18 Comments
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neena maiya's avatar

Deer unaware. You are so innocent.

Trouble coming.

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Jack Krown's avatar

Hahahah. You have a hunter’s eye.

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neena maiya's avatar

You give us clues, Jack. Poor Kyle.

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Vanessa Glau's avatar

Oh, intriguing! It's always fun to read about foreigners in Japan before English got more widespread, a Japan even more unsuited to non-Japanese speakers that I never experienced. How exciting but also how much more frustrating! And how is the collapse of the U.S. president related to Kyle's story?

Looking forward to more 90s Tokyo vibes!

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Jack Krown's avatar

Fabulous. I’m so glad you took the time and had reactions. Hope you will stay tuned!

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Oleg Kagan's avatar

An auspicious beginning. Ready for more!

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Jack Krown's avatar

GOOD! So glad to hear.

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Meredith Lewis's avatar

Looking forward to the next installment!

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Jack Krown's avatar

Perfecto. Two more are already done and in the Waiting file, and I’m plotting out the fourth. This is nasty stuff…serial stories.

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Meredith Lewis's avatar

Bravo! I don't think I'd be brave enough to do it like that. I'd be afraid of getting lost in my own planning/plotting. I have no problems with serialising something I've already finished, though. However it's done, I think using Substack for serialisation is an interesting idea.

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Shawn Brooks's avatar

Beautiful friendship between Kyle and the ramen dude.

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Jack Krown's avatar

Thanks!!

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John Forde's avatar

My first job in Tokyo was rewriting English-language technical manuals at a Second Section TSE-listed Japanese electronics manufacturer.

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Jack Krown's avatar

Weren’t we all??? Lol!!

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Fernando's avatar

Basic needs the first to learn...sake kudasai!

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Mark Kennedy's avatar

You've got me hooked! Although I am a little younger than the fictional Kyle, I was living in a 15 square meter "one-room mansion" behind the Matsuya Department Store in Asaskusa at the same time!

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Jack Krown's avatar

Oh boy. We ca compare notes someday! Mine had an air conditioner. :)

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Mark Kennedy's avatar

Living high on the hog! Just kidding! I seem to remember that mine did, too. Actually, one of the best parts of the experience was being able to hang out in the neighborhood at night after most of the tourists had gone home. I became a regular at ramen shops and other hole-in-the-wall eateries. Being in charge of only 15 square meters certainly made it easy to clean!

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