Mark Brazil: Author, Naturalist, Lecturer and Expedition Leader

“the man who put Japan's amazing birding on the map.”

Mark Carmody

Dr Mark Andrew Brazil:

Formerly professor of Biodiversity and Conservation at Rakuno Gakuen University, Hokkaido;

Previously scientific advisor/researcher for Natural History Television New Zealand;

Currently author, naturalist and lecturer in ornithology, natural history and ecotourism; expedition leader in Japan, Bhutan, Brazil, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Consultant to radio and television companies for programme development, and to travel and adventure companies for itinerary development and realization.

On board expedition-cruise vessels, Mark works as a lecturer, as a zodiac driver, or as an expedition leader. On land programmes, Mark works as expedition leader, naturalist and ornithologist.

Author of:

• A Birdwatcher's Guide to Japan (1987)
• The Birds of Japan (1991)
• Wild Asia (2000)
• The Whooper Swan (2003)
• Field Guide to the Birds of East Asia (2009)

Most recently:

• The Nature of Japan (2018)
• Field Guide to the Birds of Japan (2018)

Forthcoming:

• The Natural History of an Asian Archipelago (2021)
• Wild Hokkaido (2021)

Mark writes travel and natural history related materials, and edits papers for a number of scientific journals.

Mark has contributed various book chapters, and numerous papers and articles in journals and newspapers concerning the natural history, avifauna, wildlife and environment of Japan and East Asia. He has travelled extensively in the region, and worldwide, both for research and in his capacity as a staff naturalist for Zegrahm and Eco Expeditions, and lectures frequently on the birds and natural history of East Asia.

Mark Brazil Lectures

Mark has been Wild Watch columnist for The Japan Times newspaper since April 1982 - the longest, still running natural history column in any newspaper in the world. He is also writer in residence for JapanVisitor.com

Born in Worcestershire, England, educated at Keele University, Staffordshire, and Stirling University, Scotland, he is now based in west Hokkaido, Japan, just outside the city of Sapporo. He is a keen mountain hiker, downhill skier, and cross-country skier in addition to being a keen naturalist and birder.

Mark is the founder of Japan Nature Guides a guiding service team for Japan, and a producer of Apps and books.