Bookish Asia
with Plum Rain Press

Tom Gibb’s Charinko: Cycling Japan

What makes Japan such a good country to explore by bicycle? John Ross talks with longtime Japan resident Tom Gibb about the 2,500-km journey behind his new book, Charinko, published by Plum Rain Press.

Tom set off spectacularly underprepared: he had never done a long-distance cycling trip, knew almost nothing about bicycle maintenance, and was riding a decidedly unfashionable bike. Somehow, it carried him from Kyushu through western Japan and back towards his home in Ibaraki.

The conversation ranges from mountain roads, roadside camping and nightly onsen visits to Japan’s ubiquitous convenience stores, the pleasures of getting off the tourist trail, and the remarkable kindness Tom encountered along the way. They also discuss how travelling – alone and setting himself the challenge of having a conversation every day – helped Tom turn a cycling adventure into an immersion course in Japanese language and culture.

And if you want more Tom and John, check out their companion conversation on the Books on Asia podcast. You can support the podcast and press by buying the ebook, either on Plum Rain Press or Amazon.

Special Series: A Tale of Three Tribes in Dutch Formosa – Episode 10

With Episode 10 we’ve reached the end of our journey through Dr. Chen Yao-chang’s Three Tribes. Rather than give too much away about the novel’s final chapters here, we simply want to say thank you to everyone who has followed along with us. And special thanks to Scott Crawford for his help (learn more about his work at: www.scottforbescrawford.com)

And although this is the end for Maria, Chen Ze, and Uma, it isn’t quite the end of the story for us. We are working on a historical drama series called Plunder Isle, which is also set in Taiwan’s wild 1600s. And if you have any suggestions for future book read-along series, let us know. 

Happy reading.

Special Series: A Tale of Three Tribes in Dutch Formosa – Episode 9

Things move quickly as various threads come together in this gripping episode. The Dutch colony is nearing its end. Maria Hambroeck learns the fate of her family.

If you’ve come this far in our trial ten-part series, we’re very grateful. Thanks. And just in case you want to buy the book (to read along or for a friend):

E-book: A Tale of Three Tribes in Dutch Formosa – e-book

Paperback / Collector’s Edition: A Tale of Three Tribes in Dutch Formosa – paperback

Special Series: A Tale of Three Tribes in Dutch Formosa – Ep. 8

John Ross and Scott Crawford continue their ten-part read-along of Dr. Chen Yao-chang’s A Tale of Three Tribes in Dutch Formosa. This section of the novel, called “The Siege,” takes us deeper into 1661. Governor Frederick Coyett and the remaining VOC forces are still holding out inside Fort Zeelandia – and still clashing with Koxinga’s forces. We get action aplenty, but also quieter moments, such as when Maria Hambroeck unexpectedly finds herself working as an interpreter for Koxinga.

This ten-part series is an experiment – hopefully the first of many such projects. But we need your feedback. Is this read-along useful and enjoyable? What other books would you like to see given this long-form treatment? We’d love to hear your thoughts and suggestions.

To buy the book:

A Tale of Three Tribes in Dutch Formosa – e-book
https://www.plumrainpress.com/product-page/a-tale-of-three-tribes-in-dutch-formosa-e-book

A Tale of Three Tribes in Dutch Formosa – paperback / collector’s edition
https://www.plumrainpress.com/product-page/a-tale-of-three-tribes-in-dutch-formosa

Special Series: A Tale of Three Tribes in Dutch Formosa – Ep. 7

Scott Crawford and John Ross continue their ten-part read-along of Dr. Chen Yao-chang’s A Tale of Three Tribes in Dutch Formosa. Part Six of the novel, “At War,” brings us to 1661 and the invasion of Dutch Formosa. Koxinga’s fleet appears out of the fog and brings his forces ashore by an unexpected route. Fort Provintia falls, Dutch civilians flee through the countryside, and Fort Zeelandia becomes the last major VOC stronghold. The episode also brings us to one of the siege’s most famous scenes, as Reverend Antonius Hambroeck is sent into Fort Zeelandia with Koxinga’s demand for surrender – will he urge the Dutch defenders to yield or to keep fighting?

This ten-part series is an experiment – hopefully the first of many such projects. But we need your feedback. Is this read-along useful and enjoyable? What other books about East Asia (fiction or non-fiction) would you like to see given this long-form treatment? We’d love to hear your thoughts and suggestions.

