About the Author

Born and raised in Kawasaki, Kanagawa — just across the bay from Tokyo — I grew up with Japan's biggest city on my doorstep but always felt the pull of somewhere further. My favourite destination is Hokkaido: the wide-open roads, the crisp air, the ramen, and the sense that the island has more space than it knows what to do with. When I'm not planning the next trip, I'm at home with my cat Poko, listening to music, or deep into a game. Japan has 47 prefectures. I intend to visit every single one — and when I do, I want every prefecture to have a story worth telling the world.