About

I used a Nikon F and a Minox 35 GT on this trip. It’s easy to tell which photos came from which camera because the Nikon F has a severe and annoying light leak that causes over exposure in one or both lower corners.

I scanned the negatives with an Epson V600. The dust and hair are real.

Gratitude

Three thank-yous.

Firstly, a thank you to a guy called Craig Mod. I’ve never met him and he has no idea who I am, but his writing about and photos of his walks in Japan were beautiful and insightful enough to inspire me to do one of my own. It was also in one of his newsletters that I read about—and instantly resolved to go visit—the painting of Genital Inspection Grannie.

Secondly, thanks to Keith and Jenny, two more people I have never met (I don’t even know their surnames) and who have no idea who I am. Keith and Jenny are two itinerant Australians who walked the length and breadth of France every (European) summer for around twenty years, documenting their adventures in beautiful detail on walkinginfrance.info for all to read and be inspired by. Having literally walked in their footsteps half a dozen times they have become my walking spirit guides. One month ago today I was still on the fence about whether to come to Japan when I received an email from Jenny saying that Keith had been admitted into palliative care. That was it—the shock of the news was a wake-up call to get my arse in gear and follow my dreams, and within 48-hours I had everything booked. Keith sadly passed away a week later.

Finally I would like to extend my gratitude to you, dear reader, for joining me on this adventure. My first thought after anything weird or wonderful happens is how to share it with you, and I imagine how each of you might react while reading it. You have been in my heart the whole way, and I hope you‘ve enjoyed reading this nonsense.