The Only Gaijin in the Village by Iain Maloney

In 2016, Iain Maloney moved from urban to rural Japan in search of space, greenery and solitude. This memoir of his first year after the move is a classic tale of city mouse turned country bumpkin, kept fresh by Maloney’s skill for characterisation, his appealing sense of humour and his reflections on the state of the world.

Maloney had lived in Japan for more than a decade before moving to the village in question, having emigrated from Scotland in 2005 as an English teacher in his mid-twenties. As such The Only Gaijin – or foreigner – in the Village gives an insight into various aspects of Japanese culture while avoiding many of the pitfalls of the stereotypical wide-eyed “Westerner’s First Year Abroad” yarn. The book also presents a much more consistent picture of another culture, as the people Maloney writes about are more often than not those he cares for and knows well – from his Japanese wife Minori’s family to their new neighbours.

The book, based on a year-long series of columns originally published on Maloney’s website, is divided into four sections – one for each season, in line with the writer’s newfound affinity with nature. Within each section are short chapters of varying lengths, each named after song lyrics, and each telling a different anecdote about his colourful neighbours, his early years in Japan, or reminiscences about his upbringing in Scotland.

Amid reflections on Brexit, Donald Trump’s presidency and racism back in Scotland, Maloney goes to great lengths to distance himself from those immigrants who fail to actively assimilate with their new country.

The Only Gaijin in the Village is a delightful tumble into village life, complete with a vivid cast of characters and a beautiful sense of place.