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Sam Baldwin
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For Fukui's Sake: Two years in rural Japan Kindle Edition

by Sam Baldwin (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 out of 5 stars 945 ratings

*10,000 copies sold*

‘A fascinating journey and call to action’ – Mark Hodson, writer, Sunday Times

‘Really evokes that excitement of ‘discovering’ Japan for the first time. I thoroughly enjoyed it’– Jan Dodd, Rough Guide To Japan

‘Witty and highly entertaining; a fascinating insight into the lives of ordinary Japanese people’ – Helen Arnold, 1001 Escapes

‘Jocular and candid; essential reading for backpackers and Japanophiles’ – Ginny Light, former online editor, The Times

Far from the high-tech, high-rise of the super-cities, there lies another Japan.

A Japan where snakes slither down school corridors, where bears prowl dark forests and where Westerners are still regarded as curious creatures. Welcome to the world of the inaka – the Japanese countryside.

Unhappily employed in the UK, Sam Baldwin decides to make a big change. Saying sayonara to laboratory life, he takes a job as an English teacher on the JET Programme in a small, rural Japanese town that no one – the Japanese included – has ever heard of.

Arriving in Fukui, where there’s ‘little reason to linger’ according to the guidebook, at first he wonders why he left England. But as he slowly settles in to his unfamiliar new home, Sam befriends a colourful cast of locals and begins to discover the secrets of this little known region.

Helped by headmasters, housewives and Himalayan mountain climbers, he immerses himself in a Japan still clutching its pastoral past and uncovers a landscape of lonely lakes, rice fields and lush mountain forests. Joining a master drummer’s taiko class, skiing over paddies and learning how to sharpen samurai swords, along the way Sam encounters farmers, fishermen and foreigners behaving badly.

Exploring Japan’s culture and cuisine, as well as its wild places and wildlife, For Fukui’s Sake is an adventurous, humorous and sometimes poignant insight into the frustrations and fascinations that face an outsider living in small town, backcountry Japan.

For more info see: ForFukuisSake.com

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  1. Print length
    212 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Accessibility
    Learn more
  4. Publication date
    9 Sept. 2011
  5. File size
    1.2 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Product description

About the Author

Sam Baldwin spent two years working as an English teacher on the JET Programme in the small town of Ono, in Fukui prefecture, Japan. For Fukui’s Sake is a true account of his adventures. He has written about travel for The Guardian, The Times, The Independent and The Scotsman, and has contributed to numerous magazines and guide books. He now lives in Edinburgh and works as a writer and editor for an international online travel company. See more at www.ForFukuisSake.com

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B005M9TF78
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Baka Books
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ 9 Sept. 2011
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ 1st
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.2 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 212 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Customer reviews:
    4.4 out of 5 stars 945 ratings

About the author

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Sam Baldwin

Sam Baldwin

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An inquisitive Englishman, Sam Baldwin is the author of two books, a writer of hundreds of articles for newspapers, magazines, and websites; a contributor to one anthology and several guidebooks, and the founder of a Slovenian-flavoured design brand.

Having lived and worked in seven different countries, including Canada, Scotland, Japan (see: For Fukui's Sake) and Slovenia, he now splits his time between his home in Austria’s ‘Deep South’, and a three-hundred-year-old sausage-curing hut in the Slovenian Hinterlands which became the subject of his new book: Dormice & Moonshine: Falling for Slovenia.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
945 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book well-written and entertaining, with one noting it reads like a travelogue. Moreover, they appreciate its gentle humor and fascinating insights into Japanese culture, particularly in rural and non-tourist areas. The writing style is vivid, and customers describe it as honest and easy to read. Additionally, they find the book heartwarming and light-hearted.

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64 customers mention ‘Readability’64 positive0 negative

Customers find the book well-written and enjoyable to read, with one customer noting it reads like a travelogue.

