Hustling Nakamura-san

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He needed to learn English to keep his mistress. My English-language school boss needed his money to keep her job.

A Year in Japan

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Illustrated impressions of the country's attention to detail.

Ikebana Club

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In which our heroine learns the art of flower arranging in Japan. Sort of.

Scent of a Führer

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Hitler wanted to control the world. But he couldn't even control his flatulence.

In Praise of the Town Library

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Built on leafy streets in sleepy hamlets, it was part of the democratization of America. Small and quiet, open and generous, it is inseparable from our civic life.

Letter of Dispute

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In which our heroine is the victim of a heinous crime. Sort of.

The Breast-Laid Plans

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“She’s perfect otherwise," said the doctor. "There’s nothing else I could suggest.”