Tokyo Tales

Tokyo Tales PDF Author: Hermann Candahashi
Publisher: tredition
ISBN: 3384136306
Category : Family & Relationships
Languages : en
Pages : 238

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Book Description
This book is not a conventional travel guide. I would like to invite you to immerse yourself in a city of contrasts and endless facets – welcome to Tokyo, the city of 100 villages. This book takes you on a literary journey from the bustling streets of Shibuya to the serene temples of Asakusa; each neighborhood in this city holds stories waiting to be told. These stories unfold like Tokyo's cherry blossoms in spring. Join me in discovering how a stranger uncovers the art of Zen amid the hustle of the metropolis or how ancient geisha legends persist in the glow of modern neon lights. Each chapter is a window into the diverse life worlds of Tokyo's population. Are you ready to open the doors to the metropolis of 100 villages? Then accompany me on a journey that has embraced me between tradition and modernity, past and present. Experience Tokyo in all its nuances – a book as diverse as the city itself. So, I warmly welcome you to my Tokyo stories. This book takes you on a journey through the bustling streets of the megametropolis Tokyo and at the same time to the hidden treasures of the surrounding villages, as I experienced them. Through the eyes of a stranger who not only admires the breathtaking skyline but also discovers the stories behind the facades of the seemingly endless skyscrapers, I guide you through this foreign world. We explore not only the neon-lit streets but also the heart of the culture in the villages that make up this metropolis. In "Tokyo Stories," the diversity of this fascinating city becomes palpable in all its facets. From the bustling shopping districts to the quiet temples on the outskirts - each place tells its own story. Let yourself be surprised by the contrasts as the bustle of the metropolis meets the serenity of quiet communities, teahouses, and temples. My book is more than just a travel description. It is an exploration of the soul of Tokyo, an invitation to understand the city in its entirety. Through vivid descriptions and compelling stories, you will dive into the cultural diversity that Tokyo has to offer. Get ready for a journey that leads you not only through the streets but also into the hearts of the people who make this city what it is. I aim to build a bridge between the past and the future, between tradition and innovation. Explore the magic of this unique metropolis and let me tell you about the stories hidden behind the skyscrapers and rice terraces. Join me on this unforgettable journey. Are you ready to discover the city of 100 villages? Then follow me. Yours sincerely, Hermann Candahashi

Tokyo Tales

Tokyo Tales PDF Author: Hermann Candahashi
Publisher: tredition
ISBN: 3384136306
Category : Family & Relationships
Languages : en
Pages : 238

Get Book Here

Book Description
This book is not a conventional travel guide. I would like to invite you to immerse yourself in a city of contrasts and endless facets – welcome to Tokyo, the city of 100 villages. This book takes you on a literary journey from the bustling streets of Shibuya to the serene temples of Asakusa; each neighborhood in this city holds stories waiting to be told. These stories unfold like Tokyo's cherry blossoms in spring. Join me in discovering how a stranger uncovers the art of Zen amid the hustle of the metropolis or how ancient geisha legends persist in the glow of modern neon lights. Each chapter is a window into the diverse life worlds of Tokyo's population. Are you ready to open the doors to the metropolis of 100 villages? Then accompany me on a journey that has embraced me between tradition and modernity, past and present. Experience Tokyo in all its nuances – a book as diverse as the city itself. So, I warmly welcome you to my Tokyo stories. This book takes you on a journey through the bustling streets of the megametropolis Tokyo and at the same time to the hidden treasures of the surrounding villages, as I experienced them. Through the eyes of a stranger who not only admires the breathtaking skyline but also discovers the stories behind the facades of the seemingly endless skyscrapers, I guide you through this foreign world. We explore not only the neon-lit streets but also the heart of the culture in the villages that make up this metropolis. In "Tokyo Stories," the diversity of this fascinating city becomes palpable in all its facets. From the bustling shopping districts to the quiet temples on the outskirts - each place tells its own story. Let yourself be surprised by the contrasts as the bustle of the metropolis meets the serenity of quiet communities, teahouses, and temples. My book is more than just a travel description. It is an exploration of the soul of Tokyo, an invitation to understand the city in its entirety. Through vivid descriptions and compelling stories, you will dive into the cultural diversity that Tokyo has to offer. Get ready for a journey that leads you not only through the streets but also into the hearts of the people who make this city what it is. I aim to build a bridge between the past and the future, between tradition and innovation. Explore the magic of this unique metropolis and let me tell you about the stories hidden behind the skyscrapers and rice terraces. Join me on this unforgettable journey. Are you ready to discover the city of 100 villages? Then follow me. Yours sincerely, Hermann Candahashi

