Fantastic exploration of Coffee in Japan!!
589814
I read this from start to finish in a day.  I couldn't put it down.  Not only was it a fascinating exploration of the history and role of coffee culture in Japan, it offered up some places we could visit. (Which we did!).  I love this book! I was even able to talk about coffee to my Japanese coffee maniac friends about stuff even they didn't know!
694577
I had a conversation with a Japanese friend of mine, and found out he is a seeker. He is technically a naturalized U.S. citizen, but is still "very Japanese" in mannerisms, and his English-language skills are still pretty rough (still way better than my Japanese-language skills!). The conversation went on and I asked him if he had a Bible and if he reads it. He commented, "I want to, but it's too hard. My English is not good enough!". I then asked him if he had a Japanese-language Bible, to which he replied, "That's even harder, the language is too old!" (apparently, he had only encountered the old, Jesuit translation).

I did some research, and I bought him this as a gift. He was absolutely ecstatic, and that climbed further as he opened it and saw modern Japanese kanji with both okurigana and furigana, all that along side an English translation! (Even for a native-Japanese person, English can help, as some biblical concepts still don't translate well to Japanese; the Japanese words for the concepts often have too much Shinto/Buddhist/Taoist weight attached to them).

Anyway, it was a bit of a parting gift, as he was moving out of normal commuting distance, but he visited about a month later, still thanking me profusely (with a huge smile) and bragging about how he was almost finished with Genesis!
2665433
I attended a conference at the Lowes Bay Coronado (CA) and their in-room coffee makers were Keurigs with a nice selection of k-cups: Emeril Bold, Decaf, Green Tea, Celestial Seasons, etc.

I could hardly wait to get home and order one for myself!  It came with a variety pack of k-cups and brew size options ranging from a 5 1/4-ounce to 7 1/4-ounce and 9 1/4-ounce all the way up to 11 1/4-ounce which is what I most often use with Green Mountain Coffee K-Cups Dark Magic Extra Bold.  I use cream and sugar, so this makes the perfect size and strength mug of coffee for me!

One of sample cups included was a Gloria Jean Hazelnut which I made for a friends in an 8 ounce mug (leaving room for cream) and she said it was one of the best cups of coffee she ever had.

Recently I have seen k-cups available for sale at Henry's Farmer's Market in Rancho Bernado (San Diego area) and I recently saw a nice selection of k-cups at Bed Bath and Beyond.

I only drink 1 large mug of coffee a day, but have tea and sometimes cocoa in cold weather so I leave my machine on all the time -- this way a mug of fresh, hot delicious coffee takes 34 seconds to make each morning and is instantly ready to brew another cup or mug if we have guests.  I keep the Keurig in my bedroom and am thrilled with my purchase and recommend it to any coffee lovers out there!

I have pretty much given up my Starbucks habit because this is so quick and delicious!
4396092
This is a must read for people from all walks of life.  It would take me a lot more than 1,000 words to illustrate the wit, wisdom, and historical relevance indicated within these pages. So, If you like, coffee, travel,  history, and or interesting stories, this is the book for you.  I do not  even drink coffee and I found in a cafe ordering a cappucino this morning!  I have a lot of new and interesting infomation to make small talk at the  many boring functions that I go to all week.  Not many books can top that!  Enjoy!
3337663
Amazon for one day offered a free download for this Kindle book.  Thank you, Amazon!  It got me hooked into reading it straight through and I just had to write a glowing review and look for more.  I don't plan to visit Japan, but even so this book is a fantastic introduction to the country.  It teaches much of the basics important to understanding the history and culture of the nation.  Both what is rapidly changing and what valuable parts stay the same.

The only objection I might have is the title, "Cool Japan," it is not about latest fads or cool fashions, even though some are mentioned in the Tokyo section.  Instead, it should be "neat" as in "interesting" and "stimulating" and "elegant"; it sheds light on much of Japanese history and culture  that would otherwise go unnoticed by foreigners, without giving too many details.  So it is like the umami in Japanese food.

After you look at the book you will want to read more about the four characters that are the focus of this little book.  I have already ordered some by Kenji Miyazawa.  As he wrote (translated by David Sulz): "Watch well and listen closely. Hold the learned lessons dear."

