Tuttle

In "The Art of the Japanese Sword," master swordsmith Yoshindo Yoshihara offers a comprehensive view on the making, finishing and appreciation of Japanese blades. The Japanese sword, a unique work of art in steel, can be appreciated from a number of viewpoints. Its functionality as a weapon, the sophisticated metallurgy and scientific thinking utilized by the swordsmith, the shape of the blade itself, and the different crystalline forms in the steel all contribute to the beauty of these remarkable weapons. "The Art of the Japanese Sword" conveys to the reader a basic background regarding the Japanese sword, as well as an explanation of how to view and appreciate a blade. It also illustrates the details of how a sword is made and finished today. Modern craftsmen use completely traditional methods from the past to prepare their steel, forge the sword and create the unique hardened edge. By gaining a good understanding of how a sword is actually made, the reader will be able to appreciate the Japanese sword more fully. "It doesn't matter if you are simply interested in the history and function of Japanese swords or a would-be smith yourself, you will find a vast amount of useful chapters in each of these chapters. All sections of this book are illustrated with high-quality color photos, with many full page in size. The authors state they feel a person needs to understand every facet of making a Japanese sword to fully appreciate the finished weapon. I know of few books on the subject that do a better job of meeting that goal."--"Tactical Knives"

Japanese residential design has evolved as a distinctive response to social, political, and climatic pressures--along with the powerful individual ideas of its architects. "Japan Houses" presents 26 of the country's finest contemporary houses in breathtaking photographs and with insightful text.

Shunmyo Masuno, Japan's leading garden designer, is at once Japan's most highly acclaimed landscape architect and an 18th-generation Zen Buddhist priest, presiding over daily ceremonies at the Kenkoji Temple in Yokohama. He is celebrated for his unique ability to blend strikingly contemporary elements with the traditional design vernacular. He has worked in ultramodern urban hotels and in some of Japan's most famous classic gardens. In each project, his work as a designer is inseparable from his Buddhist practice. Each becomes a Zen garden, "a special spiritual place where the mind dwells."This beautiful book, illustrated with more than 400 drawings and color photographs, is the first complete retrospective of Masuno's work to be published in English. It presents 37 major gardens around the world in a wide variety of types and settings: traditional and contemporary, urban and rural, public spaces and private residences, and including temple, office, hotel and campus venues. Masuno achieved fame for his work in Japan, but he is becoming increasingly known internationally, and in 2011 completed his first commission in the United States which is shown here.The book, divided into three chapters, covers: "Traditional Zen Gardens," "Contemporary Zen Gardens" and "Zen Gardens outside Japan." Illustrated with photographs and architectural plans or sketches, each garden is described and analyzed by author Mira Locher, herself an architect and a scholar well versed in Japanese culture.Celebrating the accomplishments of a major, world-class designer, "Zen Gardens" also serves as something of a master class in Japanese garden design and appreciation: how to perceive a Japanese garden, how to understand one, even how to make one yourself. Like one of Masuno's gardens, the book can be a place for contemplation and mindful repose.

In 2003, Marisa Baggett boarded a Greyhound bus with a one-way ticket to Los Angeles and $300 in her pocket to study at the California Sushi Academy. After graduation, Marisa moved to Memphis, Tennessee, where her passion for sushi, her southern background and determination to use local, sustainable ingredients resulted in the development of unconventional and delectable sushi! In "Sushi Secrets," Marisa shares with you both traditional and nontraditional sushi, all of them delicious and all of them very easy to make. Marisa includes surefire recipes for making perfect sushi rice, tips on how to find and buy the freshest seafood and sustainability and how to achieve it at home. Plus, with her background as a pastry chef, Marisa has created a dessert chapter that will make your mouth water! With this book you'll be ready to prepare a host of sushi and sashimi recipes and it gives loads of hints on how to slash otherwise lengthy prep times. From the traditional favorites to new and unique combinations, "Sushi Secrets" will have you rolling delicious sushi like a pro in no time at all. Recipes include: Scallop Carpaccio Sashimi Avocado and Pomegranate Nigiri Pork Thin Rolls with Gingered Cherries Pickled Okra Thick Rolls Short Ribs Sushi Bowl "Cat"erpillar Rolls Faux Eel Hand Rolls Fudge Wontons with Peanut Dipping Sauce Fried Cherry Hand Pies

Winner of the 2006 American Horticultural Society Book Award! "The Art of the Japanese Garden" traces the development and blending of gardening traditions, as well as the inclusion of new features as gardening reached new heights of sophistication on Japanese soil. The book features a number of the most notable gardens in Japan, including graveled courtyards, early aristocratic gardens, esoteric and paradise gardens, Zen gardens, warrior gardens, tea gardens and stroll gardens.