Tokyo Tales: A stranger in the Metropolis of 100 Villages

Tokyo Tales: A stranger in the Metropolis of 100 Villages PDF Author: Hermann Candahashi
Publisher: Hermann Candahashi
ISBN:
Category : Travel
Languages : en
Pages : 255

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Book Description
A personal word from the Author As I reflect on the pages of "Tokyo Tales: Stories of Life in Japan's Bustling Metropolis," I find myself immersed in a world of wonder, a tapestry of stories that have touched my heart and left an indelible mark on my soul. Through the captivating narratives and vivid descriptions, I have been transported to the vibrant streets of Tokyo, experiencing the city's essence through the eyes of its inhabitants. Tokyo, a city that breathes with a life of its own, is a symphony of sights, sounds, and emotions. It is a place where tradition dances hand in hand with innovation, where the past intertwines with the present, creating a harmonious blend that is uniquely captivating. In these stories, I have witnessed the delicate balance between honoring age-old customs and embracing the relentless tide of progress. Tokyo is a city that embraces its rich cultural heritage while eagerly exploring the frontiers of the future. The people who inhabit this bustling metropolis are the heart and soul of its enchantment. Their dreams, hopes, and struggles reverberate through each tale, creating a tapestry of humanity that is both universal and deeply personal. From the stoic salaryman navigating the demands of corporate life to the artist seeking solace and inspiration in the city's hidden corners, the characters in "Tokyo Tales" have taught me valuable lessons about resilience, determination, and the pursuit of one's passions. In Tokyo, I have discovered a place where contradictions coexist harmoniously. Amidst the labyrinthine streets and towering skyscrapers, there is a serenity that can be found in the simplicity of a traditional tea ceremony or the tranquility of a Japanese garden. It is a city that celebrates the ephemeral beauty of cherry blossoms in spring and the vibrant colors of autumn leaves, reminding us of the transient nature of life itself. Yet, Tokyo is also a city that pulses with the energy of modernity. Its neon-lit streets, crowded intersections, and technological marvels create a sensory overload that is both exhilarating and awe-inspiring. In these tales, I have marveled at the fusion of ancient traditions with cutting-edge advancements, where futuristic architecture rises alongside centuries-old temples, and where the virtual world seamlessly merges with reality. Beyond the physical landscape, Tokyo is a city of connections. It is a place where strangers become friends, where a shared smile or a moment of kindness transcends language and cultural barriers. In the stories of "Tokyo Tales," I have experienced the warmth and hospitality of Tokyoites, their willingness to embrace diversity and welcome outsiders into their vibrant community. Tokyo has taught me the value of human connection, the power of empathy, and the beauty of forging bonds that transcend borders. As I reach the final pages of this literary journey, I carry with me the memories of Tokyo's tales, the sights, the sounds, and the emotions that have enveloped me throughout this remarkable adventure. The stories have not only provided a glimpse into the lives of Tokyo's inhabitants but have also invited me to reflect on my own journey, my own dreams, and the power of embracing the unknown.

Stranger in the Shogun's City

Stranger in the Shogun's City PDF Author: Amy Stanley
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 1501188542
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 352

