Rick in Japan

Climbing Mt Fuji the Second Time

I climbed Mt Fuji twice. This, my second time, was when I turned 60. That is the age called KANREKI here in Japan. It is a time to restart your life. (I also quit alcohol for the whole year.) This climb was different from my first ascent. Fortunately, both climbs ended safely.

Wedding Minister OR Moguri Bokushi

Just by luck I got a job as the minister of weddings. It turned out to be a great parttime position for over one year. It was added income to our newly created RAM English Service and a wonderful gig. I could also practice my Japanese in front of a live audience even though it was always the same routine it was a good study for me. It is another example of how fortunate I have been over the years.  

Wedding Reception MC Wannabe

I became interested in the Japanese tourists as more and more were coming to Maui. I saw this as a business opportunity if only I could s[peak Japanese. after an attempt at learning the language, I decided it would be best to come to Japan, learn Japanese then return to Maui. That was 40 years ago. I never went back.

Philippines Eddie Deguzman

I travelled to the Philippines to get my student visa. I met a gent named Eddie there. It led to some trouble and an unforgettable experience.

A Letter to The USA

I wanted to make a connection with high schools in the USA. I hoped to make a Pen Pal connection for my adult students. It turned out to be a failure, but it was worth the time, effort and the stamps.

YEG Young Entrepreneurs Group 大宮青年部

When I got employed by a language school i moved to Omiya, Saitama prefecture. There I met many new people. One was MAHA. He introduced me to the YEG.

Preacher

One character i met on Maui was Preacher. He was NOT a preacher. He was built like Dirty Harry. I believe that many people on the Hawaiian Islands are fugitives of a sort. I think Preacher was one.

Japanese Driver’s License

i got married and settled down in Japan. Miwako, my lovely wife, had her drivers license and a car. It was easy to se that i should get my license.

Stop a car with one hand

In Japan many, many people use bicycles to get around. They are everywhere. There are rules of he road but not all adhere to them.  I explain here about one such rule.

Personalized Number Plates

I understand that now in the USA one can purchase a license plate that has a whole lot of different combinations of letters and numbers. In Japan we only use numbers. However, numbers can be read as Japanese reading characters also. So, they tell a story just the same.