DNA Test Results – my Ancestry according to 23andme

I did a 23andme DNA test recently to get a closer look into my ancestry and impatiently waited on the results. Being from the

Cycling in rural Japan – Nishinoshima

It’s been a while since I made one of these adventures in nature. I went to a rural island nearby to enjoy cycling in Ja

Songs of Jamaica poetry collection by Claude McKay

A long time ago in a galaxy far away I fancied myself a poet. Claude McKay was a name I was familiar with as someone who won m

Imabari Castle – Amazing Castle in Ehime Japan

Japan has a lot of castles; remnants of a time when having a castle meant you controlled the surrounding lands. Imabari Castle

RX-78-2 Gundam “Gold Injection Color” Model Kit

I have acquired a Gold Injection Color gunpla kit. The RX-78 is arguably the most easily identifiable and most popular Gundam

Pokémon Legends: Arceus is surprisingly fun

I started playing Pokemon when I was 12 years old. Back then the Game Boy was king. It was a time when playground and aftersch

The Mandalorian: Razor Crest model kit

All great sci-fi franchises set in space feature memorable ships that are often adored like they are living breathing characte

Nanzoin Temple and the Reclining Buddha

Fukuoka Japan is home to Nanzoin a large Buddhist temple complex with a rich history. The highlight of Nanzoin is the reclinin

Nendoroid Levi – Attack on Titan

It’s hard to believe that Attack on Titan debuted almost nine years ago. While my heart will always belong to Mikasa the

Goshuin Book – Shrine, Temple and Castle stamp collection

My “honourable stamp/seal book” or Goshuincho (御朱印帳) has been sitting gathering dust for a while now long to get m

Metroid Dread is an action-adventure masterpiece

I have been hopelessly addicted to playing Metroid Dread over the past 2 weeks and wanted to share my thoughts on this game on

Fujifilm Instax SQ6 pros and cons after 6 months

It’s been over 6 months since I got the Fujifilm Instax SQ6. In that time I have gone on many a photo walk, packed it wi

Metroid Dread Amiibo – E.M.M.I. and Samus Aran

Metroid Dread is the latest entry in the story of bounty hunter Samus Aran and her entanglements with the life-sucking Metroid

NPR Documentary – Living While Black, In Japan

Living While Black, in Japan has its own challenges, but they don’t include fearing for your life. That’s how I wo

My Short Film debut as a reincarnated Japanese Emperor

Late last year I was invited to be part of a short film project. It was about Japanese Emperor Gotoba, who was exiled to Oki I

Fujifilm Instax SQ6 has me loving photography again

Something interesting has been happening in the last weeks/months I have been using the Fujifilm Instax SQ6 – I have fal

I bought a 7-ELEVEN convenience store

Convenience stores are everywhere in Japan. The problem is there are none on the island where I live! So I decided to change t

Gundam Wing Leo model kit

The Gundam Wing Leo is an iconic mobile suit from the Gundam Wing series. It is a mass-produced machine based on the more capa

Fujifilm Instax SQ6 Landscape photo walk

It’s a beautiful spring day and I was excited to take the Fujifilm Instax SQ6 out for a spin to take some landscape test

Building my first Diorama – ジオラマくん

A new train modeling addiction has taken root in my head that I will explain in more detail in a future post and video. But to

Naruto Shippuden Jiraiya figure – all hail the pervy sage

There is a new figure in my collection rivaling my Yoko Littner as my favourite. One of the legendary Sannin, one of the pilla

Operation Visit Japan – a lesson about Personal Goal Setting

The year is 2010, I am living paycheck to paycheck and I didn’t realize yet that I was stuck in a cycle that would not c

Shimanami Kaido cycling adventure

Shimanami Kaido is an epic cycling route that connects Onomichi City in Hiroshima Prefecture to Imabari City in Ehime. You can

Nyaruto! Naruto Figures from MegaHouse

What do you get when you combine Naruto and cats? Nyaruto! This is a set of 8 Naruto characters transformed into small vinyl f