John McBride AM, has taught at WEA in the field of Japanese history and art for over ten years. John majored in Japanese classical literature at a major national university in Tokyo before graduate study at the ANU and Melbourne Business School. He has a passionate interest in walking in Japan along ancient highways and pilgrimage routes. His ability to impart an eye for history while travelling in Japan is well appreciated by his students. His first lecture at WEA over 10 years ago about following in the footsteps of the Haiku Poet Matsuo Basho was voted by CNN as the top Four Walk in the World. John has been walking the old historical paths of Japan for over 45 years and this love for his subject is felt keenly by his students. Prior to teaching at WEA John had a corporate career in Japan and has supported young artists all his life, both for which he was awarded an Order of Australia in 2010.
