Carey relates his experience traveling to Japan with his twelve-year-old son Charley, a fan of manga and anime.

Another important aspect of the book is the difficulty Carey encounters in his attempts as a foreigner in understanding Japanese culture.

Peter Conrad of The Observer called Wrong About Japan "an odd, unnecessary little book" and a "disengaged feat of thumb-twiddling.

"[1] Marcel Theroux of The New York Times wrote that "anyone who wants to find out about Japan or manga will be better served elsewhere.

"[2] Ian Sansom of The Guardian expressed suspicion that Takashi, Carey's son's friend "who pops up unexpectedly and at all the right moments and appears too good to be true," might not be a real person.