tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69761937926727873372024-03-13T00:24:47.281-04:00The Life of ThayneAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05276608442440158756noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6976193792672787337.post-67954451098306862382014-09-01T19:18:00.000-04:002014-09-01T19:18:29.291-04:00Getting settled in UtsunomiyaWe got up Monday morning, took the free shuttle bus back to the airport from the hotel, and used the money they gave us to buy bus tickets from there to Utsunomiya station. My card didn't work at the ATMs, so we had to use Jamin's for everything big, and I'll have to pay him back when I get my card working.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PycQJ00OiKs/VATyigya-gI/AAAAAAAABps/thyV1ItfRpQ/s1600/Japan%2B2019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PycQJ00OiKs/VATyigya-gI/AAAAAAAABps/thyV1ItfRpQ/s1600/Japan%2B2019.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here is the first shot of Sky Tree from the bus. It was pretty cloudy all day.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We arrived at the station a little before 1:00, and since we weren't supposed to meet up with Charlie until 4:30, we decided we'd walk there and take our time looking at things, eating lunch, and so on. We briefly stopped at a large shrine along the main road.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VyY69F_3MFY/VATzawqCGII/AAAAAAAABp8/lLnKhDv1HZ8/s1600/Japan%2B2025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VyY69F_3MFY/VATzawqCGII/AAAAAAAABp8/lLnKhDv1HZ8/s1600/Japan%2B2025.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stairs up to the main part of the shrine. It's pretty striking in the middle of a busy city street.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2nNGh7ix3G0/VATza3Ot2CI/AAAAAAAABp0/BcGqBKjNaEU/s1600/Japan%2B2026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2nNGh7ix3G0/VATza3Ot2CI/AAAAAAAABp0/BcGqBKjNaEU/s1600/Japan%2B2026.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jamin looking at the large torii in an open space in front of the stairs.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We climbed up some side stairs instead of the main ones, but they worked around to the same point. There were a few different buildings up there, but this one seemed most interesting to me.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7AGPLjaXi-s/VATzbMPW6rI/AAAAAAAABp4/0svQjIfl3MQ/s1600/Japan%2B2039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7AGPLjaXi-s/VATzbMPW6rI/AAAAAAAABp4/0svQjIfl3MQ/s1600/Japan%2B2039.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A long line of torii leading to a shrine that had a small table with offerings to a local god, I suppose. It looked like a few people had left some food, including convenience store bread. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e6w3tfX7RoM/VATzhmQ8iZI/AAAAAAAABqQ/h_7At1LNvR0/s1600/Japan%2B2043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e6w3tfX7RoM/VATzhmQ8iZI/AAAAAAAABqQ/h_7At1LNvR0/s1600/Japan%2B2043.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There were I believe four kitsune (fox) statues just outside the front doorway, three of which had red bandanas tied around them.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I didn't take many more pictures today, unfortunately. It's mostly just been typical Japanese city streets, which I've photographed enough times in the past, I think. However, Jamin and I spotted this as we were walking.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CSIQctjehDg/VATzhXYbaQI/AAAAAAAABqM/N_UlKfpeOQ0/s1600/Japan%2B2050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="a photograph of a restaurant named "Rice Reaf" (Leaf with an R)" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CSIQctjehDg/VATzhXYbaQI/AAAAAAAABqM/N_UlKfpeOQ0/s1600/Japan%2B2050.JPG" height="426" title="" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Somewhat unfortunate Engrish, though definitely not the worst I've seen.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The shrine didn't take too long to see, so we went the opposite way down a side street towards some castle ruins, I think. The maps said that, but we didn't make it that far. Instead, we saw a shopping arcade on Orion street and decided to walk through looking for food and interesting stores. We stopped to eat at a Matsuya, where I got a "hamburg" steak (more like meatloaf) and egg meal, and Jamin got some gyuudon (beef bowl - beef on rice), to which he added a raw egg, stirring it in. I've tried similar, but didn't care for the nearly raw egg, as you may recall if you read my blog from two years ago.<br />
<br />
After the meal, we went to a store in the arcade that was all anime-based goods. It was actually several stores in one building, each on separate floors. We looked around for most of the remaining time there, but didn't end up buying anything. I might go back later for something though. They had lots of used figures for good deals, music CDs, DVDs, and a bunch of doujinshi and other books. For manga, though, you can't beat Book Off's prices, so I didn't even look through them here.<br />
<br />
As it was getting close to time to meet up, we left and walked the remaining two miles or so to the school where Charlie teaches. I didn't have an actual map, so we were relying on reading the signs and talking to people to get directions. We found what I was pretty sure was the school wall, and a teacher standing at a nearby corner, so I asked for directions to the specific area I wanted in order to confirm, and even though I was the one asking, he immediately turned to Jamin to respond. The same thing happened when we talked to the crossing guard in front of the main gate, and, really, every time we've talked to anyone so far. It's already getting a little annoying, but the real problem is that because he's here, everyone assumes he speaks Japanese and talks at full speed without enunciating, making it harder on me trying to actually understand. I generally get it, though. Just not used to hearing the language like that quite yet. Well, I shouldn't say that. Many people spoke to me as if I were fluent during previous visits (probably in hopes I was so they didn't have to worry about it). But now that I've got an Asian with me, they assume I'm not.<br />
<br />