"A nonchalant string of anecdotes and wisecracks, told by a fellow who doesn't have a name, has never caught a mouse, and isn't much good for anything except watching human beings in action." The New Yorker

Sew chic, dark-toned clothes with this stylish sewing book and add a touch of originality to your wardrobe. "Basic Black" is the English edition of a classic Japanese sewing book which provides sew-it-yourself Western-sized patterns for 26 basic garments, along with detailed, easy-to-follow diagrams and instructions. Author Sato Watanabe has published many books that are favorites among Japanese sewing fans. In this book she shows you how to make truly professional-quality pieces easily and inexpensively at home. DIY Sewing designs include: Lace Shirred Blouse Tiered Sleeveless Dress Zip-up Vest with High Neck Frilled Shirt in Charcoal Flannel Short Coat And many more All of the styles and fashion are easily customized to create your own personal style, and there is truly something for everyone and every occasion in this book from a smart two-texture combo dress to a relaxed, bohemian tunic and everything in-between. All the styles are thoroughly modern and practical, ranging from softly feminine or straight-line simple to smartly-tailored or loosely-deconstructed. Simple lines make these garments perfect for women of all ages and all sizes. This book includes a complete western-sized sewing pattern for each design that is easily adjusted to fit your body form. The understated, graceful designs in this book are ones that you'll come back to again and again."

In "The Japanese Mind," Roger Davies offers Westerners an invaluable key to the unique aspects of Japanese culture. Readers of this book will gain a clear understanding of what really makes the Japanese, and their society, tick. Among the topics explored: "aimai" (ambiguity), "amae" (dependence upon others' benevolence), "amakudari" (the nation's descent from heaven), "chinmoku" (silence in communication), "gambari" (perseverence), "giri" (social obligation), "haragei" (literally, "belly art"; implicit, unspoken communication), "kenkyo" (the appearance of modesty), "sempai-kohai" (seniority), "wabi-sabi" (simplicity and elegance), and "zoto" (gift giving), as well as discussions of child-rearing, personal space, and the roles of women in Japanese society. Includes discussion topics and questions after each chapter. All in all, this book is an easy-to-use introduction to the distinguishing characteristics of Japanese society; an invaluable resource for anyone business people, travelers, or students perfect for course adoption, but also for anyone interested in Japanese culture."

China is ever-changing, and for those looking to experience the China of today and tomorrow, A Geek in China is a hip, smart and concise guide to the Middle Kingdom. Packed with photographs and short articles on all aspects of Chinese culture, past and present, A Geek in China introduces readers to everything from Taoism and Confucianism to pop music and China's new middle class. A mix of traditional culture, such as highlights of Chinese history, great historical and mythological figures, traditional medicine, how the Chinese language works, real Chinese food, martial arts, and how the Chinese Communist Party works, is complimented with information on what makes China unique today. Chapters discuss why China is so crowded, what it's like to work in an office, internet and cell phone culture, dating and marriage practices, top popular movies and movie stars, the contemporary art scene, China's amazing new architecture and infrastructure, and popular holidays. It also contains chapters on what makes the Chinese tick, such as the importance of harmony in society, the practice of humility, and the importance of hierarchy. For visitors to the country, the author includes sections on what to see, both common cultural sites and off-the-beaten-track sites, and how to get around in China. Sections on visiting Hong Kong and Taiwan are also included. This China travel guide is a unique guide to the world's most populous and longest continuous culture. Readers will learn essential information about China's past and present to be able to understand the many references to history, politics, and pop culture that come up in everyday conversation and in the media.

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.

A Geek in Korea reinvents the culture guide for the Internet age. Packed with articles and photographs, it covers all the touchstones of Korean culture-from Buddhism and Confucianism to chapters on the traditional arts and disciplines like Taekwondo. There are chapters on cultural code words and norms; personal relationships; business and technology; and symbols and practices that are peculiarly Korean. A number of chapters are devoted to Korean pop culture, with attention to the stars, idols, and urban subcultures associated with them. For visitors to Korea, the author includes a mini-guide to his favourite neighbourhoods in Seoul and other places of outstanding interest.Spotlighting the originality and creativity of the Koreans, debunking myths about them, and answering nagging questions like why they're so obsessed with education and success-Tudor has created the perfect book for the growing ranks of Koreaphiles in this inspired, insightful, and highly informative guide.

