My sphere of influence is the size of a ping-pong ball

Sometimes you write something and send it out into the world and never know if anyone ever reads it (exhibit A: this blog). And then there are times when through luck, happenstance, or accident you find out that yeah, there are actually people who have read things you've written. For example, yesterday was Thursday, the day that the newest issue of The Coast, Halifax's weekly alternative newspaper, comes out. I occasionally write articles for the paper, but more often what I write is 100 word reviews of comics or movies I've read/watched recently. If not for my little one paragraph reviews, how would the people of Halifax now which horror film to watch next, or which post-apocalyptic comic book is worth their time?

I like writing the reviews for several reasons. It's in my nature to view things critically, to break things down to what works and what doesn't. I even like the 100-word cap, as it forces me to use only the words that are needed. Writing the reviews also helps ease my guilt about spending time and money to watch something like the live action movie version of Blood: the Last Vampire, the cinematic equivalent of cotton candy. I'm not just doing it because I want to see some awesome vampire vs. monster fights, but for work, damnit! Oh, how I suffer for my craft.

I sometimes worry that what I review holds no interest for anyone who might possibly read The Coast. Did my favorable review of Taiyo Matsumoto's Gogo Monster manage to win him any more fans? Will people who usually shy away from manga pick up Saturn Apartments or Solanin because of what I wrote? There's no way of knowing.

Or at least, usually I wouldn't, but yesterday I got lucky. In the most recent issue of The Coast I wrote a review of a manga called Black Blizzard (I wrote a longer review for Kuri-ousity here). While doing some errands downtown I stopped in at Strange Adventures, one of the best comic book shops on planet Earth. I like to think of it as 'Cheers' for nerds: it's where everybody knows your name. As I was talking to one of the staff there he mentioned that earlier in the day a guy came in looking for 'the manga that had been reviewed in The Coast.' The guy even turned to the page the review was on to point it out.

It's a very minor thing, but it's still neat to think that someone read my review of a book and was intrigued enough to go to a comic book store and seek it out (especially something as obscure as a Japanese comic from the 1950s). It's just nice to know, and gives me hope that maybe what I review isn't as off-the-wall or irrelevant as I sometimes think it is. So thanks a lot mystery manga dude. You don't know it but you made my day.

Book Review: Etiquette Guide to Japan
By: Boyé Lafayette De Menta

Last Friday I talked about ‘Living & Working in Japan,’ a book that covered practically every practical concern about surviving in Japan but was a bit skimpy about what to do in different social situations. That’s where ‘Etiquette Guide to Japan’ comes in. The book has the usual stuff like chapters on bowing and titles, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. There’s also chapters on where to sit at the table (be careful not to take the seat of honour) to getting drunk with your co-workers (not a minefield of embarrassment like it is here in north America, but actually a vital part of working in Japan. It’s only when you’re drunk that you can correct your boss or co-workers without either of you losing face).

Each chapter not only tells you the dos and don’ts it also digs in deep to explain why it’s that way. In the end the book is a history lesson as well as a mini-Japanese charm school. It’s written in clear, easy to understand language. If you’re going to Japan, then this book will help you avoid some of the more serious faux pas. You should also check it out if you’re interested in a look at a different culture.

Living and Working in Japan

Book review: Live and Work in Japan
By: Erica Simms

Last post I talked about ‘Cruising in the Anime City,’ a book that doubles as a treasure map for any dedicated anime fan planning a trip to Tokyo. If that book was all fun, then today’s book is all work. ‘Live & Work in Japan’ is structured like a normal guidebook, but unlike travel writing that is meant for tourists and short-term visitors, ‘Live & Work’ is for people who are actually planning on buckling down and making a go of it in Japan. Before reading this book, I was a little unsure of how I would be able to navigate a new life in a country so different from my own. After reading ‘L&W in Japan,’ I feel that I at least know what challenges lie in wait for me and how to overcome them.

There are a few different things that help make this book fun to read as well as informative. First off, there’s a ton of first hand accounts from expats who have lived in Japan. Hearing about their struggles and achievements gives you a good idea of what to expect, and also a bit of hope (if they were able to do it, so can I). It also puts a human touch on things, something a lot of guide books end up lacking.
The lay-out makes it easy to find whatever information you’re looking for, and the book covers everything from how to have a social life in Japan to business etiquette to how to rent an apartment (which can be a trying and difficult experience in itself, but once you throw in foreign concepts like ‘key money’, a guidebook like this one comes in handy). It’s pretty much a step-by-step guide to living in Japan.
If there’s one complaint with the book it’s that while it’s full of practical information, it could use a little insight about what to do in more informal situations. For example, I’m a vegetarian, so in the section about food I was hoping to get some advice about how to politely decline meat and fish dishes. No such luck, though there is a lot of other interesting pieces of information.

The book is packed with addresses, telephone numbers, and useful websites. A blurb on the cover calls it “Essential,” and I have to agree. If you’re actually planning on moving to Japan, or if you just want a look at Japan that’s more in-depth than the usual guidebook, you should check it out.

Book review: Cruising the Anime City
By: Patrick Macias and Tomohiro Machiyama

While looking at my library’s collection of books on Japan, I found this gem. I didn’t know how much I needed this book until I saw it sitting there, nestled amongst tomes on more serious topics like cherry blossoms and photography of Mount Fuji . The title explains it pretty clearly: this is the nerd’s guide to the anime capital, detailing everything from the Gundam museum to where to get Morning Masume goods. If those names don’t ring a bell, then this book might not be for you. While the authors do a pretty good job of giving background info (for example, the back story of how Morning Masume came to be and how they exploded onto the music scene) but for the most part they expect you to know what they’re talking about. This book is for people who have already gotten their nerd degree, not folks still in Geek 101.

The breadth of topics is pretty amazing. While most of it is anime related, there’s also fascinating chapters on the different movie houses in Tokyo and the weird fast food choices available. It also gives some insight on aspects of anime fandom, such as the definition of terms such as “Moe” and “Otaku,” or giving brief history lessons on things like dating sims. While the books is a fantastic find if you’re planning a trip to Japan, it’s also a great read even if you’re not.

Another point in the book’s favour is that it’s funny. When visiting a cosplay cafe (the waitresses are all dressed up as anime characters) the author takes in the anti-social, male otaku who patronize the place and describes it as “an otaku version of Taxi Driver.” Yet while the authors might poke fun at some aspects of the city and fandom, it’s done with an obvious amount of affection and self-deprecation. There are a few interviews in the books with people who have taken their fandom to the extreme, such as the ‘King of Model Kits’, Chimatsuri, and rather than talking down or ridiculing the subjects the authors approach them as fellow fans. Of course, they’re still objective enough that when things get weird, they notice (the Chimatsuri interview is a great example of this. Even if you’re not interested in models, it’s still a fun and surreal read). In the introduction both authors pony up their nerd cred (Tomohiro Machiyama is even partly responsible for coining the term ‘otaku’) and it’s clear this is a book written by fans for fans.

Not to say it’s a perfect book. For one, it seems pretty squarely aimed at male anime fans. There are stories about maid cafes and ‘little sister’ cafes, but nothing about butler cafes. And if “Moe” (a phenomenon aimed at men) can get a whole section, why not yaoi or slash? While the book is filled to the brim with great info, it’s missing some of the more girly aspects of anime fandom.

Also, with something as jam-packed as this book, and index would have been a godsend. Still, it’s not so bad just flipping through the book: you don’t always find what you’re looking for, but you do end up somewhere pretty neat. Metaphor for Tokyo? I’ll know once I get there.