Born in Yokohama, Japan, at the age of 12 months my family moved lock, stock and barrel to Dublin, Ireland where my father was one of the original 6 Karate Masters to bring Wado-Ryu Karate to Europe in the late 1960's. Eventually settling in Birmingham, England at the age of 6 and spending my formative years there, I am more 'Brummie' (the term used to describe someone from the Birmingham area of the United Kingdom) than Japanese in every sense, particularly in my outlook on life and sense of humour.

Banished by my father to Japan's top Karate school at the age of 16 to have some discipline and sense instilled in me after becoming a 'wild youth' I came back to England a little disorientated until I met Gina just a few months later who gave me direction and meaning in life.

That was 22 years ago. Since then we have shared many adventures, some extra-ordinary, others a little less so, but always experiencing life to the maximum. I feel as though we have lived several lifetimes already and I want to live several lifetimes more before leaving this mortal coil.

Thanks for reading this bio, as unpolished or awkward as it may be.

Gina who is my best friend, soul mate and wife. We live with our 8 beautiful female rats Mrs Peabody, Maris, Piper, Queequeg, Feebie, Roo Roo McFlea, Willow and Cookie.

PETA

World Wildlife Fund

Cancer Research

British Heart Foundation