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Book Description
*Finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in Biography* *Winner of the 2020 National Book Critics Circle Award* *Winner of the PEN/Jacqueline Bograd Weld Award for Biography* A “captivating” (The Washington Post) work of history that explores the life of an unconventional woman during the first half of the 19th century in Edo—the city that would become Tokyo—and a portrait of a city on the brink of a momentous encounter with the West. The daughter of a Buddhist priest, Tsuneno was born in a rural Japanese village and was expected to live a traditional life much like her mother’s. But after three divorces—and a temperament much too strong-willed for her family’s approval—she ran away to make a life for herself in one of the largest cities in the world: Edo, a bustling metropolis at its peak. With Tsuneno as our guide, we experience the drama and excitement of Edo just prior to the arrival of American Commodore Perry’s fleet, which transformed Japan. During this pivotal moment in Japanese history, Tsuneno bounces from tenement to tenement, marries a masterless samurai, and eventually enters the service of a famous city magistrate. Tsuneno’s life provides a window into 19th-century Japanese culture—and a rare view of an extraordinary woman who sacrificed her family and her reputation to make a new life for herself, in defiance of social conventions. “A compelling story, traced with meticulous detail and told with exquisite sympathy” (The Wall Street Journal), Stranger in the Shogun’s City is “a vivid, polyphonic portrait of life in 19th-century Japan [that] evokes the Shogun era with panache and insight” (National Review of Books).

Seeing Like a State

Seeing Like a State PDF Author: James C. Scott
Publisher: Yale University Press
ISBN: 0300252986
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 462

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Book Description
“One of the most profound and illuminating studies of this century to have been published in recent decades.”—John Gray, New York Times Book Review Hailed as “a magisterial critique of top-down social planning” by the New York Times, this essential work analyzes disasters from Russia to Tanzania to uncover why states so often fail—sometimes catastrophically—in grand efforts to engineer their society or their environment, and uncovers the conditions common to all such planning disasters. “Beautifully written, this book calls into sharp relief the nature of the world we now inhabit.”—New Yorker “A tour de force.”— Charles Tilly, Columbia University

The Image of the City

The Image of the City PDF Author: Kevin Lynch
Publisher: MIT Press
ISBN: 9780262620017
Category : Architecture
Languages : en
Pages : 212

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Book Description
The classic work on the evaluation of city form. What does the city's form actually mean to the people who live there? What can the city planner do to make the city's image more vivid and memorable to the city dweller? To answer these questions, Mr. Lynch, supported by studies of Los Angeles, Boston, and Jersey City, formulates a new criterion—imageability—and shows its potential value as a guide for the building and rebuilding of cities. The wide scope of this study leads to an original and vital method for the evaluation of city form. The architect, the planner, and certainly the city dweller will all want to read this book.

Unbroken

Unbroken PDF Author: Laura Hillenbrand
Publisher: Random House Trade Paperbacks
ISBN: 0812974492
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 530

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Book Description
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE • Look for special features inside. Join the Random House Reader’s Circle for author chats and more. In boyhood, Louis Zamperini was an incorrigible delinquent. As a teenager, he channeled his defiance into running, discovering a prodigious talent that had carried him to the Berlin Olympics. But when World War II began, the athlete became an airman, embarking on a journey that led to a doomed flight on a May afternoon in 1943. When his Army Air Forces bomber crashed into the Pacific Ocean, against all odds, Zamperini survived, adrift on a foundering life raft. Ahead of Zamperini lay thousands of miles of open ocean, leaping sharks, thirst and starvation, enemy aircraft, and, beyond, a trial even greater. Driven to the limits of endurance, Zamperini would answer desperation with ingenuity; suffering with hope, resolve, and humor; brutality with rebellion. His fate, whether triumph or tragedy, would be suspended on the fraying wire of his will. Appearing in paperback for the first time—with twenty arresting new photos and an extensive Q&A with the author—Unbroken is an unforgettable testament to the resilience of the human mind, body, and spirit, brought vividly to life by Seabiscuit author Laura Hillenbrand. Hailed as the top nonfiction book of the year by Time magazine • Winner of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for biography and the Indies Choice Adult Nonfiction Book of the Year award “Extraordinarily moving . . . a powerfully drawn survival epic.”—The Wall Street Journal “[A] one-in-a-billion story . . . designed to wrench from self-respecting critics all the blurby adjectives we normally try to avoid: It is amazing, unforgettable, gripping, harrowing, chilling, and inspiring.”—New York “Staggering . . . mesmerizing . . . Hillenbrand’s writing is so ferociously cinematic, the events she describes so incredible, you don’t dare take your eyes off the page.”—People “A meticulous, soaring and beautifully written account of an extraordinary life.”—The Washington Post “Ambitious and powerful . . . a startling narrative and an inspirational book.”—The New York Times Book Review “Magnificent . . . incredible . . . [Hillenbrand] has crafted another masterful blend of sports, history and overcoming terrific odds; this is biography taken to the nth degree, a chronicle of a remarkable life lived through extraordinary times.”—The Dallas Morning News “An astonishing testament to the superhuman power of tenacity.”—Entertainment Weekly “A tale of triumph and redemption . . . astonishingly detailed.”—O: The Oprah Magazine “[A] masterfully told true story . . . nothing less than a marvel.”—Washingtonian “[Hillenbrand tells this] story with cool elegance but at a thrilling sprinter’s pace.”—Time “Hillenbrand [is] one of our best writers of narrative history. You don’t have to be a sports fan or a war-history buff to devour this book—you just have to love great storytelling.”—Rebecca Skloot, author of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

