Getting Naked with the Father-in-Law, and Other Tales from Rural Japan;

After writing for years about New York City for Japanese readers of the Mainichi Weekly, Sean Sakamoto left the Big Apple and moved to Gujo Hachiman, a small, traditional town in the mountains of rural Japan where the locals still wear summer kimonos and wooden shoes and dance all night long on summer nights. Using his journalist's eye, Sean continued to report for Japanese readers on the people he met and places he visited.

"Getting Naked with the Father-in-Law, and Other Tales from Rural Japan" is a collection of essays and photos providing an intimate, contemplative look at life in Japan. The book goes beyond the usual ruminations of foreigners in Japan to give readers a close-up look at life and living traditions that make up this fascinating country.

Meet a cattle farmer in Hyogo, the capital of Kobe Beef, who explains once and for all that, no, the cows are not raised on beer and given massages, but they do document each cow's family tree for generations on both sides. Spend a day on a highway that is hundreds of years old, and enjoy cherry blossoms on Easter under an ancient cherry tree. Taste handmade buckwheat noodles, and learn about contemporary art in the town of Toyota.

"Getting Naked with the Father-in-Law and Other Tales from Rural Japan" is a great read for anyone interested in Japan and who wants to see it through the eyes of someone who observes for a living and celebrates what he sees.