We met Charlie outside the school, after giving up waiting for him inside because we weren't quite sure where inside we would see him. I was actually surprised they let us in, but it was after class hours, with just the clubs still around, so I guess they weren't too worried. By this point, it had started raining enough to warrant an umbrella, and that kept up for most of the rest of the day.<br />
<br />
He led us down the street to his apartment, where we dropped off most of our things (including my camera) and took a short break before going out to the stores in the area. We first went to a Hard Off/Book Off (same company, different types of products). The Hard Off was for old hardware. We got an ethernet cable to use with Jamin's mini wireless router he brought, and they also had a bunch of old games and game systems, really old CRT TVs, oscilloscope, and other cool stuff. I ended up buying a cheap PS2 game (Memories Off Duet, a visual novel I know only by name), and a few random manga for practice later (one of which turned out to also be a currently-airing anime, which I didn't even realize until after I bought it because I didn't check the title).<br />
<br />
After that, we stopped by the supermarket and got some groceries. I mostly picked up non-perishables that I could eat for snacks and light breakfasts, and an old karaage bentou (fried chicken with rice and some small side dishes) for dinner. We spent the rest of the evening talking and making plans for the next few days, and went to bed a little after midnight.<br />
<br />
We're now waiting for our luggage to arrive. Charlie left for work a few minutes ago. As soon as we get our luggage, get cleaned up and repacked, then we're heading out to Tokyo for a few days to tour around Akihabara and Asakusa, possibly among other places. I won't be bringing my laptop, so no more blog posts at least until we come back Friday night.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6976193792672787337.post-70734694974357207742014-08-31T13:48:00.000-04:002014-08-31T13:50:33.003-04:00The longest trip yetI left home around 6:15 this morning, picked up my friend Jamin, and headed to the airport. We arrived a little after 7:00 for a 9:50 flight to New York, made it through security very quickly, and sat around the airport for a couple hours before leaving. That first flight was short and pretty uneventful. However, they only gave us two of our three boarding passes when we checked in, and told us we'd have to get the third later. We also had no gate number for our second flight.<br />
<br />
When we arrived at JFK in New York, I asked someone where the next flight was, and she directed us to the terminal on the exact opposite side of the airport, so we walked and rode our way there, arriving just a few minutes before they started boarding. We had to get out and go through security again in between, since we were changing terminals, and I had a bunch of water left in my water bottle, so I had to quickly down the rest of it to get on, then refilled it before we left. We also got called over to the Air China desk, where they had our boarding passes ready for the rest of the trip. I had been worried about having to pick them up in Beijing.<br />
<br />
That second flight was way too long. 13 1/2 hours to get to Beijing, and just about everyone on the plane was Chinese, so I couldn't really understand much. I did at least get to watch the new Muppets movie, but it was really hard to hear. As for the food, they served two meals, which were actually pretty good. Chinese food, which I prefer over Japanese in general.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tScOcWh0fmE/VANW53McdFI/AAAAAAAABoU/BxtQaHL1TAE/s1600/IMG_1142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tScOcWh0fmE/VANW53McdFI/AAAAAAAABoU/BxtQaHL1TAE/s1600/IMG_1142.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chicken and rice with cabbage, I think. Plus some basic fruits, rolls (I got an extra one when they offered), yogurt, and some strange but actually pretty good corn-and-something mix for desert.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-32BscgacmTI/VANW6JQuHiI/AAAAAAAABoY/NaKZlwycCdM/s1600/IMG_1143.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-32BscgacmTI/VANW6JQuHiI/AAAAAAAABoY/NaKZlwycCdM/s1600/IMG_1143.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My second meal, pork and fried rice.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yrFubspmrvk/VANW59faOlI/AAAAAAAABog/p3y2PjhHGho/s1600/IMG_1144.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yrFubspmrvk/VANW59faOlI/AAAAAAAABog/p3y2PjhHGho/s1600/IMG_1144.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jamin got the beef noodles instead, but he thinks the rice would have been better.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The plane went through the arctic circle, pretty close to the north pole. I've only gone through Alaska before, never that far north.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j0mPrNUzDpU/VANW7d5vsyI/AAAAAAAABoo/tXrSE9_gv7U/s1600/IMG_1145.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j0mPrNUzDpU/VANW7d5vsyI/AAAAAAAABoo/tXrSE9_gv7U/s1600/IMG_1145.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here you can see our flight path around the halfway point. Our time of arrival is n/a, so... we won't ever arrive?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We did finally land, and had to get out and walk through security again, before which I once again drank almost my whole water bottle, since I didn't need much of it during the flight.</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HRm83TMWuxg/VANW70r4KlI/AAAAAAAABos/pe6HtIllkYE/s1600/IMG_1146.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HRm83TMWuxg/VANW70r4KlI/AAAAAAAABos/pe6HtIllkYE/s1600/IMG_1146.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lines were pretty long. Longer for those staying in China than those of us passing through.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Here comes the fun part. We actually didn't have any real trouble getting around, since enough of the signs were in English, and the security people spoke well enough too. We got to the gate, though, and when I looked outside, instead of a plane, there was a bus. Kind of amusing. We got to rest a little bit (maybe 15-20 minutes) before boarding started, then lined up and squeezed into the bus with everyone else. We'll call it practice for Tokyo's rush hour trains. The bus drove us out onto the tarmac, past a bunch of planes, luggage cars, etc., into the middle of a big open space with our plane, where we climbed up the stairs and got on. I haven't done that before; it's always been through the tubes that go directly from the airport to the plane.