Description
Japan: The Sadness of Viewing Cherry Blossoms by a River is a collection of nonfiction stories, fiction stories, and poems about Japan written by a teacher who lived there. They describe modern Japan in great detail. The nonfiction stories include one about a legendary fisherman in the mountains of Wakayama, and a famous drinker nicknamed The Bucket. One narrative concerns switching barbers, quite a feat in Japan. A longer narrative describes how the author became engaged to a Japanese woman without any idea he had done so. For a start, he asks her given name, a sign of great romantic interest for a Japanese female. The fiction involves a sea captain, a private religion, and a climb up Mount Fuji to view the sunrise. A journal of the author’s year in Japan details the first year of the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program. It provides many insights into the school system of Japan. The poems include many haiku. Others are about a pilgrimage to Shodoshima Island plus a small temple bell. Many of the nonfiction stories, fiction stories and poems have been published.
