Embark on a literary journey to Japan with Tatami Days: Getting a Life in Japan, a captivating memoir by Michael Guest, an Australian writer and Sydney University PhD graduate in English literature. In his mid-30s he went to Japan on a whim but stayed 15 years, eventually working as tenured Professor in a national university. Through witty anecdotes and rich storytelling, Tatami Days takes readers on a journey of discovery as the author navigates the intricacies of Japanese society, from its enchanting customs to its perplexing idiosyncrasies.

A specialist in modern literature and humanities, Guest provides an intellectual take on the expatriate experience, going beneath the surface to reveal the elusive spirit of the country. As well, the book offers an insider's view of the nuances of professional college and university cultures, shedding light on the challenges and opportunities encountered in a career in Japan.

Whether you're a seasoned traveler to Japan or simply curious about this fascinating country, Tatami Days promises a captivating and enriching read that will transport you to the land of the rising sun. With its unique blend of memoir, cultural reflection, and academic insights, this book provides a fresh perspective on Japan and its complexities.

Advance praise:

"Rarely is a reader granted such enlightened insights into the people and culture of Japan. Guest navigates the unfamiliar society and employment hierarchy to obtain a university professorship. His intellectual disciplines of language and semiotics serve him well. Engaging and amusing vignettes of his interactions illustrate the character of the people brilliantly. Entrancing pictures of scenery, historic places and city life are superbly executed, complete with underlying context.

“A very human account of a stranger in a strange land, Tatami Days is a series of adventures coming to grips with Japanese people and their culture. From everyday customs such as sake and chopstick etiquette; through temple practices, pachinko halls, and wonderful foods; to Noh, Kabuki and avant-garde theatre, Guest takes us right into the Japanese psyche. Social mores, conventions, historical background, and the underlying meanings of simple actions are explored and reflected upon.

"We are with the author, an honest, sensitive and insightful observer, for every faux pas humorous or otherwise, that anyone might make – stepping into the unknown, discovering tools for understanding and connection. For him it is also a journey of self-discovery, enforced by isolation and the consciousness of being forever discerned as an outsider." -- Brian Armour, Author of Future Crime (2013)

“I had a delightful time revisiting places I have read about in the great popularizer of Japan, Lafcadio Hearn’s, works in this text. No reader who truly loves Japanese culture will find any false notes here. The narrative pace and flow reflect subtleties reminiscent of a film director like Yasujirō Ozu, and Michael Guest draws his tight literary portraits from his experiences living and tertiary teaching in Japan for fifteen years.

“I was enchanted to learn the micro-details of a culture of micro-details. Many of these are so minute that most writers rarely describe them as fully. You become steeped in this memoir the way tea is brewed. Best not to read Tatami Days in too much of a rush, but savour the sights, sounds, and tastes as they appear.” -- Gloria Lee McMillan, PhD, Lecturer, University of Arizona. Editor of Routledge Companion to Literature and Class (2021)