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Rating: 
Summary: One of the Better Books
Review: I am shocked at the negative reviews for this book! I've been to Japan many times, and have read everything I can find written by westerners who have lived in Japan for a year or more. This book is one of the better ones. The writer is a 34 year old man who left his law career for a year to teach English for the Jet Program in Japan. In my view he was very sensitive and appreciative of the culture and had a great sense of humor about the quirky things that tend to drive westerners crazy. He does go into detail about the practicalities of living in Japan--in a very accurate and interesting way. I like that he did not go with the idea of making waves or changing things as do so many of the authors of books I've read. He's realistic from the start. Yes, the pronunciations of words in parentheses is minorly annoying. Also, not everyone has the same living conditions in Japan--and you get the feeling he thinks they do. Still, it's a realistic view of what it's like to live in a rural area of Japan. Not in the class of books by Alan Booth (Roads to Sata), but no others are. Still, almost equal to 36 Views of Mount Fuji, and Lost in Japan--and above all the rest--including Learning to Bow, Accidental Office Lady, Hokkaido Highway Blues, and Thank You and Okay. Why some took offense I don't know as it's a much kinder book than some of the books recommended by the negative reviewers. Dave Barry? While funny, that book made me cringe with embarassment for its rudeness.
Rating: 
Summary: An American-centric and self-centered view of Japan
Review: I hated this book and am returning it. I have read many, many, many books on Japan and this is the only one I couldn't tolerate. At first, I couldn't figure out who this was written for--junior high students, perhaps. (He describes toilets and gives a pronunciation guide for Americanized Japanese words in italics). But then, I got so annoyed at his observations of the Japanese, I couldn't continue reading. Didn't he read anything about the Japanese before he left? He seemed unable to enjoy the cultural differences and seemed to have that superiority attitude of 'my culture is better than your culture.' I have news for him--one culture isn't better--just different. Perhaps he thought he was writing humor, but the best humor comes from an empathy that 'we're all in the soup together.' Don't waste your time or money on this one. If you want a great read try Traveller's Tales of Japan edited by George and Carlson or Lost Japan by Alex Kerr or Learning to Bow or Thirty Six Views of Mt. Fuji. There are so many wonderful books to read. Move on.
Rating:
Summary: An American-centric and self-centered view of Japan
Review: I hated this book and am returning it. I have read many, many, many books on Japan and this is the only one I couldn't tolerate. At first, I couldn't figure out who this was written for--junior high students, perhaps. (He describes toilets and gives a pronunciation guide for Americanized Japanese words in italics). But then, I got so annoyed at his observations of the Japanese, I couldn't continue reading. Didn't he read anything about the Japanese before he left? He seemed unable to enjoy the cultural differences and seemed to have that superiority attitude of 'my culture is better than your culture.' I have news for him--one culture isn't better--just different. Perhaps he thought he was writing humor, but the best humor comes from an empathy that 'we're all in the soup together.' Don't waste your time or money on this one. If you want a great read try Traveller's Tales of Japan edited by George and Carlson or Lost Japan by Alex Kerr or Learning to Bow or Thirty Six Views of Mt. Fuji. There are so many wonderful books to read. Move on.
Rating: 
Summary: well worth the read...
Review: its well worth picking it up and reading it as it shows what life is like on hondo island and not in the megatropolis. there is a section towards the end of the book where the text doesnt flow, but it gave me a few laughs and a better understanding of enthusiasm of japan. i highly recommend it. if you're preparing to goto japan for the jet program or just for a holiday, have a read.
Rating:
Summary: Informative and entertaining -- excellent!
Review: The author really captures the essence of what it is like to live in a foreign country. His style and sense of humor make the book an easy read. His honest and very personal reflections about a people and culture very different from his own make it hard to put down. It is certainly a must read for anyone who has lived in Japan as an expat. It also gives excellent insights into aspects of Japan that most folks never see. There is a lot about Japan that doesn't ever appear in Western media and that which does often fails to give a complete picture. I lived in Japan for almost two years, and this book brought back a lot of fond (and a few not-so-fond) memories. If you have spent time in Japan, no doubt you will be able to relate to the author's well-told stories. If you haven't, his book will open up a window to an amazing country and allow you to feel as if you have.
Rating: 
Summary: Good, but not great.
Review: This book didn't live up to the amazon.com reviews I read. As a former JET participant myself, I found Ken's chronicle of his life on the JET program a bit flat. In addition, some of his cultural anthropological observations/definitions are just wrong.If you are going to be going on the JET program to Japan, this is a starting point, but only that. If you are going to read no other book about Japan, it's probably not the best one you could choose. I'd recommend Views of Mt. Fujii, Songs of Mariko, Memoirs of a Geisha, Tale of Genji, Turning Japanese or even Dave Barry Does Japan.
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