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jamielynnlano's review
5.0
Nfu nfu nfu nfu nfu!
I surprised myself one evening by discovering Grace's blog and wandering through ALL of the comics in one go. Our circumstances are so different: she's married, I'm forever single. She came to Japan to be with someone, I came to Japan to work. She knew (some) Japanese before she went, I knew nothing. She was from Texas, I was from Washington (they're quite different!). She'd never been distant from her family, I'd been living far from mine for years. (We both love anime/manga, though, and what more do you really need?)
All of that said, I was surprised by just how many of the feelings that she'd written about were the same as what I'd experienced living in Japan, both good and bad. We had a lot more in common than I'd thought at first glance. A lot lot.
Somewhere along the way, too, Grace and Ryosuke went from strangers in a sort-of-similar-ish situation to people that I was genuinely and excitedly interested in. I am absolutely sure that I'll read this book over and over again until it falls apart. Grace, keep writing comics forever! You have a big fan here!
ddeanne's review
4.0
A fun read of comics and essays. Mineta has a strong and interesting voice and this is a great view
of Japan from a different perspective.
I received this book for free from the author for review.
of Japan from a different perspective.
I received this book for free from the author for review.
jayishino's review
5.0
Love Grace's comics! I can really relate to her experiences. This book is also sprinkled with information which may help newcomers or even travelers to Japan. Recommended.
alysonimagines's review against another edition
4.0
This delightful confection gives a little taste of the American author’s experiences living in Tokyo. The charmingly hand-drawn comics and short cultural essays reveal that it’s not just about the author’s relationship with her Japanese husband but also her relationship with Japan. A fun read!
Personal note: I love that the author calls herself a “Texan in Tokyo.” As a Texan-Japanese who grew up mostly in Texas but also lived in Tokyo for a couple of years when I was a kid, I felt natsukashii (nostalgic) reading this! I also learned some things I didn’t know about Japan, since I haven’t been there in a long time.
Personal note: I love that the author calls herself a “Texan in Tokyo.” As a Texan-Japanese who grew up mostly in Texas but also lived in Tokyo for a couple of years when I was a kid, I felt natsukashii (nostalgic) reading this! I also learned some things I didn’t know about Japan, since I haven’t been there in a long time.
ora_fern's review
4.0
Good fun :D Bought this mostly because I wanted to support Grace (love her videos), but it's definitely worth the money. A feel-good, fun comic. It also has some pages with just writing, explaining several things/situations that come up in the comics. Longer book than I expected, too.
petk0616's review
4.0
This is a great book involving a mix of: funny comics, Japanese lifestyle information, and fantastic cultural insights.
ninjamoni's review
4.0
I have been following Grace and her husband Ryosuke's blog for some time now, and I really enjoy reading about their adventures as an international couple. Living in Japan myself, I can really relate to a lot of the things she talks about. She gave me a PDF version of her book to review and I was happy to do so!
The comic book depicts her life as a freelancer and wife of a Japanese salary man. The couple is quirky and loves to travel and share their experiences being married to someone of a different culture. Grace reminds me of me when I first came to Japan. She has an interest in everything and tries to understand and explain as much of the culture as she can. I have been living here for so long that I sometimes forget how different Japan is and just how strange life here can be.
Her comics are cute and show off her personality. I love the fact that she is very open and optimistic, and I love her attitude on life. Ryosuke has a very caring and silly personality, so the two make for a funny combo.
A lot of the comics are ones she has put on her blog, but there are some that she included exclusively in the book. She also adds some narrative about her life in Japan and about intercultural relationships. The book has a whimsical feel but is also good at giving some real perspective on living in another country and on relationships.
I definitely would recommend the book to those who love Japan and want to learn more about it, and to anyone in an interracial relationship. Sometimes it's really nice to relate to someone in a similar situation, and the Minetas do a great job of showing both the good and the difficult. I hope to see more of her work in maybe a volume 2! She has gained lots of popularity so I see bright things for her future.
The comic book depicts her life as a freelancer and wife of a Japanese salary man. The couple is quirky and loves to travel and share their experiences being married to someone of a different culture. Grace reminds me of me when I first came to Japan. She has an interest in everything and tries to understand and explain as much of the culture as she can. I have been living here for so long that I sometimes forget how different Japan is and just how strange life here can be.
Her comics are cute and show off her personality. I love the fact that she is very open and optimistic, and I love her attitude on life. Ryosuke has a very caring and silly personality, so the two make for a funny combo.
A lot of the comics are ones she has put on her blog, but there are some that she included exclusively in the book. She also adds some narrative about her life in Japan and about intercultural relationships. The book has a whimsical feel but is also good at giving some real perspective on living in another country and on relationships.
I definitely would recommend the book to those who love Japan and want to learn more about it, and to anyone in an interracial relationship. Sometimes it's really nice to relate to someone in a similar situation, and the Minetas do a great job of showing both the good and the difficult. I hope to see more of her work in maybe a volume 2! She has gained lots of popularity so I see bright things for her future.
claudiap's review against another edition
4.0
I received this book after participating in the Kickstarter campaign for the Texan in Tokyo third book. So I’ve read this book now for the first time, but I do follow Grace and Ryosuke’s vlogs in youtube. If you are a subscriber to their channel you can almost imagine Grace’s voice while reading the book.
This book is not about Grace Japanese husband. This book is about her integration in Japan and her interaction with the Japanese culture and customs. She talks a bit about being in an interracial marriage, but it’s not the focus of the book.
I was expecting it to be a big comic memoir book. It is not. It has text parts where Grace explains a lot about Japanese culture and gives advices and tips for the travellers. Between the texts, there are one page vignettes with Grace and Ryosuke adventures. The drawing is simple and has no colour, but engaging.
I really enjoyed this book. Mostly because it is an extension of their youtube channel. It has the same humour and quirkiness. Hope I also enjoy the other 2 books.
This book is not about Grace Japanese husband. This book is about her integration in Japan and her interaction with the Japanese culture and customs. She talks a bit about being in an interracial marriage, but it’s not the focus of the book.
I was expecting it to be a big comic memoir book. It is not. It has text parts where Grace explains a lot about Japanese culture and gives advices and tips for the travellers. Between the texts, there are one page vignettes with Grace and Ryosuke adventures. The drawing is simple and has no colour, but engaging.
I really enjoyed this book. Mostly because it is an extension of their youtube channel. It has the same humour and quirkiness. Hope I also enjoy the other 2 books.