31 Months in Japan the Building of a Theme Park is the story of two Southern Californians embarking on the adventure of a lifetime¿moving to Japan to participate in the construction of the Universal Studios Japan(R) theme park. Join authors Larry K. & Lorna Collins on an odyssey into a foreign culture where they are often misunderstood and frequently confused. Discover the challenges and frustrations of building a world-class entertainment venue outside the United States. Enjoy the adventure as they discover the beauty and the people of Japan. Share their laughter, tears, surprise and final triumph as the park is completed ahead of schedule and under budget. Meet fascinating characters like Jurassic Jack, the Nihon Cowboy and Dote-san through their eyes. 31 Months in Japan¿the Building of a Theme Park combines interesting details and behind-the-scenes descriptions of how magic is made in the entertainment industry with funny and touching personal remembrances. The stories will be of particular interest to those visiting or intending to live or work in Japan, people doing business with the Japanese, theme park aficionados and anyone with a sense of adventure. A husband-and-wife team highlight the challenges facing Americans who live and work in Japan. In 1998, Larry Collins accepted a position as project engineer for the Universal Studios Japan theme park in Osaka; Lorna would work in the Document Control department. When the workplace difficulties intersect with the couple's cultural adjustment, the narrative is engaging and humorous. For example, the Jaws exhibit required buildings that appear old and dilapidated, but the Japanese workers, with aesthetic inclinations that emphasize symmetry, kept making the structures too straight. Similarly, a fellow American spent long hours trying to create the requisite jungle appearance for the Jurassic Park exhibit, tending many large, shaggy trees, only to have them manicured by local workers...pleasantly informal, mildly engaging and useful for travelers to Japan. Kirkus Discoveries