Tune In Tokyo

The Gaijin Diaries

By: Tim Anderson

Narrated by: MacLeod Andrews

Length: 8 hrs and 22 mins

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.

Accurate description s of living/teaching abroad

Where does Tune In Tokyo rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

The book started a bit slow but really built into something fascinating. Interesting as a travel book but more interesting to those that have lived and taught abroad or have aspirations to do so. There are great descriptions of teaching both in suburban and urban areas, The logistics of living in Japan, the nightlife, the people, and the types of students one encounters. There are also many interesting social interactions outside of class from bars, to music lessons, to bands, and more.

What did you like best about this story?

100% accurate descriptions of the type of people and often odd personalities that are attracted to teaching in Japan. I was laughing at loud and groaning at many of the descriptions as they matched perfectly with people I have experienced in Japan. The author doesn't pull any punches with the social misfits, losers, drunks, and _________ that think Japan will be the answer to their lack of social skills in their home country.

What about MacLeod Andrews’s performance did you like?

The author had a slight southern accent which matches the authors southern roots. One felt it could have been the author reading the book.

SATC in Japan but with a gay man

Where does Tune In Tokyo rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It's one of my favorite books so far. I can't rank them accordingly since each book I get on Audible are special. Each book I download are unique in their own way as I tend to collect something I would enjoy keeping.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The Author. He's hilarious. His students are just as funny. But the best guy I like was his ex-room mate, the drunkard Moba hired.

Which character – as performed by MacLeod Andrews – was your favorite?

This is the first time I encountered MacLeod Andrews. He's good tho. I'm glad he brought justice to the book.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

SATC, with not much sex, but a lot of ramen.

Any additional comments?

This is a keeper of a book. Not often do you read/hear a book written about life in Japan, apart from Haruki Murakami. Mr Anderson's experience as an English instructor in a foreign land is one for the books. I've always had a fascination for Japan, having been on vacation and visiting the country and I never tire visiting it, but to live it, and see it through Tim's view, a funny gay man, who obviously wasn't prepared to live in there for 2 years (like as if anyone is ever prepared?), it was just the entertainment I needed. I have no regrets picking this book out and look forward to reading it again. Just for laughs.

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This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

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What could Tim Anderson have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

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

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What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

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Any additional comments?

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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.

Homo does Japan!

This is a homosexual's view of Japan. He makes no explanation nor expects any recriminations. He is simply teaching English to non-English speakers and learning Nipponese while doing so. I thought perhaps this might be humorous, but it wasn't.

Much ado about nothing

Tries too hard to be funny. Not much story at all which is too bad because he seems to be very observant from what little he does discuss. Very disappointing. I only made it to chapter two.