13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
true parody of the JET Experience!, May 19, 2008
This review is from: Tonoharu: Part One (Hardcover)
Tonoharu is a beautiful, true to life graphic novel. I taught English in Fukuoka for three years with the JET Programme, and even though this book presents some extreme examples of what can happen, the most outrageous thing is how factual it actually is. Nuanced, detailed, funny and sad, it really captures the spirit of what it's like to be a foreigner in Japan, the high highs and the lonely lows. I definitely recommend it to all JET alums and all those interested in seeing Japan through Western eyes. If you like manga, it will give you a deeper appreciation of the culture. Those who haven't been to Japan but enjoyed the movie Lost in Translation will feel a similar sense of lyrical dislocation as they follow the adventures of Daniel in Tonoharu.
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Offbeat and intriguing, May 9, 2008
This review is from: Tonoharu: Part One (Hardcover)
A serious minority - Daniel Wells is the only American in a rural Japanese Village, where he serves as an assistant junior high school teacher. "Tonoharu: Part One" is the start of his story as Daniel must deal with everything coming with his new job - language barriers, culture shock, it's a lonely existence. His only relief comes from the pursuit, although not effective, of an American girl who resides in a town not far from his own. His adventures often turn offbeat and intriguing, making "Tonoharu: Part One" highly recommended for community library graphic novel collections.
Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Recommendation for the Graphic Novel Tonoharo, November 30, 2010
This review is from: Tonoharu: Part One (Hardcover)
I have just finished reading the graphic novel Tonoharo Vol. 1 for the third time in a week.
The basic story is about an American who moves to Japan to teach english.
I lived in Fukuoka Japan for 3-years and taught "conversational" english at a company called GEOS. I started to go slightly "bonkers" my last 6 months or so and left a bit burnt out and I've never been back.
Some of this story is based in and around Fukuoka so it brings back some memories for me.
Many people have asked what it was like to live and work in Japan and I've told and discussed it with them to the best of my ability.
The writer does an excellent job of catching some of the subtlety and small detail that comes with living as a foreigner in Japan, and expresses some of the frustrations being a foreigner.
My experiences were quite a bit different than what is portrayed in the story but many similar things happened to me.
And, strangely enough, I knew people that lead lives very similar to the characters in the graphic novel. I also knew people that led lives very different but still went thru the same experiences and process of living there.
I'm not sure if I got so much out of this because I lived there or the writer does such a good job.
If your at all interested in the subject of expats in Japan, this is a graphic novel that you should read.
Volume 2 has just come out but I haven't had a chance to purchase it yet but I will.
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