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A Japan Guide to Nature, Culture, and Community

LOCAL FOCUS

Vol.1 Kamakura & Enoshima

​鎌倉 & 江ノ島

2019_2nd%E9%9B%BB%E5%AD%90%E7%89%88%E8%A

A convenient and handy all-in-one English guidebook to offer non-Japanese access to the local community’s experience of Japan as if they had a local guide alongside them. 

Available in E-book and Paperback
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Vol. I features the historic town of Kamakura along with Enoshima, the island connected to the town by a bridge. 

They are conveniently located one​ hour from Tokyo, so why don't you hop on a train and head to those charming towns to explore nature, the history of samurai, zen culture, he places and people we, the local creators picked?

Kindle e-book: 212 pages, 74973 KB

Paperback: 212 pages, A5 size

12.7 x 1.14 x 20.32 cm (5 x 0.45 x 8 inches)

Kindle e-book: ¥1,200   USD 12.00   EUR 12.00

Paperback: ¥2,000  USD 19.95   EUR 19.95

*e-book and paperback are both available on Amazon and many other online stores worldwide in each domestic currency. →Please scroll down to see the list of online stores.

*We can't control the selling price on Amazon book stores so sometimes the price is cheaper or sometimes higher than our cover price.
 
If it's higher on Amazon, please check other domestic online book stores in your country or you might be able to order a paperback copy at a local brick-and-mortal book store by providing ISBN#: 978-4991060519.

To support your local bookstore, especially small independent ones, please try to order a copy through them first.

News & Information

Mar.5 2025

The paperback stock in Japan has run out.

Since our books are mainly distributed overseas, they are printed abroad as well. Due to rising printing costs, increased shipping fees, and most importantly, the impact of the weak yen, it has become difficult to sell them at the fixed price in Japan.

We sincerely apologize, but for the time being, we will only be offering the Kindle eBook version in Japan.

However, if you are able to place an order of 32 or more copies and accept a price of approximately ¥3,000 per book, we can arrange delivery within about two weeks.

Outside of Amazon, LOCAL FOCUS are also available through other online bookstores overseas.

Additionally, some physical bookstores may allow you to order a printed version using the ISBN number. We encourage you to take advantage of these options.

Jan.3 2025

One of our production staff members, photographer Taisuke Yokoyama, has published a new book titled Saiko Jan!(meaning "Amazing!").

This book features portraits of renowned surfers from Japan and around the world, captured over the years, along with their thoughts on nature and surfing. The foreword is written by Gerry Lopez.

​Sample Pages

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Articles
People and Places with ties to
Yasujiro Ozu in Kamakura
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Movie filmed in Kamakura
by Hirokazu Kore-eda
who has a lot in common with Ozu
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Sarah Goff

Photographer

Sarah enjoyed living in nearby Zushi and traveling the world while experiencing different cultures. Since her studies of photography at college in San Diego, CA, she has pursued her passion in photography for over 15 years.

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​Taisuke Yokoyama

Photographer

Ever since the 1960s, the life of this Kamakuraite has revolved around surfing. As a photographer, he is known for his book, surfers,a collection of photographs of world famous wave riders.

In spring 2017, Taisuke established Surf Magazine, a Japanese surfer's magazine.

THE

TEAM

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Taisuke, Mariko, Sarah, Sae, Sousuke

Meet The Team

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​Mariko Miki

Producer/Writer

Over a span of twenty years, while working in public relations, Mariko hosted a nature program for swimming with wild dolphins in the ocean. 

She established The Blue Co., Ltd. to help spread awareness of lifestyles that are harmonic with nature.

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​Sae Yamane

​Editor/Writer

Brought up in Tokyo, Sae is an editor and writer on the topics

of travel, food, and personalities, and is also a Bach Flower 

Essence practitioner. She runs a small cafe located close to a beautiful beach in Hayama.

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Sousuke Hirai

Graphic Designer

For most of his career, Sosuke was primarily involved in the production side of corporate advertising.

As a Kamakura resident of ten years, he immersed himself in advertising work and personal fine art works. Since moving to Hayama, he has been involved in many local events and productions.

​Special Thanks to

Chief Translator/Copy Editor (English text)      
Norie Lynn Fukuda-Matsushima                                   

Official Promotion Video Crew
Go Nakamura :  Drone footage (L.S.W.F Co., Ltd)
https://www.lswf.co/

George Kodama :Video direction (birds creation)
http://bokubirds.com
 
Hideyuki Iwasaki: Videography (NINJIN LAB)
https://vimeo.com/user8897078
                     
Kazz Tsuji : Music
http://www.kazz.vg

Kamakura City Board of Education, Cultural Assets Division

Kamakura City Tourist Association

Fujisawa City Tourist Association

Kanagawa Prefectual Government   
​https://trip.pref.kanagawa.jp

Reviews

Exciting guide to help uncover even more to love in this wonderful city

"Now that I've had a few months with this guide, I have to say that the restaurants I've had the chance to visit so far have all been phenomenal. From traditional Japanese breakfast to high quality tempura, the content here has definitely been carefully selected, and are almost all spots I wouldn't have likely discovered on my own."

A labor of love produces a great guidebook

"There are very helpful maps and descriptions that could only come from people who are intimately familiar with their surroundings.

If you plan on traveling to Kamakura, and I have a number of times, this guidebook will be a great companion to take along on your journey."

The only Kakakura guide you will ever need

"This book presents a lot of great information in a concise, easy to read format. I started reading it a few hours ago and could not put it down. I already have so many pages bookmarked; map routes to follow, restaurants to visit, and places to shop. This book really has it all! "

The perfect guide to Kamakura

"It is not your ordinary guide. The writers provide a lot of interesting history of Kamakura and the surrounding area and some really cool places to visit as well. Many of these places are off the beaten path and only known by locals. The restaurants in these book are owned by some wonderful people who care about their craft, their city, the environment, the food they make, and the people who they serve such great food to.

Great guidebook of Kamakura

"I was looking for a good guide book for my friend coming to Japan and came across with this great book. I'd recommend it to all the travellers visiting Japan as it contains very useful pieces of information including history, restaurants, and places you should visit."

​・

​LOCAL FOCUS Vol.1 Kamakurra & Enoshima 1st edition reveiwes on Amazon.com

Update

P. 070  The store has closed down.

​P. 093  The store has closed down.

​P. 114  The restaurant has closed down.

​P. 135  The restaurant has closed down.

​P. 142  The store has closed down.

​P. 145  The hostel has closed down.

P. 195  In the last line in "Access to Zushi" section
           Shin-Zushi Station → Zushi-Hayama Station

The Blue Co., Ltd  
1-6-3-5 Akiya, Yokosuka City, Kanagawa Pref.
Japan  240-0105
​Tel: 81-46-845-6342   

​The Blue 株式会社
240-0105 神奈川県横須賀市秋谷1-6-3-5
​Tel: 046-845-6342     

 

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