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Stone Bridge Press Authors Shogo Oketani Shogo Oketani was born in Shinagawa ward, Tokyo, Japan in 1958. His great-grandmother was a geisha, and his great-grandfather was a gambler. His father is the respected literary critic Oketani Hideaki. Oketani graduated from Keio University with a degree in Philosophy and Literature. After graduation he spent over a decade (1986-1996) as a staff writer for The Sangyo Times, Japan’s semiconductor industry news. Then he moved to Northern California, where he was a freelance technical translator for clients such as Lucasfilm, Applied Materials, Hitachi, Apple, Nikkei News, Eastman Kodak, iFire Technologies, The Mori Group, LAM Research, and many others. He was also Project Director for Looksmart and served as Adjunct Professor of Translation at the Monterey Institute of International Studies. Shogo has received the 2003 Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission Prize for the Translation of Japanese Literature from the Donald Keene Center of Columbia University, as well as a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts in Translation, together with his wife, Leza Lowitz. After 9 years in California, Oketani relocated to Tokyo in 2003, where he opened Sun and Moon Yoga in Tokyo with his wife, Leza Lowitz. A black belt in Karate and a long-term practitioner of Shaolinquan, Kendo and Judo, Oketani teaches self-defense workshops at Sun and Moon and at various corporations in Tokyo. He also periodically teaches cooking classes. He and Lowitz have a son. Oketani works at Dobunsha Publishers, editing college textbooks in the fields of nutrition, bio-technology and food science. In his spare time, he writes fiction and publishes literary translation. He is at work on an historical novel about a revolutionary samurai in medieval Japan. http://www.j-boysbook.com/author.html Titles by Author J-Boys Shogo Oketani J-Boys presents an appealing depiction of young boys in mid-1960s Tokyo, a time of lingering social & cultural recovery. Read More Kanji Box Shogo Oketani & Leza Lowitz Japanese characters served up with histories and cultural clues to help you decorate your skin/body/life with just the right word! Read More Designing with Kanji Shogo Oketani & Leza Lowitz Japanese words in a fun resource for designers, artists, and tattooers. Read More

Japanese words in a fun resource for designers, artists, and tattooers. SBP 2023-2024 Catalog Designing with Kanji Japanese Character Motifs for Surface, Skin & Spirit Author Leza Lowitz Author Shogo Oketani THIS TITLE IS OUT OF PRINT Japanese kanji characters combine meaning with beauty and thus offer a unique medium for artistic expression. But if you don’t know the language, how do you find characters that say what you want and are not just a "kanji cliché"? You can start here. This attractive book has over one hundred thirty kanji presented in a simple format for easy use. For example: Post the kanji for kenshin on a mirror to remind you of your "devotion" to your studies. Embroider bussho on a meditation cushion to help you reflect on "Buddha nature." Tattoo the name Zatoichi on your upper arm as homage to your favorite blind swordsman hero. Show your "love" with a card decorated by ai . Pick from Warrior, Heart, Nature, and Spirit categories to find the characters that express your sentiments best. Each entry includes historical or etymological background, often with unusual "kanji facts." Then trace, photocopy, or even stencil the clear letterforms—displayed in several different kanji "fonts"—to get just the effect you want. Included is an introduction to kanji , writing tips, and a special supplement on Zodiac kanji (great for birthdays!). "People are always fascinated by different cultures, and we continue to be awed by the wonderful ways in which East and West have mingled in culture, lifestyle, design, art, and aesthetics. We hope this book will enrich your own experience of kanji in art and design and help you bring your creative gifts to bear in fresh, new ways."—from the Authors’ Introduction Preview Goodreads Details PUBLISH DATE 10/22/03 PISBN PRICE 9781880656792 $18.95 GENRE Nonfiction EISBN PRICE NA NA DIMENSIONS 6.9 x 8.9" HARDCOVER ISBN PRICE NA NA # OF PAGES 144 AUDIOBOOK ISBN PRICE NA NA Praise Video Book Photos Retail Outlets Books sold at E-Books sold at Audiobooks sold at About the Author(s) Leza Lowitz Collaborated with her husband Shogo Oketani, on a book about kanji for tattoos, a collection of poetry by a pacifist Japanese soldier, and a Young Adult trilogy about a young female ninja's quest to save her ancestral land. Learn More Shogo Oketani Works at Dobunsha Publishers, editing college textbooks in the fields of nutrition, bio-technology and food science. In his spare time, he writes fiction and publishes literary translation. He is at work on an historical novel about a revolutionary samurai in medieval Japan. Learn More

