In a change from our originally published programme we will now have Mike Laird returning to the Club to give a talk on a journey he undertook from Tokyo to the most remote Japanese island of Yonaguni-Jima.

Landing in Tokyo the journey destination was all the planning that Mike had done before arriving in Japan. Taking in the ancient and less well-known sights of the capital introduced some very unusual customs, ancient sights and outstanding cuisine. Travelling on to Kyoto, the cultural capital, to marvel at the Buddhist temples, Shinto shrines, palaces and gardens. Osaka provided its iconic castle built by infamous Shoguns. The final stop on this 2,000-kilometre route was the distant island of Yonaguni, its underwater city and more than enough sharks to make anyone uncomfortable in the water.

Mike Laird has, since his earliest years, been fascinated by extreme challenges, remote travel and the less trodden path. He has, amongst other things, visited almost 100 countries, engaged with remote tribes, cycled and walked across various countries, skied full distance to the North Pole, been a troop photographer in Afghanistan, spent a year on reality TV and skied 640kms solo across all of Lake Baikal in Siberia.

He has been awarded Fellowships to both the Royal Geographical Society and the Royal Asiatic Society. He is an Honorary member of the Anglo-Bolivian Society and was a Trustee of the Scientific Exploration Society for ten years.