Texan in Tokyo Book Reviews!

I LOVE THESE BOOKS.

This review will include all three <3


**Spoilers maybe**

My Japanese Husband Thinks I'm Crazy

I had originally planned on downloading the free kindle version but I was too late to the party and only got a preview. I don't actually own a kindle, but I downloaded the app and had to make an account on Amazon (I only have a Japanese Amazon now) but I figured super worth it for this book...welp, I don't do much online shopping anymore (I believe retail therapy is necessary weekly, but I also need to budget). Either way, I was able to get the previews of this and the second books and I was hooked!

I love that I was able to read all three as an ambassador and I made sure to start from the first as I think it really starts the journey.

From reading Ryosuke's (hers not mine) written Forward you can feel the love that was put into this book. I must admit I see the drawing style and I am really happy that she included the earliest, less organized comics. This really shows what I consider the journey that these books (and most likely Grace too) have gone through.

While there is a structure, I feel like some comics come out of no-where and don't have an entirely solid store, but that's exactly how life is no? A wild string of events that we live every single day.

As for the text inserts, I did skim through some as I am already familiar with certain cultural things and some of them I have already thoroughly read in her blog posts.

I have been a fan of Grace's work for about a year now and I honestly cannot stop reading will do my best to support her as long as she chooses to produce work. I am really happy to see how much effort and affection she put into this first book. I love that her comics show emotions from the simplest things and that I couldn't help laughing out loud as I read some of them.

There is this honesty about everything. As any normal human being I would assume that many things she keeps private and wants for herself, but I'm so glad that there are some things that she has the courage to share and even if it may not be as deep as it could be, just a glimpse of it all shows how brave and talented she is.

She makes you want to know more (not on a creepy stalker level), and you can get a true sense of who she is by her writing. Reading the first,  automatically got prepared for a bit of a longer evening that reading the second would involve. I didn't want to just read them, I wanted to give all of my attention and really feel the comics for all they were. It's completely relate able and shows Japan in a different set of eyes. To see it from experience and not just pictures gives a whole different look.

Marvin is the most adorable side-kick. He provides the encouragement and humor that you know gets her through the day and also gives a sense of not being the only crazy person to have 'someone' to help makes decisions and keep you from loosing it.

Reading about the onsen bit made me literally feel better about myself. I don't actually go to onsen, for a few reasons, but just reading the way that she has grown to love it, and how it has helped her with her 'body issues' that SO MANY of us American girls can relate to--helped me feel better about myself too.

This entire series has humbled me and made me realize things about myself that I probably wouldn't have thought about otherwise.

My Japanese Husband (Still) Thinks I'm Crazy

Another start with Ryosuke's forward, but this time, not so much about his wife, I feel like this was really more about them. He talks about it as a 'baby-book fever' and it's so sweet to see how much it also affects him in the best possible way.

I feel like the second time around Grace had confidence with the groove of things and it really did told a story, not just as a continuation and showing her life, but also with showing bits from their past and seeing how things were while they were still in America.

There's also more of a glimpse of her family life, and seeing the pride she takes in talking about her relationship with her Japanese in-laws. It's refreshing and inviting, more so than the first book and this one, despite my eyes burning from staring at the computer screen for two hours made me not want to stop reading and continue to the final (which I couldn't due to having to wake up early the next morning...but I rushed to start reading during every free moment I had).

This is the point of their story where she seems to be getting more comfortable with Japan and her marriage and writing/drawing in general. The confidence is there, and somehow gives you confidence too. You feel what she feels when you read it, and I'm more than sure she was probably slaving over this working hours on end at that kitchen table with all the coffee in the world---but it's there, the raw emotion of it all.

Maybe I'm just trying to find it and so I do, but I want to find it, because I feel like it should be found.

I think there is a lot more comparisons, more looks at how Grace keeps her American/Texan roots no matter how long she's been in Japan. I related this on SO many levels and I felt better about doing some of these things as well as learning about life and essentially how to stress less.

