Gaijin Jump

Over the years I have chronicled my (mis)adventures in Japan and elsewhere in an occasional comic strip. I titled the strip Gaijin Jump. For the most part, these strips recount actual events in my life.

The name of the comic strip bears some explanation. Gaijin (pronounced like the boy’s name Guy and the girl’s name Jean) is the Japanese word for foreigner. Jump is the title of a popular line of comic books in Japan. I’m really not sure how it got that name. Since there’s a Shonen Jump for children, a Young Jump for teens and young adults, and a Business Jump for businessmen, I reasoned, why shouldn’t there be a Gaijin Jump for foreigners?

You can follow the past adventures of the befuddled Gaijin-san using the links below. Enjoy!

• July 1987 — The first phone call
• September 1987 — The sacred alcove
• November 1987 — The third stop sign
• February 1988 — Fermented soy beans
• May 1988 — How to take a bath
• June 1988 — Train to Ikebukuro
• September 1988 — The rewards of chivalry
• January 1989 — One more friend
• July 1989 — Gaijin gourmet
• February 1993 — Those dirty verbs
• May 1993 — The thermometer
• July 1993 — How to cook rice
• January 1994 — Man with a hang-up
• January 1995 — How to send a fax
• April 1996 — Fan club
• July 1997 — Pickled plum
• July 2000 — Smart or strong?
• June 2002 — Eat at Jony’s
• December 2005 — Speak English frequently
• August 2006 — Call from the doctor
• May 2007 — Washing with water