Brian Watson

Japan is a public transportation dream. But renting a car (outside the big cities) can bring more remote areas within your reach. I've created a step-by-step tutorial for the process.

Photograph of a mug sitting on a brown book. The mug is a shaped like a rectangular pipe and is white with a dark green rim and a Chinese character on the front. The design is similar to that of the green dragon tile in mahjong.

Maybe it’s the Lunar New Year, but it’s always a good time to use my favorite mug. It looks like a mahjong tile and the character means starting or departing. It’s part of the traditional new year greeting, too. 恭喜發財 (good fortune and wealth be yours!)

It’s been a long winter. People are *horny.*

All I can say is my tarot draw for February was spot on. Incredible news and I’m dying to share it with everyone but I have to wait. Ugh!

Happy Saint Valentine’s Day.

Rejections, as a rule, suck. And yet… this rejection from an awesome small press demonstrates that readers are picking up what I’m laying down. Last year’s revisions were worth it. Crying in a Foreign Language will find a home, either with an agent or a small press, this year.

My friend, Karl Reyes, in 2018, doing a food tasting event for his Filipino cuisine concept restaurant, Sampalok. Karl’s head is bald and a pair of glasses adorn his bearded face. He’s wearing an indigo blue chef’s coat, with a single plastic glove on his right hand. This photo captures him mid-explanation.

First of all, how was this eight years ago? Siri shared a remember of a tasting event my husband (the event’s photographer) and I attended, and of course I sought out the photos of my beloved friend Karl, may he rest in eternal power. I miss him so much…

This is sixty! It’s traditional to wear red for this particular milestone birthday in Japan and I asked my husband to make the vest for me. He delivered!

Please allow me to get this off my chest…

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Are you free? Are you safe? None of us is. Not for a long time now.
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2026 marks the completion of my zodiacal cycle. I was born 60 years ago (on January 14th) in the year of the Fire Horse and that year has at last returned. I (together with a whole host of family and friends — お陰様で！) raised my new child self, ready to marvel at the wonders of my next zodiacal cycle.

Me (in a Nintendo Christmas sweater and a red rain jacket) sitting beside a statue of Santa Claus in Leavenworth, Washington.

I’m so grateful that my husband will photograph me whenever and wherever. I promise my Santa belly rubs were consensual. 😉

A recreated poster for the movie, Die Hard, showing Alan Rickman as Hans Gruber, holding two bars of C2 explosives in his outstretched hands, and Bruce Willis as John McClane, barefoot, wrapped in a fire hose, and dangling in the background.

It’s not Christmas until Hans Gruber falls from Nakatomi Tower!

Do any of my Bluesky connections still play Pokémon GO? If you’re looking for another friend to play with…

Let's be friends in Pokémon GO! My Trainer Code is 035084857354!

A custom bracelet for a high school friend. She told me her wife’s favorite stones were moss agate and snowflake obsidian. I added gold spacers to add some light. I sent it with a self-addressed stamped envelope in case it needs to be resized.

The view from the restaurant in Leavenworth, yesterday, was mystical. I love the interplay of clouds and pine trees.

Earlier this week, we picked up dinner at our local Katsu Burger place. I love their tōfu burgers and although you can’t see it, the slice of pineapple I asked for was perfect. Sure, they are a little expensive but this is two meals for me.

To be honest, if I’m unable to nab a spouse visa when I retire, Hiro will set up a company and hire me. That company will be for tourism. So there will certainly be a Tokyo/Yokohama/Kyoto stationery tour option.

I have lots of recommendations!

Photo of the author, dressed in white slacks and a red and blue, aloha shirt, wearing a brown cap, sitting on a bullet train platform in Japan in 2006, surrounded by small bags, and with a look of utter exhaustion on his face.

In 2006, we decided to stop renewing Hiro’s student visa, and to move to BC. That summer, before the move, we traveled back to Japan. Hiro stayed longer than I did, but I can very clearly remember how humid it was that June. The exhaustion on my face is incredible.

I’m working on a new essay and, of course, need another creative project or two to let me think w/o writing, too. The first photo is a rock crystal daruma bead with rose quartz and red Japanese glass beads. The second is aventurine and silver.

I looked across the table at my husband the other night and fell in love with him all over again. Hit send.

My inbox betrayed me, hiding an invitation for several weeks. Long story short, if technicalities can be resolved, I'll be reading an excerpt from my manuscript on Thursday, 16 October, at 7PM EDT, 4PM PDT, to mark the launch of Stone Canoe's 2025 issue. DM me for the link!

Attending the 1987 March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights didn't destroy my closet. And in retrospect, I was glad to be in that closet for many years after. Can't come out yet? Your queer elders and siblings love you no matter what.
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Today’s issue of Out of Japan discusses two steps forward and a kilometer of steps backward. Japan has just embraced its far-right demons and welcomed corruption back into its government.

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Thank you!

Tuesday morning, one of my dream literary agents requested my full manuscript. (She knew it was in revision and asked for as much as was ready.) in between a cancer screening (I’m fine!) and recovery, and all weekend long, I finished everything. The complete MS is on her desk!

I drew a tarot card, the World, at the start of the year. And although the 2025 has yet to finish, I’ve been astounded by that card’s power. Deeper friendships, many celebrations, lots of writing, successes at work, and love, love, love. Gratitude doesn’t begin to describe it.

Thank you!