Confessions of a Texan in Tokyo
I had every intention of reading all of these in the same night, but due to an early start the next morning, caved to waiting for every free second I had at work.

I am actually relieved that I was able to read all three in one shot, simply because like with any good TV series, when you are forced to wait  very week for a new episode which is COMPLETE TORTURE, if you wait till they're all out you can watch in one shot and not suffer.

Though, I do hope Grace keeps pumping out books, but in the meantime, this is the more current and newest and I'm glad I was able to read it before many as an ambassador.

The third Forward written by Ryosuke has a bit of a sadder element this time around. He finally sees the reality that is being a blogger/internet celebrity. These Forwards really show his journey with these books, and I really appreciate that he writes them each time.

I love that this time, since she covered the basic Japanese words/cultural bits in the previous two, she included the 'Useless Japanese' section, which is the furthest from Useless and even actually trending at the moment. Many people want to know other less known Japanese and I think this was the absolute perfect time to have included it and her drawings bring it to life in a whole new way.

I found myself giggling like a moron at my computer again as I read somethings that I knew I would probably also do in those situations and made me want fold-able flats in the most unhealthy way. Just as Ryosuke's Forward brought a more real, and somber take on the book, I came upon the insert blog post that I had read before and found myself tearing up while reading, and made my heart sank when I saw it in the book. Putting this in the book brings my feelings on this book full circle.

Grace is honest, while still keeping her privacy. Grace is brave, but still probably very self-conscious about it all. And Grace is one of my heroes.

Like I mentioned with the first book. Maybe I have been looking for a deeper meaning in these books... But I'm glad I found something for me, because it means more to me personally than I think some others reading just for the cute comics (which isn't wrong either) will find. I am positive that these books were written for her, and for those who read...but I don't know that she ever thought it could affect people on a deeper level than just laughing and understanding Japan a bit more.

I understand more about myself, I feel like my Friday was so much happier from reading these and not only feeling less alone, but feeling like
Deep down, all people, are the same/strong/beautiful.
Good enough is ok too.
Be honest, and accept all of yourself.

Thank you Grace.
You and your books, have helped me feel a happiness I had lost for a long time.

Thanks for reading!

Best Burgers in Gunma: Tinz Burger Market

BEST BURGERS IN GUNMA!

Dare I say...ALL OF JAPAN!

Tinz Burger Market

I have mentioned this place as one of my favorite cafes in this post. But I'm pretty sure that day, I wasn't there to really ENJOY and relax as I was the second visit around.
この前に群馬県の紹介をしたときにこの店も教えましたが、そのときは友達と彼氏といて、時間があんまりなくてゆっくりできませんでした。けれど、今回は彼とゆっくりできて、本当に幸せでした。

Ryosuke and I were determined to have these amazing burgers again, despite the hour and a half it takes to drive there. I was craving like no other crave, which as I write this only makes me hungrier by the second, but I knew that this is what I wanted to eat and Ryosuke caved too. (Not that it was all that difficult because he loves them too.)
彼とその最高のバーガーは必ずもう一回食べたかったので、一時間半かかっても、いくしかありませんでした。これを書きながらすごくお腹がすいちゃいますが、頑張ります。
その日に彼がうちに’何食べたい’と聞いたら、ちんずしか答えられませんでした。

So we set out at a decent hour to get there during their lunch time. The drive was long and THANKFULLY we found parking in their tiny little lot which is a couple minutes separated from the actual location. Thanks to getting out of the car and directing him, we parked snug and walked the two minutes to the cafe.
ランチの時間に着くように行ってきました。遠かったですが、良い駐車所を見つけて、少し歩いたら天国に付きました。

It was opened just over two years ago with a man who had a dream for making burgers in Gunma. After seeing Tokyo's boom of them as of recent, he was determined to make his mark in the burger world...and oh has he ever.
二年前に店長さんは夢を持って、二年前にちんずをオープンしました。東京もバーガーブームになって、群馬県でおいしいバーガー屋さんを自分で作りました。

