This year, I published a book about English teaching, my day job, called 「僕、ニッポンの味方です」 An Anti-Grammar Manifesto—The Other Side of English. The essays in that book talk about the role and idea of English in Japan. Of course, learning a language is like playing jazz, and that topic, along with creativity, being critical, confidence and many other related concepts are all included. If English is your second language, and no matter what language is your second one, including the language of music, the essays offer lots of ways of thinking about the issues. There is a related website, too: http://www.essayengjp.com.

I also published a book called 「僕、トーキョーの味方です」Beauty and Chaos, Slices and Morsels of Tokyo Life. It is still available in bookstores and was published by Media Factory Publishers, who were very nice people. The book is a collection of columns I wrote for a couple different magazines, but mainly for Newsweek Japan. I write about the experience of life in the city in short, non-fiction essays that focus on unnoticed, but meaningful aspects of Tokyo life. Check it out. A second version will be coming out in
   
I published two textbooks in 2003 for studying English. These two books, on focusing on structure and the other on knowledge, use small excerpts of famous poetry, speeches, novels and essays to study English. The book and CD offer a way to listen, read and then study an original, interesting selection of English. The textbooks is quite different from others in its approach and is also still available online and at some bookstores. If English is not your first language, you will find it a good way to study or review.

I also write for JazzColo[u]rs, an Italian jazz mailzine that is fantastic, but a little hard to read unless you are fluent in Italian. I write in English and these very cool people translate it into Italian. It's a strikingly beautiful magazine, and will soon come out in English. They pay me in wine. Check it out: www.jazzcolours.it.

Lastly, I write a monthly column for Newsweek Japan. It comes out at different times, but you can find back issues online and the current issue always at every kiosk in Tokyo. It is always a good read, even when my column is not in there. Check it out: http://newsweekjapan.jp/column/tokyoeye/