Reviews
Asia's Masonic Reformation
Kristine Ohkubo brings her penetrating exploration skills to reveal the Freemason’s spread and influence in East Asia. Typically with this writer, her ideas are authoritative, well-researched and a rewarding read. It’s an enlightening book for the fresh and tutored reader alike, replete with fascinating facts, interesting historical profiles and controversies.
​
Mark S. Osaki,
Author of Best Evidence
Sakhalin
“Sakhlin” is a groundbreaking book about a little known corner of Northeast Asia. Well researched and lucidly written, it provides a political and ethnographic review of the island’s tortuous, alternating colonization by the Mongols, China, Japan and Russia, exploring how the local Ainu, Korean and Russian inhabitants struggled in a harsh environment to develop their towns and cultures.
​
Sheridan Tatsuno,
Author of Created in Japan: From Imitators to World-Class Innovators
Fallen Words
A truly great read. It is extremely difficult to translate traditional Rakugo into English without losing the important points for example punchline (ochi). Writing new traditional styled Rakugo from scratch is a whole other ballgame, and Kristine has definitely hit a grand slam! I highly recommend this book to anyone. It captures the essence and soul of Rakugo. If you don't know what Rakugo is, you are truly missing out.
​
Katsura Fukuryu,
Kamigata Rakugo Storyteller
Chain of Tears
Prostitution is the oldest profession in human history around the world. But only in Japan had it been uniquely elevated to reflect a sign of refinement since its inception for those who engaged in the business.
Governmental regulations segregating the pleasure quarters to prevent it from disrupting the country’s social fabric and strict status quo further lent the lifestyle an intriguing mystique. Despite the outward charms, however, Japanese women in the profession experienced the same exploitations, hardships, and abuses as prostitutes everywhere else.
In “Chains of Tears,” author Kristine Ohkubo peels away the paper screen of luxury and allure, and gives us an in-depth look at the harrowing darker side of courtesan life of women in Japan through the ages.
Alexa Kang,
Epic War and Historical Fiction Author
To access the complete reviews on my Amazon author site, simply click on the Amazon logo:
​
