Two-Handed (Hardcover)

The book “Two-Handed” is written by Mansour Zabetian. This book, which falls under the category of travelogue and nonfiction, relates to Zabetian’s trip to Japan in the autumn of 2023. During a one-month journey to some cities in Japan, the author documented his observations of the customs and traditions of this country in a book called “Two-Handed.” This is Zabetian’s eleventh travelogue work, offering readers a paper journey to Japan. The photos the author included alongside his writings help visualize the experience as one reads the book. The travelogue does not cover all cities in Japan; the author’s destinations include Tokyo, Yokohama, Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe, Nara, and Hiroshima, with detailed descriptions of his time in these cities. According to the author, “Two-Handed” reflects his personal observations and the stories of Japanese people and foreigners he met during his stay. Zabetian notes that his writings are not based on statistical or scientific research and should not be considered as scientific references. Rather, his account is based on what he saw and heard. The book introduces the reader to the cultures and subcultures of the Japanese people. A passage in the book describes a wedding ceremony at a temple, detailing the attire and behavior of guests, seating arrangements, and the Japanese cultural emphasis on planning and order, even for spontaneous moments.