My Experiences in Japan

I lived two years in Okayama, a small city little known outside Japan but famous within Japan for Korakoen, one of Japans best gardens, for the legendary Momotaro (the boy, born from a peach), bizenyaki (traditional pottery which you can try making on a trip to Imbe) and for white peaches and Muscat grapes. I worked at the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University on cancer chemoprevention. I had a small desk in the corner of the lab for my �eoffice', typical in Japan, as lab space is limited. Funding was generous and so I worked hard but also went to conferences around Japan and in Thailand and Denmark and spent a week working in Hokkaido University. Private accommodation is usually unfurnished and small but self-contained. Luckily, my landlord did not want key money, a large, non-refundable deposit that is one of the biggest economic strains in Japan. The lab wasn't all work: We had karaoke nights, graduation parties, annual summer trips, skiing at Christmas and, when it was too hot to work, a month when the department was closed.

It was easy to make friends. I stood out like a saw thumb so met lots of other gaijin (foreigners). In addition, I joined a rugby team and went cycling with friends in the local countryside. Japan is unique and there is always plenty to see and do. Even eating could be an adventure. Every town and village have matsuri (festivals) with traditional Japanese music and arts like taiko, kodo or bunraku. Many sights in Japan are temples, shrines or castles, which are beautiful. There is nothing like contemplating a Zen garden or watching the koi carp while enjoying a tea and some food. There is also plenty more things to discover. Onsen, the traditional Japanese bathhouse, is a must for any visitor. Many are outdoors with stunning views. We used to cycle through countryside and paddy fields to a different onsen almost every week. Or we could stay in one of Okayamas International Villas: traditional houses renovated especially as cheap places for foreigners to stay.

Moving to Japan can have problems: first the food seems inedible, but you learn what you like to eat and it's excellent; definitely learn some Japanese before you arrive otherwise you may feel completely lost; finding clothes and especially shoes that fit is difficult if you are even remotely large by Japanese standards. Despite all this, I had a fantastically enjoyable 2 years in Japan and have remained in contact with friends and work colleagues. I have even returned to give lectures at my old university. I highly recommend a visit to anyone.

At the JSPS Programme IntroductionEvent at the University of Leicester on the 23nd May 2006

• Presentation (Marczylo) (6.80mb)