One of the primary reasons I stayed in Japan to work (instead of going back to the states) after graduating university was that I wanted to learn business Japanese. When…

When I was a kid I used to make miniature gladiator rings in my backyard by digging a ring in the hard-packed dirt and filling it with water, so the…

Sometimes I just get stuck writing when I’m writing something. I really hate when that happens. I start twiddling and tweaking, and in the end I’m just sick of the…

I know I have one pal in Japan who understands The Cure. I know I have two friends in France who understand The Cure. I know I have have one…

Taro, you need this.

I dreamt of speaking with an Indian chief over a campfire. Unfortunately, it was not an Indian fire, but a “white man’s fire,” and it drew our enemies in closer…

Sunday, in the early morning hours, I had a dream so very real that I woke up in a cold sweat. I was riding on the Shinkansen from Los Angeles…

This week seems to be List Week for some reason. This one’s from Osaka Bill: 1. Your houseplants are alive, and you can’t smoke any of them. 2. Having sex…

Originally by Dave Barry, I believe, but mailed to me from a friend in Singapore. Universal truths are indeed universal: 1. Never under any circumstances take a sleeping pill and…

…has been postponed for the time being in lieu of: HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME! Celebrations started early this year, and I have one last party to get to before the…

Someone was cool enough to rip three entire seasons of Beavis & Butthead and upload to mininova. The thing is, all the music videos are edited out so each episode…