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U4OaZubECIQ/VANW8koGxBI/AAAAAAAABo4/wxyJQ4rb2cY/s1600/IMG_1151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U4OaZubECIQ/VANW8koGxBI/AAAAAAAABo4/wxyJQ4rb2cY/s1600/IMG_1151.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moving up to board the plane.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We noticed a few drops of rain on the windows shortly after boarding, and then they said that the flight would be delayed due to bad weather. Fast forward two hours, after all the rain passes and night has fallen (and the kid in front of us had finished throwing his tantrum about not wanting to stay on the plane and his nose hurting - it was in Japanese so I didn't quite catch everything), and we finally start going to take off. They'd already fed us our in-flight meal and shown a movie (that I didn't watch).<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BdGPBvGLKR4/VANW9JcuZ1I/AAAAAAAABo8/rPWZ4sTwvrE/s1600/IMG_1156.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BdGPBvGLKR4/VANW9JcuZ1I/AAAAAAAABo8/rPWZ4sTwvrE/s1600/IMG_1156.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Last flight food picture for now.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This meal was Japanese style, which means some sort of seafood (octopus?) with packed rice, bitter beans and carrots with cold pork, and <i>an pan</i>, sweet red bean bread. I managed to eat everything except the bitter one. I don't know why Japanese people like their bitter, sour, and slimy foods so much. The <i>an pan</i> was actually really good, though.<br />
<br />
I kind of want to go to sleep, so I'll hurry this up. We got to Japan, filled out the necessary paperwork, and made our way through the first security check up to the luggage carousel, and after only a couple minutes there, someone approached us with our names written on a large sheet of paper, and told us that our luggage didn't make the flight. It got left behind in Beijing. Hey, better than being left in New York.<br />
<br />
Long story short, we talked to them at the counter for a while, gave them the information of where we'd be staying in Utsunomiya, and arranged for them to ship the luggage up to us. It'll arrive the morning of the day after tomorrow. They also gave us each 5000 yen to buy clothes and necessities to use in the meantime, and arranged a night at a hotel. We had said we didn't have any hotel reservations, but planned to stay at the 9 Hours capsule hotel right at the airport. Instead, they got us two rooms at Hotel Nikko Narita. They said we each got a "single" room, which seemed pretty fancy already, but when we got here... wow. This place is nice. Way too big for one person's hotel room. I mean, I've got two beds and four pillows. And a couch and bench.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sl-pRdkaYHc/VANW-OYhsFI/AAAAAAAABpM/YE2pLN6d7dY/s1600/IMG_1158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sl-pRdkaYHc/VANW-OYhsFI/AAAAAAAABpM/YE2pLN6d7dY/s1600/IMG_1158.JPG" height="138" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pardon the pixellation and missing parts of the image. I can't do iPhone panoramas perfectly yet.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
As you can see, they also provided clothes for sleeping, and they had all the toiletries I was missing in the bathroom, including toothbrush and razor, so I don't think I'll really need to buy anything on my own with the money they gave us. Probably use it for the bus/train fare tomorrow.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cYnp6-YJujI/VANeXC7RLCI/AAAAAAAABpc/SFye0SAzmuc/s1600/IMG_7640.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cYnp6-YJujI/VANeXC7RLCI/AAAAAAAABpc/SFye0SAzmuc/s1600/IMG_7640.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's another view that includes the bench as well.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After a shower and soak in the tub, I came out to write this up, and now will try to get some sleep. I "slept" a lot on the last flight in particular, so I'm not all that tired, but I need to start adjusting, and check-out is no later than 11:00.<br />
<br />
Tomorrow, we set off for Utsunomiya by whatever means are cheapest (we'll inquire at the bus/train ticket counters at the airport). We're scheduled to meet Charlie outside his elementary school (he's an English teacher) at 4:30.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6976193792672787337.post-86927817683044595302014-08-05T02:56:00.000-04:002014-08-05T02:56:07.624-04:00Once again, back to JapanI've been working out a plan for the past several months to return to Japan yet again, and it's finally coming close to time. On the 30th of August, I'll be flying out with a friend to spend a month in Japan. This time, I don't have any classes to take or tourguides to follow. It's just us doing what we want to for a whole month.<br />
<br />
For the first couple weeks, we'll be staying most of the time with the same friend I stayed with two years ago, only now we'll be in Utsunomiya instead of Yokkaichi. We haven't nailed down all the details, but we do plan to visit Tokyo for a few days, as well as Nikko, and if we can manage them, Kyoto and Osaka.<br />
<br />
For the last two weeks, I'll be instead staying with my brother's family on his vacation, after my friend returns to the U.S. That will be mostly around Tokyo with Kyoto towards the end. So this time, I'll be the tourguide. The friend who lives there speaks and reads Japanese at a fairly high level which can help in the beginning, but the one coming with me only knows a little, and my brother's family knows none. So by then, it will be up to me to handle all the foreign interactions. All of them. I'm a little nervous about that.<br />
<br />
