B+ Reviews / Book Reviews / Recommended Readschildren's fiction / childrens-books / Japan / Japanese culture / picture books / toys4 Comments
When a storm sweeps Emi’s beloved stuffed fox away from their mountain home, he ends up tattered and alone on a distant shore. A kind old man finds the fox and gives it to his granddaughter, Kiko. As she recovers from an injury of her own, Kiko mends the fox ... more >
B Reviews / B- Reviews / Book Reviews / DNF Reviewscrossword puzzle / England / Japanese culture / Manga / murder-investigation / non-fiction / police / Scotland / war9 Comments
The Fox & the Little Tanuki, Vol. 1 by Mi Tagawa Long ago, the gods granted a few special animals great powers… but not all those animals used their magical abilities for good! Senzou the Fox Spirit in particular grew too brash and arrogant, abusing his strength until the gods ... more >
B Reviews / Book Reviewscats / children's fiction / childrens-books / Japan / Japanese culture / picture booksNo Comments
Watch out, mice! This cat is a sumo champion! A stray kitty gets a job in a sumo stable, chasing mice in exchange for food. But when eating like a sumo wrestler slows our feline hero down, he realizes he must train like a wrestler, too. Through hard work and ... more >
B Reviews / Book Reviewsarranged-marriage / class differences / Historical / Japan / Japanese culture / political intrigue / road-romance / Samurai / War / MilitaryNo Comments
Forbidden love between a warrior princess and an elite samurai makes for an adventure set during the early days of the Tokugawa shogunate. Join this couple in a race across 17th century Japan where political unrest has created dangerous ronin, civil uprisings, and war-ravaged castles. Caught in the middle of ... more >
B- Reviews19th century / class differences / Historical / Japan / Japanese culture5 Comments
Hiro Tanaka prepared for a life as a samurai warrior. But his world changed when Japan’s feudal system was abolished by the Emperor. Now, he must find a new vocation. Disillusioned with fighting and violence, he travels alone, going north to the island of Hokkaido. Many other samurai wander through ... more >
B+ Reviews / Recommended Readsclass-difference / Historical / Japan / Japanese culture / multicultural9 Comments
Love isn’t forbidden to Lady Kirei as long as it’s with a proper gentleman of Kyo and she doesn’t mind sharing him with his wife. Her provincial upbringing makes her socially unacceptable as a true wife, yet as a lady by birth and a court favorite, her position makes it ... more >