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Author Archives: Michael Gakuran
Top 50 Japanese Buzzwords of 2014
Continuing an annual tradition here on Gakuran.com, I’m back translating the Japanese buzzwords for 2014. Fresh new expressions and frequently used phrases from this year, providing a glimpse into the national psyche. The list is compiled every year by Jiyu Kokuminsha, publishing 50 nominees and then choosing the top 10 winning words in early December. […]
Posted in Japan
9 Comments
The Eccentric Mr. Innards and His Golden Kingdom
Hurrah! Autumn is here! The lands are awash in rich reds and heavenly golds and I, tired of the relentless greys of the city, am positively tingling to get out of Tokyo. Nothing beats a warm fall day in Japan, except perhaps one spent in the company of a good friend in a spectacular haikyo. […]
Posted in Haikyo / Ruins
5 Comments
Sunday Night Ghost Island
A documentary I coordinated and helped to film on Hashima Island (Gunkanjima) is airing on Sunday Night, an Australian television show, March 9th 2014 as we speak. Reporter PJ Madam shows us Japan’s ‘Ghost Island‘. The best source I have found so far to watch the video online is this one by movingentity: If that’s […]
Posted in Haikyo / Ruins
6 Comments
Why I Love Urban Exploration
I was first attracted to urbex (or ‘haikyo‘ in Japanese) by the promise of adventure. The thrill of touring abandoned buildings and sneaking around places one probably shouldn’t go. The excitement of finding long-forgotten rooms and corridors littered with remnants of the past, of trying to piece together the scraps of history left behind. Grabbing […]
Posted in Haikyo / Ruins
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Gaku-RUN-Man – Running the Tokyo Marathon
Today is the Tokyo Marathon! I signed up on a bit of a whim, but after defying the 1/10 odds and being selected, I started training for the big day.
Posted in Journal
2 Comments
Hi! I’m a Foreigner! Racist Party Mask
Anyone who has lived in Japan for a reasonable amount of time (and many who have just visited) will have had the pleasure of visiting ‘Don Quixote’. A treasure-trove of sundry goods packed into a chain of multi-floored buildings splashed around the country. Quite central to one of the floor themes is costumes, ranging from […]
Posted in Japan
6 Comments
Gunkanjima Geocache
Geocaching is always something I’ve wanted to get into, but there’s a lot of effort that goes into organising and maintaining caches for fellow explorers to find. With my interest in ruins and urban exploration, most of the places I visit are encapsulated in that Japanese saying, 一期一会 (ichi-go ichi-e).
Posted in Haikyo / Ruins
3 Comments
Documenting Adventures in 2014
Greetings fellow explorers! It’s been quite a while since my last haikyo post – over half a year in fact. Although this one does not ring in as an account of exploration in itself, it’s nevertheless teeming with urbex stuff.
Posted in Journal
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