To buy the book:

A Tale of Three Tribes in Dutch Formosa – e-book
https://www.plumrainpress.com/product-page/a-tale-of-three-tribes-in-dutch-formosa-e-book

A Tale of Three Tribes in Dutch Formosa – paperback / collector’s edition
https://www.plumrainpress.com/product-page/a-tale-of-three-tribes-in-dutch-formosa

Special Series: A Tale of Three Tribes in Dutch Formosa – Episode 6

Scott Crawford and John Ross continue their epic read-along, covering the years 1656–1660, as pressure builds on Dutch Formosa. Across the Taiwan Strait, Koxinga launches his great – but unsuccessful – campaign against Nanjing. A defector presents Koxinga with a plan for making Taiwan his new base. Meanwhile, Maria comes increasingly to regard Formosa as home. And Governor Frederick Coyett is convinced that an invasion is coming – but not everyone in the VOC agrees.

To buy the book:

A Tale of Three Tribes in Dutch Formosa – e-book
https://www.plumrainpress.com/product-page/a-tale-of-three-tribes-in-dutch-formosa-e-book

A Tale of Three Tribes in Dutch Formosa – paperback / collector’s edition
https://www.plumrainpress.com/product-page/a-tale-of-three-tribes-in-dutch-formosa

Bonus Episode: Halfway Through the Three Tribes Series

John Ross and Scott Crawford pause at the halfway point of their ten-part read-along to look at the story behind Dr. Chen Yao-chang’s novel and the man himself. We also learn about Scott. Next time, it will be back to 1661 and Koxinga’s invasion of Dutch Formosa.

Special Series: A Tale of Three Tribes in Dutch Formosa – Ep. 5

If you've made it to Episode 5, you are a true fan; thank you. In this chat, Scott Crawford and John Ross continue their ten-part read-along of Dr. Chen Yao-chang’s wonderful novel A Tale of Three Tribes in Dutch Formosa, beautifully translated by Ho Wen-ching and edited by Ian Maxwell.

Part Four, “Epidemic,” takes us into the uneasy aftermath of the bloody 1652 revolt. Chinese immigration to Dutch Formosa begins again, while Maria Hambroeck waits for news of Jan and hopes that he will finally make the long voyage from the Netherlands.

Events in Formosa are about to take an even darker turn. Locusts, earthquakes, a typhoon, hunger and disease descend upon the colony. Against this background, John and Scott look at everyday life in Dutch Formosa, religious tensions, the great Indigenous gathering known as the Landdag – and Maria’s growing realization that the Netherlands she left behind is becoming increasingly distant.

To follow the series:

Bookish Asia with Plum Rain Press – Apple Podcasts

Bookish Asia with Plum Rain Press – Spotify

To buy the book:

A Tale of Three Tribes in Dutch Formosa – e-book

A Tale of Three Tribes in Dutch Formosa – paperback / collector’s edition

Special Series: A Tale of Three Tribes in Dutch Formosa – Episode 4

John Ross and Scott Crawford continue their ten-part read-along of Dr. Chen Yao-chang’s epic novel A Tale of Three Tribes in Dutch Formosa, translated by Ho Wen-ching.

Part Three, Shackles, takes us to September 1652 and one of the bloodiest episodes in the history of Dutch Formosa: the Guo Huaiyi Rebellion. Thousands of Chinese farmers rise up against the Dutch East India Company. In Mattau, the Dutch call on their Indigenous allies for help. 

Meanwhile, Koxinga – watching events from across the Taiwan Strait – is engaged in his own life-and-death struggle.

For a deeper look at the real history behind these chapters, John and Scott have also recorded a standalone Formosa Files episode: The 1652 Revolt: The Guo Huaiyi Rebellion.

To buy the book:

A Tale of Three Tribes in Dutch Formosa (e-book)

A Tale of Three Tribes in Dutch Formosa (paperback / collector’s edition)

Special Series: A Tale of Three Tribes in Dutch Formosa – Episode 3

John Ross and Scott Crawford continue their ten-part read-along of Chen Yao-Chang’s historical novel A Tale of Three Tribes in Dutch Formosa. In Episode 3, covering Chapters 9–16, the story moves through the years 1649–1651. Maria Hambroeck is settling into life in Formosa, while Uma’s Dutch education brings new opportunities but also raises questions about the changes taking place in Siraya society. Meanwhile, Chen Ze is making his way in the Chinese maritime world.

Read along with us as we work our way through A Tale of Three Tribes in Dutch Formosa. You can buy the book from the Plum Rain Press website:

Paperback / Collector’s Edition:
A Tale of Three Tribes in Dutch Formosa – paperback

E-book:
A Tale of Three Tribes in Dutch Formosa – e-book

Special Series: A Tale of Three Tribes in Dutch Formosa – Episode 2

Scott Crawford and John Ross continue their special ten-part series devoted to Chen Yao-chang’s historical novel A Tale of Three Tribes in Dutch Formosa, translated by Ho Wen-ching.

