Description

Discover What Makes Japan The Coolest Place on Earth! April 5, 2022

Lavishly decorated manhole covers, pink polka-dotted backhoes, toilets with warmable seats, blow dryers (and other bells and whistles). It’s just another day in Japan, where the futuristic and zany stands side-by-side with the rooted and the venerable, and there’s a festival going on somewhere almost every day of the year.

In Uniquely Japan, Abby Denson—author of Cool Japan Guide and Cool Tokyo Guide—uses her own personal drawings and photos to highlight the things that make Japan truly different from every other place on the planet. From the ramen and sushi we’ve all come to love to the fantastic creatures who now star in their own video games and anime, the comic artist takes you on a romp through Japan’s distinctive popular and traditional culture.

Here are just a few of the favorite bits and pieces Abby presents:
Vending machines for everything from eggs to electronics
Tiny alleyways where you may come across a shrine—or a hip-hop bar
Silly mascots promoting serious businesses
Whimsical architecture for neighborhood police stations
Stamps for your name (no signature is complete without one), or to collect at railway stations and castles
Colorfully painted, hardworking construction vehicles that beep and talk as you pass by
And, of course, the ridiculously delicious food: noodles, bento boxes, and gorgeous sweets

From kimono to kawaii, Japan has endless ways to astonish visitors. This book offers a fun opportunity for armchair travel and reminds you to keep your eyes wide open when you do get to visit Japan in person!

Editorial Reviews
Review
“Uniquely Japan is filled with photos taken by Denson and her friends during their visits to Japan. It also features neat illustrations of Japanese food, animals and items. It is bright, colorful and eye-catching. It is an easy read for those who need images for visional stimulants.” — Stars and Stripes

“Author Abby Denson clearly shares this love for Japan – working as a writer for Amazing Spider-Man Family and Disney Adventures, her energetic take on the country is perfect for a younger audience, and as a lot of us oldies have kids now, that makes this book an exciting prospect … As a parent, I can see the book has much to commend it – the friendly style, clear explanations and enthusiasm make it a great start to any young-persons engagement with Japanese culture, and is highly recommended for any child who may be about to take the trip abroad.” — UK Anime Network

“With her recently published follow-up Uniquely Japan Abby is once again sharing her love of Japan with the readers. Her books are chock full of fun facts about Japan, and her latest book is no exception. Each chapter highlights interesting travel facts about Japan including the seasons, arts and crafts, fun and games, fashions, various food dishes of Japan, high tech around Japan, and so much more.” –School Library Journal

Abby Denson, comic artist and author, was interviewed on a recent episode of MangaSplaining, a podcast that helps explain manga to people who don’t know much about manga. Click here to listen to the interview.

“A genuinely fun and engaging read for anyone traveling to Japan for the first time, the book is as much of a travel guide as it is a ‘things to know before you go’ guide to experiencing Japanese culture as a well-prepared tourist.” –Julie Henning, RoadTripsForFamilies.com
About the Author
Award-winning artist and author Abby Denson has scripted many comics including The Amazing Spider-Man and Disney Adventures. She is the author of the graphic novel Dolltopia (Moonbeam Children’s Book Award) and the acclaimed coming-out story Tough Love: High School Confidential, as well as the popular travel books Cool Japan Guide and Cool Tokyo Guide (Ippy Award), and children’s storybook Kitty Sweet Tooth. Visit her at www.abbydenson.com