Synopsis
Less than six months after throwing in his management job to take up teaching Nicholas Klar finds himself on the 'JET Program' and a plane to Japan - ending up in the far reaches of rural Niigata prefecture teaching English. Never one to be taken too seriously he spends his time far beyond the beaten tourist path in often carousing encounters with Elvis impersonators, love hotels, toilets, train schedules, cults, hostess girls, freezing weather, the local garbage-man and postal workers, plus an awful lot of drinking and the recording of a bizarre incident where a cow falls out of the sky.
Combining humour, wonder, social commentary and a good deal of eclectic research the author veritably crams his pages chock-full of tales of culture shock, humorous anecdotes and insights, reflections upon his own life and cultural baggage, strange facts, plus cultural incongruities and marvels. He inevitably falls in with a motley crew of acquaintances along the way and revealed are many of the personalities he encounters - both Japanese and foreigners.
My Mother is a Tractor is rollicking, fact-filled ride through the Land of the Rising Sun that will both amuse and inform. If you are "signing up" for Japan this book has been rated a "..must read" by Rough Guide Japan and The Crazy Japan Times.
About the Author
Nicholas Klar is the self proclaimed "World's worst author", although he may possibly be only the third or fourth worst (depending on which critic you read). "Least successful" may be a more appropriate term.
He is a peripatetic teacher, historian and writer originally from Adelaide, Australia - but it's highly unlikely anyone actually remembers him there. He has lived in five different countries (all with varying GDP, democratic practices and personal grooming regimes), studied in Australia and the U.S., and has travelled widely throughout Asia and the Pacific.
Apart from the above, his only other real claims to recent fame are that he once was, 1) the only person in the whole of Shanghai without a mobile phone, and 2) apparently the only non-beer drinking Australian in the whole of East Asia.
'My Mother is a Tractor', released as paperback in late 2005 and recently as a Kindle version in 2012, is his first full-length book. He has also had several short stories, travelogues, articles and essays published previously in various media such as The Japan Times, Shanghai Daily, Fukuoka-Now, Asia! and Voyage.
When previously resident in Japan he was a regular contributor to the JET Journal, Niigata JOHO and other magazines. In recent times he has put together the 'Unofficial JET Programme Guide' in addition to being editor / webmaster of the very popular 'Explore the Heart of Japan' travel and ski website.
Since departing Shanghai after six long years he is now officially listed as, "Lost somewhere between a hot spring in Kyushu and a hawker stall in S-E Asia." However, more recent blogger opinion ascribes to the theory that he has been forcibly placed on the New York Times "Author Relocation Program".
His ambition is world peace, plus to be very rich without ever having to actually work for it. And maybe also to never hear the words "Hey...let's climb Mount Fuji!" again.
For more information, please visit klarbooks.com
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
