Japan: An Exploration of History, Culture and Society

Michael was born in Switzerland and first came in contact with Japanese culture came through the martial arts Aikido and Iaido. He originally started to study Japanese calligraphy and later chanoyu to complement martial arts studies but became increasingly interested in tea over the years. After more than twenty years of experience, Michael sees chanoyu as a way of communication between people and ideas. The focus of his tea studies is not only to be a tea master, but to become a true tea person.

A native of Fujinomiya, Masaki Iwami was raised in the shadow of Mt. Fuji. He has since established a close affinity with Japan’s greatest natural icon. Following his desire to study overseas, Masaki graduated with a degree in Adventure Tourism from Taranaki Polytechnic in New Zealand. He traveled throughout Europe and worked in the Philippines and India, finally returning to Japan in 2014 and established his own company dedicating to exploring Mt. Fuji. He has been a Road Scholar Group Leader since 2016.

Kaho Shoji was born in Kyoto but raised in the Noto Peninsula on the Sea of Japan. Following her grandmother’s influence, Kaho is a practitioner of chado — the Japanese tea ceremony. Under her influence, Kaho also grew up with a broad interest in Japan’s traditional culture and is known to enjoy wearing a kimono, and visiting temples and shrines. In 2015, she moved from Ishikawa to her grandparents’ old home in Kyoto to further her cultural interests and begin training to be a travel group leader.

Bill Steele first came to Japan in 1967 as an exchange student, when he spent one year studying Japanese language, history, religion, politics, and archaeology and was propelled to study history after getting a whiff of the Horyuji temple’s ancient air. Bill earned his PhD in Japanese history, writing his dissertation on the consequences of the Meiji Restoration of 1868, pursuing his interest in alternative narratives. In 1980, Bill began a tenure as a Japanese history professor at the International Christian University, retiring in 2018.

Originally from Virginia, Diane first arrived in Asia as a young adult. She moved to Tokyo from Manila in 1987, and settled in Kagoshima City in 1995. Diane has a deep love of the natural world and delights in exploring the numerous waterfalls, hiking paths and Edo Period (1603-1868) roads of the Kagoshima region. She has eight adult children, and teaches English at homes for the elderly and the disabled, in kindergarten classes, and privately. Diane joined Walk Japan as a Group Leader in 2018.

Kristina Watanabe grew up in Stockholm, intrigued by the peoples and cultures of other countries from an early age. While a student, she made backpacking trips across Europe, and at the age of 20, traveled Hong Kong on the Trans-Siberian Express. She took time out to explore East Asia, including Japan. Kristina was fascinated by Japanese life. After meeting her husband, they raised two children, while she worked as a teacher of Swedish and English languages. She then began a new career as a guide.

Hiroko Chiba studied English at college and first went abroad to continue her studies in London. Returning to Japan, Hiroko worked for 15 years in investment banking. An interest in Thai food led her to open a restaurant that was in business from 2000 to 2019. During this time, her interests began shifting back to Japan, and she deepened her knowledge of Japanese culture through Zen Buddhism and traditional martial arts. Hiroko is a fan of sumo as well as Noh and Bunraku puppet theaters.