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Kinoko: A window into the mystical world of Japanese mushrooms [Print Replica] Kindle Edition

by Nathaniel Guy (Author), David Arora (Author), Jōji Irisa (Author), Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 12 ratings
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Kinoko: A Window into the Mystical World of Japanese Mushrooms is a comprehensive guide to Japanese mushrooms and their place in Japanese culture. Written by Nathaniel Guy, a professional Japanese translator and interpreter with a decade of mushroom hunting experience, this book explores the rich history and cultural significance of mushrooms in Japan.

Inside, you'll find colorful and interesting etymologies of Japanese mushroom names, translated essays and stories from Japanese authors, new translations of a hundred Japanese haiku about mushrooms, cultural insights about mushrooms in Japan, and a glossary and phrasebook of Japanese terms related to mushrooms and mycology. Whether you're a mushroom enthusiast, a lover of poetry and language, or simply interested in the outdoors, you'll find something to enjoy in this beautifully written and carefully researched book.
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  1. Language
    English
  2. Publication date
    January 3, 2023
  3. File size
    31.9 MB
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0BRN8G8KY
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 3, 2023
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 31.9 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Not enabled
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Format ‏ : ‎ Print Replica
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 12 ratings

About the author

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Nathaniel Guy

Nathaniel Guy

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Nathaniel “Nat” Guy is an engineer, translator, and amateur mycologist, currently serving as an officer in the Tokyo Mushroom Society. In 2020, he developed and released the app Japanese Mushroom Dictionary: Become a Japanese myco-expert! for Android and iPhone/iPad, a digital dictionary of all of the documented Japanese common names for mushrooms and their up-to-date scientific name equivalents. In addition to accomplishments such as “finding some of the largest Boletus edulis specimens anyone in his mushroom club had ever seen” and “stumbling upon an amazing patch of Pleurocybella porrigens back in 2015,” he has also worked as a Japanese-English translator on over a dozen video games and contributed software and GNC algorithms to a number of high-profile space missions.

He currently lives in Japan with his wife and two daughters.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
12 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book engaging and informative about mushrooms. They appreciate the combination of science and poetry, with dry information about different mushrooms mixed with anecdotal stories. Readers mention it's a great read for those interested in nature, biology, Japanese folklore, and mushroom hunting.

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4 customers mention "Readability"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book readable and informative. They appreciate the good content, though some find the print quality lacking.

"...I highly recommend this splendid book to lovers of nature, biology, Japanese folklore, poetry, wisdom and, of course, mushrooms." Read more

"This is an excellent Sunday read. The pacing and content is enaging...." Read more

"A great read and very informative..." Read more

"Good content, print quality not great...." Read more

3 customers mention "Science"3 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's science and culinary inspiration. It combines the fascinating science of mycology with stirring haiku. Readers find it interesting for lovers of nature, biology, Japanese folklore, poetry, and mushroom hunting.

"...this book to anyone with even a passing interest in mycology, mushroom hunting, or even just a reason to walk around in the wood." Read more

"...I highly recommend this splendid book to lovers of nature, biology, Japanese folklore, poetry, wisdom and, of course, mushrooms." Read more

"Japanese culture, Mushroom Science, Culinary inspiration, Fungi Haiku through the ages!..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Michael Nolen Long
    5.0 out of 5 stars A great read and very informative
    Reviewed in the United States on March 25, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    I bought this book out of a love of mushrooms and because I'm learning Japanese. I don't regret it at all!