An award-winning translation of the classic novella about the Japanese ghetto. SBP 2023-2024 Catalog The Cape and Other Stories from the Japanese Ghetto Author Kenji Nakagami Winner of the Akutagawa Prize An award-winning translation of the classic novella about discrimination and generational dysfunction in Japan. Born into the burakumin —Japan's class of outcasts—Kenji Nakagami depicts the lives of his people in sensual language and stark detail. The Cape is a breakthrough novella about a burakumin community, their troubled memories, and complex family histories. Includes "House on Fire" and "Red Hair." Preview Goodreads Details PUBLISH DATE 1/1/08 PISBN PRICE 9781933330433 $16.95 GENRE Fiction EISBN PRICE 9781611729108 $9.95 DIMENSIONS 5.3 x 7.5" HARDCOVER ISBN PRICE NA NA # OF PAGES 200 AUDIOBOOK ISBN PRICE NA NA Praise Video Book Photos Retail Outlets Books sold at E-Books sold at Audiobooks sold at About the Author(s) Kenji Nakagami Celebrated novels include “Misaki” (The Cape), which won the Akutagawa Prize in 1976, and “Karekinada” (The Sea of Withered Trees), which won both the Mainichi and Geijutsu Literary Prizes in 1977. Learn More

The perfect book for anyone planning a life in Japan. SBP 2023-2024 Catalog A Practical Guide to Living in Japan Everything You Need to Know to Successfully Settle In Author Jarrell D. Sieff THIS TITLE IS OUT OF PRINT Here’s just what you need to know and do to happily establish yourself in Japan. You’ll get the facts on banking, immigration, and insurance, plus daily-life tips on renting an apartment, hooking up utilities, figuring out transportation, and shopping for furniture. You’ll also get insider advice on how to find a job, learn Japanese, and make new friends, as well as basic information on etiquette and customs, so important in Japan. Packed with strategies, charts, and simple how-to instructions, this is the single best book to buy before you make your move to the Land of the Rising Sun. Preview Goodreads Details PUBLISH DATE 1/1/03 PISBN PRICE 9781880656501 NA GENRE Nonfiction EISBN PRICE NA NA DIMENSIONS 6 x 9" HARDCOVER ISBN PRICE NA NA # OF PAGES 256 AUDIOBOOK ISBN PRICE NA NA Praise "A Practical Guide to Living in Japan by travel expert Jarrell D. Sieff is a definitive, ‘user friendly’ guide...a highly recommended resource that will save the traveler, business man or student an immeasurably valuable amount of time, expense, anxiety, confusion, and hassle." —Midwest Book Review Video Book Photos Retail Outlets Books sold at E-Books sold at Audiobooks sold at About the Author(s) Jarrell D. Sieff Has lived in every kind of Japanese residence and community and travels regularly to Japan for his San Francisco-based import/export business. Learn More

Stone Bridge Press Authors Cassandra Rockwood Ghanem Cassandra Rockwood Ghanem is a San Francisco Bay Area-based poet and illustrator. Her award-winning visual art has been exhibited in journals and galleries throughout the United States and beyond. Her poems and creative nonfiction have been published in The New Delta Review, Rip Rap, Hawaii Review, The Lifted Brow, For Women Who Roar, The Write Launch, and elsewhere. Cassandra holds a BA from California Institute of Integral Studies and an MFA from California College of the Arts. http://www.cassandrarockwoodghanem.com/ Titles by Author Basho's Haiku Journeys Freeman Ng & Cassandra Rockwood Ghanem Haiku tell the story of the poet Basho and the diaries he wrote while walking throughout Japan in the 1600s. Read More

