Hailing from ‘the North’, Emma grew up drinking too much tea and kissing boys in the back of cinemas. Realising these pastimes had limited future earning potential, she moved to London to seek her fortune by obtaining a degree in Philosophy. Five years later, she is still waiting for the position of ‘Resident Philosopher’ to pop up on Guardian Jobs. She now lives in Tokyo, where she writes for local English lifestyle magazines and, unable to speak Japanese, attempts to communicate through the art of mime.