large section on Tokyo and some tips for traveling around the country and interesting places to go. I would highly recommend.

Great read, a ton of amazing info on japan. A must tag before going

Muy útil y entretenido.

This is a really great quick overview of Japan. It packs lots of useful information and is perfect for someone visiting for the first time. It is so interesting and easy to read.

Ich habe das Buch verschenkt & die Freude war groß. :)

The book is really carry "A Must Read" tag for all those who are passionate about Japan.