In Episode 2, covering Chapters 5–8, we head out to sea. We meet Chen Ze, a Chinese mariner operating in the trading world built by Zheng Zhilong (merchant, pirate, admiral and father of the man who would become known as Koxinga). Meanwhile, Maria Hambroeck and her family are making their own long voyage to Formosa.

Read along with us as we work our way through A Tale of Three Tribes in Dutch Formosa.

You can buy book from the Plum Rain Press website:
Paperback / Collector’s Edition: A Tale of Three Tribes in Dutch Formosa – paperback
E-book: A Tale of Three Tribes in Dutch Formosa – e-book

Special Series: A Tale of Three Tribes in Dutch Formosa – Episode 1

John Ross and writer Scott Crawford begin a special ten-part read-along series on Chen Yao-Chang’s historical novel A Tale of Three Tribes in Dutch Formosa. The English edition, translated by Wen-ching Ho and edited by Ian Maxwell, is now available as an ebook as well as a paperback from the Plum Rain Press website.

In Episode 1, we are in the Netherlands in 1646. Sixteen-year-old Maria Hambroeck learns that her missionary father is taking the family halfway around the world to Formosa, leaving behind her home – and the young man she loves. Meanwhile, in Mattau in southwest Taiwan, we meet Uma, a young Siraya woman.

John and Scott discuss the characters, plot, and real history behind the novel. Read along with us as we work our way through A Tale of Three Tribes in Dutch Formosa.

You can buy the ebook and paperback at the Plum Rain Press Shopify Store.

John talks to Lee Moore about his unconventional history book, China’s Backstory, which focuses on four important China-related subjects that frequently make headlines: Taiwan, Xinjiang, the Chinese economy, and Hong Kong. John previously discussed the book’s Taiwan section with Lee on an episode of Formosa Files, and its Xinjiang and Hong Kong sections on the Books on Asia podcast. This time, they turn their attention to China’s economy, focusing on three historical periods that offer powerful lessons for the present day. We think you’ll agree that the conversation is both informative and highly entertaining.

Be sure to check out:

• China’s Backstory: The History Beijing Doesn’t Want You to Read

• Lee Moore on Formosa Files: “China’s Backstory” and Taiwan before 1800

• Lee Moore on the Books on Asia podcast: Xinjiang, the Uyghurs, and China’s Backstory

• The Chinese Literature Podcast, hosted by Lee Moore

Minnesotan Sarah Coomber discusses life in small-town Japan in the 1990s, the subject

of her beautiful memoir. She arrived there as a recently divorced twenty-four-year-old

hoping to spend a quiet, reflective year teaching English on the JET Program. But

before long, she would befriend a local salaryman and…

New Zealand writer Frank Beyer (who goes under the name F.E. Beyer) talks to John about novels featuring a much maligned creature: the Western English teacher in East Asia. Frank is something of a connoisseur of these stories, and his latest novel, The Crushed Can, adds to the canon. This fun page-turner is set in Shanghai in 2002, where a young protagonist called Kurt has just made his life more complicated by taking in his friend’s former girlfriend, a Chinese woman called Ronghua.

Exploring the tropes of the foreign English teacher in China, Japan, and South Korea, Frank talks about: Tuvalu by Andrew O’Connor; White Monkey by Carlos Hughes; Foreign Teachers by Sam Wade, American Fuji by Sara Backer; and River East, River West by Aube Rey Lescure. Other titles discussed or mentioned include: Peter Hessler’s acclaimed River Town: Two Years on the Yangtze, which gets some good-natured ribbing (and is the subject of a running joke in The Crushed Can, where it appears as Lake Town by Paula Hess). Also mentioned are Hessler’s Country Driving (2010) and Other Rivers: A Chinese Education (2024).

John mentions books he’s been involved in publishing: The Cuttlefish by Chris Tharp, Up to the Mountains and Down to the Countryside by Quincy Carroll, and Tom Carter’s An American Bum in China. He also praises John Dalton’s Heaven Lake.

To learn more about or purchase The Crushed Can (and Frank’s first two works, Buenos Aires Triad and Smoko) visit Amazon. You’ll find some of his articles and book reviews at www.febeyer.com.