I'll definitely be maintaining this blog as much as I can while I'm gone, so look forward to it. And in the meantime, Otakon is coming up as well, so I'll try to actually post some pictures this year. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6976193792672787337.post-75909322535440264422013-06-14T21:11:00.000-04:002013-06-14T21:25:51.579-04:00Wrapping it up, the last few days in JapanSorry this post has been so long in coming, but I'm finally going to wrap up the remainder of my trip to Japan. So here you go.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aLqhuFAXVEc/UbugxYJF67I/AAAAAAAABZE/dYQIMCUwxio/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+780.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aLqhuFAXVEc/UbugxYJF67I/AAAAAAAABZE/dYQIMCUwxio/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+780.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our first stop was the Docomo R&D facility.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We were allowed to take pictures inside, but they said for personal use only. i.e., no posting to websites or showing people. So... with restrictions like that, I didn't bother taking any pictures.<br />
<br />
They actually had some pretty cool stuff in there. For those who don't know, Docomo is Japan's leading cellular communication company. Some of the stuff they showed us included an application for cellphone data analysis. The phone companies track where each phone is at any given time, and therefore can tell how many people of what gender and age are in a given area at a given time of day (approximately. Not everyone has a cellphone on them at all times). They were showing how this can be used in city planning, and they're working to make it more readily available and useful to those in the government who could benefit from it to help with decision-making. It's kind of a cool idea, and (unlike recent developments with phone companies back here in the US) they said that the data is purely an aggregate, so you can't really see who is where, just how many people and the general direction of movement. It has potential as a quick mode of surveying the area to make building decisions.<br />
<br />
That was a lot more detail than I intended. They also showed us several new technologies in development. I'm not really sure how much I'm allowed to say about them. They're working on the next generation past 4G, which has speeds of up to 2GB per second (!), and should be widely available in Japan in about 2 years. I'd assume something similar would be coming to the US sometime around then, too. They showed a demo of that and said it's already functional, but the tower technology isn't yet placed around the country, so they can't release it.<br />
<br />
They also showed us several new gadgets which are probably more secret, so I'll just give general info. There was a device that transmitted sound through your bones into your ear instead of listening through a speaker. It didn't seem to work that well for me. There was a translator where you spoke in Japanese and it would write it out in English. That's been done before, and it all depends on the quality of the translation. There was something that could pick up trace body chemicals from your fingertips and breath (things you frequently use on a phone) and use that to monitor your health in various ways. That one sounded really impressive, but the demo we saw in action was a little weak.<br />
<br />
We also watched a whole bunch of videos showing the future potential of a lot of these technologies. The first video was cool, but seemed pretty far-fetched, but then when they showed us how much they've already gotten done of what was in there, it made it seem like maybe it would actually work at some point. Probably not for another 10-20 years, and not exactly like they showed, but still.<br />
<br />
Alright, moving on. Our next stop for the day was a fishing and farming village. We got to pull up cages that were hanging over the edge of the docks, used to catch fish. Two of them had octopi in them, and there were also a few fish, hermit crabs, and an eel.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RsBXu9HDqFI/UbuhLeQe-8I/AAAAAAAABZM/E0UmO2I-Clw/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+790.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RsBXu9HDqFI/UbuhLeQe-8I/AAAAAAAABZM/E0UmO2I-Clw/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+790.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the nets with its catches.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3zGHqD3L8C0/UbuhL274USI/AAAAAAAABZY/bZv9D25X-JI/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+792.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3zGHqD3L8C0/UbuhL274USI/AAAAAAAABZY/bZv9D25X-JI/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+792.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This octopus got out of the net and was trying to escape. Everyone was taking pictures and watching it crawl across the gravel. Lots of them (especially the girls I could hear) were talking about throwing it back in the water, but not too much later one of the fisher(wo)men killed it with a hook. It wasn't very pleasant to watch.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xwe9vTp6z5E/UbuhMXnrMDI/AAAAAAAABZc/tD-F11uKEhQ/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+798.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xwe9vTp6z5E/UbuhMXnrMDI/AAAAAAAABZc/tD-F11uKEhQ/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+798.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view from the docks towards the village.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VD798E9UOq0/UbuiOv9zFXI/AAAAAAAABZs/xaKobSKHB-0/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+808.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VD798E9UOq0/UbuiOv9zFXI/AAAAAAAABZs/xaKobSKHB-0/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+808.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And here's our octopus friend. We had lunch in one of the buildings there, and it included some tempura (good this time), vegetables, seaweed, rice, and after a while, one of the octopi that had just been pulled up and cooked while we ate the rest of the meal. I had one chunk of tentacle (they just cut it up with scissors...), and while it didn't taste bad, it was really hard to swallow. Extremely chewy and rubbery. And I'm sure knowing where it came from didn't help, either.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We then left the fishing village and went to Jougashima, a small, scenic island.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1h8-psxAhss/UbuiPR9AtqI/AAAAAAAABZ0/QmeoM5wL-BQ/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+826.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1h8-psxAhss/UbuiPR9AtqI/AAAAAAAABZ0/QmeoM5wL-BQ/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+826.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The town is built right up to the shore in some places. It had lots of hills and plant life, too, so you could get a lot of nice views.