Episode #21
E-21 - Tom Gibb’s Charinko: Cycling Japan
What makes Japan such a good country to explore by bicycle? John Ross talks with longtime Japan resident Tom Gibb about the 2,500-km journey behind his new book, Charinko, published by Plum Rain Press . Tom set off spectacularly underprepared: he had never done a long-distance cycling trip, knew almost nothing about bicycle maintenance, and was riding a decidedly unfashionable bike. Somehow, it carried him from Kyushu through western Japan and back towards his home in Ibaraki. The conversation ranges from mountain roads, roadside camping and nightly onsen visits to Japan’s ubiquitous convenience stores, the pleasures of getting off the tourist trail, and the remarkable kindness Tom encountered along the way. They also discuss how travelling – alone and setting himself the challenge of having a conversation every day – helped Tom turn a cycling adventure into an immersion course in Japanese language and culture. And if you want more Tom and John, check out their companion conversation on the Books on Asia podcast. You can support the podcast and press by buying the ebook, either on Plum Rain Press or Amazon.