A Tokyo Romance

A Tokyo Romance PDF Author: Ian Buruma
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 1101981423
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 258

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Book Description
A classic memoir of self-invention in a strange land: Ian Buruma's unflinching account of his amazing journey into the heart of Tokyo's underground culture as a young man in the 1970's When Ian Buruma arrived in Tokyo in 1975, Japan was little more than an idea in his mind, a fantasy of a distant land. A sensitive misfit in the world of his upper middleclass youth, what he longed for wasn’t so much the exotic as the raw, unfiltered humanity he had experienced in Japanese theater performances and films, witnessed in Amsterdam and Paris. One particular theater troupe, directed by a poet of runaways, outsiders, and eccentrics, was especially alluring, more than a little frightening, and completely unforgettable. If Tokyo was anything like his plays, Buruma knew that he had to join the circus as soon as possible. Tokyo was an astonishment. Buruma found a feverish and surreal metropolis where nothing was understated—neon lights, crimson lanterns, Japanese pop, advertising jingles, and cabarets. He encountered a city in the midst of an economic boom where everything seemed new, aside from the isolated temple or shrine that had survived the firestorms and earthquakes that had levelled the city during the past century. History remained in fragments: the shapes of wounded World War II veterans in white kimonos, murky old bars that Mishima had cruised in, and the narrow alleys where street girls had once flitted. Buruma’s Tokyo, though, was a city engaged in a radical transformation. And through his adventures in the world of avant garde theater, his encounters with carnival acts, fashion photographers, and moments on-set with Akira Kurosawa, Buruma underwent a radical transformation of his own. For an outsider, unattached to the cultural burdens placed on the Japanese, this was a place to be truly free. A Tokyo Romance is a portrait of a young artist and the fantastical city that shaped him. With his signature acuity, Ian Buruma brilliantly captures the historical tensions between east and west, the cultural excitement of 1970s Tokyo, and the dilemma of the gaijin in Japanese society, free, yet always on the outside. The result is a timeless story about the desire to transgress boundaries: cultural, artistic, and sexual.

The Making of Modern Japan

The Making of Modern Japan PDF Author: Marius B. Jansen
Publisher: Harvard University Press
ISBN: 0674039106
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 933

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Book Description
Magisterial in vision, sweeping in scope, this monumental work presents a seamless account of Japanese society during the modern era, from 1600 to the present. A distillation of more than fifty years’ engagement with Japan and its history, it is the crowning work of our leading interpreter of the modern Japanese experience. Since 1600 Japan has undergone three periods of wrenching social and institutional change, following the imposition of hegemonic order on feudal society by the Tokugawa shogun; the opening of Japan’s ports by Commodore Perry; and defeat in World War II. The Making of Modern Japan charts these changes: the social engineering begun with the founding of the shogunate in 1600, the emergence of village and castle towns with consumer populations, and the diffusion of samurai values in the culture. Marius Jansen covers the making of the modern state, the adaptation of Western models, growing international trade, the broadening opportunity in Japanese society with industrialization, and the postwar occupation reforms imposed by General MacArthur. Throughout, the book gives voice to the individuals and views that have shaped the actions and beliefs of the Japanese, with writers, artists, and thinkers, as well as political leaders given their due. The story this book tells, though marked by profound changes, is also one of remarkable consistency, in which continuities outweigh upheavals in the development of society, and successive waves of outside influence have only served to strengthen a sense of what is unique and native to Japanese experience. The Making of Modern Japan takes us to the core of this experience as it illuminates one of the contemporary world’s most compelling transformations.

