A Geek in Japan: Discovering the Land of Manga, Anime, Zen, and the Tea Ceremony [Paperback]

Hector Garcia (Author)

Book Description

Release date: June 10, 2011

For every fan of manga, anime, J-pop, or Zen, A Geek in Japan is a hip, smart and concise guide to the land that is their source. Comprehensive and well informed, it covers a wide array of topics in short articles accompanied by sidebars and numerous photographs, providing a lively digest of the society and culture of Japan. Designed to appeal to the generations of Westerners who grew up on Pokemon, manga and video games, A Geek in Japan reinvents the culture guide for readers in the Internet age.

Spotlighting the originality and creativity of the Japanese, debunking myths about them, and answering nagging questions like why they're so fond of robots, author Hector Garcia has created the perfect book for the growing ranks of Japanophiles in this inspired, insightful and highly informative guide.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Everyone who is interested in Japan will find this book fascinating."—Larry Ellison, cofounder and CEO, Oracle Corporation

"One of the funniest and yet most accurate descriptions of modern Japanese culture that I've ever seen. Highly recommended!"—Joichi Ito, director, MIT Media Lab

"Hector and I share a deep interest and affection for all things Japanese. But in my case, I only get to enjoy Japan on my business trips. Back in Spain, I like to keep in touch. And that I do reading kirainet, 'A geek in Japan.' Now you can do the same. And in book format. Enjoy!"—Martin Varsavsky, entrepreneur, founder of Fon and Safe Democracy Foundation

"Filled with a load of photos and information about Japan—a must read."—Danny Choo, Tokyo entrepreneur and owner of www.dannychoo.com

"While not a traditional guide book, A Geek in Japan certainly makes a reader want to hop on a plane to experience everything firsthand."—San Francisco Book Review

"Comprehensive and well informed, A Geek in Japan covers a wide array of topics in short articles accompanied by numerous photographs, providing a lively digest of the society and culture of Japan."—Japan Today

"Hector Garcia's A Geek in Japan is a lightweight but enjoyable romp through modern Japanese culture, seen through the eyes of its writer, an amazingly inquisitive young Spaniard living in Tokyo."—Lonely Planet

About the Author

Hector Garcia was born in Spain, in 1981. After earning his MS in software engineering and working for CERN in Switzerland, he moved to Japan, where he worked on voice recognition software and later for Digital Garage, developing the technology needed for Silicon Valley startups like Twitter and Technorati to enter the Japanese market. He has been living in Tokyo since 2004.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Tuttle Publishing; Original edition (June 10, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 4805311290
• ISBN-13: 978-4805311295
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 0.6 x 10 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #12,311 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #3 in Books > Travel > Asia > Japan > General
  • #7 in Books > Computers & Technology > Business & Management > History
  • #9 in Books > History > Asia > Japan

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars What I've Been Waiting For May 26, 2011

By Aaron S. Berman

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

An unabashed Japanophile, I've collected a fair number of books on the country over the years, searching for that one book that would offer both decent photography and meaty content. While that's a lot to ask, I think "A Geek in Japan" comes the closest to fitting the bill.

Die-hard Japanophiles probably won't encounter too much in the way of new information here -- the strength of the book is purely in its presentation. Within the pages of this slim volume, you get hundreds of color photos of every aspect of Japan, every one of them dynamic, without the usual "travelogue" pics so many books have resorted to. I was particularly pleased to see the author has taken the "little bit of everything" approach, which means you can open a page at random and find something interesting to read. This isn't a single narrative, but rather made up of page-long sections covering everything from food to Japanese company dynamics. Bonus points for a two-page spread that demonstrates the evolution of "Densha Otoko" from anonymous forum posting to full-fledged Japanese multimedia phenomenon.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book for Japan lovers May 31, 2011

By Holygrail

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I truly enjoyed this book and I think it's going to delight anyone with an interest in Japan. It reads as a true personal experience of the country, not another tourist guide or brochure, it includes gorgeous photographs (taken by the author) and even though the word "geek" is on the title, Mr. Garcia strikes a difficult balance in the subjects he portraits, ranging from ancient traditions to the latest trends without forgetting the craziest Akihabara antics.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Immerse yourself in Japan May 26, 2011

By Pablo Moreno

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

A geek in Japan is not a travel guide, but rather a way to immerse you in the Japanese culture, and therefore an essential read for anyone that really wants to enjoy a trip to Japan or learn about this wonderful country.

The author is an amazing photographer, and the whole book is populated with beautiful photos illustrating the different aspects of the Japanese culture. This fun, dynamic and colorful presentation manages to bring this book to life. You will find yourself jumping from section to section looking at fun pictures, and every time you start reading one of the sections it becomes so engaging that you will have to read it all. The narrative is fresh, fun and easy to read, while at the same time providing very complete and accurate description of a myriad of topics from the ancient traditions to the modern popular culture, and plenty of tips for travelers.

I got this book a couple of days ago, it is such a page turner than I went through it almost non-stop, and I find myself reading again sections I like and looking at the pictures on them. I highly recommend it.