Japanese Affairs: English As A Funny Language

1986. Japan. An English Language Teaching conference in Tokyo, and a major feature film production in Kyoto. Hollywood action hero Donny Kavenagh is starring alongside award winning art film star, Zen Sierra. The mysterious Junn is an English teacher who dresses in traditional Japanese costume and is a reluctant visitor to the big conference, as well as a recruit as a film extra. Roger Fleetwood is in Japan to cement his teaching guru status (but so is his ex-wife), and Graham Donaldson has just completed American Intercourse which is merely the title of an English textbook. Their old boss Malcolm O'Reilly is another on his first visit to Japan. The Americans contrast with our British party. Hiram is the local publisher's rep and is a professional Southerner. Then there's the elderly and foul-mouthed linguistics expert, Aphra Mosconi, from Chicago, Elaine, Graham's American editor and Hazel the clearly Canadian conference organizer. Debbie, the Aussie backpacker, turns out to be a karate expert.