Just found an interesting travel narrative that may be integrated into the Narrative Unit or Response to Literature Unit. It's called Tonoharu, and it chronicles the life and times of a gaijin in Japan teaching. It covers a lot of ground in explaining the cultural differences and odd sorts of business related matters that are typically 'Japanese'.
I read the section of the graphic novel "Tonoharu" you have recommended to us. Maybe the other parts of the book provide more situations of the cultural differences. How exactly are you planning to use the graphic novel "Tonoharu"?
Could be too high for my elementary students but I am looking for some parts to pull out as we start talking about Japan and their relationships with other Asian countries.