The Land of the Rising Yen

Japan

by George Mikes

Illustrated by Zabo

Andre Deutsch, 1970, [First Edition], illustrated with line drawings, illustrated endpapers, hardcover, dustjacket

Very Good Condition, minor edge and shelf wear, minor rubbing to edges and corners, no inscriptions, dustjacket shows minor edge and shelf wear with minor rubbing, bumping and chipping to edges and corners (see photographs)

“In the last twenty-odd years so much has happened in this country, in addition to the staggering economic expansion of which all the world knows, that she has become an endlessly fascinating subject.  George Mikes, having almost hoped to fall into the customary Western attitude of condescending pleasure at her “Oriental quaintness” (because it is rather easy to be funny in such an attitude), saw at once that this was impossible.  There was nothing for it but to look at the Japanese as he looks at the rest of mankind: with his own inimitable blend of curiosity, respect, affection sand irreverence.
As a result, he makes Japan much more ‘real’ to the stranger than most observers do.   There are plenty of jokes in his book, of course – and very good ones – but there is even more straight portraiture and perceptive interpretation.  Everyone writes about the tea ceremony; but who else notices the way rubbish is thrown out?  Everyone reports his own reaction to the Japanese sense of tradition as embodied in the Kabuki theatre; but who else spots the reaction of the Japanese to their own sense of tradition?”