Japan Yarns
What’s the Go With Japan’s Bootleg T-Shirts?
I was in the Tokyo suburb of Shibuya when I first laid eyes on one. Nothing about my bright and hectic surroundings felt familiar to me, until I recognised the…
Free Cat Hugs With a Side of Fleas
The trainee clerk at 7/11 gives me a nervous smile as she fumbles my items through the scanner. I wait for her to see the last item on the bench.…
Right Down to Your Birthday Suit
Wet necks stretch gracefully; curled tendrils trace cheekbones as heads balance above the steaming water. A wave ripples out as breasts, followed by hips and thighs, emerge and wade to…
Stamps With a Story
Tracing the intricate calligraphy, an old Japanese man smiles and looks over at his granddaughter. He downs the last of his long neck Asahi Super Dry and lets out a…
Naked and Afraid: Transcending the Comfort Zone in Japan
Alone, naked and undeniably trapped is how I found myself spending my first night in Japan on my own. I had never imagined I’d be dipping into matters of deeply-rooted…
I Fucked a Stranger in a Japanese Love Hotel
I was trying to explain to him why the only phrase I knew in French besides, “Oui, oui,” was “Will you please take off your shirt for me darling?” He…
Getting Naked With Japanese Businessmen
A sea of flaccid penises seemed to stare at me as I undressed before the parade of predominantly middle-aged men. It’s not often someone gains my admiration while emerging naked…