"...Summary: This book is a must-read for all Japan-lovers, and if you happen to be British, this book will resonate with you on even more..." Read more

"...a good travel read, or like snowboarding, then FFS is definitely well worth reading...." Read more

"...This is a good one, I loved this book, a gentle walk through two years in a country that is tied to the past but striving to be in the future...." Read more

"...Sam-san writes with honesty, passion and great humour about his trip, which makes for an entertaining read, but also shades in many aspects of the..." Read more

49 customers mention ‘Reading quality’49 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging and entertaining, describing it as a fascinating and enlightening adventure.

"...It's a charming, funny and inspirational read that I'll definitely read again in the future." Read more

"...Informative and insightful, you're sure to learn somthing new about Japan, its people, its culture and its hidden wild country, even if you know the..." Read more

"...a culture that is changing, that is historic and confused, it is a real insight and a joy to read." Read more

"...In the end we have a book which is anecdotal, engaging and truthful but ultimately lacking in depth...." Read more

46 customers mention ‘Writing style’37 positive9 negative

Customers appreciate the writing style of the book, describing it as beautifully and vividly written, with one customer highlighting its excellent descriptions of lesser-known beauty spots.

"...This book appears as a travel memoir on the surface, and it serves that purpose excellently, but it also has a second agenda...." Read more

"...Written in a very personal style with humour throughout, it's an amusing, affecting account that if nothing else will make you want to get lashed on..." Read more

"...Well written and far from judgemental, this is very much a read it and make up your own mind book...." Read more

"...I loved learning about the appreciation of man made beauty as opposed to natural landscapes, the strict rule-based approach the people have to life..." Read more

35 customers mention ‘Humor’35 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's humor, describing it as a gentle and hilarious account of life, with one customer noting its cleverly written commentary on modern Japan.

"...For Fukui's Sake is a humorous account of a British man's search for a deeper meaning to his life, something that resonates within us all...." Read more

"...Written in a very personal style with humour throughout, it's an amusing, affecting account that if nothing else will make you want to get lashed on..." Read more

"...crafted to be an entertaining read but it also is cleverly written as a commentary of modern Japan...." Read more

"...Sam-san writes with honesty, passion and great humour about his trip, which makes for an entertaining read, but also shades in many aspects of the..." Read more

35 customers mention ‘Insight into japanesity’35 positive0 negative

Customers find the book provides excellent insight into Japanese culture, particularly in rural and non-tourist areas, with one customer describing it as a gentle adventure through a different culture.

"...Informative and insightful, you're sure to learn somthing new about Japan, its people, its culture and its hidden wild country, even if you know the..." Read more

"...However, as a travel book, it was excellent. Sam's experiences of Japan were pretty interesting from the lens of someone who has no previous..." Read more

"...It’s funny, it’s well written, it makes we want to go to Japan and buy weird things from vending machines...." Read more

"...I particularly enjoyed the light hearted insight into Japanese education and how it differs and in some cases is similar to our own education system...." Read more

10 customers mention ‘Honesty’10 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the honesty of the book, with one noting how it gives credibility to the narrative.

"...In the end we have a book which is anecdotal, engaging and truthful but ultimately lacking in depth...." Read more

"...Sam Baldwin gives an educational, open and honest account of the 2 years he spent there as an English teacher...." Read more

"...to relate to and offers his two year account in a modest and seemingly honest way...." Read more

"...fun anecdotes and some less fun experiences shared in an open and honest manner. Worth buying." Read more

7 customers mention ‘Heartwarming’7 positive0 negative

Customers find the book heartwarming and light-hearted, with one customer describing it as a love story.

"...you meet as you read through the book are well-written and will put a smile on your face...." Read more

"...Sam-san writes with honesty, passion and great humour about his trip, which makes for an entertaining read, but also shades in many aspects of the..." Read more

"...account of a foreigner abroad, at the same time informative, light-hearted and perceptive...." Read more

"...travellers end of trip book the book reads like part travelogue, part love story...." Read more

5 customers mention ‘Ease of reading’5 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to read, with one mentioning it was very hard to put down.

