31 Months in Japan: The Building of a Theme Park [Paperback]

Larry K. Collins (Author), Lorna Collins (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 13, 2005

31 Months in Japan—the Building of a Theme Park is the story of two Southern Californians embarking on the adventure of a lifetime—moving to Japan to participate in the construction of the Universal Studios Japan® theme park.

Join authors Larry K. & Lorna Collins on an odyssey into a foreign culture where they are often misunderstood and frequently confused. Discover the challenges and frustrations of building a world-class entertainment venue outside the United States. Enjoy the adventure as they discover the beauty and the people of Japan. Share their laughter, tears, surprise and final triumph as the park is completed ahead of schedule and under budget. Meet fascinating characters like Jurassic Jack, the Nihon Cowboy and Dote-san through their eyes.

31 Months in Japan—the Building of a Theme Park combines interesting details and behind-the-scenes descriptions of how magic is made in the entertainment industry with funny and touching personal remembrances. The stories will be of particular interest to those visiting or intending to live or work in Japan, people doing business with the Japanese, theme park aficionados and anyone with a sense of adventure.

Editorial Reviews

From the Author

After spending thrity-one months in Japan building the Universal Studios Japan theme park in Osaka and even more time in the US preparing for the trip, we felt an obligation to honor those who created the only theme park ever to be completed ahead of schedule and under budget. We began the project in 2001 after returning to California, but the final version of the book was not finished until the early spring of 2005. Ever since publication, the book has garnered terrific reviews. We've heard from many readers that it has proved very valuable for travel, working, and learning about not only the country and the people, but also about the behind-the-scenes processes required to build a world-class theme park.
We hope that readers will laugh and cry and, in the end, feel that they have learned something.
The book was written to honor all our colleagues - Japanese, American, and others - who made the park happen, with a special dedication to Raouf Iskander, the colleague we lost during our time in Japan.
So we hope you will enjoy the adventure!
--amazon.com/31-Months-Japan-Building-Theme/dp/0595345840 --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

About the Author

Larry K. & Lorna Collins grew up together in Alhambra, California and are married with one daughter, Kim. Larry was a project engineer on Universal Studios Japan®, and Lorna was in Document Control. They now reside in Dana Point, California where Larry enjoys surfing in his spare time.

Product Details

• Paperback: 234 pages
• Publisher: iUniverse, Inc. (April 13, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0595345840
• ISBN-13: 978-0595345847
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,073,689 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Lorna and her husband, Larry Collins, were raised in Alhambra, California where they attended grammar school and high school together. They have been married for over forty-five years and have one daughter, Kimberly.

Larry was an engineer and spent many years working on various projects throughout the United States and around the world. They both love to travel whenever they get the chance. Lorna worked in Document and Data Management, IT Change Management, and Technical Writing. She is also an editor and formats books for ebook.

Lorna and Larry were both employed in Osaka, Japan building the Universal Studios Japan theme park. Larry was a Project Engineer, responsible for the Jurassic Park, JAWS, and WaterWorld attractions. Lorna was the Document Control Supervisor in the Osaka field office.

Their memoir of that experience, "31 Months in Japan: The Building of a Theme Park," was a 2006 EPPIE finalist and named as one of Rebeccas Reads Best nonfiction books of 2005. It is five-star rated on Amazon and is available in Kindle, paperback, and hardbound formats.

Their first cozy mystery, "Murder... They Wrote," inspired by a writing conference in Hawaii, was published in 2009 by Whiskey Creek Press. The sequel, "Murder in Paradise," is now available in paperback and on Kindle. Watch for future sequels.

Lorna also writes anthologies with three friends, Sherry Derr-Wille, Christie Shary and Luanna Rugh. Together they have published "Snowflake Secrets" (Dream Realm and Eric Hoffer Award finalists), "Seasons of Love," "Directions of Love (2011 EPIC eBook Award winner as best romance anthology)," and "An Aspen Grove Christmas." Author Cheryl Gardarian joined them for this one. They are now at work on two more, "The Art of Love" and "Snowflake Secrets - The Magic Continues." Their anthologies are available in paperback and on Kindle.

Visit their website at www.lornalarry.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fun book, May 15, 2007

By 

therosen "therosen" (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: 31 Months in Japan: The Building of a Theme Park (Paperback)

This book accurately captures the experience of the working expat in Japan - coping with culture clashes in the office as well as adjustment pains in a foreign land. Larry and Lorna Collins tell the story of their trip to build Universal Studios Japan - the preparation, the work, the life in Japan and then the return.

As a reader with similar experiences, there were many, "The same thing happened to me" moments as they peeled the onion of Japanese culture, encountering and then digging through stereotypes. The book also provided quite a few "I wish I knew that back then" lessons. The old Japanese hand will also note the odd ironic event here and there, for example, being complimented on using chopsticks is a universal experience.

The mix of good nature and naive wonder experienced by Larry and Lorna come through strong. Perhaps the sincerity is why they made so many connections. Of course the cultural cynic won't be able to finish the book.

Worth the read, and makes me want to return to Japan.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating Look Into Another Culture Through the Authors' Eyes, April 27, 2006

By 

Marilyn Meredith "Author of Bears With Us" (Springville, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: 31 Months in Japan: The Building of a Theme Park (Paperback)

I was utterly charmed by the experiences related from the viewpoint of the author husband and author wife. Not only were the glimpses of the Japanese culture intriguting and fascinating, but I was also awed by the descriptions of the different places visited by the authors. The insights into the actual building of a theme park in a foreign land kept me turning pages.

Having had the opportunity to see the authors at the recent Epicon made it even more interesting as I could imagine them as I read their words.

This is definitely a book for anyone who likes to read about new places and learn more about a different culture from first hand sources.

Thank you for many pleasant reading hours.

Marilyn Meredith, author of Wingbeat, latest in the Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery series.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A rich and fascinating perspective, March 22, 2006

By 

Viva La Villa (Texas, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 31 Months in Japan: The Building of a Theme Park (Paperback)

From the very first chapter, "31 Months in Japan : The Building of a Theme Park" by Larry K. and Lorna Collins, immerses the reader in a fascinating discovery of Japanese culture and the ingenious secrets that make the magic of a theme park real. This detailed and personal account of the trials and surprises involved in creating Universal Studios Japan is told in a warm familiar voice that many times had me musing that I would have reacted the same way as the narrators.

The Collins embark on their adventure with enthusiasm and open hearts, and this attitude enables them to make meaningful contact with their Japanese hosts, not just in the workplace where they face the challenges of turning dreams of an exciting theme park into smoothly-functioning reality, but also on the busy and often confusing streets of Osaka. If you wish to experience a view of another culture that goes beyond rapid tourist impressions or the surface veneer of international negotiations, this book is for you.

Another wonderful layer of the book is the intriguing behind-the-scenes perspective of the complicated mechanics that make all the parts of a major theme park mesh together to form a magical world of imagination come to life. I was spellbound by the innovative solutions that the team of engineers used to solve the complex problems involved in making giant mechanical dinosaurs and sharks interact with an artificial landscape and waterscape to produce a living theater capable of thrilling visitors again and again.

By the time you finish "31 Months in Japan" you will know the Collins well, and will appreciate having joined them on their rich journey to Japan and back. The theme park they helped create is a testament to how drawing on the strength and vision of many individuals and even different cultures can take a project to admirable and unexpected heights. I strongly recommend this outstanding book.