Author: Bryan McDowall

Photo of the back of a bald man's head (out of focus), as he looks towards the Rainbow Bridge and the Tokyo Tower. Taken in Odaiba, Tokyo, Japan.

Not sayonara. Mata ne, Tokyo.

2025-11-11 9:00 pm

This update is a little more difficult to write than my usual posts. I’m at a fork in the road, and I’m reluctantly taking the path that brings me back to the UK.

Promotional image for anime series, Dandadan. Features two high school students running towards the camera - seemingly running away from a flying saucer.

Things I loved in 2024

2025-01-21 1:00 am

Here are a few of the games, films and TV shows that kept me distracted from the world being on fire this past year.

2024: The year that was

2025-01-14 11:37 pm

2024 is now a blur in the rearview mirror. I hope everyone made it to 2025 in good health. Here’s a quick look at my year in review.

Japanese tiled roof of the shrine at Shibamata in Kanamachi. A pine tree with a winding trunk visible in the foreground.

Should I stay or should I go?

2023-04-27 11:40 pm

I’ve been living in Tokyo for 3 weeks now, and I’m weighing up the pros and cons of life in Japan – including the parts I could have done better.

Photograph of Tokyo Tower and the surrounding area from above.

I’m moving to Japan

2023-03-02 9:30 pm

In April I’ll move to Tokyo in what will be the biggest and most exciting challenge I’ve ever faced.