Gaijin Jump

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

The name of the strip bears some explanation. Gaijin (pronounced like the boy’s name Guy and the girl’s name Jean) is the Japanese word for foreigner, and Jump is the title of a popular line of comic books in Japan. 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

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