My Travels in Japan
For my friend Anna (1978-2001)
She planted the seed on a long train ride to Seattle in the early summer of 1998.
Since about 1990, I have been interested in Japanese language and culture, and have dabbled in the study of Japanese now and again. In early 2001 I realized a long-standing dream and went to Japan for about six weeks. I had no firm plans upon arriving, only to experience Japan and to travel around some, leaving Tokyo, and experiencing at least one rural area. I also wanted to research and experience Japanese car culture, particularly the fascination with rear-wheel-drive Toyotas that runs deeper in Japan than almost anywhere else. I had a few contacts and set off into the unknown. The following is my story. Presenting my adventure (and all of its associated distractions) in Japan, I typed this story exactly as I originally wrote it, and I wrote it as I thought it. It contains my unedited passions, frustrations, humor, and some occasional sarcasm. Pure unadulterated Jesse on a page. Enjoy!

Forget the Diary, Give Me the Cars!
More specific info on Japanese Cars without the full text of the diary

Chapter One-Tokyo/Saitama
January 16th, 2001
January 17th, 2001
January 18th, 2001
January 19th, 2001
January 20th, 2001
January 21st, 2001
January 22nd, 2001
January 23rd, 2001
January 24th, 2001
January 25th, 2001
January 26th, 2001
January 27th, 2001
January 28th, 2001
January 29th, 2001
January 30th, 2001
Chapter Two-Nagoya
January 31st, 2001
February 1st, 2001
Chapter Three-Kansai:Kyoto
February 2nd, 2001
February 3rd, 2001
February 4th, 2001
Chapter Four-Kansai:Osaka
February 5th, 2001
February 6th, 2001
February 7th, 2001
February 8th, 2001
February 9th, 2001
Chapter Five-Kansai:Osaka/Kobe
February 12th, 2001
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