Write For Tohoku

Write For Tohoku is an anthology of travel stories, photography, and art contributed writers who live or have lived in Japan. Compiled by volunteers after the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami that devastated the Tohoku region of northern Japan, the anthology celebrates the warmth, kindness, and spirit of this nation. From hitchhiking misadventures to classroom mischief to the glories of the Japanese hot spring, the stories in Write For Tohoku chronicle the magic of life in this hospitable, quirky and ever-resilient country.

Write For Tohoku is an anthology of travel stories, photography, and art contributed writers who live or have lived in Japan. Compiled by volunteers after the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami that devastated the Tohoku region of northern Japan, the anthology celebrates the warmth, kindness, and spirit of this nation. From hitchhiking misadventures to classroom mischief to the glories of the Japanese hot spring, the stories in Write For Tohoku chronicle the magic of life in this hospitable, quirky and ever-resilient country. Ever wondered if you have the guts to saunter naked into a mixed-gender hot spring? Driven into a snow bank on the way back from teaching school in the north of Japan? Considered what to do when your soy sauce factory tour guide tumbles into a vat of fermenting soybeans? Ever been asked to welcome the Emperor and Empress of Japan when they visit your small town? Called security by accident while trying to flush a train station toilet? The writers who share their stories in this anthology have done all of the above and more, and in the process have discovered Japan to be a country of humour and grace. Not only do contributors to Write For Tohoku chronicle the challenges of travel in Japan, but they also share deeply personal accounts of the challenges of life here. While teaching school, navigating the halls of corporate Japan, studying in graduate programs, or raising families, the writers in this anthology, both Japanese and foreign, share their stories of finding home in the Land of the Rising Sun. Spend some time with the diverse group of international voices in this anthology and learn more about Japan beyond the Tohoku disaster. All proceeds from sales of this ebook will be donated to the Red Cross to support Japan relief efforts.

The Write For Tohoku Project is the collaborative effort of a group of volunteer writers, editors, and designers who live or have lived in Japan. Though some of us were geographically closer than others to the devastating March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami that occurred in northern Japan (Tohoku), all of us felt both a sense of helplessness as we watched the destruction and strong compassion for the disaster survivors. As news networks all over the world broadcast footage of the devastation, we wanted to support disaster survivors and help overseas readers understand more about Japan beyond the disaster. To that end, we compiled an anthology of essays, art and photography that celebrates the warmth, strength, and spirit of Japan. The ebook contains stories of Japan from over sixty writers, both Japanese and foreign. We share our memories of adjusting to Japanese culture, experiencing the kindness of strangers, forming close friendships, discovering the country’s natural beauty, challenging ourselves through new experiences, and coming to feel at home in whatever corner of Japan we find ourselves. All proceeds form the sale of the ebook will go to the Japanese Red Cross.