{"product_id":"9784805316528","title":"The Magic of Japan: Secret Places and Life-Changing Experiences (With 475 Color Photos)","description":"\u003cb\u003eA charming collection of quirky insights into Japanese culture.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Magic of Japan\u003c\/i\u003e is writer Hector Garcia's intensely personal account of his fifteen years in Japan. A self-professed \u003ci\u003e\"otaku\"\u003c\/i\u003e or Japanese anime geek since childhood, Garcia has worked for a Japanese software company, mastered the language, and become one of Japan's most popular bloggers.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis book is the culmination of his experiences and showcases Garcia's unique ability to delve beneath the surface of Japanese culture to describe its quirky and deep spiritual underpinnings. This collection of essays and beautiful photographs will appeal to his worldwide fan base—including those who devoured his previous bestsellers, \u003ci\u003eA Geek in Japan\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eIkigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life\u003c\/i\u003e—Japanophiles, armchair travelers and anyone with an interest in cultural and travel memoirs.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Magic of Japan\u003c\/i\u003e features Garcia's keen observations on a wide variety of cultural topics:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJapanese behavioral traits, including non-verbal communication, \u003ci\u003ehansei\u003c\/i\u003e (self-reflection), \u003ci\u003eheijoshin\u003c\/i\u003e (a calm mind) and \u003ci\u003eshoshin\u003c\/i\u003e (childlike openness)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHow Japan's geography and history have shaped its culture—its natural disasters, scarce resources, centuries of isolation and its feudal past\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJapanese idiosyncrasies, ranging from food traditions and absurd jobs to a love of queues\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe Japanese spirit, as evidenced in traditional art, manga and attitudes to women\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShintoism and Buddhism, looking at temples, festivals, rituals and how religious beliefs pervade popular culture, as seen for example in Studio Ghibli's movie \u003ci\u003eSpirited Away\u003c\/i\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJapan's dark side, including crime, the yakuza, adultery, bullying and suicide\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe book ends with a gloriously random selection of all things Garcia considers especially magical about Japan—from izakaya to shiitake mushrooms, summer fireworks and green tea!","brand":"Tuttle Publishing","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42371122954301,"sku":"9784805316528","price":18.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0603\/0838\/9949\/files\/9784805316528_p0.jpg?v=1771565222","url":"https:\/\/www.tatteredcover.com\/products\/9784805316528","provider":"Tattered Cover","version":"1.0","type":"link"}