My Awesome Japan Adventure: A Diary about the Best 4 Months Ever! - Hardcover

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.

"This book is great for introducing older children to Japanese culture or for more advanced Japanese children learning English. How interesting to see your country through the eyes of a foreigner. Highly recommended for children interested in learning about other parts of the world. It would also be great for a book report on Japan." —CatherineAmi.com blog

"This notebook style graphic story is informative and fun to read!" —Pragmatic Mom blog

"...the story and illustrations will hold a child's interest with comparisons to Japanese and American culture written in a voice they can easily identify with." —The Japan Times

"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." —Uncovering Japan blog

"My Awesome Japan Adventure is lush with specific, intriguing details about the Japanese culture and the lives of Japanese children and families. It's the voice, though, that will win kids over. Otowa smartly chose to write about Japanese culture, using the point of view of Dan, who, at the end of the book, vows to come back to Japan." —The Children's Book Review

"I highly recommend this incredible cultural gem—my kids poured over the pictures and text. Absolutely packed with cultural information: geography, breakfast, school, origami, history, rice harvest, food, pastimes, customs, tea ceremony— and much, much more! It's unique layout and illustrations cover so many aspects of Japan—and mix the authentic information with the fictional journal of a 5th-grade boy." —Kid World Citizen blog

"I liked this book [...] I liked what Dan learned, and I thought that he made some pretty fun choices. At the end, he hoped he would be coming back soon." —Miriam, age 10, City Book Review

"This diary-cum-travelogue surveys aspects of traditional and modern Japanese culture from sushi and bowing (how and when to do it) to ninjas and manga." —School Library Journal