This site was founded on 7/17/03This site was last updated on 3/27/06
A Secret Lies Within the Hi no Maru
Howdy! No, I do not hail from Texas, is just the way I greet people. I am not quite sure why, perhaps because the word just rolls off one's tongue with such ease or maybe just because it is not what a conversation partner might expect from a boy raised and educated in northwest New Jersey. But I digress. You are not here to learn all about me, (although that might be a good idea since we could get to understand each other's views and opinions better that way), you are here because you were searching for something on Google and came across this site by mistake or just maybe you were looking specifically for it. Either way, I welcome you just the same and even if you did stumble upon this page on accident, I hope that it has what you may be looking for, information regarding Japan.
The first question you may be asking yourself, is if I have any idea what I am doing. The logo you see up there is so baroque that it does not represent Japan in the least. Well actually it does, to me at least. I specifically created that image for my first lesson: appreciate the perspective and opinions of others. I do not proclaim to be an expert on Japan. Not having studied it for over half a century, like Donald Richie, nor even being completely fluent, only partially, if I draw any conclusions on this site, it is my own take on Japan and I do request that you digest it with a grain of salt. If I am in error, please let me know, or if you would like to discuss a topic, I would be more than happy to do so, that is my hobby.
By now you are saying to yourself, "Well that's nice Greg [that's me by the way] but what in Heaven's name does your site name or Main Page have to do with Japan?" If you have managed to read this far, then I will reward your patience with an explanation of this site. I am quite a fan of Japanese manga and animation. In recent years my interest has waned somewhat because of other areas of Japanese 'culture' and society that have overshadowed that once great fandom. But I cannot deny sitting down to enjoy a great manga in my free time and for the past two years Eiichiro Oda's pirate adventure manga One Piece has been reminding me how it feels to enjoy manga. Within this particular story, there is a region where everything one could desire, hope for and dream of exists. This region is called The Grand Line. My website is a place which I hope to fill with Japanese 'culture', (I have a hard time using that word, but I will talk about that elsewhere). I am not a graphics expert nor am I an academic wizard with words. I would like to apologize in advance for the grammatical hiccups you will come across on this site. Also take note that there is no common design theme. I do not have the time for such an endeavor, nor do I desire to make this website a work of art. I would rather use my time to bring you useful information.
This is all here for your enjoyment and since this introduction has been based on a pirate story, I suggest you begin enjoying it by discovering what it has to offer. Look around and uncover things, from time to time I have even hidden little "extras" within the site for anyone clever enough to find them. If you would like to find out more about me then I suggest you do some "treasure-seeking" of your own. I assure you it will not be difficult, and you can always contact me any time. I cannot garauntee a reply and for that I do apologize, but I will do my best to be at your service.
