The Japan We Never Knew and Should Learn About

I recently read The Japan We Never Knew: A Journey of Discovery by David Suzuki and Keibo Oiwa and it was a very interesting read. It lived up to its title. Every part of this book brought new information to me.

Japan is widely known for its advancement in pretty much every field. They are considered one of the most developed economies in the world. Everyone wants to visit Japan at least once in their lifetime. In fact, if you are reading this now, chances are you’ve been to Japan or would love to go there one day. It is high on many people’s bucket list.

This book is divided into 3 parts: War and Peace, Japan’s Diversity, and Nature and Environmentalist.

Each part takes you on a journey, new to one's brain.

First, it discusses the American military existence in Okinawa and how it been a struggle for the people who live in the region. Also, it sheds light on the fact that not all people living in Okinawa classify themselves as 100% Japanese which is news to me.

Then it goes on and narrates the stories of the indigenous people of Japan. The struggle of settling with their identity when they are facing discrimination. I know things have changed in Japan since the release of the book. I wish I could interview Mr. Suzuki to understand more about the current situation. The stories of the Ainu mentioned in the stories are very encouraging for everyone to fight for their own cause. Especially if they are fighting for their identity and respect from others.

Lastly, it speaks about the environmental issues that Japan has been ignoring. Decades ago Japan faced many environmental problems because of wrong practices. There were a lot of cutting trees, wrong ways of farming and general methods of pollution. This was all news to me. Because I always thought Japan had the best awareness when it came to environmental issues.

All in all, this book will slash the image you had of Japan with a sword. Japan has come a long way from its past. It is a nation that is always learning and transforming. For a book to give you an image you never pictured of a country is something to appreciate. And I am glad I came across this book to feed my brain with new knowledge about Japan.