An amusing and interesting read from a popular YouTuber who started his Japanese adventures as an English teacher. The book is a good read, even if, like me, you haven’t seen his videos. The subject of the book – a male westerner’s impression of Japan, particularly the food and the social rules – is not original, but the settings were unusual because they tended to be lesser visited by tourists. Somehow I found the book didn’t quite match my expectations. Perhaps it was the over-emphasis on food or the descriptions of how he made videos, how many views they had, etc. There were missed opportunities to look more deeply at issues in Japanese society and the later chapters were more of a skim over his experiences. Despite this, an absorbing read for anyone interested in Japan, whether you’re thinking of going there or as an armchair traveller.
Published by Penguin, 2023.