Author Archives: Michael Gakuran

Touring Japan 2010: Day 4 – Ritsurin Park

By Michael Gakuran | Published July 28, 2010
Just a short update today. I think the heat has been getting to me, and the lack of sleep last night probably didn’t help either. I was up until the early hours searching in vain for a way to get down to Kashiwajima, an island South-West of Shikoku renouned for its scuba diving.
Posted in Adventure | 14 Comments

Touring Japan 2010: Day 3 – Art Houses

By Michael Gakuran | Published July 27, 2010
I awoke in a relaxed manner after a lazy night’s sleep with the early morning sun on my face. It looked as though it was going to be another beautiful day on Naoshima and I had plenty of quirky art left to see before catching my ferry over to the main island of Shikoku.
Posted in Adventure | 7 Comments

Touring Japan 2010: Day 2 – To Naoshima

By Michael Gakuran | Published July 26, 2010
I was already on the train and leaving Kyoto at 8.30am after Ryosuke had dropped me off at the station. Today’s aim was Naoshima, the fabled ‘Island of Art’ on the Seto Inland Sea. What’s more, it seems that there is some sort of special art festival going on right now through to October – […]
Posted in Adventure | 5 Comments

Touring Japan 2010: Day 1 – Kyoto Drinking

By Michael Gakuran | Published July 25, 2010
I must be crazy to take such a trip right in the middle of Japanese summer. The streets are empty in Tokyo and they’re talking about Gifu reaching the 1997 highs of 40 or so degrees Celsius. But it’s not the first time I’ve set out on a solitary trip in such stifling weather. I […]
Posted in Adventure | 8 Comments

Diving on Ishigaki Island

By Michael Gakuran | Published July 21, 2010
It was my first time visiting the southern Japanese islands of Okinawa. Rather than go to the main island with its legendary aquarium, we decided to head for a small little resort called Ishigakijima, renowned for its fantastic diving.
Posted in Adventure | 7 Comments

Useful Expressions for Arguing in Japanese

By Michael Gakuran | Published June 30, 2010
Hop on over to the Japan Times to read my special feature titled “Mastering the Gentle Art of Arguing in Japanese” – an extension to last month’s Arguing in Japanese article. This one looks more at the sort of expressions you can use in Japanese to help discussions go smoothly!
Posted in Japan | 12 Comments

Gunkanjima: Ruins of a Forbidden Island

By Michael Gakuran | Published June 28, 2010
Gunkanjima – every urban explorer’s dream. A deserted island of concrete ruins slowly crumbling away off the West coast of Japan. Travellers have long been forbidden to land there and view the secrets within its walls. But with an awesome guide and a little luck, I was able to do just that. Here’s my story.
Posted in Adventure, Haikyo / Ruins | 386 Comments

Monkey Island 2: Lechuck’s Revenge Remake

By Michael Gakuran | Published June 17, 2010
Around this time last year I was blogging about the new Tales of Monkey Island and the remake of the original Secret of Monkey Island. This year comes a remake of the second in the series – Lechuck’s Revenge. Cue voodoo-doll fuelled hilarity!
Posted in Other | 9 Comments