What can I help you with? I specialize in writing books on Japan (and occasionally editing and/or updating other people’s books), travel writing, and Japan-related features on topics that have ranged from sustainability to craft beer and craftspeople. There are samples of the kind of work I do on my portfolio page and more about the clients I have worked with on my bio page. I also write short-form poetry and short fiction. I’m happy to travel on assignment and have the flexibility to do so at short notice.
What don’t I do? I get requests to help out with lots of other things, too, but I’m really not the person you want to attend finance seminars, write conference reports, act as a fixer, comment on the latest earthquake/typhoon/financial crisis to hit Japan (although it’s usually a safe bet it won’t be as bad or panicky as FOX or CNN make it out to be), write corporate copy, churn out SEO-rich content, set up a video feed, get paid in “exposure”, translate brochures, give guided tours of Tokyo, or teach English. I’m a writer.
Photos? That’s not my thing either, unless by some miracle I accidentally manage to take a decent photo (there’s about a 1,000-to-1 chance of that). But, I’m more than happy to introduce you to some of the great Japan-based photographers I’ve been fortunate to have worked with and I can help source images from agencies, interviewees and other sources.
New writer? Student? School? If you have any questions about freelancing, becoming a writer, or anything like that, you are more than welcome to get in touch. I’m also happy to visit schools to do free author talks and writing workshops (for travel writing, haiku or micro fiction). That said, I’m afraid I’m not the best person to shadow for a day; I spend most of my time either sat at my desk or out of Tokyo. And, no, you can’t hire me to do your journalism coursework or homework (I have been asked before!).