I am an academic and author. I became interested in Japan whilst at high school at Concord College, Shrewsbury. I went on to study Business Studies and Japanese at Sheffield University. I then spent a year on the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme, being based in Seto, Aichi prefecture. After that I returned to Sheffield to do a PhD in Japanese studies before working in academia. I continue to do research about Japan, particularly related to inter-city transportation. I have worked as the Director of Japanese Studies at Cardiff University and served as the President of the British Association for Japanese Studies. In 2016 I was awarded a Certificate of Commendation from the Japanese Ambassador to the UK for my service to contributing to the deepening of mutual understanding and friendship between Japan and UK.My books include: FOUR, Tokyo 20/20 Vision, Hijacking Japan, Japan: The Basics, Osutaka: A Chronicle of Loss in the World’s Largest Single Plane Crash, Dealing with Disaster in Japan: Responses to the Flight JL123 Crash, Shinkansen: From Bullet Train to Symbol of Modern Japan, and Japanese Education Reform: Nakasone’s Legacy. You can follow me on social media via:Twitter: @HoodCP Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Christopher.P.Hood/ Webpage: https://hoodcp.wordpress.com/Read more about this authorRead less about this author