When I was 27 years old, I hit the reset button in my life. I quit my job, sold all my things, bought a plane ticket and got a job teaching English in Japan. I had never been to Japan, knew nothing about it aside from what you see in popular media, and didn’t speak or read a lick of Japanese. Throwing everything you have aside to chase something new isn’t always the best step, but in my case, I got lucky. I found I liked the work, and of course being in such a new and alien place, every day seemed to hold new adventures and discoveries. Having had an interest in both photography and writing, I set about chronicling my adventures and explorations in the Kansai region of Japan. In my Photo-travelogue, let me take you on a guided tour of the places I went and the things I saw. |
Originally appearing as a series of blog posts, What Passes for Winter has been compiled, edited, and arranged both by myself and with the aid of expert editorial and design staff, and includes new passages not published anywhere else. Printed on photo-quality paper and painstakingly laid out to be pleasing to look at, I hope the book is a treat for the eyes as well as the mind. Let me take you through my adventures and experiences and show you What Passes for Winter in the balmy region of Kansai, Japan.