Book Junky. Japanese/English Translator. Writer.
BBC Article: Why Japan is so successful at returning lost property By William Park and Johanna Airth 15th January 2020Cultural norms, complex religious influences and friendly neighbourhood police officers make losing something in Japan no big deal. But does this tell the whole picture about Japan’s relationship with honesty? For most, losing a wallet or... Continue Reading →
BBC Article: What Japan’s love of nostalgia says about its economy By Yuko Komura (translated by Johanna Airth) 29th November 2019Despite being thought of as being at forefront of cutting-edge technology, Japan maintains a quiet relationship with all things analogue. Nippori, Tokyo is known for its “old-town” vibe, bustling with shoppers in its wholesale district... Continue Reading →
BBC Article: The hunt for Japan’s ‘ghost’ wolves By William Park and Johanna Airth 18th October 2019Could an apex predator, thought to be extinct for 100 years, still be roaming the Japanese mountains? Some enthusiasts think they have the evidence. Hiroshi Yagi was driving through the Chichibu Tama Kai National Park when the animal came... Continue Reading →
BBC Article: An Ancient Way of Doing Business In Japan By Yuko Komura (translated by Johanna Airth) 4th November 2019 When we think of a Japanese tea ceremony (sadō), it invokes thoughts of a refined woman in a kimono, sitting on a tatami mat making matcha, carefully following detailed instructions of old. According to a... Continue Reading →
The narrator’s sister comes to visit Tokyo for a breast implant consultation. Travelling with her is her pubescent daughter, who has stopped talking, and instead writes her thoughts on a notebook. The older sister is on a mission to change both colour and size of her breasts. The younger two – the narrator, still single,... Continue Reading →
We know from the title that a mathematician has died. And she -a Jewish-Polish émigré, was one of the greatest minds of this century. A group of world renown mathematicians then descend upon the grieving family in Madison Wisconsin during winter – a place purposely chosen by the genius (she believed cold weather made the mind... Continue Reading →
The ‘Jeanette’ in the novel was adopted so that her mother can fulfil her destiny as the second Virgin Mary. And while she is happy serving her religious calling, Jeanette comes to an impasse when her priest, mother, and congregation make her choose between God and the woman she loves. The over-zealous characters are at... Continue Reading →
I saved reading this book until pools re-opened here in Singapore. My last training for Master’s club I attended was December, even prior to Covid. Previously, with each swim I was pushing myself harder - to be faster, more efficient. The fun wore off and I started hitting ‘dismiss’ on the alarm more often. The... Continue Reading →
An amazing read, on a scale of unimaginable creation. The novel flips from reality, virtual reality, then across the Universe to another planet. It reflects not only on the history of China, but of Earth’s scientific progress. And then, the most mind-blowing; Cixin Liu walks us through the gate of future scientific breakthroughs – the... Continue Reading →
Perhaps the recent move in houses makes this the appropriate series to reflect on. I am finding change gets harder and harder with age. It seems acceptance is a muscle that loses its youthful flexibility. Guess that is why they say to keep stretching; one must include, imagination, and comfortable boundaries. Reading has taken a... Continue Reading →
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