Moran Actually
Welcome
In my previous, parallel career as a part-time, freelance writer and editor, I didn’t find the ideas for stories difficult, nor the detail.
The most difficult parts are always the beginning and the end. So, when one decides to foist one’s thoughts upon the world – assuming it’s listening – where does one begin?
These writings aim to collate my various experiences, rantings, general thoughts and will borrow heavily from people much cleverer than me. Some of this may be useful to people in business, particularly in Japan; some in learning and publishing. Some of it will be interesting to people with a general interest in Japan. Some of it might be fun. Hopefully there will be the odd chuckle.
I aim to publish regularly. I will be brief and to the point. As an editor, I used to pride myself on my ability to make a poor 1,000-word article into a passable 300-word one.
I’ll be touching on technology and different work styles. A friend in the UK has built an IT company of 70 people in a few years, using what they describe as the JFDI approach. Those initials are hopefully self-evident.
In that spirit, I’m just doing this one.
Latest Posts
An object less ordinary – the fan
Introduced from China as rigid uchiwa and reinvented in Heian-era Kyoto as the folding sensu, Japan’s fans have served emperors, samurai and sweaty commuters alike. Explore their craft, history and surprising roles on stage, battlefield and catwalk.
From Tower of the Sun to Data and Dreams: The Long Arc of Osaka’s Expos
In 1970, Osaka presented a dream of the future. In 2025, it’s trying to live one. Expo 70 gave Japan its coming-out party on the global stage, a kind of kinetic national debut that swept away the ashes of war and declared its high-tech rebirth. With its translucent...
Bio
I grew up in Whitley Bay, Northumberland, in the north east of England. I left in 1992. I travelled in Asia and Australasia, arriving back in England in 1995. I came to Japan later that year.
I’d intended to use ELT as a portable skill to allow me to travel more in Asia. Somehow, I’ve ended up staying here in Japan.