"A handy directory of everything you need to know." Supported by many embassies, companies, NPOs, churches, and others who are aware of the problems faced by people new to Japan, TELL has been helping for over three decades. This directory gives information that will help with Emergencies, when Medical services are needed, when Counseling or Legal advice may help, in the mechanics of Daily Living, Transportation, Education, Government contacts (embassies, local government, etc), Housing, Work & Employment, Religion, and Support Groups. There are hundreds of addresses, tellephone numbers, comments. In short, this is the book that can be of real help for any non-Japanese in Tokyo. Though the focus is on Tokyo, much of the information will help anywhere in Japan.
Caroline Pover graduated from the UK's University of Exeter as a qualified primary school teacher, with a First Class Honours degree and a Dean's Commendation. After teaching at the same school she had attended as a child, a desire for adventure led her to Tokyo in 1996 where she was soon hired by a Japanese international school.
Teaching by day, Caroline launched her own magazine and interviewed 200 foreign women as she wrote her first book, Being A Broad in Japan: Everything a Western woman needs to survive and thrive. She established Alexandra Press under which to self-publish her book, which was released in 2001 and quickly became a number-one bestseller.
The success of her book led to further publishing projects for Tokyo English Life Line, the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan, and Tokyo American Club Women's Group, as well as corporations and individual authors. In 2004, she took over the first free publication in Japan--Weekender magazine (established in 1970), publishing two issues per month, revamped the magazine and the business, and sold it in October 2008. She still oversees the Being A Broad support network and services at http://www.being-a-broad.com and publishes its monthly magazine.
In 2002, Caroline was recognized at the Foreign Executive Women's 20th anniversary celebrations for her many contributions to the foreign women's community in Japan. In 2008, she was awarded the inaugural British Business Award for Best Entrepreneur at the British Chamber of Commerce in Japan's 60th anniversary celebrations.
Drawing on her background in education and interest in child development, Caroline's second book is the first-ever comprehensive guide to international schools throughout Japan, and it combines her two passions: publishing and pedagogy. Still just in her thirties, Caroline is a stroke survivor, and this book is a particular joy to her, as it wasn't that long ago that she was unable to write an email, let alone a book!
Caroline lives in Tokyo and can be contacted at caroline@carolinepover.com.