Enjoy delicious Japanese food in some of Kyoto's most tucked-away and spectacular townhouses. SBP 2023-2024 Catalog Kyoto Machiya Restaurant Guide Affordable Dining in Traditional Townhouse Spaces Author Judith Clancy Enjoy delicious Japanese food in some of Kyoto's most tucked-away and spectacular townhouses. Machiya, or townhouses, are traditional wooden dwellings in Kyoto that evoke the elegance and culture of Japan's old capital with their architectural details, beautiful gardens, and intimate rooms. Many have been converted into restaurants to create unforgettable dining experiences. Enjoying healthy food in a historic, traditional Kyoto environment is a rare pleasure. Here are some 130 restaurant listings (food, decor, hours, addresses, prices, maps, and index) and a photographic guide to machiya architecture, culture, and aesthetics. The new, e-book-only edition features approximately 100 new restaurants and up-to-date information about preexisting ones. Preview Goodreads Details PUBLISH DATE 9/18/12 PISBN PRICE 9781611720013 $16.95 GENRE Travel EISBN PRICE 9781611725490 $9.95 DIMENSIONS 5 x 6.9" HARDCOVER ISBN PRICE NA NA # OF PAGES 288 AUDIOBOOK ISBN PRICE NA NA Praise Video Book Photos Retail Outlets Books sold at E-Books sold at Audiobooks sold at About the Author(s) Judith Clancy Author of Kyoto Machiya Restaurant Guide , Kyoto Gardens , Kyoto: City of Zen , and The Alluring World of Geiko and Maiko . She lives in a 120-year-old converted weaving studio in Nishijin, Kyoto's weaving and dyeing district. Learn More

The second volume of the quick and simple way to learn kanji. SBP 2023-2024 Catalog Kanji Starter 2 Author Daiki Kusuya THIS TITLE IS OUT OF PRINT With just these two books, students can learn a quarter of the two thousand characters designated for "daily use" by the Japanese government. Volume 1 concentrates on pictographs and contains some two hundred kanji with memory aids, explanatory drawings, examples of kanji formation by combining elements, and common-use word compounds. Volume 2 contains three hundred more kanji, including those of more abstract construction. Each volume is in a handy size and contains a complete stroke-count index. Recommended as a classroom supplement for all levels. Preview Goodreads Details PUBLISH DATE 9/1/06 PISBN PRICE 9781933330150 $9.95 GENRE Nonfiction EISBN PRICE NA NA DIMENSIONS 4.1 x 5.7" HARDCOVER ISBN PRICE NA NA # OF PAGES 197 AUDIOBOOK ISBN PRICE NA NA Praise Video Book Photos Retail Outlets Books sold at E-Books sold at Audiobooks sold at About the Author(s) Daiki Kusuya Born in Tokyo, a translator of scientific documents and author of Katakana Tangology. Learn More

A passionate and playful guide to kanji that examines characters from every angle for an in-depth understanding. SBP 2023-2024 Catalog Crazy for Kanji A Student's Guide to the Wonderful World of Japanese Characters Author Eve Kushner A passionate and playful guide to kanji that examines characters from every angle for an in-depth understanding. Kanji (the most complicated Japanese script) may look daunting, but the characters are full of fun and life—if you know how to decode them. Crazy for Kanji provides a "map" to orient people by examining characters and compounds from every angle. Passionate and playful, the book is filled with enlightening discussions, fun facts, photos, exhibits, anecdotes, and games. It’s a reference source, workbook, and entertaining read all in one. Novices and kanji experts alike will find treasures in its pages. Preview Goodreads Details PUBLISH DATE 7/1/07 PISBN PRICE 9781933330204 $19.95 GENRE Nonfiction EISBN PRICE 9781611729641 $9.95 DIMENSIONS 8.5 x 11" HARDCOVER ISBN PRICE NA NA # OF PAGES 212 AUDIOBOOK ISBN PRICE NA NA Praise Video Book Photos Retail Outlets Books sold at E-Books sold at Audiobooks sold at About the Author(s) Eve Kushner A writer in Berkeley, California. In addition to placing 315 articles in 35 markets, she has published two books. Both are in their second printings. Learn More