John chats with Jenna Cody about some of her favorite works of Taiwan fiction. Jenna, an American based in Taipei, is the author of the long-running blog Lao Ren Cha (now on Substack). Lao Ren Cha (“Old Man Tea”) is the most popular English-language blog on Taiwan; it focuses on Taiwan culture, politics, and books. In this Bookish Asia episode, the four main works discussed are Green Island by Shawna Yang Ryan (2016), The Butcher’s Wife by Li Ang (Chinese 1983; English edition 1986), Migrante by J. W. Henley (2020), and Taipei People by Pai Hsien-yung (Chinese 1971; English edition 1982). Jenna is known for her strong opinions and she doesn’t disappoint in this wide-ranging discussion. Make sure to listen to the very end to hear about the Plum Rain Press book giveaway.

The first emperor of China dispatched expeditions to the world’s far corners with a life-and-death task; find and bring back the elixir of immortality. Most famous among these explorers was a Taoist priest named Xu Fu, who sailed into the Eastern Seas. Xu Fu and his fleet vanished. Some legends say he settled in Japan. In Tim McGirk’s novel, Xu Fu goes beyond Japan, traversing the Pacific Ocean and landing upon the shores of the land of the Maya. In this fun Bookish Asia podcast conversation, John Ross and Tim McGirk discuss Xu Fu, Tim’s novel and his work as a foreign correspondent for Time magazine.

Learn more about Elixir at Amazon or Plum Rain Press https://www.plumrainpress.com/ Or at Tim McGirk's website: https://www.timmcgirk.com/

Busan-based author Chris Tharp chats with John about The Cuttlefish, his hilarious novel set in the fictional East Asian island nation of Sukhan. The protagonist is an American called Zach who finds himself in Sukhan’s toughest prison: National Correctional Facility Number 4, nicknamed “the Cuttlefish.” That might sound bleak but this story is a huge amount of fun. Listen and learn what the the author and the main character have in common – and whether the miraculous gayabonga is an actual Korean delicacy.

Controversial China figure and author Mark Kitto chats with John about his new novel, China Running Dog, set in the days of peak Shanghai Fever. It’s a brilliant novel and arguably more revealing than Kitto’s excellent memoirs; China Cuckoo and That’s China.

Canadian John Groot first came to Taiwan in 2001, fell in love with the island and its friendly people, and decided to stay. Years later, looking for a big adventure and a way to forge deeper bonds with his adopted home, he decided to walk around the entire coastline of Taiwan. He set off on foot from his home in Tamsui in the far north of the country, traveling clockwise around the island on weekends and holidays. It would turn out to be an eight-year trek. This unique ground-level look at Taiwan resulted in a very special travelogue: Taiwanese Feet.

For more information about the book, and Groot’s other writings on Taiwan and beyond, visit his blog: The Culture Shack.

Sam Baldwin chats about his life-changing two years as an English teacher on the JET Programme in the Japanese town of Ono, Fukui Prefecture. Snow-loving Sam made the most of his time in this backwoods location, especially during the winters, one of which was a record-breaker.  For Fukui’s Sake is a standout among the books written by JET participants, which is why John asked Sam to contribute to an anthology, Inaka: Portraits of Life in Rural Japan. This Bookish Asia episode also touches on Sam’s latest book, Dormice & Moonshine: Falling for Slovenia, a beautiful account of his travels around the former Yugoslav republic and his adventures buying a 300-year-old sausage-curing cabin in the Slovenia mountains.

John talks with Taipei-based photographer Chris Stowers about his new book, Shoot, Ask ... and Run!, an account of his journalistic travels and life in Asia in the early 1990s. In this episode, adventures are discussed, the romance of pre-Internet travel fondly recalled, and favorite books given praise.

If you want to hear about Chris’s first travelogue, Bugis Nights, you can listen to the three-part “Free China Junk” story told on Formosa Files: the History of Taiwan podcast. Chris also discussed photographing Taiwan in a bonus FF episode.

Veteran East Asia journalist Ralph Jennings discusses his guide to understanding Chinese people and culture. His “Useful Tips” are better described as “insights,” as these are not your usual “Never stick chopsticks upright in a bowl of rice” or “Never give a clock as a gift” kind of advice. Among the 50 chapters in Ralph’s book are: Why It’s Always So Noisy in China; Family as an Economic, Social and Religious Unit; Who to Impress if Marrying a Chinese Person; Why Hands Don’t Get Raised at Meetings; and, What’s Up with Gambling, from Macau to the Financial Markets?

Zhou Youguang (周有光) was one of the creators of Hanyu Pinyin, a system of romanization for Chinese characters. Introduced to PRC elementary schools in the late 1950s, it was instrumental in improving China’s literacy rates. Zhou had an extraordinary life and a long one, living to the age of 111. Prolific Hong Kong-based author Mark O’Neill shares his knowledge and admiration for this underappreciated scholar.

(Apologies for the audio quality.)

