Rob Goss

@robgoss

Author/Writer. Books and features on Japan, travel & cultural regeneration; Lonely Planet guides; haiku & haibun; short scripts. Next books: Another Japan (Gestalten, 2026) In Brief: A Year in Haiku (Self-pub, 2026). www.robgosswriter.com

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Rob Goss@robgoss· 19d

Just in case you have guests you want to impress and you anticipate they’ll need a poo.

Kleenex toilet roll in Japan. Called “for the guest”.

Rob Goss@robgoss· 22d

It’s become a tradition over the past decade or so to get a photo of the hound with each book I write. Not always the easiest task…as this morning is reminding me.

Book and dog’s paw. Book is called Another Japan.

Dog with tongue out, drooling over a book.

Rob Goss@robgoss· 26d

I didn’t have enough characters available for this moan about writers advocating for other writers when it comes to pay rates. So it’s a screenshot.

I like that there are websites and social media accounts that post editor callouts and opportunities for writers. I also get that many publications legitimately have low budgets and that it's up to writers to decide what fees are acceptable for them.

But I think it would help even more to somehow label the opportunities that offer extremely poor conditions, so early career writers are made aware that something like $100 for 1000 words is dreadful. Perhaps an opportunity to build an initial portfolio, but not a professional rate or anywhere near it.

Advocating for better pay and contract conditions isn't something any professional writers organization I've been a member of has seemed hugely interested in. So it's up to writers to advocate for each other. Not normalizing poor pay is part of that.

Rob Goss@robgoss· Jul 14

In other news, I broke the lid of one the things we freeze cooked rice in. At least the hound was amused…

Foreground is the broken lid of a plastic container. Background is a smiling black dog, a kuroshiba.

Rob Goss@robgoss· Jul 13

The joys of middle age. No running allowed for a month. And a reminder to stop wearing flip-flops on walkies.

Rob Goss@robgoss· Jul 10

Today in the office I’m mostly…

Jammie Dodger biscuits. Great for dunking.

Rob Goss@robgoss· Jul 9

Most of my work this summer is in Tokyo or very nearby, which will make a lovely change from being drenched in sweat on assignment in various parts of Japan. That said, a year ago almost to the day, I got to see a wonderful (and sweaty) outdoor performance of Noh on Sado.

Rob Goss@robgoss· Jul 7

Author/contributor copy delivery. Dog came separately…almost 12 years ago.

Handsome kuroshiba looking into a box of books (just delivered) in disgust due to a distinct lack of snacks therein.

Rob Goss@robgoss· Jul 2

I don’t usually read reviews - it’s a stress I don’t need. But this got sent to me and it’s nice, so I’m sharing. Thank you for the kind words, Aesthetica.

A snippet from a review of my latest book. One bit reads: Another Japan is an essential record of communities that prove real meaning is found in the simple moments and the enduring ties between people and place.

Rob Goss@robgoss· Jun 28

The local supermarket has unleashed the myoga motherlode. Only ¥128.

Myoga. A kind of ginger…I think. It so good when vinegared (maybe slightly sweetened too, or even with a touch of miso added) but also does well as tempura. ¥128 for this much feels like getting it at a quarter of regular price.

Rob Goss@robgoss· Jun 23

A double typhoon on the way…

Screenshot from Yahoo Weather. It shows the path of two typhoons reaching Japan at the same time. A wet weekend ahead.

Rob Goss@robgoss· Jun 1

It’s sunny and warm, but not humid in my part of Tokyo today. It’s lovely. I went for a run, finished a chapter, took the hound out for a poo in the shade. Then spotted this new banner at the supermarket and remembered it’ll soon be hideously hot and humid.

A banner at a supermarket in Tokyo. It says “cooling shelter” in Japanese and English, so people know they can pop in just to cool off when things get too hot.

Rob Goss@robgoss· May 28

Even in a fairly compact flat, where we keep things as uncluttered and simple as possible, it’s amazing how items can go undetected for years. Rooting around a corner unit in the kitchen (where we keep less-used kitchen utensils and pans), I just found this can. Use by date: May 2016.

A can of onion soup. With dog in background.

Rob Goss@robgoss· May 23

New book. Out in July in Europe, September elsewhere. #japan

Blurb for a new book called Another Japan. Out in July in Europe, Sept elsewhere. It roughly says: by photographer Irwin Wong and writer Rob Goss, an intimate look at the resilience, creativity and living heritage of rural Japan.

