The Unfolding Fan

31/12/2021

Mmm. Toes.

17/12/2021

Just trying to enjoy some carrot in peace...

08/05/2021

https://theunfoldingfan.com/2021/05/08/chapter-twenty-two-the-mountain-of-disappointment/

#福島県　＃二中　＃飯盛山　＃カエル

Occasional gaps in the trees gave prospect onto white vaporous clouds below us, reclining lazily on neighbouring verdant peaks.

01/11/2020

https://theunfoldingfan.com/2020/11/01/chapter-twenty-one-the-lakes/

Unfortunately, in years of studying Japanese, I had never learned the suite of vocabulary required for this situation. Not one lesson had covered “Your tyre is stuck in a drain, do you have a jack …

23/09/2020

Chapter Twenty now available: A Ride with the Kitakata Crew
https://theunfoldingfan.com/2020/09/23/chapter-twenty-a-ride-with-the-kitakata-crew/

We set off along smooth concrete roads in the summer heat, and I puffed along behind this troop of tanned enthusiasts and their bulbous calf muscles, acutely aware of myself as the pasty, unfit, ma…

28/06/2020

Chapter Nineteen now available: Ōgawara and Sendai Tanabata Festival



https://theunfoldingfan.com/2020/06/28/chapter-nineteen/

As we navigated the swarming crowds, John was accidentally knocked by a large and bright pink dolphin balloon. Even as an adult, sexually-active, homosexual man, he said that it was the gayest thin…

27/06/2020

I was gutted that I couldn't go to this V&Amuseum exhibition. These online tours, however, are the best substitute I could have asked for!



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEf0iFNTVGw

This is 1 of 5 films that take you on a personal curator tour of our exhibition Kimono: Kyoto to Catwalk. Captured as the museum was closing its doors for a ...

23/06/2020

I spoke about my travel experiences at the London Sunday Assembly. Was great fun! I'm 38 mins in, following a couple of other amazing and inspirational speakers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcYBDfkxQZw

07/06/2020

My sister gave me a kit to make an "origami" bag - I'm very happy with the result!
妹からもらった巾着袋を作った。かわいいと思う🥰


#巾着袋 #布 #趣味 #手作り

29/05/2020

Chapter Eighteen of The Unfolding Fan now available:

https://theunfoldingfan.com/2020/05/29/chapter-eighteen-lakes-and-mountains/

As the car rounded hairpin turns and glided past unguarded drops, we contemplated our mortality and considered the eventuality that the last sound we might hear in our short lives could be the jubi…

20/08/2019

Chapter Seventeen: Highway to Hell now available.

Have an awesome summer!

https://theunfoldingfan.com/2019/08/20/chapter-seventeen-highway-to-hell/

In a murky pond a stone sculpture of a grand ship with a proud, emblazoned sail appeared to float upon the water, with its portly dwarfish crew captained by a stout samurai.

14/07/2019

Chapter Sixteen: Summer Festival Part Two
Available now :)

https://theunfoldingfan.com/2019/07/14/chapter-sixteen-summer-festival-part-two/

I had entertained the thought that being cloaked in the appropriate apparel would make me feel more involved, when in fact I felt far more self conscious and fraudful.

27/04/2019

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-unfolding-fan/id1446491013

Better sound quality podcast now available on iTunes!

It's a massive step up from recording my voice on an outdated iPod in a hostel linen cupboard!

‎Society & Culture · 2019

10/03/2019

奥会津の家の顔。A house with a face in Okuaizu.

＃奥会津 ＃福島県 ＃顔 ＃家 ＃okuaizu

17/02/2019

Lucky cat in a flat cap.

おじいさんの帽子をかぶっている招き猫。

#招き猫 #おじいさん #帽子

26/01/2019

Abukuma caves あぶくま洞

#あぶくま洞 #福島県 #洞窟 #光

17/01/2019

会津の鶴ヶ城の絵蝋燭。Aizu's Tsuruga Castle Candle Festival.

#会津 #鶴ヶ城 #絵蝋燭 #光 #福島県

06/01/2019

Lake Inawashiro ducks in February.　２月の猪苗代湖のアヒル。

#猪苗代湖 #アヒル #雪 #福島県

31/12/2018

On the aeroplane to Japan. 日本へ行って飛行機から取った。
#日本 #飛行機 #山 #雪

24/12/2018

I love you, マユ and Tomo!! 届いた！うれしー！！ありがとう！もうすぐ返事するつもりだ。MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

17/12/2018

#名古屋 #お茶屋

28/10/2018

Chapter Fourteen: Totoro Woods, Monkeys and Death Roads

https://theunfoldingfan.com/2018/10/28/chapter-fourteen-totoro-woods-monkeys-and-death-roads/

On one of these many colourful cartographies I had found something called the ‘Totoro Forest.’

21/10/2018

Wind tunnel at the Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology, Nagoya.

トヨタ産業技術記念館の風トンネル

#トヨタ産業技術記念館 #風トンネル #名古屋

14/10/2018

Yosakoi! 仙台のよさこい祭り

#よさこい　 #祭り　 #仙台　

07/10/2018

An app that tells you were there's available toilets? Genius!

#日本 ＃東京メトロ ＃トイレ

30/09/2018

Gifts from a Japanese pen pal :)

23/09/2018

一年前諸橋近代美術館に無料なサルバドールダリの髭をもらいました! Toda Yumi

One year ago! Free Salvador Dali mustaches at the Morohashi Museum of Modern Art

16/09/2018

"Chapter Thirteen: Speech Contest" now available as blog and podcast, all about the strange annual ritual mandatory for all English Language Teachers.

Many thanks to Lizzie​, Jack​ and Karol for their sterling performance!!

https://theunfoldingfan.com/podcast/

https://theunfoldingfan.com/2018/09/16/chapter-thirteen-speech-contest/

02/09/2018

I'm not sure the raw uterus is going to fill me up, so I'd like the "assorted raw guts and so on," please.

26/08/2018

This steep slope is called "Hell Hill"
#地獄坂 #二股山 #福島県

19/08/2018

One year ago! Quack!

12/08/2018

もらった! I got Japanese goodies! ありがとう, Taichi!

05/08/2018

#金閣寺

03/08/2018

5日間で134キロメートルのハドリアヌスの壁を散歩しました。最初の日も最後の日も雨だったけど、楽しかった。

This week I walked the 84 mile trail of Hadrian's Wall in five days. It's great fun, even in the Great British Summer.