Book Break

Japan Through Writers’Eyes

By Elizabeth Ingrams

Friday, October 2, 2009, 6:30PM to 8:30PM

(The speech and Q & A will be in English)

How do you understand the enigma of Japan? From the first observations of the great cities and countryside of Japan by outsiders to more recent appreciations of Japan's culture, Japan Through Writers' Eyes is an anthology of accounts by Japanese and European travellers in Japan through the ages. The book glances at Japan from the perspectives of many famous Japanese writers such Shōnagon Sei and Murasaki Shikibu; Sugawara Michizane and Bashō Matsuo; Sōseki Natsume, and Tanizaki Junichirō in addition to some of Europe's finest adventurers, diplomats, and literary talents from Joao Rodrigues to Rudyard Kipling; Isabella Bird, William Empson, Pico Iyer, Alan Booth, Alex Kerr, LesleyDowner and Kazuo Ishiguro. The book is intended as inspiration for visitors to Japan.
‘This lively anthology will be equally enjoyed by Japanophiles and the merely curious,’
The Independent
'An inspirational treasure trove,' Japan Society review
The talk will feature authors Leza Lowitz, Stephen Mansfield on travel literature in Japan in conversation with Elizabeth Ingrams.
Elizabeth Ingrams is the editor of Japan through Writers' Eyes. While living in Tokyo she worked as Arts Editor for the Japan Times newspaper.

Leza Lowitz is a writer, editor and interpreter of Japanese culture. She has published over fifteen books. Her work has recently appeared in Expat: Women's True Tales of Life Abroad (Essay, Seal Press, 2002); Body & Soul Escapes (Footprint Travel Press, 2007); To Japan With Love (Things Asian Press, 2009). Her latest book is Green Tea To Go (Printed Matter Press). In addition to fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and California Arts Council, she also received the 2003 Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission Award from Columbia University.

Stephen Mansfield is a photojournalist, writer and long-term Tokyo resident. His photo-journalism has appeared in over 60 magazines, newspapers and journals worldwide. As an author, his books include Japan: Islands of the Floating World; The Insight Pocket Guide to Tokyo (Dorling Kindersley); Tokyo: A Cultural and Literary History (Signal/OUP was published in 2009); A guide, Top 10 Tokyo (Dorling Kindersley). Japanese Stone Gardens: Origins, Meaning, Form, will be published later this year by Tuttle publishing.

A dinner will be served at a cost of 1,850 yen (including tax). Sign up now at the reception desk (3211-3161) or online at http://www.fccj.or.jp. To help us plan proper seating and food preparation, please reserve in advance, preferably by noon of the day of the event. Those without reservations will be turned away once available seats are filled.

Reservations cancelled less than 24 hours in advance will be charged in full.

Library Committee, THE FOREIGN CORRESPONDENTS' CLUB OF JAPAN