I’ve often talked about the unusual geography of Japan. It stretches like a string of pearls dangling from frozen Kamchatka to the North, over rugged mountains and dense cities, all…
The Colony
Up until about 1870 Japan lived in a state of relative isolation. After centuries of bloody civil war, the military Tokugawa government ensured the unification of Japan, bringing peace and…
Of Yuna and Dennis, people like Fireworks
I spent only four nights on the small and remote island of Rebun, population 3000, seeking quiet solitude. However, the universe had other plans, and threw some of its most…
From Izakaya to Digsite
Rebun is a small island off the Northern coast of Hokkaido, often compared to Scotland or Norway. Despite its sheer cliffs and green meadows, it’s mostly known for the more…