Hi my name is Greg and I am from the USA, California. This is my 4th visit to Japan. I am not sure why I keep returning to Japan. Maybe it is because Tokyo is such an exciting place. I enjoy meeting new people and going shopping here. Although, sometimes I feel like a child here because my Japanese skill level is so low. Thankfully most people in Tokyo can speak English to some degree.

About myself, I am a university student, currently on a half year vacation. My major is history and I just finished my associate’s degree. I am interested in world history, but especially Japanese history. In college I play fencing, it is similar to Japanese kendo. In fact I would like to try kendo. But I suppose I must buy my own kendo gear, because I am a bit tall (186cm). My home town is San Diego, California. San Diego is the most Southern part of California, right on the border of Mexico. And no, I don’t speak Spanish. The weather in San Diego is typically very nice. On average, it is sunny everyday. It rarely rains. In fact in San Diego, people hate the rain; no one goes out on a rainy day. But in Tokyo it rains often, in the winter, spring, and summer. So that is something I may never get used to.

In my free time I like to draw, and read Japanese comics. My favorite manga are: Vagabond, Hellsing, and GTO. I like rock music, and pop-rock. The Japanese bands I like are: Asian Kung-Fu Generation, Blue Hearts, and Orange Range. I have traveled to Kyoto and Nikko, however I have yet to travel outside of Honshu. So this year I would like to see Hokkaido, and Okinawa. I am interested in seeing Ainu ( アイヌ / ウタリ ) and Ryukyu culture and buildings. So, please share your experiences with me.

Greg