A masterpiece of quiet lyricism set against a backdrop of change and renewal in suburban Tokyo. SBP 2023-2024 Catalog Evening Clouds A Novel (Rock Spring Collection of Japanese Literature) Author Junzo Shono A masterpiece of quiet lyricism set against a backdrop of change and renewal in suburban Tokyo. The most celebrated work by one of Japan's master literary stylists, Evening Clouds is a book filled with delicate images of ordinary life, richly and precisely observed. A family moves into a new home on a windswept hilltop in western Tokyo. Around them are forests and farms. But the developers are coming, and the children are growing up. There are meals, quandaries, conversations...Life appears comfortable and serene, yet Shōno's portrayal has a strange and evocative undercurrent, as the most minute details slowly resonate out through a universe that is changing and unforgiving. Evening Clouds combines the crafted naturalism of haiku with the Ozu-like clarity of film to produce a story that is wistful and real. Read Shōno slowly, a luxuriate in his vision. Preview Goodreads Details PUBLISH DATE 4/1/00 PISBN PRICE 9781880656488 $18.95 GENRE Fiction EISBN PRICE 9780893469719 $9.95 DIMENSIONS 5.5 x 8.5" HARDCOVER ISBN PRICE NA NA # OF PAGES 222 AUDIOBOOK ISBN PRICE NA NA Praise Recipient of the Pen Center West Literary Award Recipient of the Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission Prize “Deceptively simple, yet nuanced and subtle…makes the Japanese family Japanese and universal at the same time.” —Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) “Shōno is one of the leading writers of postwar Japan, a master of simplicity and subtlety. The placid surfaces of his stories conceal a painful uncertainty about contemporary Japanese life. Lammers’ sensitive translations convey both the pain and placidity with moving clarity.” —Van C. Gessel , Professor of Japanese, Brigham Young University “Should be sipped and savored like warm sake” —Small Press Magazine “These stories are so artful…they seem like the artless productions of life itself.” —Kenyon College Book Review Video Book Photos Retail Outlets Books sold at E-Books sold at Audiobooks sold at About the Author(s) Junzo Shono Won the 1954 Akutagawa Prize for his book Purusaido Shokei (Poolside Scene ). Shōno's other award-winning books include Seibutsu (Still Life ), for which he won the Shinchosha literary prize, Learn More

