I love Japan. If I have to name three reasons, it would have to be the people, the people and the people. I thought that people would be reserved, locked into lives bound by customs and rules that had to be followed, leaving little room for fun, harmony and, well, life. After three months here, I feel that many people are reserved and a little private. But all it takes to tear down that social wall is a warm smile and some respect for the Japanese culture. Once...

Skiing Colleagues back in Gothenburg had spoken warmly about skiing in Japan. It was the New Year's, when many people here take holidays, and the slopes would be pretty full. I hadn't skied for six years, but meters of powder and an opportunity to get out of Tokyo were very tempting. I was lucky to find a room in the little skiing village of Nozawa Onsen and arrived there early on the 31st after a night in Nagano. I am writing this on the Shinkansen train back...

Last Sunday I went to Shoganji Zen temple for a week's meditation. I was worried that the harmony I've been feeling here in Japan would quickly vanish when back in Gothenburg again, and wanted to find a way to make that feeling of harmony stronger. And it sounded pretty cool to stay at a Buddhist temple, maybe cook some Japanese food with the monk there, get to know him a little. As it would turn out, cool was it exactly what it was. I took a train from Beppu...

Hi, it's been a while. Hope everyone is doing great! A friend asked if I was having fun in Japan. Well, I've been partying my way through southwestern Japan these last two weeks. Not much to write about here but yes, I'm having FUN!! I've gone southwest passing Kobe, Okayama, Hiroshima on the way to Fukuoka on Kyushu. After three days in Fukuoka I left for Kannawa Onsen, a quiet hot spring village where all you can do is take hot spring baths and eat. That's ...

I came out to Shishikui again to relax and to finally slow down enough to digest what's happened in my life this year and to move on beyond it. I figured some surfing would be a nice break from the digestive process. There are some photos from Shishikui and mine and Sven's attempts at surfing in the new album "Shishikui beach". I had my second surf lesson the day after I came here. The waves were very small so the instructors decided that I should learn to surf...