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qnKd2ayj02g/UbuiQMof0MI/AAAAAAAABZ8/SSBnjR5nW70/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+833.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qnKd2ayj02g/UbuiQMof0MI/AAAAAAAABZ8/SSBnjR5nW70/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+833.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking down from near the top of one hill, upon which sat a lighthouse.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ms83CeP2Ruk/UbuiQ1g5sbI/AAAAAAAABaE/Q7HTo-40qyM/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+835.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ms83CeP2Ruk/UbuiQ1g5sbI/AAAAAAAABaE/Q7HTo-40qyM/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+835.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I always like staircases like this. Long, curvy, and a little uneven. Plus, one side has a wall of greenery the whole way down. It's a pretty interesting place.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ra9smxDrJXE/UbuiRTLXSNI/AAAAAAAABaQ/GHfw6tq1hGE/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+838.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ra9smxDrJXE/UbuiRTLXSNI/AAAAAAAABaQ/GHfw6tq1hGE/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+838.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some aloe vera plants, I'm pretty sure. They were growing in a few patches here and there.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vAA1lY8HrjA/UbuiRugVKYI/AAAAAAAABaU/Kquss_yGIBM/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+839.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vAA1lY8HrjA/UbuiRugVKYI/AAAAAAAABaU/Kquss_yGIBM/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+839.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Everyone else beat my group to the shoreline, because we were taking pictures.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aW1KUc4pT2o/UbuiSP3JajI/AAAAAAAABag/umly0FmgYY0/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+847.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aW1KUc4pT2o/UbuiSP3JajI/AAAAAAAABag/umly0FmgYY0/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+847.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not my idea. The girl who doesn't like getting her picture taken likes taking pictures, and had us pose like this. She liked that I was flanked by stripes.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TeaeFNAFvcc/UbuiSRmjmKI/AAAAAAAABak/vuyvMOOLhMk/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+855.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TeaeFNAFvcc/UbuiSRmjmKI/AAAAAAAABak/vuyvMOOLhMk/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+855.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I saw that natural bridge from all the way across the island and wanted to go there. While we did get closer, we didn't have enough time to actually go all the way over.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cmSmiuVzEzM/UbuiTWk41KI/AAAAAAAABa4/6MV5PvYEevM/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+857.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cmSmiuVzEzM/UbuiTWk41KI/AAAAAAAABa4/6MV5PvYEevM/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+857.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Journeying through the foliage.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xp1vDuo1s5Q/UbuiTkQjhaI/AAAAAAAABaw/-Lq_AQhEWw8/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+861.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xp1vDuo1s5Q/UbuiTkQjhaI/AAAAAAAABaw/-Lq_AQhEWw8/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+861.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emerging on another great lookout point.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-39Mcr82Al1c/UbuiT4TjR_I/AAAAAAAABa8/xlemotCpeoA/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+863.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-39Mcr82Al1c/UbuiT4TjR_I/AAAAAAAABa8/xlemotCpeoA/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+863.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There was a long, low bench near the cliff with a sign on it saying it was a glider observation point (in Japanese). Two older men, probably at least in their 50s or 60s, were putting together gliders, and proceeded to fly them around for a while while we watched.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EWuDfGDVYUA/UbuiUkr8cyI/AAAAAAAABbE/zlBAlasjaMI/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+865.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EWuDfGDVYUA/UbuiUkr8cyI/AAAAAAAABbE/zlBAlasjaMI/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+865.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Building a stack of stones. I've heard that there are some legends about stacking stones in certain shrines granting wishes or something. Maybe that was just in an anime, but it sounds like it would be a genuine Japanese superstition.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yIx5io80RiM/UbujLpG55HI/AAAAAAAABbQ/DhcYyHOo5vo/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+869.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yIx5io80RiM/UbujLpG55HI/AAAAAAAABbQ/DhcYyHOo5vo/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+869.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dinner that night was nice. More western style. I don't really remember where it was... but that's a long table, which is the real point of the picture.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We got word that the trip to the Imperial Palace was canceled. Instead we'd be going to the fish market. Yeah. Fish market. So a few of us tried to go that night to the palace anyway.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o_DUfAkr2tg/UbujMIE9AZI/AAAAAAAABbU/PqI0tKiSq04/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+870.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o_DUfAkr2tg/UbujMIE9AZI/AAAAAAAABbU/PqI0tKiSq04/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+870.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tokyo Station again. A different part. I say again, because I took a picture of a nearly empty Tokyo Station last time I was in Japan, too. This one wasn't quite that empty, but close. Shinjuku station is actually the busiest in all of Japan, I learned later, and that's the one that was right next to our hotel, which we took to get here.