Tokyo, Japan – August 1999
It’s hot, damn hot. So hot in fact that it seems most of Tokyo has come to a standstill. I know it is now definitely summer as all the vending machines have been switched to cold. No longer can I get my morning can of steaming coffee from a vending machine and have to make to with a
can
Huis Ten Bosch, Japan – September 1999
Perched on the edge of Kyushu I closed my eyes, and apart form the
salty tang to the air, could almost believe that I was back in Holland.
It may come as some surprise that Holland and Japan have always had
strong links since the first Dutch ships arrived nearly 400 years ago.
Considering th
Kamakura, Japan – September 1999
Standing amongst the delicately scented flower gardens of Kamakura, and
soaking up the deep sense of history which seems to seep from every
crevice of the numerous temples and shrines, it is almost impossible to
believe that you are only a short hop from the bustling Tokyo
metropolitan centre
Sapporo, Japan – September 1999
It was cold, very cold. Small flurries of snow were whipping around me, my teeth began to chatter ominously. I was standing on a deserted street in Sapporo late one winter night.
“Welcome to Sapporo, one of Japan’s most pleasant and lively cities!” exclaimed my frozen touri
Tokyo, Japan – September 1999
Praise be !!! There is, after all, a god. Let joyful shouts ring round the Yamamote line, let thankful foreigners prostrate themselves at the powers that be – Diet Coke is now available in Japan.
Of course, Diet Coke has always been available in Japan, just not
in descent size cans. So
From Gijan to Shogun – a life in Japanese Films (3 of 3)
The final scenes they wanted to take were of me using the electron microscope. This had been the sole topic of conversation amongst the analytical services department for the previous month. Everyone was buzzing with excitement and some had even worn their smartest clothes for the occasion.
From Gijan to Shogun – a life in Japanese Films (1 of 3)
One day our company’s famously sinister and highly organised Planning Department, which from my humble view point existed only to generate meaningless bits of paper which we used to file in the bin as soon as they arrived on our desks, contacted me and asked if I could assist a governm
From Gijan to Shogun – a life in Japanese Films (2 of 3)
After much mincing and discussion with the shadowy and omnipresent Planning Department officer who had been sent to monitor our activities, the crew agreed to go and film some scenes at the entrance to the site. All the gear had to be loaded back into the vans. The director stood in the shad
A Japanese Wedding (1 of 3)
Hiroshi and Erika were students of mine a few years ago at Snow College, where I teach English as a second language. They first met there. While my wife, Jean, and I were in Japan not too long ago, we ran into them and learned that they were going to be married. Jean and I went to their wedd
A Japanese Wedding (2 of 3)
About 15 minutes before the appointed hour, we go to the reception site, where we sign a guest book and present our gift envelope. There is already a rather impressive stack of envelopes on the table. We’re given tickets and our names are checked off a master list, presumably to deter
A Japanese Wedding (3 of 3)
Act Two. Drapes cover windows again, lights dim, background music changes from Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons” to something much more modern. Kliegs hit the door, which opens to reveal Erika and Hiro in modern dress, Erika in a beautiful cherry red, puffy-sleeved Prom dress-like c
Geisha Fantasies (2 of 2)
Slowly and watchfully walking down the street, I thought I caught a glimpse of a geisha in the corner of my eye. Was this my imagination? I ran ahead for half a block, set up my camera and composed myself. False alarm. Walking for hours, pacing back and forth through the streets, checking al
Paul Kan’s Asia Journal #14: June 15-21, Tokyo, Kyoto & Nara, Part II – Japan
Kyoto, Japan, Asia
June 15-21Tokyo, Kyoto & Nara, Part II
A Nozomi Shinkansen arrives in Kyoto Station.
In this story:
Kyoto & Nara
A Note from Kyoto
Kyoto & Nara
The next morning, I loaded up my medium-sized backpack and laptop, left my bigger bag behind at my h
Paul Kan’s Asia Journal #13: June 15-21, Tokyo, Kyoto & Nara, Part I – Japan
June 15-21Tokyo, Kyoto & Nara, Part I
Driving up Cotten Tree Drive to the steep hills of Mid-Levels.
In this story:
Another Day in Hong Kong
Arrival in Tokyo
Tokyo
Another Day in Hong Kong
If I felt like coming home to Saigon, I really felt like coming home arriving back i
Paul Kan’s Asia Journal #15: June 15-21, Tokyo, Kyoto & Nara, Part III – Japan
June 15-21Tokyo, Kyoto & Nara, Part III
Ubiquitous rows of vending machines.
In this story:
Strange Mix of Contradictions
Final Thoughts
Strange Mix of Contradictions
While most of China and other parts of Asia seemed so survivalist (mostly from necessity), post-modern Jap
Geisha Fantasies (1 of 2)
Having read Memoirs of a Geisha, by Arthur Golden, I was suddenly enchanted with everything Japanese, from the fragrant, soft pink petals of the Japanese cherry blossoms, right down to the wooden shoes worn by the geisha and their apprentices, maiko. Soon I was planning a trip. What better t
Paul Kan’s Asia Journal
Paul Kan was a financial sponsor banker in New York City for DLJ until
they were acquired and he was laid off. In March 2001, he left on a six-month journey through Asia, planning to visit China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Nepal, Tibet, Bali, and Singapore. On his return he
Memories of a World Cup – Tokyo, Japan
Memories of a World Cup
Tokyo, Japan
I remember the last world cup – as I spent most of it in Japan. Football was relatively new to Japan then (the J league started in 1993) and the mere fact that Japan had made it to the finals was a major cause for celebration. Not coming home with that
Saga of a Ronin English Teacher – Tokyo, Japan
Saga of a Ronin English Teacher
Tokyo, Japan
In the the time that I have been in Tokyo, I’ve squandered my time in various ways: starving, jumping the gates at train stations, teaching the spawns of Satan, learning the deadly arts of chopsticks, pursuing a black belt in tea, and working f
An English Sensei in Japan – Japan
An English Sensei in Japan
Japan
It was never a “dream” of mine. It just sort of happened. I was no longer myself. I took on a new identity, you might say.
No, I wasn’t schizophrenic, running away from myself, or even a criminal and no criminal tendencies! In fact, I took on
