Hans H. Kruger was born in 1949 in the little German town of Lemgo, the birthplace of the famous physician, botanist and writer on Japan, Engelbert Kaempfer (1651-1716). Since the age of 19, he worked as an editor for newspapers and magazines in Germany. In 1977, he started traveling to Asia. He wrote books on Hong Kong, Vietnam, pirates in the Philippines. Since his first journey to Japan, he fell in love with the country and its people. He lives with his Japanese wife Yoko in Munich.