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Margaret Stawowy
For Margaret Stawowy's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
CULTURE / Books / THE ASIAN BOOKSHELF
Jun 16, 2002
Soldiers who fought for their honor on two fronts
THE LAST FOX: A Novel of the 100th/442nd RCT, by Robert H. Kono. Eugene, Oregon: Abe Publishing, 2001, 322 pp., $14.95 (paper) Shortly after the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941, the American government interned people of Japanese ancestry, two-thirds of them American citizens, in camps. Families who lived in the western United States had only days to liquidate businesses, sell homes and possessions, and deal with the perception that they were "enemy aliens." They felt angry, confused and betrayed, but nonetheless complied.
CULTURE / Books / THE ASIAN BOOKSHELF
May 19, 2002
An unexpected transformation at English school
RED SKY, RED DRAGONFLY, by John Galligan. Madison, Wisconsin: Diversity Incorporated, 262 pp., $14.95 (paper). "Red Sky, Red Dragonfly," a first novel by college writing professor John Galligan, provides ample evidence that he understands the craft he teaches. A humorous and original tale spanning two continents and four cultures, this book is a winner.
CULTURE / Books / THE ASIAN BOOKSHELF
Jan 6, 2002
The challenges and rewards of bicultural marriage
LOOKING BEYOND THE MASK: When American Women Marry Japanese Men, by Nancy Brown Diggs. State University of New York, 2001, 231 pp., $19.95 (paper). Finally, here is a book that explains the ramifications of a decision I made 24 years ago when I married my Japanese husband in the United States. Although some of my Japanese friends passed along valuable cultural insights, I mostly had to figure things out on my own, such as differences in communication styles and values -- just the kind of things covered in Nancy Brown Diggs' book "Looking Beyond the Mask."
CULTURE / Books / THE ASIAN BOOKSHELF
Nov 18, 2001
A story that just doesn't translate
DRUNK AS A LORD: Samurai Stories, by Ryotaro Shiba; translated by Eileen Kato. Tokyo: Kodansha International, 2001, 253 pp., 3,500 yen (cloth) Ryotaro Shiba (1923-1996), a distinguished historical writer, brought Japan's past alive by examining many of its important historical figures and the personal struggles they faced in meeting the challenges of their times. Although Shiba wrote prolifically and enjoyed widespread popularity in Japan, this is only the second of his works to be translated into English. The first, "The Last Shogun: The Life of Tokugawa Yoshinobu," met with critical acclaim in the West. Why, then, does the bulk of Shiba's work remain untranslated?
CULTURE / Books
Sep 16, 2001
Wreaking revenge by living well
SO CAN YOU, by Mitsuyo Ohira. Translated by John Brennan. Tokyo: Kodansha International, 2000, 223 pp., 1,300 yen When I first set eyes on "So Can You," I wasn't sure what kind of book to expect. On the cover was a photo of a kind-faced, bespectacled woman in a plaid blazer who could easily pass for a door-to-door evangelist, while the title sounded like something from a multi-level marketing tract. With some misgivings, I opened the book and began to read.
CULTURE / Books
Apr 22, 2001
Okinawan writers provide a breath of fresh air
SOUTHERN EXPOSURE: Modern Japanese Literature from Okinawa, edited by Michael Molasky and Steve Rabson. Honolulu: University of Hawai'i Press, 362 pp., $27.95 (paper). Okinawa consists of just .6 percent of the total landmass of Japan and contributes 1 percent to the population, according to the introduction in "Southern Exposure." Yet its size is disproportionate to its role in recent Japanese history.
CULTURE / Books
Oct 9, 2000
Limp prose from an angel of mercy
TOTTO-CHAN'S CHILDREN: A Goodwill Journey to the Children of the World, by Tetsuko Kuroyanagi; translated by Dorothy Britton. Kodansha International, 2000, 222 pp., with photographs, 2,500 yen (cloth). Tetsuko Kuroyanagi is a familiar figure on Japanese television quiz shows. She's the one decked out in kimono with a perky bun on top her head and ear-to-ear bangs (that's "fringe" to you British).
CULTURE / Books
Jun 20, 2000
Shallow pits and rabbit hutches
JAPANESE HOMES AND LIFESTYLES: An Illustrated Journey through History, by Kazuya Inaba and Shigenobu Nakayama. Translated by John Bester. Kodansha International, 2000, 144 pp., $32. Do you curse costly rents, cramped quarters and cluttered cupboards? Do you think tatami are terrific, futons fabulous and Washlets wonderful? If so, there's no doubt about it: You live in Japan. Whether we reside in a 1LDK, "gaijin" house or cardboard box, housing has a profound effect on our lives.
CULTURE / Books
Apr 25, 2000
Salute to a life of honesty, humanity and hard work
A SUMMER FOR A LIFETIME: The Life and Times of George I. Purdy, as told to Thomas Caldwell. Foreword by Michael J. Mansfield. Lost Coast Press, 2000, 144 pp., $24.95. When I was a librarian I was assigned to inventory a business biography collection. I didn't expect to find much excitement in the stacks, but as the week went on I found myself spending a little more time than I should have assessing the merits of particular volumes.

Longform

A statue of "Dragon Ball" character Goku stands outside the offices of Bandai Namco in Tokyo. The figure is now as recognizable as such characters as Mickey Mouse and Spider-Man.
Akira Toriyama's gift to the world