Japan Unexpected

Japan from the inside... You might know of tea ceremonies, samurai and vending machines, but how about honorific speech, a shrine to carry gods through a neighbourhood, and miso ramen-flavoured ice-cream? Explore some little-known and sometimes surprising elements of one of the most unique countries in the world, as viewed by Carrie, a young Australian teaching in Japanese elementary schools. Even those things known about in the outside world are examined in detail by Carrie and unexpected elements brought to light. In Japan, new things mix with old things through uninhibited creativity to make more unique items of food, technology and culture than you would find anywhere else. It’s a culture that must be seen to be believed – and through this book, you can see it too. "From the moment I heard about it, I was looking forward to reading this book. I had my own experiences in Japan in the late 70s and early 80s, and Japan Unexpected didn't disappoint.From the first page I was hooked - the author's attitude to education is identical to mine; that the most beautiful education is one that teaches about other peoples and cultures. "It builds connections and understanding across distances and time periods". Riseley writes extremely well and gives beautiful, detailed descriptions and explanations of everything from food, history, customs, language, and events. Her affection for Japan and the Japanese is clear without being gushy... I would recommend Japan Unexpected to anyone planning a first visit to the country. I highly recommend this book." -Rachel Caldecott, travel author "Japan Unexpected by the experienced world traveler Carrie Riseley made me feel like I got to visit this special country. Her insights and stories in this book are vivid, diverse, plentiful, and entertaining. I was hooked right away during the “Arrival” chapter, where she talked about Tokyo’s stacked, twisted highways and immense, complex subway stations. I immediately had the sense of a forward-thinking, modern, and vibrant culture in which many things are done right, or so I’ve heard. There are no dull moments in the book as Riseley relates the many interesting people she met and her wide-ranging adventures. I learned so much about the intricacies of Japan and its culture in Japan Unexpected that I felt like a visitor from afar." - Sal Nudo, author of 'The Newspaperman'