Publisher: Chronicle Books
Release Date: May 2, 2017
Price: $29.95
Creator: Igort
Format: 184 pgs., Full-Color, Hardcover
ISBN: 978-1-4521-5870-9
Age Rating: 13+
ICv2 Rating: 3.5 Stars out of 5
It's impossible to deny that I am one of the many people in the world who once upon a time dreamed of moving to Japan and living in that culture and society. In the back of my mind, I knew it would never happen but it certainly didn't stop me from envying people who actually got to do it. It's a feeling that I haven't felt in quite a while, but reading this book certainly sparked it once again.
In Japanese Notebooks, a young man from Italy manages to live the dream, and tells of his journey in Japan from the very start of his career as a comic artist years ago. Within the pages, he talks about meeting and getting advice from some of the all-time greats in the industry while also describing his struggles in a foreign country.
A great example of this is towards the beginning of the book when the author talks about the longest business meeting that he had ever been in. What he didn't realize at the time was that guests are supposed to be the first one to stand which is why the meeting ended up taking so long.
What is most interesting about this book though is that while it is technically a graphic novel filled with wonderful artwork, that's not the primary draw of the book. The biggest draw of this book is actually the stories that are told within the pages. If you have ever expressed interest in living and working in Japan, you owe it to yourself to check out this book and learn a little bit about what it's like from someone who actually took the plunge.
This is a solid read that will keep readers engaged and entertained for days as they continue to push through story after story.
-- L.B. Bryant
