"The author has taken the experiences of one Don Ascher, an American living in Kyoto during the 1970s, and fashioned seven stories about one man’s initiation into Japanese life as it was lived at that time in the small spaces and around the corners of the culture. The stories are full of interesting historical and cultural detail, and well describe the complexities of being a foreigner in the days before Kyoto was an international tourist destination."
—Rebecca Otowa, author of At Home in Japan
"These engaging stories bring to life what it was like to be a gaijin in 1970s Kyoto. From the tea ceremony to hostess bars, the narrative entertains as much as it informs. All in all, a delightful collection with many memorable moments."
—John Dougill, founder of Writers in Kyoto and author of Kyoto: A Cultural and Literary History
"Kyoto Stories is a subtle but sharply observed take on the “Japan journal” genre. By giving his characters space to speak, Alpert finds the human connection in even the most fish-out-of-water situations."
—Matt Treyvaud, translator of Natsume Soseki's Ten Nights Dreaming
"Playful, funny, intelligent, often nostalgic for people and places lost, Alpert is a true storyteller who carries readers through his collection with ease. These are some of the most honest and entertaining gaijin stories I’ve ever read.”
—David Joiner, author of Kanazawa
"These are not your regular Kyoto Stories: Alpert's conversational style draws you into a Japan that tourists never see, a Japan that lifers know, a Japan that is, for better or worse, long gone. A compulsive read, with all the pleasure of drinking late with a natural born raconteur."
—Iain Maloney, author of The Only Gaijin in the Village
Reviews for Sharing a House with the Never Ending Man: 15 Years at Studio Ghbili
"It's a fabulous book. Informative and illuminating."
—Neil Gaiman, author of American Gods, Sandman, and The Ocean at the End of the Lane
"An insider's view of how cultural products are translated and transformed, also how art and commerce collide in the world of cinema."
—Japan Forward
"A comedic and detailed portal into what it was like to work with one of the world's most influential animators."
—Metropolis Magazine
"A massively informative book on Studio Ghibli's pivotal years, with sublime comedy moments."
—The Anime News Network
"An utterly priceless insider account, loaded with shouting matches, dastardly deals, moments of searing creative wisdom and fist-gnawing awkwardness. Ghibli, and anime, will never look the same again."
—Jonathan Clements, author of Anime: A History
