Japanese Jive: Wacky and Wonderful Products from Japan [Paperback]

Caroline McKeldin (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 80 pages
• Publisher: Weatherhill; 1st edition (October 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0834802783
• ISBN-13: 978-0834802780
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #246,261 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Products you never knew you needed, in words you never knew, December 1, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Japanese Jive: Wacky and Wonderful Products from Japan (Paperback)

The grass is always greener in the neighbor's field, they say. Foreign associations add spice to mundane products. Advertising sells the sizzle, not the steak; the hope, not the reality. Buying the right sort of foreign car or perfume makes you a more sophisticated person. "European Sophistication" sells in the States. In Europe, their products tout "American know-how."

Japanese manufacturers have been using English words as a seductive selling point for years now. The fact that the English words they use may sound elegant in Japanese but make no sense--at least not TOTAL sense-- when reintroduced to an English speaking country does not deter them from making some really inspired linguistic choices. They are almost poetic in their innocence. They are also some of the funniest reading I have had in years.

A thoughtful and sober explanation of all this appears at the beginning of JAPANESE JIVE, but by the time you get to reading about the Soup-Sand 'sandwich' (which is just what it says it is), or Chocolate Collon candies, not to mention genuine Vermont Curries, there won't be a dry nose in the house.

This is far funnier than books of 'mad inventions, chindoku' et. al since all the products in this book are actually available at Japanese supermarkets. Mark Twain would have loved this book. You will too. Experience the sophistication of POCKY STICKS washed down by CALPIS WATER or YODEL WATER. Be sure to PARTNER WITH YOUR MOUTH afterward. Don't miss JAPANESE JIVE.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderfully entertaining conversation piece, January 15, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Japanese Jive: Wacky and Wonderful Products from Japan (Paperback)

This book is hilarious. As someone who's been to Japan many times, I've tried and ogled at many of these products myself. How would you like to use a tissue named "My Wet"? Or use an armpit ray to tan your pale armpits? It's all in Japanese Jive. A wacky and wonderful coffee table book for you and your easily-amused guests.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A hoot!, November 18, 2000

By 

Phelps Gates (Chapel Hill, NC USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Japanese Jive: Wacky and Wonderful Products from Japan (Paperback)

I laughed out loud at least 20 times reading this book... bring on the Yodel Water and the Dew-Dew candy! True, the book is a bit thin: is it worth 50 cents per laugh? Not sure. A fun gift for Japanophiles, anyhow.