C. W. Nikoru

C.W. Nicol was born in Wales and went to school in Cheltenham, England. He left on the first of fifteen arctic expeditions at the age of seventeen. One of his school chums was Brian Jones, formerly of The Rolling Stones. Nic is a Japanese citizen and for the last thirty-three years has lived in the Japan Alps. He tells the most incredible and often outrageous stories...leaving home for an arctic expedition at the age of seventeen being one of them. He over-wintered on Devon Island, sleeping in an igloo that he built himself, and shot two invading polar bears at point blank range, after which he and his comrades ate them. He was one of Britain's youngest professional wrestlers. Came to Japan for the first time in 1962 to learn martial arts and gained fifth dan in Shotokan style Karate, (honourable 7th. dan). Established a mountain national park in Ethiopia, chasing bandits and poachers. Sailed aboard many whaling ships as an observer, including joining the Japanese whaling fleet to the Antarctic. He was a partner of a two-man stand up comedy team, appearing on stage and television in Japan. Has published over a hundred and twenty books. Released two CDs of songs with Toshiba EMI and held his own concert in the Budokan. Has presented hundreds of Japanese television documentaries. Helped establish a college to train park rangers and people involved in eco-tourism and environmental assessment. For the last three decades has been restoring a beautiful woodland in the Japan Alps, creating a woodland trust which has been granted UNESCO Japan 'Heritage of the Future' status. Has made fine single cask malt whisky, legally, with the Nikka Company. He is extremely well-known all over Japan and has been invited to tea by the Emperor and Empress. Prince Charles came to visit Nic's woodland in 2009. His woodland trust is helping an elementary school destroyed in the 2011 earthquake and tsunami to relocate to wooded hills, and the school will be constructed of wood, with acres of woodland to be a nature classroom.

Wild tales for sure, but they all check out, that is, at least, the stories that he has put in print or admitted to in public. His friends all know that he loves to drink, sing and tell stories, and that he also delights in cooking for his friends, which is why he had his own weekly cooking program for a year on Japanese television. But those are more stories...Some folk call him 'red devil' but he claims that his ruddiness is caused by delicate Celtic skin, not by a love for Japanese shochu and good whisky.