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Everybody has a top 10 list about what they want to accomplish in their lives, and they should. For those who are honest with themselves, it can be a fun way to discover what your real goals and passions are. Of course, most people say similar things like having children, living every day to the fullest, est. Mine are a bit more unorthodox than that, but I think that's okay too. So here in easy-to-read, top-to-bottom, left-to-right format are my goals in life.

10. I've always wanted to spend at least a year living in Japan. The country and its culture have fascinated me since I was a child. My love for Japan was what fueled my interest in virtually all my other great loves in life; philosophy, foreign films, painting, the martial arts. It even inspired me to pick up Japanese as a second language. Though I've never been there, so much of my life has been immersed in the culture that for me Japan is like a second home.

9. Everyone has their own musical preferences, and I consider mine to be pretty varied. But my favorite singer of all time is undoubtedly the J-rocker Gackt. Gackt is one of those rare performers whose very presence seems to fuse with their music. Even though the stuff from his days with Malice Mizer is a bit too creepy goth for me, I love virtually all of his music written since going solo. So coming in at number nine, I would like at least once to attend a Gackt concert.

8. My love of the martial arts is no secret. From watching ninjas and samurai duke it out as a kid to actually learning the arts myself, it's been a wild ride. Though I've never favored one system over another, the martial arts have allowed me to explore my own capabilities, body and mind, and find comfort in knowing who I am. However, even though I seldom ever use my knowledge for fighting, and even though I'm not currently associated with a particular dojo or training center, I would love just once to participate in a real martial arts competition.

7. I've always wanted to go to the Forbidden City. The name says it all, doesn't it? How can you pass that up, especially with my fascination with the Oriental mystique? I know some billionaire built a miniature replica out in Texas, but that's just not the same. There is literally over 5,000 years of history in those halls. How I would love to get lost in that, if only for a short while.

6. Okay, ever since seeing Highlander as a kid I've wanted to learn the sword. Particularly the katana, or Japanese long-sword. I know that's kind of

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