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GC3DtbIidr4/UbujNaetROI/AAAAAAAABbg/jcxyPXFN4MU/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+885.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GC3DtbIidr4/UbujNaetROI/AAAAAAAABbg/jcxyPXFN4MU/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+885.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We arrived at the palace gates, only to see them locked up with a couple police on guard. Since I was the only one who really spoke Japanese in the group, I was tasked with talking to them and getting information. It turns out that you can't actually see the palace from outside at all. :/ So we made the trip for nothing.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-94HrVtqQMNg/UbujNsO4_8I/AAAAAAAABbk/8bsbz0A9Dgo/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+891.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-94HrVtqQMNg/UbujNsO4_8I/AAAAAAAABbk/8bsbz0A9Dgo/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+891.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Well, we did get a few pictures, but it was really late at night, so it was hard to get anything clear. This is much brighter than it actually was, because if I posted the picture that's closer to reality, you wouldn't really be able to see anything but a light gray blur.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We walked around for a while and discovered that the sidewalk running all the way around the palace grounds is really popular for joggers. We met up with a bunch of Japanese college kids who were taking a break and all talked with them for a while. They were training, one of them planning to run I think a 100km race in a day or two. Whatever it was, it was ridiculously long.<br />
<br />
And thus ends... whatever day that was. Monday, May 27.<br />
<br />
<h3>
Tuesday, May 28</h3>
Our first stop was Mitsubishi Corporation, which does a whole lot more than just cars. There we sat through a long and largely boring lecture on the company, and were given packets of info. It sounded nice and all, but I think most of it went over most of our heads. I'm not really sure why they thought that it would be a good idea to have us sit and watch so many business presentations on this trip.<br />
<br />
Then they wanted to show off Tokyo Station, which I'd already been to several times. But this time it was the front entrance. That place must be huge. I've never seen the same entrance twice.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2hiRWm5xblg/UbujOnF-NaI/AAAAAAAABb0/WZpEHgT988U/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+926.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2hiRWm5xblg/UbujOnF-NaI/AAAAAAAABb0/WZpEHgT988U/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+926.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The main entrance of Tokyo Station.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EGO4pXWJrrI/UbujOmzMd7I/AAAAAAAABbw/Nf2uyAUM89s/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+939.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EGO4pXWJrrI/UbujOmzMd7I/AAAAAAAABbw/Nf2uyAUM89s/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+939.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tokyo is making a bid for hosting the 2020 Olympics, and there were lots of posters and signs everywhere promoting it. I'd feel kind of bad if they lost after all that.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_T0aZxV5mKg/UbukFoDD-fI/AAAAAAAABcA/NxNdHjd9t0s/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+955.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_T0aZxV5mKg/UbukFoDD-fI/AAAAAAAABcA/NxNdHjd9t0s/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+955.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lunch was... interesting. Not good, but interesting.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We had lunch at a nearby restaurant, where they brought out a bunch of vegetables (probably cabbage, mostly) and cooked them on a plate in front of us. I'm sure lots of you have seen these types of things, since we have them back here in the US, too. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q8_diD5UrhQ/UbukF0l3EZI/AAAAAAAABcE/FJDy-pLDzwU/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+961.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q8_diD5UrhQ/UbukF0l3EZI/AAAAAAAABcE/FJDy-pLDzwU/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+961.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After frying the vegetables, they made a donut shape, poured in some sauce, then mixed it up some more and flattened it out. Then they left, and it never solidified past that, so we just kind of scooped it onto our plates and tried to eat it.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The first dish was pretty plain, and not that good. Then they brought out some more, and this time there was curry powder with it. And we were expected to cook it ourselves. I did most of that one. It tasted a lot better than the first, but still not that interesting, and there was just too much. We were mostly feeling done already, when they brought...<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w0QrTQlTIgc/UbukGaXZUlI/AAAAAAAABcM/ynx9xf0f3TA/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+962.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w0QrTQlTIgc/UbukGaXZUlI/AAAAAAAABcM/ynx9xf0f3TA/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+962.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Something that looked like a giant tongue. It's actually a bunch of fish eggs, inside... something. Egg sac? Not really sure. This one they cooked.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
She did the vegetables like before, with the eggs sitting off to the side and not being cooked at all, until the end when she dropped it in the middle, chopped it into little tiny pieces, and mixed it all up. We let it sit for quite a while after that, because no one really wanted to try first, and I don't think anyone was fond of the idea of almost-raw fish eggs, so we let it cook. The red stuff was almost completely gone, whatever it was. Instead, there were thousands of tiny eggs, about the size of a poppy seed, spread throughout the mixture. We all tried some, but none of us really enjoyed it. We left most of it there. We weren't full, but after three not-so-good dishes, we'd all lost our appetites.<br />
<br />
