Best of
Japan

1985

Japanese Death Poems: Written by Zen Monks and Haiku Poets on the Verge of Death


Yoel Hoffmann - 1985
    Yoel Hoffmann explores the attitudes and customs surrounding death in historical and present-day Japan and gives examples of how these have been reflected in the nation's literature in general. The development of writing jisei is then examined—from the poems of longing of the early nobility and the more "masculine" verses of the samurai to the satirical death poems of later centuries. Zen Buddhist ideas about death are also described as a preface to the collection of Chinese death poems by Zen monks that are also included. Finally, the last section contains three hundred twenty haiku, some of which have never been assembled before, in English translation and romanized in Japanese.

Moon in a Dewdrop: Writings of Zen Master Dogen


DōgenLew Richmond - 1985
    Moon in a Dewdrop contains the key essays of the great master, as well as extensive background materials that will help Western readers to approach this significant work. There is also a selection of Dogen's poetry, most of which has not appeared in English translation before.Dogen's thought runs counter to conventional logic, employing paradoxical language and startling imagery. It illuminates such fundamental concerns as the nature of time, existence, life, death, the self, and what is beyond self.

On Love and Barley: Haiku of Basho


Matsuo Bashō - 1985
    His poems combine 'karumi', or lightness of touch, with the Zen ideal of oneness with creation. Each poem evokes the natural world - the cherry blossom, the leaping frog, the summer moon or the winter snow - suggesting the smallness of human life in comparison to the vastness and drama of nature. Basho himself enjoyed solitude and a life free from possessions, and his haiku are the work of an observant eye and a meditative mind, uncluttered by materialism and alive to the beauty of the world around him.

Haiku Handbook: How to Write, Share, and Teach Haiku


William J. Higginson - 1985
    It presents haiku poets writing in English, Spanish, French, German, and five other languages on an equal footing with Japanese poets. Not only are the four great Japanese masters of the haiku represented (Basho, Buson, Issa, and Shiki) but also several major Western authors not commonly known to have written haiku.

Autumn Lightning: The Education of an American Samurai


Dave Lowry - 1985
    Louis with a riveting account of the samurai tradition in Japan. Intertwining tales of the masters with reflections on his own apprenticeship in the samurai's arts, he reveals in their time-honored methods a way of life with profound relevance to modern times. The result is a fascinating, singular autobiography. Lowry captures the sense of wonder and mystery that makes martial arts compelling to so many practitioners. Even those who do not practice martial arts will delight in this unusual coming-of-age story.

Let's Learn Hiragana: First Book of Basic Japanese Writing


Yasuko Kosaka Mitamura - 1985
    It is possible to read Japanese knowing only a limited number of kanji, but it is not possible with only a limited number of katakana or hiragana-one must know all of them. Let's Learn Hiragana, and its companion volume Let's Learn Katakana, is a textbook that introduces the learner to the basics of one of these fundamental Japanese scripts. Being a workbook, it contains all the exercises that allow the student to master hiragana by the time the book has been finished. Let's Learn Hiragana is a classic in the field, and the huge number of students that have used it successfully is a sign of its preeminence as a self-study guide.

Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World


Haruki Murakami - 1985
    Science fiction, detective story and post-modern manifesto all rolled into one rip-roaring novel, Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World is the tour de force that expanded Haruki Murakami's international following. Tracking one man's descent into the Kafkaesque underworld of contemporary Tokyo, Murakami unites East and West, tragedy and farce, compassion and detachment, slang and philosophy.'

A Day in the Life of Japan


Rick Smolan - 1985
    This is one of the books in the famous Day in the Life series. Introduction & captions are in Japanese; there is no other text. A nevre to be forgotten coffee table gift book for that special person who knows a little about Japan, or for the conossieur

Japanese Ghosts and Demons: Art of the Supernatural


Stephen Addiss - 1985
    Includes the work of many of Japan's most brilliant artists, including Hiroshige, Hokusai, and Yoshitoshi.

Let's Learn Katakana: Second Book of Basic Japanese Writing


Yasuko Kosaka Mitamura - 1985
    It is possible to read Japanese knowing only a limited number of kanji, but it is not possible with only a limited number of katakana or hiragana-one must know all of them. Let's Learn Katakana, and its companion volume Let's Learn Hiragana, is a textbook that introduces the learner to the basics of one of these fundamental Japanese scripts. Being a workbook, it contains all the exercises that allow the student to master katakana by the time the book has been finished. Let's Learn Katakana is a classic in the field, and the huge number of students that have used it successfully is a sign of its preeminence as a self-study guide.

