In the Sunlight of Sakurajima: My Two Years Living in Southern Japan

Lighthearted, insightful, and uproarious at times, In the Sunlight of Sakurajima follows a novice English teacher as he lands unprepared in strange and foreign Japan, yet makes the most of it at every turn. He navigates the ways of his city hall office, makes friends near and far, creatively solves some English teaching challenges, and explores his surroundings with wide eyes and an even wider smile. Along the way he meets quirky, fascinating people, sees stunning natural beauty, experiences some natural and man-made disasters, and even embarrasses himself with some choice faux pas. By the end of two years there, Bartlett hasn't just learned the Japanese language and culture, he's discovered that he's fit in so well that he can call his city home.A sweet and nostalgic look at how a writer made the absolute most of his two years with the JET Program, teaching English to students, but learning about himself as well.

Ray Bartlett is a travel writer and novelist specializing in Mexico, Japan, South Korea, and the USA. He has written guidebooks for Lonely Planet, Insight Guide, Moon Handbooks, AA CityPack, as well as been featured in a diverse selection of newspapers and magazines. A graduate of the Boston University Creative Writing Program, he taught writing at BU for several years. His hobbies include surfing and dancing Argentine tango. Visit www.Kaisora.com to contact him and follow him on social media, or ＂Like＂ him at: Facebook.com/RayBartlettAuthor