Bending Adversity

Bending Adversity PDF Author: David Pilling
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 0143126954
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 418

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Book Description
“[A]n excellent book...” —The Economist Financial Times Asia editor David Pilling presents a fresh vision of Japan, drawing on his own deep experience, as well as observations from a cross section of Japanese citizenry, including novelist Haruki Murakami, former prime minister Junichiro Koizumi, industrialists and bankers, activists and artists, teenagers and octogenarians. Through their voices, Pilling's Bending Adversity captures the dynamism and diversity of contemporary Japan. Pilling’s exploration begins with the 2011 triple disaster of earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear meltdown. His deep reporting reveals both Japan’s vulnerabilities and its resilience and pushes him to understand the country’s past through cycles of crisis and reconstruction. Japan’s survivalist mentality has carried it through tremendous hardship, but is also the source of great destruction: It was the nineteenth-century struggle to ward off colonial intent that resulted in Japan’s own imperial endeavor, culminating in the devastation of World War II. Even the postwar economic miracle—the manufacturing and commerce explosion that brought unprecedented economic growth and earned Japan international clout might have been a less pure victory than it seemed. In Bending Adversity Pilling questions what was lost in the country’s blind, aborted climb to #1. With the same rigor, he revisits 1990—the year the economic bubble burst, and the beginning of Japan’s “lost decades”—to ask if the turning point might be viewed differently. While financial struggle and national debt are a reality, post-growth Japan has also successfully maintained a stable standard of living and social cohesion. And while life has become less certain, opportunities—in particular for the young and for women—have diversified. Still, Japan is in many ways a country in recovery, working to find a way forward after the events of 2011 and decades of slow growth. Bending Adversity closes with a reflection on what the 2012 reelection of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and his radical antideflation policy, might mean for Japan and its future. Informed throughout by the insights shared by Pilling’s many interview subjects, Bending Adversity rigorously engages with the social, spiritual, financial, and political life of Japan to create a more nuanced representation of the oft-misunderstood island nation and its people. The Financial Times “David Pilling quotes a visiting MP from northern England, dazzled by Tokyo’s lights and awed by its bustling prosperity: ‘If this is a recession, I want one.’ Not the least of the merits of Pilling’s hugely enjoyable and perceptive book on Japan is that he places the denunciations of two allegedly “lost decades” in the context of what the country is really like and its actual achievements.” The Telegraph (UK) “Pilling, the Asia editor of the Financial Times, is perfectly placed to be our guide, and his insights are a real rarity when very few Western journalists communicate the essence of the world’s third-largest economy in anything but the most superficial ways. Here, there is a terrific selection of interview subjects mixed with great reportage and fact selection... he does get people to say wonderful things. The novelist Haruki Murakami tells him: “When we were rich, I hated this country”... well-written... valuable.” Publishers Weekly (starred): "A probing and insightful portrait of contemporary Japan."

A Tale for the Time Being

A Tale for the Time Being PDF Author: Ruth Ozeki
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 1101606258
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 621

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Book Description
A brilliant, unforgettable novel from bestselling author Ruth Ozeki, author of The Book of Form and Emptiness Finalist for the Booker Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Award “A time being is someone who lives in time, and that means you, and me, and every one of us who is, or was, or ever will be.” In Tokyo, sixteen-year-old Nao has decided there’s only one escape from her aching loneliness and her classmates’ bullying. But before she ends it all, Nao first plans to document the life of her great grandmother, a Buddhist nun who’s lived more than a century. A diary is Nao’s only solace—and will touch lives in ways she can scarcely imagine. Across the Pacific, we meet Ruth, a novelist living on a remote island who discovers a collection of artifacts washed ashore in a Hello Kitty lunchbox—possibly debris from the devastating 2011 tsunami. As the mystery of its contents unfolds, Ruth is pulled into the past, into Nao’s drama and her unknown fate, and forward into her own future. Full of Ozeki’s signature humor and deeply engaged with the relationship between writer and reader, past and present, fact and fiction, quantum physics, history, and myth, A Tale for the Time Being is a brilliantly inventive, beguiling story of our shared humanity and the search for home.