At the end of a busy week of lectures, including a trip to Gateshead, nearly as far north as Hadrian’s Wall. Took a train ride to Birmingham and thought I’d flipped through a worm hole and ended up in Tokyo! Birmingham New Street station is as huge and chaotic and confusing as Shinjuku, like a Tokyo underground shopping mall. People milling around, endless shops, and no sign of a ticket barrier! Japan Society members April Boyd (chairwoman) and Isla Wong took me on a scenic tour of Birmingham, taking in the Leaning Man, the Art Deco Sphinx and the Floozie in a Bikini. And finally addressed an enthusiastic crowd on not just geisha, not just samurai, but geisha and samurai. Book sales healthy …
Please click on thumbnails below to scroll through the gallery:
Birmingham geese 
Isla Wong and me in front of Floozie in Bikini 
Art Deco Sphinx 
April Boyd and Isla Wong propping up the Leaning Man