About
I first came to Japan July 21st 1991 to work as a High School AET (Assistant English Teacher) on the JET (Japan Exchange and Teaching) Program. Through no choice of my own I ended up being placed in Kagawa prefecture. During the 2 years I spent there I had no interest in shrines or temples and looking back I have no recollection of ever seeing a pilgrim walking through Kagawa. An interest in things spiritual wouldn't take hold until almost ten years later.
I left Japan on July 21st 1993 and returned home to England with the hope of returning again one day. That day came around 14 years later and on July 21st 2007 I found myself sitting jet-lagged in central Tokyo watching an NHK documentary about the 88 temples around Shikoku. The seeds were sown and without really knowing why, I knew I wanted to walk around Shikoku one day.
I had returned to Japan to work, but before a year was up I found myself out of the job that had brought me back. I ended up teaching English again and at the start of 2011 I made the decision to do the Shikoku Pilgrimage. Events conspired that year to make it a reality and on October 4th I left home and headed to the bus station in central Tokyo to take the night bus to Naruto, Tokushima.
Life will always conspire to give you everything you deserve and everything you desire.
I left Japan on July 21st 1993 and returned home to England with the hope of returning again one day. That day came around 14 years later and on July 21st 2007 I found myself sitting jet-lagged in central Tokyo watching an NHK documentary about the 88 temples around Shikoku. The seeds were sown and without really knowing why, I knew I wanted to walk around Shikoku one day.
I had returned to Japan to work, but before a year was up I found myself out of the job that had brought me back. I ended up teaching English again and at the start of 2011 I made the decision to do the Shikoku Pilgrimage. Events conspired that year to make it a reality and on October 4th I left home and headed to the bus station in central Tokyo to take the night bus to Naruto, Tokushima.
Life will always conspire to give you everything you deserve and everything you desire.
Acknowledgments
There were many times during this pilgrimage that I felt an incredible sense of gratitude for doing what I was doing and for being lucky enough to be doing what I was doing. It is said that the journey is never done alone because Kukai (空海) accompanies you every step of the way. From start to end people helped me and help always seemed to come when I most wanted it. I am grateful to everyone who helped me make this journey.
The messages of support I got from friends who shared my journey by following my progress meant that even when I was alone I was never alone. Thank you to Mimi, Shivani, Tomoko, Yumi, Ruri, Takako, Stephen, Nichola, Nancy, Yuka, Winnie, Chris, Mika, Leza, Adrian, Stanley, Thomas, Cato, Helena, Jianshi, Hiroko, Sanae, Ryuichiro, Maho.
Most of all, I would like to thank God, that force for good that guides us through that other journey, the journey we call Life.
The messages of support I got from friends who shared my journey by following my progress meant that even when I was alone I was never alone. Thank you to Mimi, Shivani, Tomoko, Yumi, Ruri, Takako, Stephen, Nichola, Nancy, Yuka, Winnie, Chris, Mika, Leza, Adrian, Stanley, Thomas, Cato, Helena, Jianshi, Hiroko, Sanae, Ryuichiro, Maho.
Most of all, I would like to thank God, that force for good that guides us through that other journey, the journey we call Life.
© 2011 A Shikoku Pilgrimage. All Rights Reserved.