"Daniel Tudor covers all the important issues, yet does not simply tell the more familiar stories, but looks deeper and wider to give the full story of Korea today." <b>—Martin Uden, Former British Ambassador to South Korea</b><br><br>In just fifty years, South Korea has transformed itself from a failed state, ruined and partitioned by war and decades of colonial rule, into an economic powerhouse and a democracy that serves as a model for other countries. <br><br>How was it able to achieve this with no natural resources and a tradition of authoritarian rule? Who are the Koreans and how did they accomplish this second Asian miracle? Through a comprehensive exploration of Korean history, culture and society, and interviews with dozens of experts, celebrated journalist Daniel Tudor seeks answers to these and many other fascinating questions. In <i>Korea: The Impossible Country</i>, Tudor touches on topics as diverse as shamanism, clan-ism, the dilemma posed by North Korea, and the growing international appeal of South Korean pop culture. <br><br>This new edition has been updated with additional materials on recent events, including the impeachment of Park Geun-hye and the sinking of the Sewol Ferry. Although South Korea has long been overshadowed by Japan and China, <i>Korea: The Impossible Country</i> illuminates how this small country is one of the great success stories of the postwar period.
Interested in Japan's infamous and colorful sex trade? This guide to sex in Japan presents the in's and out's with extensive details and background information.[i]Japan's Sex Trade offers a probing, step by step tour of the country's astonishing professional sex scene: salacious soaplands, hedonistic health clubs, and startling S&M snackbars, as well as the colorful characters who populate them and the off-color language they use.Highlighted are menus of the sexual services offered in each particular area of the red-light «floating worlds» with all specialties unblushingly detailed.As a backdrop Japan's particular pornographic scene is introduced: in a country where acrobatic soap ladies swing from the ceiling and too much pubic hair shown in a magazine can unleash a police raid.As the reader journeys from act to act and location to location, a panorama of the amazing eccentricity of the Japanese sex business emerges. Scandalous and controversial, this picture will fascinate the reader.
This book provides a general introduction to the natural history of Bali, looking at each of the major ecosystems in turn and highlighting their most salient and interesting features. Watercolor panoramas and illustrations of typical or otherwise significant plants and animals from each type of habitat complement the text and provide the reader with a visual reference for some of the sights he or she is most likely to see during a visit to the island.
[b]Incredible Japan is a crash course in Japanese cultureIt is an introduction to those inimitable aspects of Japan which are necessarily alien to the foreign observer. With delightful cartoons by the Japanese artistt—illustrator, Masakazu Kuwata.The book proves that what is incredible about Japan is not inexplicable, and provides enlightenment on such potentially incomprehensible paradoxes as:Highly-skilled young men who hold degrees in judo—and flower arrangement.The «man in the moon»—who isn't a man at all, but a rabbit.Charming hotels with no public dining rooms and no private baths.Attractive gift packages so meticulously wrapped in paper proclaiming the poor quality of the contentsAfter chuckling through this book, the reader will find he has become effortlessly informed on the history, houses, food, clothing, customs, language, and amusements of Incredible Japan.
Enjoy this thorough exploration of Balinese design with stunning photographs of the most exemplary architecture and interiors in Bali. Bali has long been a creative inspiration for the world — providing exciting new architectural ideas that are emulated today in homes and hotels everywhere. This book covers all Balinese interior design and residential architecture trends, providing coverage of the latest and best Balinese architecture and interior design work happening today. Featuring 25 stunning contemporary homes, it showcases the ideas of a new generation of talented designers, both Indonesian and international. Each of these extraordinary houses presents creative new solutions for age-old demands — illustrating how clever Balinese architecture and design can help you achieve a modern sensibility. Many of these homes even propose methods of reducing power consumption, while others represent urban versions of the tropical Bali design style that has its roots in a traditional rural environment. Take inspiration from the selection of artful furnishings in open, airy rooms, the inclusion of natural stone in shady courtyards and swimming pools, and the plethora of handcrafted surfaces, objects, and artifacts. Then, learn how Balinese architecture combines modern technology with exotic local materials, like: Balinese sandstone Volcanic rock Recycled ulin wood And moreBoasting over 300 stunning photographs by Danish photographer Jacob Termansen and an insightful text by British author Kim Inglis, this book is a fitting testament to the originality and talent of the Balinese design world. With Bali by Design at your side, discover how you, too, can replicate the tastefulness of Balinese interior design and architecture in your own home.
