This is Prabda Yoon's first collection of essays published in Japan. He says that Japan is his lover, and he is well known as a keen Japan watcher. The essay collection comprises of his popular serial articles published in Japanese culture magazines, his reviews on Japanese culture published in Thailand, and several diaries he wrote during his stay in Tokyo. Currently, there exist many essays written by Westerners about the various curious aspects of Japanese culture, but Prabda's viewpoint is more contemporary-oriented. He reveals his gentle understanding of and earnest curiosity about Japan. He expresses his well-balanced perspective of the country, with his moderately distanced stance on Japan on the basis of his extensive experience in the United States and his modest Japanese-friendly sentiment as a Thai national. These harmonious combinations constitute substantial observational writing. Every reader is sure to have a kind of "discover Japan" experience and enjoy "Japan from Prabdaﾕs side" with a fresh sense of "love of Japan." The translator's profile The translator is Norihiko Yoshioka, a Japan Foundation researcher, born in 1974. After having graduated from Waseda University School of Letters, Arts and Sciences I, he entered the Japan Foundation. He worked in its Bangkok Japanese Culture Center from 1999 to 2004 and managed local Japanese movie festivals, exhibitions, and stage performances. Currently, he works in the Visual Arts Division, Arts Department of the Japan Foundation. He coauthored Asian Movie (Sakuhinsha) and translated Prabda Yoon's Last Life in the Universe into Japanese (Sony Magazines). Publication detail Title Zayuu no Nippon Author Prabda Yoon Translator Norihiko Yoshioka Cover Illustration Keiji Itoh (UFG) Size 182×123mm       Pages 208pages Format Paperback Price 1,890yen Date of publication 1st January 2008 ISBN 978-4-9903621-2-6