• Tune In Tokyo

  • The Gaijin Diaries
  • By: Tim Anderson
  • Narrated by: MacLeod Andrews
  • Length: 8 hrs and 22 mins
  • 3.9 out of 5 stars (232 ratings)

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Tune In Tokyo  By  cover art

Tune In Tokyo

By: Tim Anderson
Narrated by: MacLeod Andrews
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Publisher's summary

Everyone wants to escape their boring, stagnant lives full of inertia and regret. But so few people actually have the bravery to run - run away from everything and selflessly seek out personal fulfillment on the other side of the world where they don’t understand anything and won’t be expected to. The world is full of cowards.

Tim Anderson was pushing 30 and working a string of dead-end jobs when he made the spontaneous decision to pack his bags and move to Japan. It was a gutsy move, especially for a tall, white, gay Southerner who didn’t speak a lick of Japanese. But his life desperately needed a shot of adrenaline, and what better way to get one than to leave behind his boyfriend, his cat, and his Siouxsie and the Banshees box set to move to “a tiny, overcrowded island heaving with clever, sensibly proportioned people who make him look fat”?

In Tokyo, Tim became a “gaijin”, an outsider whose stumbling progression through Japanese culture is minutely chronicled in these 16 hilarious stories. Despite the steep learning curve and the seemingly constant humiliation, the gaijin from North Carolina gradually begins to find his way. Whether playing drums on the fly in an otherwise all-Japanese noise band or attempting to keep his English classroom clean when it’s invaded by an older female student with a dirty mind, Tim comes to realize that living a meaningful life is about expecting the unexpected...right when he least expects it.

©2012 Tim Anderson (P)2012 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

What listeners say about Tune In Tokyo

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Tune In Tokyo- a very enjoyable memior

I had started out getting the Kindle version and was part way through it and when I discovered it was available on Audible I got it quick! Audio books work out so much better for me that I was glad I could switch to the Audible format to hear the rest of the book.
I really enjoyed the story of the author's adventures in Japan. I thought it was an often funny story and would recommend it!
The Audible version is also a great example of how the right reader can really make the story great! He sounds a lot like Mathew McConaughey to me and does great with his accents when he's describing some of the other foreign characters in the story.
I think it's really worth the 'credit'!

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Fun experences of an English teacher in Japan

This is a fun history of an average guy getting out of a rut in middle America by going to teach English in Japan. If you are interested in Japan and like travel stories, you will probobly enjoy this. Sections are not family friendly, but as the voice of the book is that of a 20 something out on an adventure, that should probobly be expected.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Good book to waste some time with.

Would you listen to Tune In Tokyo again? Why?

I've travelled and lived in Japan and love the country. This book was on a 5 dollar sale and thought it would be worth a try. The book is read by MacLeod Andrews who has a pleasant voice well matched to the tone of the book. The story itself is about a 20ish gay person visiting Japan for the first time to teach English. The book basically it a collection of experiences and interesting intervals which he encountered.

Would you be willing to try another book from Tim Anderson? Why or why not?

It would depend on the topic, I think he wrote pretty much all he could about Tokyo in this book.

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

The voice of the author is well suited for the tone of the book. Which in many cases is a bit cynical but funny. Speaking Japanese myself I

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

To book is good for some slow giggles and best enjoyed when relaxing or commuting.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

You'll learn almost nothing about life in Japan

Would you try another book from Tim Anderson and/or MacLeod Andrews?

Absolutely not

Has Tune In Tokyo turned you off from other books in this genre?

Yes. I've decided that when an author embarks on an adventure just to get a book out of it rarely leads to a good book.

I bought this book because I thought I'd learn about Japanese culture and daily life. Rather it was the diary of a down and out 20-something who goes to Japan to teach english. I did not care about his creepy roomates or his employer.

Would you listen to another book narrated by MacLeod Andrews?

Sure.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

There were a few moments where I did gain some insight into Japanese culture and life.

Any additional comments?

I do need to admit that I could not finish the book. I tried skipping sections to find something new but every time I did that I landed on more of the same.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Hilarious!

Although the book is light and engaging, the experiences shared by Tim Anderson are very deep and personal. Funny from beginning to end!

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Thoroughly Enjoyable!

I found Tim Anderson's romp through Tokyo truly entertaining and enjoyable. His 'Gaijin' experience is full of humor and poignancy. MacLeod Andrews perfectly captures his youthful verve and wide-eyed enthusiasm (and handles the Japanese language pronunciations with impressive aplomb - never accenting the second syllable!). This is one of the few audio books that I continue to enjoy with repeated listenings!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A perfect portrait of Tokyo that's insanely funny

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Absolutely! The portrayal of my favorite country / city is spot on. For those that haven't visited Tokyo/Japan, the author does a great job at explaining everything that's culturally odd, endearing, and wonderful. It's also one of the funniest books I've listened to and the narrator completely nails it.

Any additional comments?

The best memoir about Japan / Tokyo I've ever had the pleasure of experiencing. Smartly written and, easily, one of the best narration jobs I've ever come across on Audible.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Tokyo Madness

What was one of the most memorable moments of Tune In Tokyo?

Was it the drunk Australian teacher or maybe it was the Vagina Room?

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I laughed all the way through.

Any additional comments?

I loved this book. The author was very engaging and very very funny.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Of all the David Sedaris wannabes, he comes close

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Very easy to listen to, you can just zone in and zone out and not miss the actual story (mainly because these are little unconnected anecdotes). Perfect for quick city rides, because you can just listen to it for 7-8 minutes and still get some entertainment out of it.

Any additional comments?

Out of all the David Sedaris wannabes, this one actually comes closest to being occasionally funny. He is from Raleigh, NC - Check. He is gay - Check. He travels to Japan without speaking much of the language - Check. It won't have you roll around laughing, but good entertainment value.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

for those who

find a little story about An American in Japan interesting. Teaching English at all levels.

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