About Howard - Your Guide
Howard and Motorbikes
Howard has been an enthusiastic motorcyclist since passing his full bike test in 1997. He first rode a Honda super cub 50cc in Japan in 1995/6 when he was an exchange student at Kumamoto university in Kyushu. Back in the UK, his first larger bike in 2001 was a Honda CBR600F which was perfect for town and country. Since then Howard has owned a Suzuki GSXR, a Honda CB1100 and now rides a Yamaha FJR1300.
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Howard passed his advanced riding test with the Institute of Advanced Motorcyclists (IAM) in 2021 and has much experience of guiding groups of riders.
Howard and Japan
Howard first spent time in Japan during a Gap Year back in 1993, when he lived with a family in Osaka, and also travelled to Shimonoseki, Shikoku, Tokyo and worked at a ski hotel in Nagano.
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Howard studied Japanese at university in the UK, and was an exchange student in Kumamoto university in 1995/6.
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Upon graduation, Howard worked in a local government office in Ume town, southern Oita prefecture in Kyushu. Whilst working and living in Oita, Howard travelled extensively all around Kyushu island by bicycle, motorcycle and car! He has climbed Kaimondake in Kagoshima, cycled around Sakurajima, biked around Aso and Kuju, swum around islands off Nagasaki coast and run through the central mountains of Kyushu.
Kyushu is Howard's second home.
