A Snake in the Shrine

David Geraghty taught English and travelled in Japan for three years in the late 1990s. This book is a wonderfully entertaining record of some of his experiences. The book is arranged chronologically, with chapters loosely based around an event, time period or theme.

The author’s journeys out of greater Tokyo become more frequent as the book progresses, and his need to escape life in the city increases. His travels are often limited to weekends away in places near Tokyo, but they offer a window on a quite different Japan.

Many of the trips are with his neighbour Nobuyuki (Nobby) and his wife Hiroe. More than once, they take David to Hiroe’s rural family home. This book offers cultural insights and intelligent discussion of issues in contemporary Japanese life. Most importantly, it is a sympathetic portrait of the people the author came in contact with as Geraghty allows individual personalities to shine.