(2005-2008)(Necessary Journeys/Arts Council travel bursary to Japan for 5 weeks): book & performance (with film) of my zen-poetic travelogue from travels in Japan in 2005 in the footsteps of 17^thc Haiku Master, Matsuo Basho (material originally presented at Tate Modern); Bristol Poetry Festival at the Arnolfini 2008 (with Japanese actress Haruka Furuya)

“Starting out life as a blog, written and posted by Ralph from Japan bit by bit as the journey progressed, I am glad that it has made it to book form. Because for me it captures something about journeying in the hills in Japan, something about the people of Japan, that you won’t find in most travel books. Having lived in Japan for more than 20 years, this journey for me tastes of the old Japan, smells of the high mountains, deep valleys and streams that form nearly 70 percent of the total land area of the country. And even of the little public toilet block that you will always find near any temple in the Japanese hills, and which offered Ralph refuge near the top of Gassan, Mountain of Death.” (extract from Mike Eido Luetchford’s forward)