Being alone in a strange country, experiencing typhoons, massive earthquakes, and bicycle vandalism. Traveling wide and far across the country, learning to appreciate the rituals, the oddities, and finding ways to cope with the Halloween crowd in Shibuya. Discovering parallels between two cultures, the southern Italian and the Japanese, so far apart and yet so similar. Finding a home.
Nihongo wakarimasen keeps its readers engaged with genuine stories of humanity and cultural differences, it gives an unique view on work ethics within the realm of scientific research, and offers a perceptive, entertaining interpretation of the quirks, behaviors and habits of the Japanese people. The book is packed with moments of hilarity such as Masa’s super jokes and the nosy women of Fukuoka, as well as moments of self-doubt, reckoning and acceptance.
Being alone in a strange country, experiencing typhoons, massive earthquakes, and bicycle vandalism. Traveling wide and far across the country, learning to appreciate the rituals, the oddities, and finding ways to cope with the Halloween crowd in Shibuya. Discovering parallels between two cultures, the southern Italian and the Japanese, so far apart and yet so similar. Finding a home.
Nihongo wakarimasen keeps its readers engaged with genuine stories of humanity and cultural differences, it gives an unique view on work ethics within the realm of scientific research, and offers a perceptive, entertaining interpretation of the quirks, behaviors and habits of the Japanese people. The book is packed with moments of hilarity such as Masa’s super jokes and the nosy women of Fukuoka, as well as moments of self-doubt, reckoning and acceptance.
The Decision to Go
I have been asked several times why I picked Japan. I didn’t
technically “pick” Japan… I would love to answer with “Japan
picked me”, but the truth is that I did what many other people
do for the love of someone: I followed my boyfriend to a foreign
country to be with him. I still remember the day I agreed
to go along with the plan: We were sitting at a table in a restaurant
when he broached the subject, saying he wanted more
from his job, he wanted to go up the ladder and he thought
a few years abroad would propel him to careerdom. He was
offered to be relocated to Tokyo, Japan, for a few years, and
he was keen to accept, so… Would I like to go with him? Wow.
Tokyo. OK. I knew he had aspirations, but… Tokyo? I was not
expecting that.
We had been together for about four years at that point,
long enough to think the relationship was meant to continue,
but for me not long enough to commit to something this big
and pivotal. We hadn’t even started living together yet! No, I
didn’t want to go with him. Everything was where I wanted it
to be, I was where I wanted to be, and I couldn’t just leave all
that. No, no, he was free to follow his career plan if that was
important for him, but I am sorry, I can’t be part of it, I said. A lot of that
reluctance was fear; after all I was asked out of the
blue to leave everything behind and jump into the unknown.
But in the end, he won me over, I was given an opportunity,
and after all I had nothing to lose… If things didn’t work out I
could always go back. I had to concede he had a point.
Towards the end of 2006, just after I graduated from uni,
I packed my possessions, mainly two large suitcases and a
handful of boxes, and flew to the other side of the planet with
my boyfriend, unaware of all the challenges that awaited me.
At least I was not completely alone, I thought; we could rely
on each other and support each other, and everything would
be OK. Fast forward a few years – we were very much OK, yes,
but living separate lives.
Thankfully.
Nihongo Wakarimasen: A Sicilian’s Journey in Japan from Confused to Insider is an autobiographical account of the author’s experiences after unexpectedly moving to Japan and choosing to remain even after her original reason for being there fell through. She offers a nuanced outlook on Japanese culture, highlighting both its strengths and its challenges while explaining the historical and social reasons behind various customs and perspectives.
I appreciated that the author had little personal connection to Japan or much knowledge of its history or culture before moving there, so she didn’t arrive with strong biases shaping her perception. As an outsider who remained in the country for more than a decade, she developed a deep understanding of Japanese culture while still recognizing how Westerners might react to certain aspects of it. Even when she personally disagrees with a custom, she explains clearly why it exists and what influences keep it embedded in modern Japanese life. She also describes a wide range of locations throughout Japan, from well‑known tourist spots to obscure rural shrines, giving readers a more complete sense of the country’s many facets. Her effort to experience as much as she could while living there makes the book feel well‑rounded and offers valuable insight into modern Japan for Western readers. The author also doesn't hesitate to show the reader the lesser desirable sides to Japan, so her account feels more balanced and realistic than if it was only glowing praise and admiration.
My only slight issue is that some sections felt more like a travelogue. At times, she lists multiple places in succession with brief descriptions of what she did there, and those passages don’t have the same immersive quality as her more reflective accounts. They felt flatter and didn’t draw me into the narrative as strongly.
I would recommend this book to anyone interested in Japan, especially prospective visitors. The author’s unique perspective allows her to highlight lesser‑known places Western tourists might enjoy as well as the must-see tourists spots, while also offering cautions, explanations and advice that can help readers navigate Japan without misunderstandings or running into the same unexpected problems the author herself experienced.