I haven’t done a review in a while, but Sarah picked up a book at the library that I so enjoyed that I needed to share it. The book is called “Squeamish About Sushi: and Other Food Adventures in Japan“, by Betty Reynolds, and is a beautifully illustrated introduction to Japanese food culture.

I was first introduced to Ms. Reynolds’ writing when we purchased her book, “Tokyo Friends“, a childrens book designed to compare Western and Japanese cultural differences. The book does a neat job of showing two young friends doing everyday things in Japan and in America. The kids love the book, and we make sure to read it occasionally to keep the kids up on their Japanese phrases.

When Sarah brought “Squeamish About Sushi” home, I immediately thought it was another children’s book about Japanese food, since the style and illustrations were the same. Instead, I was delighted to see a book designed for visually-oriented teens or adults. There is no blocktype in the book; all the text is handwritten and complement the beautiful illustrations perfectly.

The book starts out teaching how to read and understand the signs and markers outside different types of Japanese restaurants, then continues into restaurant etiquette, like taking off your shoes, how to differentiate the bathrooms, and how to properly use chopsticks (ohashi). The comments in the book are wonderful, including this gem:

In Japan, even the most humble meal begins with a slight bow and the expression “Itadakimasu” (いただきます), or “I receive/accept this with thanks”. To help us remember this phrase when we were newcomers and unversed in the Japanese language, we were taught the English mnemonic: “Eat a duck I must.”

Eventually, the book gets into “typical” Japanese food like sashimi, sushi, ramen, soba, and udon, but also goes into some detail about tempura, yakitori, sukiyaki, shabu-shabu, okonomiyaki, and even an extended section on how to conduct yourself in a inn (ryokan – 旅館), and how to get breakfast in Tsukiji.

I love this book. It has a purpose, it fulfulls its goals, and I strongly recommend it for people who have an interest in Japan, and especially for people who get an opportunity to travel there.