They brought two more sets of food, neither of which we even put on the grill. I felt really bad for not eating it, but I couldn't take more of that cabbage stuff and the sauce. The other tables were leaving heaps of food, too, but they all at least tried some of each. One table actually managed to finish all five courses, but my friend there was obviously overstuffed and not too happy for the next hour or so.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kx2SAVXe9ak/UbukHIjIneI/AAAAAAAABcU/16OCshENlSw/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+968.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kx2SAVXe9ak/UbukHIjIneI/AAAAAAAABcU/16OCshENlSw/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+968.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look familiar?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Our next stop was back in Akihabara! We only had about an hour 40 minutes to look around. Nowhere near enough time to see everything. I went around with my friends for a while, but eventually we split up and did shopping for our respective interests. I bought a couple more games and an art book, then didn't have enough money or time to buy anything else.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cxErgNY3Ua0/UbukIKwzlfI/AAAAAAAABcc/2SEYi4gMc3s/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+984.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cxErgNY3Ua0/UbukIKwzlfI/AAAAAAAABcc/2SEYi4gMc3s/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+984.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Giant Vocaloid Nendoroid ad on the wall of the Sofmap store. I think the big one is actually the fat, scary "Miku Dayo~" figure, but it's blocked so I'm not sure anymore. Not sure why you'd want that.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-41GE3SMICew/Ubuk1KDLgaI/AAAAAAAABcs/M7UtJgkr6zM/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+994.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-41GE3SMICew/Ubuk1KDLgaI/AAAAAAAABcs/M7UtJgkr6zM/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+994.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Giant character art from one of my favorite artists, Kantoku. I haven't watched any of the show it's advertising (<i>Hentai Ouji to Warawanai Neko</i>) but I always like Kantoku's style, so it made me happy to see it.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xsQBKZghN_8/Ubuk0xZYjqI/AAAAAAAABco/73KbOqzF9_A/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+1001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xsQBKZghN_8/Ubuk0xZYjqI/AAAAAAAABco/73KbOqzF9_A/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+1001.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I just think it's funny there's a donut shop chain called Mister Donut.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After a depressingly short time in Akihabara, we moved on to Harajuku. Well, I couldn't have bought anything else anyway, what with having only about 1000 yen left after everything else. So I guess it's not that bad. I only brought about $100 on the trip all together, so the fact that I managed to get everything I did is still impressive. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RTBlavsTeBU/Ubumjbj_R6I/AAAAAAAABdA/3-LFiE2QwCY/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+1021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RTBlavsTeBU/Ubumjbj_R6I/AAAAAAAABdA/3-LFiE2QwCY/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+1021.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We are all chelsea. I don't know who Chelsea is, but I assume it's that guy. And now I'm him. And you're him. Everybody is him.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3QW8_gKQrw8/UbumjmHIpiI/AAAAAAAABdE/RCR2VCsj1O0/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+1022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3QW8_gKQrw8/UbumjmHIpiI/AAAAAAAABdE/RCR2VCsj1O0/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+1022.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking down the street of Harajuku. Once we got into the crowds, it was mostly girls talking excitedly and looking at all the shops, and guys ignoring everything around them looking straight ahead or talking with their friends. Sounds like a typical shopping district. Lots more girls than guys.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IMrX6EvgHYM/Ubumj8cpnNI/AAAAAAAABdM/n4lKLixhKl8/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+1030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IMrX6EvgHYM/Ubumj8cpnNI/AAAAAAAABdM/n4lKLixhKl8/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+1030.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My friend fancied the fancy hat. He didn't buy it.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PydGx9mtjNE/UbumkqltUwI/AAAAAAAABdg/OHYpkV_O1nA/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+1032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PydGx9mtjNE/UbumkqltUwI/AAAAAAAABdg/OHYpkV_O1nA/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+1032.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crepes are very popular in Japan, and if they actually looked anything like the displays I could see why. My friend bought a strawberry cheesecake crepe, and it was pitifully small compared to the display. Still, I had a tiny bit and it tasted alright.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ONaR8x_X5Yo/UbumkgzMNMI/AAAAAAAABdY/7CrQ9xyJxzE/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+1040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ONaR8x_X5Yo/UbumkgzMNMI/AAAAAAAABdY/7CrQ9xyJxzE/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+1040.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't feed the shirts. I actually thought this one was pretty clever.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AOGkd90hqtI/Ubumk9WW8fI/AAAAAAAABdk/2KeMHSZ2taw/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+1041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AOGkd90hqtI/Ubumk9WW8fI/AAAAAAAABdk/2KeMHSZ2taw/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+1041.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Also clever, but...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Harajuku was basically a fashion mall, but I did manage to find a bottle of concentrated Calpis Water to bring back home, spending most of the little money I had left. Much cheaper and lasts longer than getting individual bottles of the actual drink.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z3atYvFcfL8/UbummoGVfxI/AAAAAAAABd8/HOWfGhl94PQ/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+1045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z3atYvFcfL8/UbummoGVfxI/AAAAAAAABd8/HOWfGhl94PQ/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+1045.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My group got bored with Harajuku after not very long, so we went to the nearby shrine. At least, to the entrance. The actual shrine was waaaaaay down the path somewhere off in the distance, and we didn't have time to go that far and back.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BBjix1AyE48/UbummaifOoI/AAAAAAAABd0/PJz6L3dkLGs/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+1055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BBjix1AyE48/UbummaifOoI/AAAAAAAABd0/PJz6L3dkLGs/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+1055.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Illegal Disposal is forbidden! Really?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
