Top-selling author Atwood: sometimes caustic, never without cause

She enjoys immense popularity in Japan. Twelve of her books have been translated into Japanese and more are on the way. But internationally acclaimed Canadian author Margaret Atwood wasn't in Japan recently to promote a new book. She was here to look at birds.

The 2000 Booker Prize winner is joint honorary president of BirdLife International's Rare Bird Club, a job she shares with her partner, writer Graeme Gibson.

Their stop in Tokyo late last month was sandwiched between a Rare Bird Club trip to Hokkaido, where Atwood was impressed by the sight of red-crested cranes dancing in the snow, and a visit to Okinawa. She and Gibson came at the invitation of Princess Takamado, the honorary president of BirdLife International.