The Mad Kyoto Shoe Swapper and Other Short Stories

From the unique standpoint of an American woman who married into a Japanese family and has lived in Japan for more than thirty years, Rebecca Otowa weaves enchanting tales of her adopted home that portray the perspective of both the Japanese and the foreigner on the universal issues that face us all—love, work, marriage, death, and family conflict.

The collection includes:

A Year of Coffee and Cake - A young American wife in the Tokyo suburbs suspects her next-door neighbour of murdering an elderly relative.

Rhododendron Valley - An elderly man decides to commit suicide to deal with his terminal illness and to spare his family pain.

The Mad Kyoto Shoe Swapper - A reclusive young Japanese man enjoys the strange hobby of stealing shoes from temples, but it gradually consumes him.

Genbei's Curse - A downtrodden woman loses her temper with her demanding, sick father-in-law. Years later, old and sick herself, she can now empathise with him.

Trial by Fire - A true story passed down through the author's family of a gruesome trial to settle a land dispute in 1619.

Love and Duty - The Japanese custom of "duty chocolates" (chocolates gifted by women to men on Valentine's Day) has repercussions for an American and a Japanese woman.

Uncle Trash - Told in the form of newspaper articles, this is the story of an old man, his hoarding addiction, the annoyance it brings his family, and his eventual revenge.

Illustrated throughout with the author's own black-and-white drawings, this captivating volume offers a unique and lovingly rendered insight into everyday life in modern Japan.

'Otowa has woven a series of delightful vignettes of life in Japan, from a true historical story of feuding villages to a man who steals shoes at temples...and some highlighting the cultural differences between Japanese and American sensibilities, especially for women.' - Ginny Tapley-Takemori, translator of Convenience Store Woman

'...an eclectic assortment of tales that are likely to entertain and intrigue readers in equal measure.' - The Japan Times

'These finely crafted stories, intriguing in themselves, are remarkable for their insights into Japanese culture. These never feel 'forced' but emerge naturally from the narrative, with the reader left to ponder the implications. A true delight in every way!' - John Dougill, author of Kyoto: a Cultural History, Zen Gardens and Temples of Kyoto and founder of Writers in Kyoto

'Families and friendship, marriage and motherhood, ageing and death feature in these engaging and thought-provoking tales by a gifted storyteller and illustrator.' - Dr. Jann Williams, author and editor of Writers In Kyoto Anthology III