Owls in the Ginza

Thinking of leaving the country? Does the life of a digital nomad beckon to you? Suzanne Kamata has been there, done that, and is still doing it. Living in Japan for most of her adult life, she has a husband, two children, and a string of books to her credit. Her latest, Owls in the Ginza, is as close to a memoir as this private lady will probably ever write—and it makes for enthralling reading. Essays about her travels in her chosen country, often alone, occasionally with her daughter, give insights into Japanese culture, its island countryside, and its domestic landscape. With humor and the observation skills of an artist, Kamata hints at the challenges and the deep joy that comes with the expat life.