Super Sushi Ramen Express

I received this book through Netgalley!! Thanks so much for the book.
Opinions and ideas are my own.

Alright, as someone with a BA in Japanese and who has studied abroad for a year and a half I was pretty interested in reading this book. I think my problem was I was expecting more focus on food and its benefits to health. True, I only made it 30% into the book but, this just isn't the content I wanted to read.

Sometimes reading about things or places you've experienced can be exciting or bring back memories but, if anything I was bored. I think he tried to grasp all that Tokyo was and the feelings you get when you arrive (truly he did a great job and for people who have never been I think they will become interested) for me, for some reason, I wasn't feeling it. I also thought the author spoke as if from a higher place than the Japanese which annoyed me. Now, this is something I'm used to people doing so, perhaps I unknowingly judged his voice.

Reading about the Sumo and SMAP was fun. I really liked seeing his reactions and how people reacted. What I didn't like was how when he spoke to an actor in English and the guy didn't respond he says ‘he probably does understand English oh and he was caught drunk in the park a month later' like ??? relevance to food or health?? It just felt like a dig honestly....
I'm sure it was just trying to add flavor to the book but, it gave me a bad taste in my mouth.

I did enjoy reading about how his kids reacted to things –didn't hear much about his wife though??– because the kids really came at points to give the book a little oomph.

I really hope he and his family enjoyed Japan because it is such a great place with such AMAZING food, even for people who don't eat fish like me :).

Recommendation: if you are interested in Japanese food and culture this might be a good starting place...