Synopses & Reviews
andlt;bandgt;"This portrait of Japanese country life reminds us that at its core, a happy and healthy life is based on the bonds of food, family, tradition, community, and the richness of nature" and#8212;John Einarsen, Founding Editor and Art Director of andlt;iandgt;Kyoto Journalandlt;/iandgt;andlt;/bandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;What would it be like to move to Japan, leaving everyone you know behind, to become part of a traditional Japanese household? andlt;iandgt;At Home in Japanandlt;/iandgt; tells an extraordinary true story of a foreign woman who goes through an amazing transformation, as she makes a move from a suburban lifestyle in California to a new life, living in Japan. She dedicates 30 years of her life as a housewife, custodian and chatelaine of a 350and#8211;yearand#8211;old farmhouse in rural Japan.andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;This astonishing book traces a circular path from were Rebecca began, to living under Japanese customs, from the basic day to day details of life in the house and village, through relationships with family, neighbors and the natural and supernatural entities with which the family shares the house. Rebecca Otowa then focuses on her inner life, touching on some of the pivotal memories of her time in Japan, the lessons in perception that Japan has taught her and the ways in which she has been changed by living in Japan.andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;An insightful and compelling read, andlt;iandgt;At Home in Japanandlt;/iandgt; is a beautifully written and illustrated reminiscence of a once simple life made extraordinary.
Review
"Anyone interested in knowing what it is like to become fully immersed in another cultureand#8212;yet always as an outsiderand#8212;will enjoy this thoughtful account immensely." and#8212;andlt;bandgt;andlt;iandgt;Library Journalandlt;/iandgt;andlt;/bandgt;
Review
"A wonderful book about an old Japanese house, a resourceful American woman, and how they come together to honor the past and forge a bright future. What Frances Mayes did for Tuscany, Rebecca Otowa just might have done for the Japanese countryside. Bravo!" and#8212;andlt;bandgt;Leza Lowitz, author of andlt;iandgt;Green Tea to Go: Stories from Tokyoandlt;/iandgt;andlt;/bandgt;
Review
"Anyone interested in knowing what it is like to become fully immersed in another culture—yet always as an outsider—will enjoy this thoughtful account immensely."—
Library Journal"Pungent with sounds, tastes, colors and village and family lore...Otowa gives us a book of celebration, radiance, and renewal."—Japan Times
Review
"Pungent with sounds, tastes, colors and village and family loreandHELLIP;Otowa gives us a book of celebration, radiance, and renewal." and#8212;andlt;bandgt;andlt;Iandgt;Japan Timesandlt;/iandgt;andlt;/bandgt;
Synopsis
andlt;iandgt;At Home in Japanandlt;/iandgt; tells the true story of a foreign woman who has been, for 30 years, the housewife, custodian and chatelaine of a 350-year-old farmhouse in rural Japan. This astonishing book traces a circular path, from the basic physical details of life in the house and village, through relationships with family, neighbors and the natural and supernatural entities with whom the family shares the house. Rebecca Otowa then focuses on her inner life, touching on some of the pivotal memories of her time in Japan, the lessons inandlt;BRandgt;perception that Japan has taught her and, finally, the ways in which she has been changed by living in Japan.andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;An insightful and compelling read, andlt;iandgt;At Home in Japanandlt;/iandgt; is a beautifully written and illustrated reminiscence of a simple life made extraordinary.
Synopsis
At Home in Japan tells the true story of a foreign woman who has been, for 30 years, the housewife, custodian and chatelaine of a 350-year-old farmhouse in rural Japan. This astonishing book traces a circular path, from the basic physical details of life in the house and village, through relationships with family, neighbors and the natural and supernatural entities with whom the family shares the house. Rebecca Otowa then focuses on her inner life, touching on some of the pivotal memories of her time in Japan, the lessons in
perception that Japan has taught her and, finally, the ways in which she has been changed by living in Japan.
An insightful and compelling read, At Home in Japan is a beautifully written and illustrated reminiscence of a simple life made extraordinary.
About the Author
andlt;bandgt;Rebecca Otowaandlt;/bandgt; has lived in Japan for thirty years, leaving her California home in 1967, and her adopted home of Brisbane, Australia in 1978, to strike out in this new life direction. She and her husband Toshiro live in a rural area near Kyoto, in a farmhouse that has been in her husband's family since it was built in the 1600s. This is her first book.