This practical Tagalog phrasebook puts all the most important Tagalog words and phrases in the palm of your hand. It includes tips for handling situations you'll encounter on a daily basis in the Philippines, making it the most useful Tagalog language book you can buy when traveling! Romanized words are given for each Tagalog word, ensuring that you know how to pronounce each word correctly. Manga illustrations provide visual cues to language in context. Key features of this Tagalog phrasebook include: Pronunciation guides for each phrase with Romanized text for more accurate sounds The right greeting in each situation Correct personal titles for addressing Filipino people respectfullyHow to ask questions and request things Talking about your family Telling time and days of the week Major cities and famous places in the Philippines Important public signs Travel vocabulary and useful expressions like: Getting to the Airport Renting a Car Eating and Drinks Sightseeing Health/Emergencies Shopping and Money And many more!
The Temples of Kyoto takes you on a journey through these environs and presents twenty-one of these marvelous structures that are unique creations which, while quintessentially Japanese, somehow speak a universal language readily appreciated by people the world over.Donald Richie, called by Time magazine, «the dean of art critics in Japan,» turns his attention to these twenty-one temples with scholarship and an eye for the dramatic. Drawing off such classic sources as The Tale of Genji and Essays in Idleness, he takes the reader on a tour through the ages, first with a comprehensive history of Japanese Buddhism, and then by highlighting key events in the development of these «celestial-seeming cities.»Brilliant photographs of the temples, taken by the award-winning photographer Alexandre Georges, complement the text and provide a visual overview of the subject matter. His keen eye captures on film the elements that make each temple noteworthy, including their interiors, and objets d'art, in a fresh and thought provoking manner. The result is this book: a testament and meditation on the power and elegance of these world-renowned structures that are both places of worship and examples of the finest art Japan has ever produced.
With over 180 color photographs and extensive commentary, this book showcases the beauty of Japanese inn, or ryokan . Featured are both old and new-from inns with a history dating back a thousand years to modern inns with the latest facilities that nonetheless capture the spirit of old Japan. Each of the properties has been handpicked by the authors for their strong design aesthetic, commitment to service and purity of their spring waters. The photographs showcase the resorts at their best and accurately express the unique architectural design of each ryokan.Each chapter begins by introducing the area surrounding the inns and their spas, or onsen , and provides a background of its local history, culture and traditions, as well as the natural environment. The text provides information on the design and development of each ryokan, and descriptions of the owners and their clientele. For those planning a visit to an onsen, this book provides contact details and information on the number of rooms, type of facilities and food, as well as vital information on travel and booking procedures and whether English is spoken. For those fascinated by Japanese culture and design, this book is an absolute delight.
The Tokyo New City Guide goes far beyond the well-worn tourist itineraries and deep into the complex, highly contrasted heart of one of the world's largest and most exciting cities.This lively, up-to-the-minute Japan travel guide covers modern Tokyo like no other. Here's where you will find the ideal balance between the still-extant traditional Japan with its temples, way of life, arts and crafts, kimono, festivals, customs and cuisine and the crowded futuristic technopolis of electronics, high fashion, contemporary art and architecture, and gastronomic experiences from the four corners of the globe. Bewildering at times, the coexistence of such contrasts is precisely what makes Tokyo tick.More than just a perfunctory Tokyo guide, this is a handbook for life in contemporary Tokyo. The style is informative, absorbing and witty and, where due, refreshingly frank and critical. Bursting at the seams with information, it is not only invaluable for the short term visitor or the newcomer, but likely to send even the most jaded long-term residents off to explore some new horizons of their many-faceted adopted home.
Explore the latest developments in Filipino architecture and interior design. With over 350 color photographs, as well as numerous architectural plans, 25 Tropical Houses in the Philippines presents, for both the layman and the professional, new space concepts for contemporary lifestyles and out-of-the-box approaches to living well in Asia and the West, based on the Philippines' design breakthroughs.The Philippines is known for its contributions in the world of furniture; and the country's natives are renowned for their knack for handcrafting functional, modern products from traditional materials. This book goes a step beyond: into the Philippines' interior design and modern architecture, where ideas in form and structure are innovative, contemporary and 21st-century savvy. Featured are 25 unique homes that showcase the best residential projects by Filipino architects—outstanding works by 20 designers moving past the boundaries of traditional conventions toward Asian-fusion trends and international-caliber modernist architecture. The array of houses within examine the various geometries of Philippine residential architecture and interior design. Tour a spectrum of stunning structures: from gracious pavilion houses in elite subdivisions of Manila; and expanded modern courtyard houses that foster families as self-contained communities; to the elegant vacation homes of Batangas and Mindoro, expressing a unique Asian-modern flair on the Philippine tropical landscape. 25 Tropical Houses in the Philippines is design and architecture like you have never seen it before.