    The author has a great voice and an obvious love of the material. I range from some dry information about different mushrooms, to anecdotal stories from mushroom hunters to poetry. I would highly recommend this book to anyone with even a passing interest in mycology, mushroom hunting, or even just a reason to walk around in the wood.
    One person found this helpful
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  • pinkpawpad
    5.0 out of 5 stars Mushrooms are Beautiful
    Reviewed in the United States on March 24, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    This delightful book combines the fascinating science of mycology with the stirring haiku of classical Japanese poets. Rich with gorgeous color photos, Kinoko takes the reader on a peaceful walk through the cool, verdant forests of Japan. I highly recommend this splendid book to lovers of nature, biology, Japanese folklore, poetry, wisdom and, of course, mushrooms.
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  • J
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Work Like No Other
    Reviewed in the United States on August 6, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    As a long time mycophile and the owner of a fair number of books focused on fungi, I have to say this book is something truly special and unique. Clearly Nat did his research and left no stone unturned when he was putting this together. The combination of clear and accurate descriptions of the “core” fungi intertwined into Japanese culture and the rich storytelling are incomparable to anything else I’ve read. When I finally put this book down I was left wishing more authors who wrote guides on fungi would treat their subject in this manner. I especially loved the section on the Wamei (common names). The inclusion of the stories and haiku gave this so much depth. They really show the emotional connection so many of us, even outside of Japan, have with these wondrous beings. Well done!
    One person found this helpful
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  • ptw
    2.0 out of 5 stars Good content, print quality not great.
    Reviewed in the United States on October 1, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Pages seem slightly blurry, looks like it was printed on an ink jet printer, then copied on a laser printer.
    The writing is fine, and I haven't found any problems with the content, but I was expecting better print quality.
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  • Daniel Albright
    4.0 out of 5 stars A fun book that's hard to put down!
    Reviewed in the United States on February 26, 2023
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    This is an excellent Sunday read. The pacing and content is enaging. It's such a refreshing introduction to Japanese mushrooms, both from a cultural perspective and an armchair mycological enthusiast.

    I'm going to try and find some Hatsutake mushrooms at the local Japanese grocery store. They sound great!

    4 stars because some of the photos are a little hard for me to make out the details of the mushrooms. This might be my red/green color blindness, but it might also be the printing.

    A fun read, don't miss out!
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  • Soggydan
    5.0 out of 5 stars Japanese culture, Mushroom Science, Culinary inspiration, Fungi Haiku through the ages!
    Reviewed in the United States on January 30, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    This book may seem a bit esoteric, but if you are interested in Japanese culture, and mushrooms, it knocks it out of the park. Obviously a work of love.
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  • rvb
    5.0 out of 5 stars mushrooms and japanese culture!
    Reviewed in the United States on March 6, 2023
    Very well made book for anyone interested in mushrooms and japanese culture! It has a list of many mushroom names in Japanese, English and their binomial nomenclatures. There are also pictures for the mushrooms mentioned. The articles and the numerous poems featured were so entertaining to read.

    Great for hobbyists, mycologists, people interested in Japanese culture, foragers etc. Though it doesn't explicitly feature a detailed guide for foragers in Japan, it is still worth it to get as there are helpful things to note that are written in the book such as lookalikes of common edible shrooms. Very good book 💫 5 stars
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Monika
    5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful book!
    Reviewed in Canada on November 10, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    What a treasure - thank you!
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  • FODI Attila
    5.0 out of 5 stars One of its kind, I do recommend it to everyone who loves mushrooms and/or Japanese culture.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 24, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Writing a review is not an easy task, especially if the author is dealing with an area which only partially connected to your own field of study, and you write your review in a foreign language.
    I am a (filed) mycologist, but I don't speak or read Japanese. I speak and read a few other languages though, incl. Chinese, and I literally just started to learn Classical Japanese to be able to read Haikus in their original form.
    Strengths:
    Well detailed mycological descriptions of 20 species, and a short, but comprehensive list about some other well-known and/or preferred species. The used scientific names correlate with the latest DNA-based taxonomy, which is a rare phenomenon.
    List of 300+ species with their scientific name and common Japanese name [和名, wamei].
    Essays on 60 pages about a few selected mushroom species, their role and appreciation in Japan.
    My personal favourite is probably the mushroom-themed haiku anthology [in Japanese and in English translation, translated by the author] in the book.
    There is a well edited, rather comprehensive Dictionary of Mycological Terms at the very back of a book, which is an amazing work.
    If I have to say something that I am not fully satisfied, it is the quality of the paper the book was printed on. It is a really sensitive paper which will - I am afraid - get dirty really easily. It has nothing to do with the author (who seems to have an outstanding knowledge about Japanese fungi and their role in Japanese society), but might be a useful information to the publisher before a reprint.
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