Measure and Construction of the Japanese House


Heino Engel - 1985
    The author describes in detail, and with numerous architectural plans and drawings, the influence of the anatomy of the Japanese human body on traditional units of measurement and house construction. This work is not merely a description of the features of the Japanese house, but "an invitation to probe the possibilities of utilizing this architectural achievement of the Japanese . . . in modern living and building," according to the author, who further believes that the unique features of the Japanese house are better suited to serve as a pattern for contemporary housing than any other form of residential structure.

Kokin Wakashu: The First Imperial Anthology of Japanese Poetry: With ‘Tosa Nikki’ and ‘Shinsen Waka’


Helen Craig McCullough - 1985
    

Japanese Maples: Momiji and Kaede


J.D. Vertrees - 1985
    Japanese maples are unlike any other tree. They boast a remarkable diversity of color, form, and texture. As a result of hundreds of years of careful breeding, they take the center stage in any garden they are found. In the last decade, the number of Japanese maple cultivars available to gardeners has doubled and there is a pressing need for an up-to-date reference. This new fourth edition offers detailed descriptions of over 150 new introductions, updates to plant nomenclature, and new insights into established favorites. Gardeners will relish the practical advice that puts successful cultivation within everyone's grasp. Accurate identification is made simple with over 600 easy-to-follow descriptions and 500 color photographs.

Triumph of the Sparrow: Zen Poems of Shinkichi Takahashi


Shinkichi Takahashi - 1985
    In the classic Zen tradition of economy, disciplined attention, and subtlety, Takahashi lucidly captures that which is contemporary in its problems and experiences, yet classic in its quest for unity with the Absolute. Lucien Stryk, Takahashi's fellow poet and close friend, here presents Takahashi's complete body of Zen poems in an English translation that conveys the grace and power of Takahashi's superb art. "A first-rate poet . . . [Takahashi] springs out of some crack between ordinary worlds: that is, there is some genuine madness of the sort striven for in Zen." -- Robert Bly; "We visit places in Takahashi that we once may have visited in a dream, or in a moment too startling to record the perception. . . . You need know nothing of Zen to become immersed in his work. You will inevitably know something of Zen when you emerge." -- Jim Harrison, American Poetry Review

Kiki's Delivery Service


Eiko Kadono - 1985
    So when her thirteenth birthday arrives, she's eager to follow a witch's tradition: choose a new town to call home for one year.Brimming with confidence, Kiki flies to the seaside village of Koriko and expects that her powers will easily bring happiness to the townspeople. But gaining the trust of the locals is trickier than she expected. With her faithful, wise-cracking black cat, Jiji, by her side, Kiki forges new friendships and builds her inner strength, ultimately realizing that magic can be found in even the most ordinary places.Blending fantasy with the charm of everyday life, this enchanting new translation will inspire both new readers and dedicated fans.

The Saga of Dazai Osamu: A Critical Study with Translations


Phyllis I. Lyons - 1985
    Dazai succeeded in transforming the actual events of his life into deceptively simple and emotionally intense stories, and he was somehow able to make his own pain and confusion intimate to the experience of his readers. The discussion of Dazai is in two parts. Part I examines Dazai's life and some of the psychological problems that persistently haunted him. Part II studies his many autobiographical stories and novels, which are seen as belonging to one long, continuing narrative. The book concludes with translations of five of Dazai's most moving and emotionally expressive short stories, each a significant view of Dazai at a different point in his life, and a nonfiction novel, Tsugaru, about Dazai's return as an adult to his childhood home. These translations won the 1983 Friendship Fund Japanese Literary Translation Award, administered by the Japan Society for the Japan-United States Friendship Commission. By tracing the course of Dazai's tortured life and analyzing the distinctive qualities of his autobiographical writings, this study offers the Western reader a unique insight into Japanese society and culture.<

Samadhi: Self Development in Zen, Swordsmanship, and Psychotherapy (SUNY Series in Transpersonal and Humanistic Psychology)


Mike K. Sayama - 1985
    1986 SUNY

The Hiroshima Murals: The Art of Iri Maruki and Toshi Maruki


John W. Dower - 1985
    

Contemporary Japanese Architecture, Its Development and Challenge


Botond Bognar - 1985
    

What Is Japanese Architecture?


Kazuo Nishi - 1985
    Traces the development of the traditional styles of the architecture of Japanese houses, theaters, teahouses, castles, Buddhist temples, and Shinto shrines.

A Feast for the Eyes: The Japanese Art of Food Arrangement


Yoshio Tsuchiya - 1985
    Surveys the various styles of Japanese tableware and describes the Japanese methods of arranging and serving food.

