Time may hold this book slightly back, as it is so difficult to travel now. But we shall travel again, perhaps to the Olympics and it all may return to some sense. But do not wait - this is a very fine book, all on its own, on its self. Monocle is built for this kind of a study - they have an office in Tokyo and fine staff. And, most importantly, they are beloved for their reporting and research - people want to help them find the most important and true resources. They are the best of boots on the ground. This is portrait of Japan, of Japan right now. Of its transport and design, of its hospitality and retail, of its culture and people. How to order food, where to shop, what the buildings mean, what the theater represents, the intricacies of its gardens, its temples, its faith, its traditions. It is the particular specifics that give the book its worth. Each public train must be completely cleaned in the seven minutes of its stop. Each traffic policeman is in charge of vehicles and of trash. And of apologizing and explaining delays. There are snapshot studies of eight cities, listings of food halls, retailers, trains, services, hotels, all in details, the art of the details. The Book of Japan, it is impossible to not want to go.