Just Passing Through Podcast
Step into 'Just Passing Through,' the podcast that chronicles my Yorkshireman adventures navigating the maze of Japanese life. No guarantees of laughter, but we promise a healthy dose of raised eyebrows and bemused chuckles.
In each episode, we'll explore the quirky intersections of cultures, from attempting to decipher the intricacies of local customs to introducing Japan to the wonders of a proper brew. It's a podcast where culture shock meets dry Yorkshire wit – a journey through the everyday absurdities that make life interesting.
So, if you're up for a laid-back, eyebrow-raising, and occasionally head-scratching experience, hit that download button. 'Just Passing Through' – where each episode is a detour into the unpredictable and a reminder that life's little oddities are the spice of the journey."
Enjoy,Darren.
Just Passing Through Podcast
Samuel Cocking ~ The Merchant who Changed Japan
Episode 184
The story of Samuel Cocking is one of ambition, innovation, and an unbreakable connection between a foreigner and a rapidly changing Japan. In the wake of the Meiji Restoration, as the country opened its doors to the West, a young British-Australian merchant saw not only opportunity but the promise of a new future—one built on modernization, industry, and cultural exchange.
From his early ventures in Yokohama to his remarkable acquisition of Enoshima, Cocking’s life was a testament to vision and perseverance. He introduced the first lightbulbs to Japan, brought in bicycles, and built vast greenhouses, transforming a small island into a flourishing botanical haven. But his legacy extends beyond commerce and innovation—it is woven into the very fabric of Japan’s modernization, a chapter often overlooked in history books.
This is the story of a man who refused to let the past dictate the future, a pioneer whose dream lives on in the gardens, pathways, and glowing lights of Enoshima.
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