Wrong about Japan

The young son is fascinated by manga. The father suggests a trip to Japan.

"Would you like to go to Japan?"
"If you like"
"I thought you'd be excited."
"Not if I have to see the Real Japan"

But they are no ordinary father and son. The father is Peter Carey, two-time winner of the Booker Price. He sets out to understand the uniquely Japanese manga culture. And he writes this book Wrong about Japan: A Father's Journey with His Son, which essentially is the trip report.

Throughout this book, you will come across, from time to time, the questions of What is the Real Japan, and Can foreigners understand Japan? The Japanese they met during the trip were sure that what he theorised about the meanings of Japanese manga culture was wrong (hence the book title). One even suggested that understanding a little bit about Japan was worse than nothing at all.

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On my observation that many Westerners are bewildered by Japan and the Japanese:
Stratosphere girl lost in translation
Fear and trembling Japanese story