"...a lot of Japan travel writing Sams book stands out because it is approachable and puts you in his place as he describes settling in and living a day..." Read more

"...The book is written in a casual and very funny style that made it very hard to put down...." Read more

"Really easy and informative read, spoiled by spelling and grammatical errors - ' (air) so hot and thick it was an effort to breath.'..." Read more

"I am a great admirer of Japan and find the Japanese easy to become attached to - they are so genuine!..." Read more

Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • nDustrial
    5.0 out of 5 stars Adventure, friendship and opportunity
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 3 March 2014
    Verified Purchase
    The author doesn't just tell you about his travels in Japan, he takes you on a journey with him. By the time you finish the book, you'll want to pack a suitcase and see it for yourself.

    For Fukui's Sake is a humorous account of a British man's search for a deeper meaning to his life, something that resonates within us all. His epiphany moment occurs when he realises he doesn't enjoy his job. So he does something impulsive, and doesn't look back. The Japanese locals that you meet as you read through the book are well-written and will put a smile on your face.

    This book appears as a travel memoir on the surface, and it serves that purpose excellently, but it also has a second agenda. It's a wake up call.

    You'll be left questioning what YOU want out of your life, what your aspirations are, and feeling inspired to open new doors for yourself.

    Summary:

    This book is a must-read for all Japan-lovers, and if you happen to be British, this book will resonate with you on even more levels. It's a charming, funny and inspirational read that I'll definitely read again in the future.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • James T
    4.0 out of 5 stars Essential for anyone visiting Japan
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 9 November 2012
    Verified Purchase
    If you are set to visit Japan or just thinking about going there some day, or have an interest in the country, or simply enjoy a good travel read, or like snowboarding, then FFS is definitely well worth reading. Informative and insightful, you're sure to learn somthing new about Japan, its people, its culture and its hidden wild country, even if you know the country well. Written in a very personal style with humour throughout, it's an amusing, affecting account that if nothing else will make you want to get lashed on sake and do karaoke.
    3 people found this helpful
    Helpful
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  • Bugly
    5.0 out of 5 stars Absorbing
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 15 March 2012
    Verified Purchase
    Travel books come in many guises, some make you want to travel some allow you to travel from your armchair, good ones open a window to a culture that is alien to us. This is a good one, I loved this book, a gentle walk through two years in a country that is tied to the past but striving to be in the future. Well written and far from judgemental, this is very much a read it and make up your own mind book. It portrays a culture and a people who hold many traits that we westerners wish to see back in our culture, and yet it is starkly honest about what drives that culture. The book is crafted to be an entertaining read but it also is cleverly written as a commentary of modern Japan. With characters and situations that are alive, chosen to serve a purpose in giving the reader a deeper insight into the country. This is not a travel book it is a commentary on a culture that is changing, that is historic and confused, it is a real insight and a joy to read.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Kirsty Dora
    5.0 out of 5 stars Best travel book I have ever read about Japan
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 4 June 2012
    Verified Purchase
    For a few years now, I have had a fascination with Japanese culture - its art, history and language have all been great inspirations to me in the past - and it has been a life goal of mine to live there for a couple of years to really immerse myself in the culture. I read `For Fukui's Sake' looking for a book to help me understand what I would be getting myself into and I have to say, no other book on Japanese lifestyle has inspired me more than Sam Baldwin's account of his time in and around Fukui.
    Sam-san writes with honesty, passion and great humour about his trip, which makes for an entertaining read, but also shades in many aspects of the Japanese attitude and culture I hadn't read before. I loved learning about the appreciation of man made beauty as opposed to natural landscapes, the strict rule-based approach the people have to life and Japanese sports day sounds much more fun than the sports days I've experienced!
    If you're looking for a book that will inspire you to jump into something entirely new and different, one that will approach with real honesty the fears faced by a young traveler thousands of miles from home, read `For Fukui's Sake' and I can promise you, you'll have a laugh along the way too.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Leo
    4.0 out of 5 stars This is an excellent book about Japan, not about the JET programme
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 5 December 2018
    Verified Purchase
    I read this book looking for testimonials from people who had done the JET programme - I wanted to know all about their classroom experiences, highs and lows of teaching, what they enjoyed and didn't enjoy, classroom culture, what challenges they had to overcome in the classroom. This book had none of those things - the author describes everything within his experience of the JET programme besides working as an ALT. This was disappointing. However, as a travel book, it was excellent. Sam's experiences of Japan were pretty interesting from the lens of someone who has no previous experience with Japan, and I enjoyed his proactive attempts to enjoy the local countryside, even if the locals themselves thought he was strange for doing so. The Japanese words he describes are often misspelled, however.

