Dan is a typical American fifth grader, who travels to Japan to live with a Japanese family as an exchange student. He loves to write and doodle in his diary, and kids will love reading about all the adventures he had while he was in Japan, told in his own words. With the help of his Japanese foster brother and sister, Daisuke and Mari, Dan experiences life in a traditional Japanese village, tries new foods, and gives his readers the inside scoop on Japanese school life.
By:
Rebecca Otowa
Imprint: Tuttle Publishing
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions:
Height: 254mm,
Width: 178mm,
Spine: 10mm
Weight: 340g
ISBN: 9784805312162
ISBN 10: 4805312165
Pages: 48
Publication Date: 05 November 2013
Recommended Age: From 7 to 12 years
Audience:
Children/juvenile
,
Children / Juvenile
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active
Going to Japan (On the plane ride over, Dan jots down all the questions he has about life in Japan.) My First Impressions (Dan meets the Marutas and catches a few glimpses on the way home from the airport.) A Japanese Breakfast (Japanese breakfast foods-a salty surprise!) My First Week of School (Japanese school is sooooo different!) Fun With Origami (Make a flower to give to someone you love.) Daisuke's Grandfather (On Respect for Elders Day , grandpa reminisces about olden times in Japan.) The Rice Harvest (A family affair) Making Onigiri (Japan's favorite fast food ) Visiting a Budokan (Dan experiences Japanese martial arts first-hand.) How to Bow Like a Japanese (Daisuke teaches Dan this timeless art.) The Tea Ceremony (Mari invites Dan to see how the ancient rituals of Japan are still practiced.) Micro Sushi (A great way to get used to the idea of raw fish!) Daisuke's Brush Painting Class (The elegant art of shodo) Writing in Japanese (The basics of kana and kanji) Going to the Shrine (The Marutas take Dan to a local Shinto shrine to experience Japan's religious traditions.) Family Fun (Dan compares his family's hobbies at home to those of the Daisuke family.) Meet the Real Ninjas (Western kids can never get enough of these stealthy warriors!) A Trip to Osaka (A day in a big city) Christmas and New Year (One holiday is lots bigger than the other. Guess which!) Karuta Cards (A traditional New Year's game) Making Mochi (A culinary art that requires a lot of elbow grease!) Kids on the Loose (What Japanese kids usually do for fun!) Souvenirs of My Stay (Dan looks over all the souvenirs of his time in Japan.) On My Next Trip...(Dan thinks about all the things he wants to do the next time he goes to Japan...)
Originally from California, Rebecca Otowa is a writer, painter and teacher who--during her thirty years in Japan--has become a wife, mother, grandmother, and the chatelaine of a 350-year-old farmhouse in Shiga, Japan. She is the author of At Home In Japan.
Reviews for My Awesome Japan Adventure: A Diary about the Best 4 Months Ever!
There's a lot covered here but it's all presented at a level that's rather accessible for both those with no knowledge of Japan and for a younger audience that doesn't want to (or can't) pour through dry guidebooks. [...] Rebecca Otowa truly knows her subject -- having lived in Japan for 30 years and raised children and grandchildren here, she has a good feel for what will interest her younger readers. Yet adults will also find a host of information contained within the pages and may enjoy such insights into things like school routines and family holiday traditions that are not often elaborated upon in more traditional guides. It's also slim enough to slip into a carry-on for Japan-bound travellers and may even inspire young adventurers to chronicle their own experience in a similar journal. --Uncovering Japan
