Ikimasho! In Japanese this means 'Lets Go!' and is the essence of this book. To foster enthusiasm in young readers for another country and it's culture, in this case Japan.
Nippon is aimed at the 6-12 age range. It introduces Japan and its culture to children using the characters Mallory (an English hare) and Taichi (a Japanese duck). As they travel through the country they experience the food, tradition and surprises that Japan has to offer. The reader can concentrate on the story, indulge in the extra information or just search for the 42 missing crabs. I believe this suits different children and would serve to widen the age range of the audience.