Japan


John Hart Benson - 1985
    Detailed and accurate Street Finder maps give you instant access to each district. Unique cutaways and floor plans help you explore public buildings and landmarks — no need to purchase other guides. The Survival Guide shows you how to use local currency, public transportation, and telephones. Clear and concise maps give you instant access to all regions. The best travel guides ever. (Sky Magazine ) Eyewitness Travel Guides, considered to be the world's best travel resource to over 30 destinations around the world, make it easier to plan a splendid vacation. (North American Press Syndication) This is a guidebook series that always seems to inspire smiles...You feel, looking at them, as if you could close the book and step into the street. (Contra Costa Times ) Encyclopedic in scope, it's meant to be used before, during, and after your stay. (Travel & Leisure) Each book is a visual as well as informational feast about a particular place. (The New York Times) The most graphically exciting and visually pleasing series on the market. (Chicago Tribune) Both novice and experienced travelers will be captivated. (U.S. News & World Report) Want to know where to get a great espresso on your way to the Uffizi? Or how much to tip a hotel maid in New York City? Try these travel guides, each an intricate trove of 3-D aerial views, landmark floor plans, color photos and essential eating, shopping and entertainment info. With titles covering Paris, Prague, and London, these pocket-sized guides are like a Michelangelo fresco: deliriously rich in detail. (People Magazine)

Tokyo, 1970-1985 [A vision of its other side]


Masatoshi Naito - 1985
    

Questions to a Zen Master: Political and Spiritual Answers from the Great Japanese Master


Taisen Deshimaru - 1985
    True religion is the highest Way, the absolute Way: zazen."Here, Deshimaru, the author of True Zen, offers practical suggestions for developing unitary mind-body consciousness through the principles of zazen (translated literally as "seated meditation"). Advice is given on posture, breathing, and concentration, and concepts such as karma and satori are clearly explained.

Carried by My Wife - To the Ends of the Earth; A Love and a Faith to Overcome Obstacles


Kazutoshi Mitsuhashi - 1985
    Story of Kazutoshi & Yukiko Mitsuhashi, from childhood to their marriage and work as evangelists and pastors.

Brocade by Night: Kokin Wakashu and the Court Style in Japanese Classical Poetry


Helen Craig McCullough - 1985
    

Illustrated History of Japan


Shigeo Nishimura - 1985
    Fascinating features of each era are highlighted such as the giant tombs of the Kofun period built by Chinese and Koreans. The power and the influence of the samurais are extensively depicted. The impact of western influences and how the Japanese wrestled with such influences are also explored. The tumultuous events leading to the collapse of the power of the samurais in the 19th centur are also documented. The devastation of the Second World War is illustrated and the book ends with Japan of today. Flowing from one page to the next, Shigeo Nishimura has taken the significant events and personalities of each historical period and brought them to life in vivid and detailed color, helping young readers grasp what people were like and how they lived long ago. Even if it's called the medieval era or aristocratic era, there were always common people--farmers, fishermen, craftmen and merchants. This picture book features the people who took part in the different trades, occupations, and lifestyles, and shows the history of Japan through the stone age to the present day. Illustrating almost 3,500 people, this is a magnificent history book.

Martial Arts Movies: From Bruce Lee to the Ninjas


Richard S. Meyers - 1985
    

Penetrating Laughter


Kazuaki Tanahashi - 1985
    Gathers drawings and poems by an eighteenth-century Japanese Zen Buddhist master and discusses the meaning of his work.

Lives of Master Swordsmen


Makoto Sugawara - 1985
    The lives of these master swordsmen unfold against the backdrop of the Age of Civil Wars, the unification of the country by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the Fortune Deciding Battle, the Battles of Winter and Summer, the Shimabara Revolt, the Pax Tokugawa, and the Meiji Restoration. With the exception of the chapter on Tsukahara Bokuden, which is based on oral tradition, Lives of Master Swordsmen is founded on careful analysis of historical facts. Makoto Sugawara takes especial pains to separate the Musashi of fact from the Musashi of fiction, and achieves startling psychological insights into the character of the greatest swordsmen of ambivalent reputation. The book also includes the first translation of Fudochi Shimyo Roku, the Priest Takuan's limpid Zen treatise on the martial arts. This influential treatise turned the attention of samurai toward Zen.

Population, Disease, and Land in Early Japan, 645-900


William Wayne Farris - 1985
    This work provides a comprehensive study of land clearance, agricultural technology, and rural settlement. The function and nature of ritsuryō institutions are reinterpreted within the revised demographic and economic setting.Farris's text is illustrated with maps, population pyramids for five localities, and photographs and translations of portions of tax and household registers, which throw further light on the demography and economy of Japan in the seventh, eighth, and ninth centuries.