    So if you're looking for a description of life as an ALT, don't read this book - but if you just want to read about a nice travel experience in Japan, it's pretty good.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Gary
    5.0 out of 5 stars Very enjoyable
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 13 February 2025
    Verified Purchase
    I thoroughly enjoyed this. Would have given it six stars if I could!

    Arigatou gozaimasu, Sam san!
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Faical A.
    5.0 out of 5 stars hard to put down
    Reviewed in Germany on 23 November 2020
    Verified Purchase
    this is a great read that helped me escape to Japan during this lockdown year.
    It's very hard to stop reading, I found myself always wanting to read one more chapter
    Report
  • Bob
    4.0 out of 5 stars La vie d'étranger dans les contées reculées du Japon, à lire!
    Reviewed in France on 18 October 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Malgré que le livre soit en Anglais uniquement, il se lit très facilement et on se laisse rapidement porter par les aventures de Sam au pays du soleil levant, ses histoires, ses mésaventures, ses surprises... Certains passages sont parfois trop long mais il y a toujours une chute et une morale ce qui rend le livre intéressant de bout en bout, pour toute personne intéressé par la vie au Japon vécue par un Gaikokujin (un étranger) et/ou de voir la vie de quelqu'un faisant partie du " JET Program " : c'est une lecture que je vous recommande vivement!
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars ... in Japan at the same time it brought back wonderful memories. A lovely insight to living in a ...
    Reviewed in Australia on 4 May 2017
    Verified Purchase
    As a fellow ex-JET who was in Japan at the same time it brought back wonderful memories. A lovely insight to living in a Japanese community.
    Report
  • Cat Marshall
    5.0 out of 5 stars Very informative and FUN!
    Reviewed in the United States on 27 October 2017
    Verified Purchase
    This book was a very uplifting and enjoyable read for me. I only wish I'd read it many years ago, maybe I too would have become an English teacher. I got this book because I will be going to Japan soon and I'm very glad I read this book!! Well written, with a lot of humor and insight into the Japanese culture.
    Report
  • Michael
    3.0 out of 5 stars Some may enjoy
    Reviewed in Japan on 8 March 2013
    Verified Purchase
    As a longtime Japanophile and resident of 'rural Japan' was really looking forward to reading this book and I just finished.
    I realize this is a particularly difficult genre to tackle for what must of been a 1st timer's attempt.
    The book actually starts out quite nicely and the premise of an 'emotional crisis' gives the a reasonable
    frame of reference. Eventually though, the author's adventures start to appear a bit mundane and do not build toward any real
    climax or epiphany.
    Although I won't go into too many details, there are a few instances of shoddy fact-checking and over generalisation regarding Japanese culture(forgivable because 2 years with little language ability doesn't make for an expert on the subject). However my main complaint with this book are the over-use of the same metaphors and alliteration to describe the author's repeated daily adventures, making this reader wish the author had dug a bit deeper into his phrase book.
    The book really only deserves 2 and a half stars but that option didn't exist. I would only recommend it if you needed or wanted to know about Ono City or the life of an assistant language teacher in rural Japan.
    Report

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