Gain some new ideas along with the principles and history of Japanese stone gardening with this useful and beautiful garden design book. Japanese Stone Gardens provides a comprehensive introduction to the powerful mystique and dynamism of the Japanese stone garden from their earliest use as props in animistic rituals, to their appropriation by Zen monks and priests to create settings conducive to contemplation and finally to their contemporary uses and meaning. With insightful text and abundant imagery, this book reveals the hidden order of stone gardens and in the process heightens the enthusiast's appreciation of them. The Japanese stone garden is an art form recognized around the globe. These meditative gardens provide tranquil settings where visitors can shed the burdens and stresses of modern existence, satisfy an age-old yearning for solitude and repose, and experience the restorative power of art and nature. For this reason the value of the Japanese stone garden today is arguably even greater than when many of them were created. Fifteen gardens are featured in this book, some well known, such as the famous temple gardens of Kyoto, others less so, among them gardens spread through the south of Honshu Island and the southern islands of Shikoku and Kyushu and in faraway Okinawa.

Turn your lunch break into the perfect time to create priceless works of sushi art in this humorous book!With Smiling Sushi Roll, lunch can resemble great works of art, like Munch's "The Scream" and Rodin's "The Thinker." In this unique, humorous little book, modern maki (sushi roll) artist and instructor Tama-chan, otherwise known as Takayo Kiyota, shows how familiar ingredients like rice, seaweed, pickles, and cucumber can be used like paint and ink to create maki that is so fun to look at, you almost won't want to eat it. Mostly humorous art book, part sushi cookbook, Smiling Sushi Roll includes a few of the basics of using condiments, herbs and spices to colorize rice as well as preparing a sushi roll for some artistic strokes. Tama-chan's rolls feature original whimsical cartoons of Japanese culture and social commentary, as well as interpretations of famous works. Some of the pictures even change with each slice of the roll to form a running narrative. Some of the sushi art projects in this book include: Famous paintings, like "The Kiss" by Gustav Klimt Objects, like a gun or a guitar People, like a Hula dancer or a Ninja Animals, like a dinosaur or a fish Symbols, like a Japanese character or a "radiation" warning signThe result is a funny, joyous celebration of food preparation and presentation, and a whole new definition of "culinary art."

Entertain your friends and family with sushi that looks as fantastic as it tastes! As the world's appetite for Japanese sushi continues to skyrocket, the Sushi Art Cookbook introduces readers to the art of creating sushi that looks as fantastic as it tastes! Author Ken Kawasumi principal lecturer at the Japanese Sushi Institute is the pioneering chef behind Kazari Maki Sushi. The designs revealed by slicing the sushi logs into delicious morsels can be understated or refined, expressive or playful whatever suits the occasion! A sushi cookbook like no other, this guide to decorative Kazari Maki Sushi includes: How to prepare your ingredients, including delicious sushi rice How to assemble, roll, press and cut Sushi correctly How to arrange ingredients for amazing cross-section imagery. Anyone can create these simple-to-sophisticated sushi recipes and designs: Chrysanthemum Bunny Clown Smiley-Face Panda Cherry Blossom Guitar Penguin Bonsai Tree Samurai and much more!

Award-winning writer and Indonesia expert Tim Hannigan gives Southeast Asia's biggest country its proper due. Written in an irreverent, youthful tone, A Geek in Indonesia provides a hip, streetwise introduction to an increasingly popular travel destination. Hannigan leads readers on an eye-opening excursion around the archipelago, from the outer fringes where tribesmen still wear penis gourds and ritual battle gear to 21st-century cities filled with fashion bloggers, feminist activists, punk pioneers, and scandalous celebrities. He provides a quick introduction to Indonesian history, a rundown on traditional arts, insights on why Jakarta is the social media capital of the world, and tips on where to enjoy the region's thriving pop, jazz, and alternative music scenes. More than just an Indonesia travel guide, this volume is packed with lively articles on everything from office culture and the Indonesian blogosphere to dating rituals and TV soap operas. Illustrated with hundreds of colorful images and loaded with the kind of insights that only an author with a lifelong passion for the country could provide, A Geek in Indonesia will enlighten and entertain Indonesian culture enthusiasts, backpackers, first-time visitors, newly-arrived expats, and longtime Indonesiaphiles alike.

When the Buddha was asked to sum up his teachings in a single word he said awareness experiencing the whole of reality, seeing what is, and being entirely in the present. In this way, the mind is made free. In Buddhism Plain and Simple, Zen priest and long-time teacher Steve Hagen presents this heart of Buddhist teaching, pared down to its essence and explained in simple, everyday language. This best-selling beginner's guide to Buddhism text has served international readers at all levels of study and practice since it was originally published over a decade ago. More than 300,000 copies in various formats have sold to date and is now available in a brand new, high-quality paperback edition. Buddhism Plain and Simple is the perfect beginner's mind introduction to the practice of being awake and in touch with the here and now.