Robert Norris has been in Japan since 1983, mostly in Dazaifu (near Fukuoka on the island of Kyushu). He retired from university teaching in 2016, returning once more to his passion of writing. The result is a memoir of both his and his mother’s life. In this episode we look at Robert’s time in Japan, from his early days learning Japanese by being in a softball team to his busy university years as a dean. For more information on his writing, visit his website.

Chris Ruffle returns to Bookish Asia (we covered his memoir A Decent Bottle of Wine in China in Episode 2) to discuss his autobiographical novel, which is set in Beijing in 1983. After decades of Cold War tensions, China is starting to reopen to the West. In the story, a young Englishman, working at a trading company, finds himself in a budding romance. But there’s a problem; the father of the Chinese woman he likes is asking for access to forbidden foreign technology.

American Kim Liao describes unraveling her family’s mysterious history. Her grandfather was Taiwanese independence movement leader Thomas Liao (1910–1986); Kim, who grew up with family members and relatives silent on this remarkable man, set out to investigate. The resulting book covers multiple stories; that of her family and also Taiwan’s fight for freedom in the White Terror years.

(Note: John also recorded another episode with Kim focusing on Thomas Liao – see Formosa Files S4-E23)

John talks with John Saeki about tigers in Hong Kong. The big cats once made frequent and sometimes deadly forays into the territory, even reaching islands such as Lamma and Lantau. Listen and learn about the 1911 Stanley Tiger, the Sheung Shui Tiger of 1915 which left two British policemen dead, and the Shing Mun Rambler of 1965, possibly the last tiger to stalk the hills of Hong Kong. They also discuss the fabled “Blue Tiger” of Fujian Province.

Thomas Bird was living in Southern China when he decided to explore the country by train and write a book about it. A great idea – and long overdue; the last notable railway-flavored China travelogue was Paul Theroux’s “Riding the Iron Rooster” (1988). Taking advantage of China’s rapidly expanding high-speed train network, Thomas journeyed far and wide. He also sought out the old lines and trains. Although framed around trains, “Harmony Express” is above all an account of the people he meets along the way and what China is like today. The book and this podcast episode will be of interest not just to train enthusiasts but for anyone interested in China (and those who think Bruce Chatwin is overrated).

John talks with Chris Bates about one of Taiwan’s greatest ever martial artists, Hong Yixiang 洪懿祥 (1925–1993). He was Taiwan’s foremost master of the Chinese internal martial arts (which consist of baguazhang 八卦掌, xingyiquan 形意拳 and taijiquan 太極拳.) The Hong family learnt these fighting forms from exiled Mainlanders who fled the communists in the late 1940s. These skills were put to good use in dealing with local gangsters in the turbulent post-WWII years in Taipei.

Chris, who trained with Hong and his sons, translated his biography “Blurred Boundaries,” written by son Hong Ze-han, into English. Like the book, this Bookish Asia episode is not just a conversation about kung fu, but a rich cultural dive down little-known alleys.

(Note: This is a slightly longer version – with added mentions of the translation and publisher – of an edition which ran on the Formosa Files podcast on June 13/2024. Chris also previously spoke with John about his own martial arts odyssey in Taiwan: “Bonus Episode: Way of the Warrior - Martial Arts Master Chris Bates,” May 25, 2023.)

Ever dream of owning a vineyard? Yorkshireman Chris Ruffle did, and to make things even more interesting he decided to do it from scratch in the countryside of Shandong Province. And don’t forget the castle, a Scottish castle, which he built at the site. Chris’ adventure was often more nightmare than rural idyll, but it certainly gave him lots of stories and great insights into the country and people. It’s one thing to live and work in a country, but investing all your savings in a business gives a unique experience and perspective. A Decent Bottle of Wine in China is a unique book which joins the ranks of foreigner accounts such as Tim Clissold’s Mr. China and Mark Kitto’s China Cuckoo. Thankfully, this tale has a happy ending, and his Treaty Port Vineyards is flourishing.

Veteran Hong Kong-based journalist and prolific author Mark O'Neill tells us what Taiwan was like in the early 1980s, when he first came to study Chinese. Despite a mysterious knife attack and various authoritarian elements (such as “mail boxes” for reporting spies and subversives), he loved the country. Over the next four decades, he made numerous trips back, witnessing and reporting on Taiwan’s transformation from one party rule to an admirable democracy. “The Island” is not Mark’s first Taiwan book – earlier works include ones on Buddhist charity Tzu Chi and the National Palace Museum – so he brings both depth and breadth to his entertaining look at the country. As such, it’s our pleasure for Mark to kick off the Bookish Asia podcast.