Books Recommended by the Concierge Vol.62-65
All Shiba Park Hotel guests are welcome to use the Library Lounge on the first floor. Omotenashi Concierges recommend books to you from Japanese and foreign books. Please enjoy a moment to read books.
All Shiba Park Hotel guests are welcome to use the Library Lounge on the first floor. Omotenashi Concierges recommend books to you from Japanese and foreign books. Please enjoy a moment to read books.
Author: John Lander
Publisher: IBC Publishing
John Lander is a freelance photographer with a wealth of knowledge about Japanese culture and foods. This book presents pictures with explanations of Japanese gardens that he visited. The book presents 19 gardens from the Tokyo area and 40 from the Kyoto area, which are principal tourist attractions. It also presents 13 gardens from regional cities. Upon looking through this book, I realize that many Japanese gardens, which I did not know of, exist in the country. A garden that I like from the Tokyo area is Otaguro Park Garden in Suginami. It is built on the site of the former residence of musician Motoo Otaguro. The picture of this garden, with a gate made from Japanese cypress and a long alley lined with large upright ginkgo trees, is fascinating. How about discovering gardens that you like and visiting them? Both English and Japanese explanations are offered for each Japanese garden.
Author: Katsuharu Ito (the 34th Kimura Shonosuke)
Translator: David Shapiro
Publisher: Seigensha Art Publishing
This book explains Japanese national sport sumo in Japanese and English. The author Katsuharu Ito had been a sumo referee for 52 years. He succeeded the 34th Kimura Shonosuke from the May sumo tournament in 2007. The book’s translator is David Shapiro, was born in the United States but has spent most of his adult life in Japan. He has been a sumo specialist for over 35 years.
Have you ever watched a sumo game? Do you know how to book a sumo ticket? The answers are in this book and this book will be an introductory guide for beginners about sumo. The second half of this book may feel a little nerdy, but interesting contents are written a lot. I hope you become interested in Japanese national sport sumo!
Author: Mikako Umenai
Publisher: Natsumesha
This book contains the 1,000 beautiful words that express the Japanese scene. One of my favorite examples is the depiction of the four seasons in Japan: in autumn, the mountains are adorned with vibrant colors, and we can see the stunning autumn foliage. Usually when I see those autumn scene, I simply think “The autumn season is coming” or “It’s the season of the autumn leaves.” However, to quote from the dictionary of beautiful words, I can express it as, “The mountains are Yamayosoou (made up with autumn colors).” The predecessors seem to have expressed it as “making up the mountains with the autumn leaves.”
All the words listed here are accompanied by their origins and pictures, designed to be easy to visualize and remember. The words you find in this book will surely add color and sparkle to your everyday life.
Author: Jo Ellison
Publisher: Octopus Publishing Group Limited
Vogue was released in 1892 as a magazine for New York high society. Nowadays, Vogue is the most influential fashion magazine all of the world. This book is a curated collection focusing on the gowns, organized into five captivating themes. Each theme is great, but my favorite theme is “drama.” I feel movement in every picture, as if they’re just about to start moving .
Also, the book uses the word “gown” rather than “dress.” The charm of a gown lies in how it enhances the beauty of the person wearing it. This collection captures the refined elegance of gowns, allowing readers to enjoy both the gown and the model.