Becuse Japan is a hilariously vibrant story that explores the Japanese culture with easy, reflective and witty prose. From train rides with spiders to walking through a city filled with umbrellas, Ash Watson took me on a fascinating journey through a land full of food, culture and social interactions that had me longing to buy a flight ticket whilst simultaniously keeling over with laughter.

"Queen Elizabeth! She is suspicious..."

The events are both charmingly chaotic and atmospheric. Page to page, I devoured every word. And the concept of embracing one's inner child holds firmly throughout this memoir: that is as much a foreigners-guide-to as it is a coming of age story. Every sentence is a building block in a heartfelt love letter to Japan.

"Arcades in Japan were like nothing else on Earth. They were an amalgamation of lights, sounds, shininess and all things cute and fluffy. They were a safe haven that rejected judgment, and visitors could happily and comfortably embrace their guilty pleasures at will."

Anyone who has ever lived abroad for an extended period of time will recognize the rollercoaster of joy and angst that Ash goes through when moving to Japan. Seeing as I both love Japan, as it is a country of such complete opposites (modern tech vs age old tradition, respect vs a complete lack of personal space or general awareness of what is happening around oneself), and have the experience moving to a country quite different from my own, I was excited to pick this one up.

Ash takes us through his 'Book of Firsts', and describes many an intriguing encounter with Japanese rules, people, food, tradition and living with grace and humor. Nevertheless, the title of this memoir just makes perfect sense as for this book, as sometimes there simply is no way to explain any of it any better than... Because Japan.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of Because Japan.

Japan has been in my top 3 on my list of travel destinations since I was a young girl. It has since moved up to #1.

Ash Watson has loved Japan ever since he visited the country when he was 15. When he's given an opportunity to work there years later, he jumps at the chance.

Ash Watson details in his Journal of Firsts how he adapted and acclimated to Japan; the culture shock, the sights and sounds, understanding the local customs and values, their expectations and attitude toward foreigners (not positive), visiting tourist attractions and finding beauty right in his neighborhood.

The author experiences what any one of us would experience living and working in a new country; strange, interesting new foods, being treated as other even though he spoke fluent Japanese, learning how to use mass transit, renting a new apartment and furnishing it.

My favorite story is when he encounters a member of the Yakuza, though he didn't know it at the time. What an incredible anecdote to tell at parties!

I loved how the author wrapped up his three year stint in Japan by climbing Mount Fuji. I can only imagine what an incredible experience that was.

Because Japan was honest, heartfelt and sincere and it only made me want to go to Japan even more.