Who better than a retired, now-sailing diplomat and his partner to introduce us to a new place – and especially to a different culture? This book traverses geographies both physical and soulful.
Sailing to the Heart of Japan comes from two intriguing premises: first, the author’s curiosity about Japan which grew from his father’s (mostly-unspoken-about) Second World War experiences; and secondly, from his career experience as a Canadian diplomat (in a bunch of countries other than Japan).
The solution? To go sailing there. Go find out. Good on them.
The book also gains respect and authenticity (from this reader at least) in coming from the deck of a fairly modest sailboat – not some flash, all-accessorised superyacht. That means I’ll trust this real experience, and the initiative arising from it that resolves seamanship and safety issues.
With plenty of good photos and clear maps (though not nautical charts) and numerous practical tips, Sailing to the Heart of Japan is a worthy contribution to a wide topic.
Read first, before setting out to Japan on your own sailboat…
