The origin of the Mackerel Road

 

 

My latest for The Japan Times... 

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2026/01/17/travel/obama-kyoto-travel-history-saba-kaido/

On the turntable: Talking Heads, "Talking Heads"

 

Walking the Iseji

 

A week on the Kumano Kodo Iseji, broken into four parts. Over at Heartland...

https://heartlandjapan.com/%e3%80%90vol-1%e3%80%91explore-kumano-kodo-iseji-guided-walk-the-pilgrimage-begins-at-ise-jingu-shrine/

https://heartlandjapan.com/%e3%80%90vol-2%e3%80%91explore-kumano-kodo-iseji-guided-walk-iconic-stone-steps-of-tsuzurato-magose-toge-passes/ 

https://heartlandjapan.com/%e3%80%90vol-3%e3%80%91explore-kumano-kodo-iseji-guided-walk-owase-and-conquering-the-rugged-yakiyama-toge-pass/

https://heartlandjapan.com/%e3%80%90vol-4%e3%80%91explore-kumano-kodo-iseji-guided-walk-seaside-beauty-from-matsumoto-toge-to-shingu/ 

 

On the turntable:  The Tubes, "Outside Inside"

 

On the Great Eastern Road

 

 

Thank you to Writers in Kyoto for publishing my piece on walking one of the Tōkaidō's nicer sections... 

https://writersinkyoto.com/2025/11/04/nonfiction/on-the-great-eastern-road/ 

 

On the turntable:  Phish,  "Madison Square Garden, 1998-12-31"

The City that Almost Wasn't

 

 

A second piece in this weekend's print edition of The Japan Times, on Kokura, the city that almost wasn't.

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2025/08/09/lifestyle/kokura-walking-tour-atomic-bomb-nagasaki/

 

 On the turntable:  Traffic, "On the Road"

 

Kyoto and the War

 

My latest for The Japan Times, on Kyoto's WWII legacy. 

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2025/08/07/travel/kyoto-wwii-aerial-bombing-history/ 

 

On the turntable: Bruce Springsteen, "The River tour 1980"

 

Once 'Round Osaka

 

 

My latest at The Japan Times...

 

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2025/05/17/travel/osaka-loop-line-walk-27-kilometers/

 

On the turntable:  Tears for Fears, Secret World"

 

Seeking Adventure in Japan's Newest National Park

 

Another piece born out of last summer's trip to Hokkaido. Thank you to Outdoor Japan and Gear Junkie for putting it together.  

https://gearjunkie.com/travel/adventure-newest-national-park-japan

 

On the turntable: Louis Jordan, "Jivin' with Jordan"

 

Tracking the Unseen in the Old Capital

 

 

A nice treat to see my latest article live on The Japan Times...

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2024/10/26/travel/kyoto-haunted-ghosts-halloween/

 

On the turntable:  Phish, "1995-12-07, Niagara Convention Center"

 

Venturing into the Garden of the Gods

 

Thank you to the iconic Outdoor Japan magazine for sending me out on a fun and educational journey...

https://www.outdoorjapan.com/activities/travel/venturing-into-the-garden-of-the-gods/ 

 

On the turntable:  Phish, 1993-08-07, Darien center, NY

 

Set-jetting with the Shogun

 

 

Thank you to The Japan Times for publishing my latest piece, on a rather timely subject. The print version is expected to appear on Saturday.

 

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2024/09/17/travel/shogun-osaka-castle-travel-historical-sites/ 

 

On the turntable: The New Pornographers, "Brill Bruisers"

Cycling through Asuka

 

 

After 10 years away, I'm quite pleased to have an article in The Japan Times again.

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2024/07/06/travel/asuka-tour-cycling-temples/ 

 

On the turntable:  Neil Young, "Live in San Francisco 1986 , Part One"

 

Tracing the Shimanto

 

 

Thank you to Perceptive Travel Magazine for publishing the third article in my recent "Kochi trilogy."

https://www.perceptivetravel.com/issues/0424/japan.html

 

On the turntable:  "Letter to Brezhnev" (Sdtk)

Reminiscing Ryoma

 

 

"In a new article, free on KJ’s website (link in bio), Edward J. Taylor follows the historical figure Sakamoto Ryoma through the city of his birth."

https://www.kyotojournal.org/asian-encounters/reminiscing-ryoma/

On the turntable:  Stockholm Syndrome, "Holy Happy Hour"

Muroto, High and Low

 

 

"Writers in Kyoto member Edward J. Taylor is well-known for documenting his explorations on foot. Now up on the website is a recent account of wanderings through the unique and picturesque landscape of Cape Muroto, Shikoku Island."

https://www.writersinkyoto.com/2024/03/05/wik-members/muroto-high-and-low-edward-j-taylor/ 

On the turntable:  Screaming Trees, "Ocean of Confusion"

Driving through the Breadbasket

 

 

Finally journaling last summer's Italian road trip...

 http://viewsfromaprovincialperch.blogspot.com/2023/12/driving-through-breadbasket.html

 

On the turntable: The Beatles, "The Beatles 1967 - 1970"

 

The Nature of Kyoto

 

 

Quite pleased to be a part of the fifth Writer's in Kyoto Anthology. 

On the turntable:  Grateful Dead, "1993-05-26,  Cal Expo Amphitheatre"

Sakura Zuihitsu

 

 

Thanks to Writers in Kyoto for publishing my look back at the flurry that was last spring...

https://www.writersinkyoto.com/2023/05/sakura-zuihitsu/

 

On the turntable:  Bob Dylan, "Oh Mercy Outtakes"

 

Jazz & The Spoken Word II

Jazz & The Spoken Word returns to Kyoto on July 1st. My own words (and the Rexroth intro) last time...

https://www.writersinkyoto.com/2022/06/jazz-and-the-spoken-word/

 

On the turntable:  Hasil Adkins, "Chicken Walk"

 

Seek Sustainable Japan

 

 
Quite pleased to be this week's guest on JJ Walsh's Seek Sustainable Japan. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOVSr6ICeWE

 

On the turntable:   Jool Holland, "Best of Friends"

 

Hiking Down the Kamogawa

 

 

Just received the latest issue of Kyoto Journal, in which I’m pleased to have a short piece about walking the Kamogawa. This Number 101 is visually stunning, and I’m quite looking forward to diving in.

 

https://www.kyotojournal.org/.../kyoto-journal-101-water.../

 

On the turntable: Rick Wakeman, "Journey to the Centre of the Earth"