According to Tabelog they seat about 19 people, including the tables and the counter seats. The first time we went, since my best friend was with us and it was a bit more crowded, we sat at a table. But since it was just Ryosuke and I, and all the two seat tables were taken, I insisted on sitting at the counter. This way I could salivate as I watched my food being made.
たべぐろによって、テーブルとカウンター席を含めて１９人が入れます。最初に行ったときが３人だったので、普通のテーブルに座って、結構込んでました。今回は二人だけで、テーブルがもったいないと思ったので、カウンター席にしました！

It is a fairly small little building with the counter surrounding the grill and fryer, and the the back closet for what seems to be the stock and possibly a back room?
ビルはグリルも見えるところで、結構小さいです。

Each burger is made to order and you can get it with fries and a drink.

Most drinks come in the trendy Bailey's glass jars, but if you order a coke it comes in a coke glass!
THEY HAVE CHERRY COKE!
It's not the rarest, but usually have to go to an import store to find them--and it's the same one from home!!
バーガーは一つ一つ注文した時に作られています。ポテトと飲み物付きもできます。
飲み物はコーラならコーラガラスにはいっています！コーラ以外はアメリカでもはやっているベイリーズマッグガラスにはいっています！この店はなんと！チェリーコーラあります！！！！
そんなに珍しものではないですがうちの田舎ではないので、飲めるのは幸せです！

Each burger takes a bit to cook and prepare, but with fresh, crispy lettuce and juicy tomatoes--who can complain. They put tartar sauce and mayo, a sweet delicious accompaniment to the tender, perfectly cooked meat and in my case slightly crispy, thick bacon.
バーガーは一個一個で作られていますので、少し時間がかかります。でも、フレッシュレッタスとジューシートマトが入って、タルタルソースとマヨネーズにおいしい肉パッティーに乗っけて、文句なんて言えません。

The fries are also made to order and pre-salted/spiced for a not-too-greasy addition necessary for any proper burger venture. The fries are also mixed, so as not to favor one over the other and get different tastes and textures in the event you ever order too many.
ポテトは軽く塩に混ぜて、少しずつ焼いてて、油の味をせずかりかりポテトを楽しめます。

The atmosphere is completely lax and inviting. When not cooking, or in between cooking the owner will stir up a chat while you manage to eat like a man a burger that can probably get messy if not handled correctly. It comes in a paper wrapper used for handling burgers, but as a real American I chose to forgo it and eat with my hands like a savage.
雰囲気がすごくいい感じでゆっくり食べられます。ちゃんと気をつけないと服汚れちゃいますが、店長さんと話でき、自分のバーガーの焼き方も見られます。バーガーペーパに入ってますが、アメリカ人としてちゃんと手で食べます！

After speaking with the owner we learned his story and complimented him on his amazing food. Apparently I'm not the only one to think this place is a godsend as many other foreigners frequent, and if I had only lived closer would try my best to go at least once every two weeks.
店長さんと話したら店のストーリーを聞き、おいしいバーガーを食べられました。たくさんの外国から来てるお客さんのいらっしゃるみたいで、やっぱり私だけが最高においしいと思うことはないです。みんなの考えています。

I have tried many different burgers in the Gunma area, and I must say this is truly the best burger I have tried. The meat is properly meaty while not ruining the bun as it is grilled to be firm and not fall apart. You really feel like each one is made with a care and love that you can taste in every bite.
群馬県でいろんなバーガー屋さんに行っていつもちんずの方が何回も戻りたいと表います。

I cannot recommend this place more and I seriously hope I can visit again soon.
日本語はおかしくなったかもしてませんが、本当にチンズが大好きで、おすすめです！
ぜひ食べてに行ってください！

Also see if you can spot the little friends in this glass jar!

Thanks for reading!