Dave Barry Does Japan

An example: "I understand that, even if two Japanese have worked together for many years, neither would dream of using the other's first name. Is this comedic tour of Japan discreet, tasteful, or politically correct? The answer, thank god, is Naaah! Yet Dave Barry's travelogue never grows mean-spirited, and he's always ready to laugh at his own country--and by extension, himself. Whereas Americans are on a first-name basis immediately, and by the end of the first day have generally graduated to 'Yo, Butthead!'"

Patrick Yamada said Laugh-out-loud funny for Americans. This is a great book for anyone who has spent a week or more in Japan (a layover at Narita for a few hours doesn't count). Sure, the cover looks really dopey and not even close to a close representation of real Japan, but the contents hit Japanese and American culture right on. I can't guarantee Kiwis, Canucks, Aussies or other English speakers will relate to it. If you like Dave Barry's dumb jokes, cheap shots, and self-deprecating humor and have been to Japan before, . A response to the few negative reviews I've read at least a half-dozen of Barry's books, and this is BY FAR my favorite. My wife and I both laugh out-loud when we re-read it, and I have bought multiple copies to give to friends.What makes it so good? Barry at his best is an observer who steps back from daily life just far enough to notice how crazy everything is. So Random House had the brilliant idea to send him to Japan, thereby giving him a brand NEW world in which to notice how crazy everything is!Not ha. Fun, short and irreverent look at Japan This book kept popping up on my recommendations, and I finally gave in and bought it. I have recently been wading through a series of Japan-orientated intercultural texts, and this book was a breath of fresh air. It is equal parts funny and insightful.The book takes an irreverent, realistic look at Japan. This is the point of view of the tourist. Some things, like plastic squid and Sumo, really are strange to us. Dave Barry is not afraid to call a spade a spade. He does

"One of the funniest peole ever to tap tap on a PC."PHILADELPHIA INQUIRERNot since George Bush's memorable dinner with the Japanese prime minister has the Land of the Rising Sun seen the likes of a goodwill ambassador like Dave Barry. Join him as he belts out oldies in a karaoke bar, marries a geriatric geisha girl, takes his first bath in public, bows to just about everyone, and explores culture shock in all its numerous humorous forms, including: Failing to Learn Japanese in Only Five Minutes (Or: "Very Much Good Morning, Sir!") ; Humor in Japan (Take My Tofu, Please!); Sports in Japan ("Yo, Batter! Loudly Make it Fly!"), and more.