In Kanazawa, Japan, Emmitt and his wife Mirai clash over how to pursue their future together until a 30-year-old mystery reveals a way forward. SBP 2023-2024 Catalog Kanazawa Author David Joiner 2022 Foreword Indies Book of the Year Finalist (Multicultural) | Included in The Japan Times’ “Exciting books and translations from Japan to look out for in 2021” In Kanazawa, Japan, Emmitt and his wife Mirai clash over how to pursue their future together until a 30-year-old mystery reveals a way forward. In Kanazawa , the first literary novel in English to be set in this storied Japanese city, Emmitt’s future plans collapse when his wife, Mirai, suddenly backs out of negotiations to purchase their dream home. Disappointed, he’s surprised to discover Mirai’s subtle pursuit of a life and career in Tokyo, a city he dislikes. Harmony is further disrupted when Emmitt’s search for a more meaningful life in Japan leads him to quit an unsatisfying job at a local university. In the fallout, he finds himself helping his mother-in-law translate Kanazawa’s most famous author, Izumi Kyoka, into English. While continually resisting Mirai’s efforts to move to Tokyo, Emmitt becomes drawn into the mysterious death thirty years prior of a mutual friend of Mirai’s parents. It is only when he and his father-in-law climb the mountain where the man died that he learns the somber truth, and in turn discovers what the future holds for him and his wife. Packed with subtle literary allusion and closely observed nuance, with an intimacy of emotion inexorably tied both to the cityscape and Japan’s mountainous terrain, Kanazawa reflects the mood of Japanese fiction in a fresh, modern incarnation. Preview Goodreads Details PUBLISH DATE 01/25/22 PISBN PRICE 9781611720716 $18.95 GENRE Literary Fiction EISBN PRICE 9781611729535 $9.95 DIMENSIONS 5.5 x 8.5" HARDCOVER ISBN PRICE NA NA # OF PAGES 264 AUDIOBOOK ISBN PRICE NA NA Praise "Kanazawa is both a sensitive portrayal of the struggles of an international marriage and a paean to the city in which it is set." —Iain Maloney, The Japan Times "David Joiner delivers a slow-burning family drama reminiscent of a film by Yasujirō Ozu or Hirokazu Koreeda." —Tina deBellegarde, Books on Asia "With its deliberate, expressive descriptions of the city and the mountains that surround it, Kanazawa is a character driven novel that illustrates the importance of communication and compromise." —Dontaná McPherson-Joseph, Foreword Reviews "Reflective and atmospheric, Kanazawa is a story for sitting with. The drama and conflict are experienced not as grand explosions of intense emotion but as a quiet gnawing from within that is far less easy to escape. Joiner’s patient attention to the interiority of his characters and a strong sense of place create a moving portrayal of the messiness of relationships and the ways that all the things we hope to bury in the past stay with us." —Reid Bartholomew, World Literature Today "Joiner’s understanding of Japanese culture is perfect. Like one of Yasujiro Ozu’s films.. [Kanazawa ] is a slow and gentle portrayal of the intimate relationships and subtle emotional changes within a Japanese family in English." —Daiya Hashimoto, Editor for Booklogia "Filled with lush greenery, formidable mountains, historic castles, and a vibrant local community... Kanazawa casts a shimmering layer of magical novelty around the countryside that has too long been reserved for prominent cities ever since Japan’s industrialization in the early 20th century." —Ella Kelleher, Asia Media International "Kanazawa is a nicely local-colored novel, the whole range of tensions of modern Japan, from busy, bustling and crowded Tokyo to the more relaxed Kanazawa to the village of Shiramine, presented." —M.A.Orthofer, The Complete Review "A graceful novel of a graceful city . David Joiner’s Kanazawa interweaves four love affairs, echoing the fantastical writings of the early 20th century writer Izumi Kyoka. At the story’s heart lies the enigmatic bond between Emmitt’s wife’s parents, with a secret only revealed in the novel’s dramatic climax. The other three love affairs, with their own enigmas, are Emmitt’s own - for his wife Mirai, for his adoptive city of Kanazawa, and for his muse Kyoka." —Alex Kerr, author of Lost Japan and Finding the Heart Sutra "Atmospheric... and shibui . A quietly captivating tale of life and art in Kanazawa. Slowly sinks its hooks in and doesn't let go."⁠ —Robert Whiting, author Tokyo Junkie "The grand old city of Kanazawa, its lush historic environs and rich cultural legacy form the setting of this compelling narrative . Kanazawa weaves an intriguing story of a Japanese family worthy of the best of Japanese literature.” —Roger Pulvers, author of Liv "In Kanazawa , David Joiner has written a book not unlike its titular city, with great historical depths hidden beneath a deceptively tranquil surface. A story of misunderstandings, miscommunications and family secrets centred around a marriage that seems doomed to fall apart under the weight of unspoken resentments. Above all, Kanazawa drips with a sense of place, the setting much more than just a back drop to the action; Joiner shows that there are plenty of stories taking place outside the vortex of Tokyo. Tense, moving, and subtly gripping , Kanazawa is a welcome addition to the books-about-Japan shelf. —Iain Maloney, author of The Only Gaijin in the Village Video Book Photos Retail Outlets Books sold at E-Books sold at Audiobooks sold at About the Author(s) David Joiner David Joiner's writing has appeared in literary journals and elsewhere, including Echoes: Writers in Kyoto 2017 , The Brooklyn Rail , Phoebe Journal , The Ontario Review , and The Madison Review. His first novel, Lotusland , set in contemporary Vietnam, was published in 2015 by Guernica Editions. Learn More

