Avatar photo

Paul Charlton

Traveler

Paul’s first encounter with Japan was some 50 years ago when becoming awestruck by a series of films on British TV. They were the films of Kurosawa Akira. “I still have those extraordinary sounds and images in my head today. It was like falling in love for the first time - in fact, I had just fallen in love for the first time! So perhaps the two are connected….” he says. A first visit to Japan took a while and it was not until late 2023 when he arrived for a five week stay. He wrote a poem for each day of that visit, self-publishing “Japan’s Music: Poetry of a Journey’ in 2025, part translated into Japanese for the people he met and wanted to thank. The kindness of a family in Hagi, Yamaguchi, happily brought him back as a six month homestay - where he is until the end of April 2026.
Paul’s first encounter with Japan was some 50 years ago when becoming awestruck by a series of films on British TV. They were the films of Kurosawa Akira. “I still have those extraordinary sounds and images in my head today. It was like falling in love for the first time - in fact, I had just fallen in love for the first time! So perhaps the two are connected….” he says. A first visit to Japan took a while and it was not until late 2023 when he arrived for a five week stay. He wrote a poem for each day of that visit, self-publishing “Japan’s Music: Poetry of a Journey’ in 2025, part translated into Japanese for the people he met and wanted to thank. The kindness of a family in Hagi, Yamaguchi, happily brought him back as a six month homestay - where he is until the end of April 2026.

Posts by Paul Charlton

Can't find a package tour
for your destination?
Don't worry -
We've got you covered
with our Tailor Made Tours!

Ask Us More
Scroll to Top