The photographs and maps serve well to begin you on your own journey. Looks good and works well on a Kindle.  Thanks, Amazon!
2029580
All writing is in Japanese, so that was interesting.  But, there are picture instructions, so it was pretty simple to figure out how to brew the coffee (open package, place filter preloaded with coffee on top of mug, pour boiling water over coffee).  The flavors are japanese blends, and each one has a slightly different flavor, so I am enjoying trying each one.  2 packets of each of the 12 flavors included.
4837601
We are heading to Tokyo soon and I'm getting our holiday as organised as possible! This guide was so helpful and well set out! Some fantastic places to eat that I can't wait to try. It has some great highlights of the city and some I hadnt heard of which was good. It's definitely got me excited about Tokyo!
4083718
Japan has always fascinated me; its history, culture, cuisine, sights and sounds. For me, there is a familiarity, yet an ever-present mystique about the country. I had the opportunity to visit Japan twice, however, such short, touristy 2-week jaunts could never yield such a revelatory look into Japan, as author Karin Muller has provided in her travelogue, Japanland: A Year in Search of Wa. She writes with such candor and honesty, engaging in activities, meeting people, and experiencing things that most of us could only dream of. If you have even a remote interest in Japan, I highly recommend this book. Muller's engaging storytelling and enchanting writing style whisks you through her adventures in Japan like a speeding Shinkansen. A definite must-read for any Japanophile or anyone wishing to experience Japan vicariously.
2933989
This is a fun and informative adventure for all ages to enjoy beautiful pictures and some notable highlights from Japan.  I have had the pleasure of traveling to Japan with the author, which turned out to be a most memorable trip_of_a_lifetime.  I hope Chibo had as much fun as I did.  Bill's passion and knowledge of Japan's history and culture is inspiring!
1046187
This is super helpful and well written. It presents different aspects of Japan, from the ultra modern Tokyo to often-missed places like Kobe. It really inspired my travel bug! I would LOVE to visit Kyoto and Nara, for instance, and step to into Japan's imperial past. The photos and maps are great too and helped me visualize the places and envision how I could plan a trip.
3102343
My former Japanese tutor recommended this book to me to assist my traveling group and I on our first trip to Japan. I was not sure what to expect, but was impressed when it arrived with its wealth of information and its offbeat sense of humor. I have not yet left for my trip, so perhaps I should update this review afterwards, but I am excited to try out this excellent resource!
2687486
I did not realize I was a coffee snob until I attempted to drink this coffee on 3 separate occasions at my office. Not only does it not fill the office with that delicious fresh brewed coffee aroma, but it tastes about as if I've filled my cup hot water, in addition to my vanilla creamer.  I admit I generally prefer a strong/bold coffee, but I've never found a cup of joe I refused to drink before this one.  If you also prefer to be able to taste your coffee, I highly recommend this Kona Blend instead, [...].  Happy caffinating!
1131382
I couldn't wait to read this book detailing the life and times of a young girl's journey through childhood (abruptly ended) and then into years of difficult training to become a successful geisha.  Being told in the first person by Sayuri herself leads the reader into the fascinating world of Japanese culture. It's possible that I found this exceptionally well written and researched since I have been living in Japan for almost six years now;however, I have never been to Kyoto and could easily picture each village in my mind.  I was amazed to some degree to learn this novel was written by a man because it was so detailed and beautifully worded! I don't mean that to sound sexist...you'll just have to read it to understand what I mean! I anxiously look forward to his next book!
1977850
We just returned from a mid winter trip to Tokyo.  This book was an incredible guide for an off the beaten path look at the gardens in and around Tokyo.  The walks focus on 15 culturally significant plants and are organized by season.  Each walk has a map and specific directions how to get to it including which exit to take from the subway/train - also what season is best to visit.  We were shocked at the beauty we experienced in mid winter, plum blossoms were at their peak early February.  We spent almost a full leisure day on each walk as she also includes interesting shops and restaurants along the way.  I must say most impressive was probably Jogashima Park, a short train ride to the coast.  We walked along the craggly coast from one light house to another lighthouse in the park. Arriving at the park there must have been thousands and thousands of double narcissi in the midst of sculptured pines along the designated walk. The walk took us into a small fishing village where we had lunch and had to call our son to order for us. We visited Kodomo no Kuni Park to see the camelias and although they were not vividly blooming we happened upon the most wonderful grove of plum blossoms and the ice cream she spoke of was incredible. I would recommend also Gotoh Museum Garden probably any time of year.  Although nothing was actually blooming when we went the garden was amazing and the walk through the neighborhood most enjoyable. The Palace Garden was another favorite. I would also recommend her other book Tokyo: Exploring the City of the Shogun for more historic tours closer in the city. We did six of her walks over a ten day period, repeating one walk a second time to include our son who was working during the week.  The directions are clear and easy to follow.  Don't leave home without it.  You will not be disappointed.
2174086
I learned about "Pocket Coffee Ferrero" when I was in Italy.  Our Program Director handed each one of us a piece of Pocket Coffee to keep us alert:) while we were sightseeing!  When I come home; kind of missed it..  I went on Amazon and see if I can buy this product online!  It's truly incredible that you can find just about everything from Amazon!  Thank you, Amazon & all your customer & service oriented vendors!!
3891933
I have really gotten into microhistories lately. Learning so much about these topics makes me feel so happy! I have never been particularly interested in seeds. I have a black thumb, so I can't grow or keep anything alive. But I was surprised by how interesting this book was. So many things I never knew and never knew I wanted to know. Now, I need to find a book on coffee, because that was a great section in this book.
2136518
The Little Book of Japan by Anderson and Vilhar is truly amazing!  It is a tiny book in size but manages to cover a huge number aspects and details of the very complex Japanese culture.  Gorazd Vilhar continues to delight me with his astoundingly beautiful photographs and Charlotte Anderson is the wordsmith who ties it all together in one user friendly package.  This book is a great resource for those of us wishing to visit Japan as well as a beautiful memory of the country for those travelers who have already had the pleasure of making this journy.  It astounded me to see so much information included in such a small but concise book.  Give a copy to every one you know who is interested in traveling.