A revealing memoir about the director and his films, by his first assistant for fifty years. SBP 2023-2024 Catalog Waiting on the Weather Making Movies with Akira Kurosawa (Out of Print) Author Teruyo Nogami THIS TITLE IS OUT OF PRINT Teruyo Nogami was a relative newcomer to film production when hired as a continuity/script assistant on Akira Kurosawa’s Rashomon. A witness to its filming—and its near destruction in a fire—over the next fifty years she worked on all the master’s films—Ikiru, Seven Samurai, Kagemusha, and Dreams. No one was more closely involved in Kurosawa’s productions, and in this memoir, charmingly illustrated with her own sketches, Nogami writes candidly about the director’s energy, creativity, and his famous rages, telling the inside story on how so many classics of world cinema were made. Preview Goodreads Details PUBLISH DATE 11/20/06 PISBN PRICE 9781933330099 $24.95 GENRE Memoir EISBN PRICE NA NA DIMENSIONS 5.8 x 7.8" HARDCOVER ISBN PRICE NA NA # OF PAGES 296 AUDIOBOOK ISBN PRICE NA NA Praise "Teruyo Nogami was Akira Kurosawa's script supervisor throughout his career, more importantly she was his loyal assistant and supporter during both the good and bad moments of his life. She is an extraordinary woman and these memories are a path to understanding the temperament and genius of one of the few...geniuses of cinematic history. It's not uncommon for a film director to have made one or two great films, but Kurosawa was able to create many masterpieces in many styles, set in both modern and classic times. So the opportunity to know this artist through the lucid eyes of a long-time collaborator is a privilege and an opportunity. Nogami-san's salty personality is perfect to show his many sides, not always flattering, which is essential in grasping him. This book is a treasury of stories and a key to the great body of cinematic work of Akira Kurosawa." —Francis Ford Coppola "If you're interested in movies, then you're interested in the work of Akira Kurosawa. Teruyo Nogami was by Kurosawa's side for almost 50 years, as he quietly (and sometimes, not so quietly) revolutionized the very grammar of cinema. This is a wonderfully intimate and beautifully written portrait of one of the greatest filmmakers who ever lived, which makes it essential reading." —Martin Scorsese "Sure to become a classic memoir, essential for our understanding of one of the greatest filmmakers of the 20th century." —The Japan Times Video Book Photos Retail Outlets Books sold at E-Books sold at Audiobooks sold at About the Author(s) Teruyo Nogami For half a century from Rashomon (1950) to Madadayo (1993), Teruyo Nogami stood by Akira Kurosawa as a script supervisor and principal assistant. Learn More

An updated edition of what AsiaPacific magazine calls "The best insiders' guide to Tokyo." SBP 2023-2024 Catalog Little Adventures in Tokyo 39 Thrills for the Urban Explorer Author Rick Kennedy THIS TITLE IS OUT OF PRINT From the old traditions to the trendy and bizarre, here is a discovery guide to the singular delights of Tokyo and a whole new way of having fun in Japan. Wander the streets of the Old City, learn the secrets of pachinko, discover hidden cafes and jazz bars, meditate in a Zen temple. Cross indexed by location and duration. Preview Goodreads Details PUBLISH DATE 6/10/98 PISBN PRICE 9781880656341 NA GENRE Travel EISBN PRICE 9781611725230 NA DIMENSIONS 5.5 x 8.5" HARDCOVER ISBN PRICE NA NA # OF PAGES 176 AUDIOBOOK ISBN PRICE NA NA Praise Video Book Photos Retail Outlets Books sold at E-Books sold at Audiobooks sold at About the Author(s) Rick Kennedy Erudite and energetic, who hosts the web site Tokyo Q, has lived in Tokyo for over 20 years and is a popular commentator on Tokyo city life and food. Learn More