Rob Goss@robgoss· Apr 26

Popped to Kiba Park coffee and craft festival. Nice event.

A coffee tasting set. Three coffees. One each from Colombia, Costs Rica and Ethiopia. Though “Bioreactor” sounds more like something that melts down at the start of a disaster movie than a coffee.

Rob Goss@robgoss· Apr 18

One of the local supermarkets suddenly has quite cheap yet lovely myoga…today will be a pickling day.

Packets of myoga, a kind of Japanese ginger (I think…)

Rob Goss@robgoss· Apr 4

And that’s almost that for the neighbourhood’s cherry blossoms for another year.

Cherry blossom petals covering the pavement in my part of Tokyo. With an outrageously handsome kuroshiba standing in the middle of it all, probably contemplating where to pee next.

Rob Goss@robgoss· Apr 1

Woke up to texts of England v Japan from my son (his pic). At least one of his teams won.

Rob Goss@robgoss· Mar 22

These have started popping up on the hound’s main evening walkies route here in Tokyo. Does anyone know what it is? It’s lovely, but I’m not very good with flower names.

This is very unhelpful alt text because I don’t know what the flower is. Kind of lilac color. Small.

Rob Goss@robgoss· Mar 17

Captioning day with Irwin for our new book. My hound not keen to help…

Henry, the world’s finest kuroshiba, snoring his way through a captioning day.

Rob Goss@robgoss· Mar 1

It’s been a wallow with the hound kind of weekend.

A kuroshiba, or black shiba, luxuriating in bed.

Rob Goss@robgoss· Feb 26

The #haiku and the senior hound therein.

A screenshot of a haiku. It reads:

Clearing skies
The dog
Finds every puddle

A kuroshiba, the finest of dogs. Seen here in its grumpy state.

Rob Goss@robgoss· Feb 19

Spring in Tokyo. Time to dust off the hazmat suit.

Yahoo Japan’s pollen forecast. The cedar, which causes runny nose carnage, will kick in properly from tomorrow.

Rob Goss@robgoss· Feb 13

I can feel the first eye itch of hay fever today in Tokyo. Time to dust off this spring haibun from last year.

Text that reads: In Japan’s 72 traditional micro seasons, winter gradually hints at giving way to spring with rain moistening the soil, mists that linger, and the surfacing of hibernating insects. In Tokyo, some of the old signs of transition still appear, but I tend to notice spring’s arrival elsewhere.

Text that reads: As I check the weather each morning, I now see forecasts reminding me that a pernicious cloud of pollen will soon be descending upon the city. This week, it’s light blue icons telling us there’s a little cedar in the air, though it won’t be long before they are replaced by the ominous red and purple warnings of 非常に多い and 極めて多い, and I’ll be wishing I owned a Hazmat suit.

Text that reads: Likewise, in the mall across from home, the special display at the drugstore is no longer dedicated to cold and flu remedies – it’s antihistamines, eye drops, nasal sprays, and all sorts of gimmicks aimed at spring sniffers like me.

Text that reads: And in the supermarket, all that remains of the winter mikan from Wakayama are withering on discount, their shelf space increasingly given over to strawberries from Tochigi and a selection of chunkier citruses.

picking the pips

from a ponkan

a tickle in my nose

Rob Goss@robgoss· Feb 8

Snowmaggedon in Tokyo today.

Henry, voted* Japan’s finest kuroshiba for 11 consecutive years, taking a break between snow-yellowing work today in Tokyo.

*source needed

Rob Goss@robgoss· Feb 4

Heading home from the final research trip for the next book. First non-guidebook in a while. I’ve lost count of how many journeys Irwin and I have done for this since April, but it’s been quite a trip. Brilliant experiences, yet I’m looking forward to being a hermit for a month. Maybe two. Or three.

Rob Goss@robgoss· Jan 23

On the Shinkansen, having a thimble of wine.

A small bottle of wine (250ml) that came with a thimble-sized cup.

Rob Goss@robgoss· Jan 22

This morning’s coffee view.

Rob Goss@robgoss· Jan 22

Grim drive. Lovely destination.

Traditional tatami mat room at a Japanese inn.

Rob Goss@robgoss· Jan 21

Today’s office.