When I visited Musashi Miyamoto`s Reigando cave there stands a stone block with writing on it. I could only understand a little of it so I asked my friend Eric Shahan if he had time, to translate it. He generously translated it and allowed me to write it up on my blog. Thankyou Eric. Translated… Read More Reigando cave and a translation of the stone block.
Hi, how is everyone? I have a bit of free time today at the shop so I had a look through some recent/old photos, and realised that I haven`t yet uploaded the Shimonoseki photos. It`s weird how quickly time seems to be passing by recently, which is probably not a bad thing this year as… Read More Shimonoseki and Mojiko.
A few years ago my wife and I went to Kokura for the day. It`s a big industrial city now and actually it has been since the industrial revolution back in the Meiji Period. Before that, it was a beautiful castle town right at the tip of northern Kyushu overlooking the very important Kanmon Straits.… Read More Kokura Castle, Kitakyushu, Kyushu
Well, spring has come and gone for 2020, here in Japan. Everyday passes by so quickly one often forgets how quickly life also passes us by. This year began as any other but we were soon reminded that human life is very susceptible to viral infections. This year Japan and the world suffered a terrible… Read More Spring in Fukuoka 2020
Firstly, I would like to say hello to the people who have recently followed me. I really appreciate your support and I hope you can learn many things about Japan from my blog. Before the coronavirus took hold my family and I went to Tokyo to visit family for a few days. We had an… Read More Toyota Automobile Museum
It has been a bit of a drought on my blog page sorry to say. Even though my junior high schools were shut down at the beginning of March due to the coronavirus, we have been very busy getting the business ready. Also, those of you who have children know how hard it is to… Read More History of Kirin Beer.
I can’t believe that February has gone by so quickly. I’ve been busy preparing for the opening of my new business. My wife and I are going to open a hairdressers and cafe together here in Fukuoka. We are so excited and can’t wait to open which should be at the beginning of May. Anyway,… Read More Yanagawa – City of Canals, Fukuoka
The end of this semester is nearly here. I have no lessons today but I still have to be here at school for the closing ceremony. So I have a few hours to spare. One of my friends came to Fukuoka recently and we went to Dazaifu and Onojo together.. I’d like to share with… Read More Ancient Dazaifu, Fukuoka
The DR30 Skyline is one of the most iconic cars in the 1980s. This restored DR30 looks like it just came out of the factory, but even better as it has modern technology keeping it alive. Brake calipers have been thoroughly overhauled at the restore. The DR30 has been out of production for 30… Read More Nissan DR30 Skyline RS-Turbo
This is one of my favourite temple regions and it is a World Heritage Site to boot. You will need a least a whole day to explore the three temple complexes properly. You will also need to have a basic level of fitness as the site is on top of Mt Hiei and there are… Read More Enryakuji temple – Kyoto (Pictorial)
Mysterious Kunisaki Peninsula, Oita Prefecture, Kyushu The Kunisaki Peninsula in Oita is one of those rare regions in Japan that is untouched. It is a place of misty mountains and valleys, old forests, rivers and, excuse my French, a crap load of temples. For a visitor to the region, its remoteness is a blessing but… Read More Kunisaki Peninsula, Oita, Kyushu
I finally got around to editing the photos from my trip to Oita earlier this year. Here is Nakatsu castle. It’s not a bad castle to visit. Lots of history here too. It’s small enough to walk around in about an hour and the museum inside is alright. Not enough English unfortunately. For me, the… Read More Nakatsu Castle, Oita, Kyushu
Now for the final photos of the cars on track. Took a little while to process them but I’m excited to finally show them to you. Rain about lap number 40 really made its mark in the race. I was up at the hairpin at that time and got some nice photos of the car… Read More Autobacs 2019 Super GT, Autopolis, Oita, Kyushu – On track pictorial
Pictorial of my pit walk from the Super GT race in Autopolis 2019. Captions added. Photos by Stuart
I went to Autopolis last weekend to watch the Autobacs SuperGT race. It was a great day despite being really hot and humid. I took a lot of photos and I’m going to start off with the grid girls. Enjoy
Last May a friend of mine (Audrey) from Australia came to Fukuoka and we had a chance to meet up for dinner. It was great to speak to another Aussie again. She has her own blog which I’d like to introduce here. During her time in Fukuoka she did some research into ‘shotengai’ and ‘yatai’. … Read More Shotengai in Japan: Nostalgic, Atmospheric Streets Crammed with Cheap, Delicious Eats
RevSpeed magazine had it’s first track day at Autopolis for this year. Autopolis is a great circuit in the mountains of western Oita Prefecture, Kyushu. It was a nice day and there were some quick cars. Unfortunately I don’t have a timesheet. Would be nice to see who was the quickest in each class. Photos… Read More RevSpeed trackday at Autopolis. 2nd June 2019
If you’re a fan of Japanese history as I am I strongly suggest you visit the National Museum in Sakura City, Chiba. You should also allow yourself the whole day to explore this great museum. There is a restaurant for you to re-fill and gift shop with many nice souvenirs. There are 6 different galleries. … Read More National Museum of Japanese History.
Thankyou to the new people who have followed me. I hope you can enjoy Japan as much as I do. Every spring the little town of Arita is host to one of the biggest ceramics festivals in Japan. But Arita is not about pottery, the surrounding town and environment is stunning, so let’s dive in.… Read More Arita/Imari Pottery, Saga, Kyushu
Yoshinogari is a a large moated town from the Yayoi Period (300BC-300AD). The Yoshinogari Yayoi ruins were found in 1986 while surveying for a new industrial site. Luckily this was put on hold and a 3 year excavation began. The site uncovered the largest Yayoi village ever found in Japan. The village is thought to… Read More Yoshinogari – Historical Yayoi Park, Saga, Kyushu