And that's the end of that day.<br />
<br />
<h3>
Wednesday, May 29</h3>
The last full day in Japan. We went to see a demonstration of kabuki dancing. One man, supposedly a master of kabuki, but I don't remember his name, showed us a few sample performances, explaining the different motions and props as he went. I studied kabuki back in fall semester in Japanese class, so most of it was pretty familiar to me. He then had volunteers come up and join him in the performances, teaching them the steps. I didn't end up going up, but probably about half the people there did. He only did the female dances when the volunteers were up, for some reason. In kabuki, both male and female roles are played by men exclusively. So he showed us both types.<br />
<br />
After that, we went to the fish market, an art museum, and a very small kabuki museum. The fish market really wasn't that interesting, and the others had no pictures allowed. The art museum was focused on the Japanese feeling of the four seasons, and how it's important to their culture. I learned about that a couple semesters ago, too, but I saw it a bit more in depth in the museum than just what we talked about in class. We mostly mentioned food and things, but it applies to a lot more than just that. They seem to take it into every aspect of daily life, so the seasons are very important to them. Having only been to Japan in the summer, that now makes me wonder what the other seasons would be like.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ie_36ZpZDq4/Ubummd9vc5I/AAAAAAAABd4/cnE1jRhYAak/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+1073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ie_36ZpZDq4/Ubummd9vc5I/AAAAAAAABd4/cnE1jRhYAak/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+1073.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Outside the kabuki museum, my friends found a random store's mascot character and posed for a picture. I've never heard of Gunma-chan before, but he had all sorts of merchandise inside the store.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Then we had the formal debriefing, where everyone talked about the things they learned and differences and similarities between the countries, and all that. It was nice, but nothing I can really write about here.<br />
<br />
Then, our last dinner. We went to a restaurant near the hotel, and had nabe. Well, I think that's what it was. They never called it by that name, but it was Japanese hot pot at least.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o3zF0FgRCrc/UbumoYSnscI/AAAAAAAABeI/hGd64VD0ZU0/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+1074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o3zF0FgRCrc/UbumoYSnscI/AAAAAAAABeI/hGd64VD0ZU0/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+1074.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Each table (for six) had two pots of boiling water, and a few plates of beef and pork, along with a bunch of vegetables.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Fg7v7Pg9uw8/Ubumo4VY6zI/AAAAAAAABeM/b7BgPFRJ9Zo/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+1079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Fg7v7Pg9uw8/Ubumo4VY6zI/AAAAAAAABeM/b7BgPFRJ9Zo/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+1079.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We put in all the vegetables and meat, let it cook (it only took a few
seconds, really), and pulled it out and ate it. This meal was
absolutely delicious! I would have loved to have more of it, but I
think it was probably pretty expensive. They must have saved the best
for last. I left still a little hungry. :(</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After the meal, one of my friends was trying to get rid of all her remaining yen, and really wanted to go to karaoke. So a couple of us went along with her. It was better in some ways than my first trip, but harder without a native-level reader to use all the controls. I ended up having to figure out how to work everything, and we lost some time because of that. Still, with only three people, we each got to sing quite a bit. All in all, not too bad of an experience, but I wouldn't have considered it worth paying for (she paid for all of us).<br />
<br />
We then spent a while looking for a suitcase for her, since she had bought too much stuff to fit into her original one. We found a small bag in a clothing store, then thinking that would have to suffice stopped looking and I led everyone into a game store where I wanted to look around. And lo and behold, at the back of the store, a corner for luggage. To be fair, the store had more than games, but we were on the game and movie floor, and the luggage was completely out of place. Interesting setup.<br />
<br />
The next morning, we all gathered bright and early, around 7 am (after having an even earlier breakfast) with all of our luggage and departed for the airport. I spent almost the whole trip home watching movies, including Wreck-it Ralph (first time, good movie), The Dog of Flanders (first time, good but kind of sad), The Hobbit (second time, awesome), and I think there might have been something else. I didn't sleep at all. I did try reading some of the manga I bought, and made it about a third of the way through one of the books with the help of my phone dictionary.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Lo2vj6vpcBI/Ubumps9QhVI/AAAAAAAABeU/OnpucsJKork/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+1091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Lo2vj6vpcBI/Ubumps9QhVI/AAAAAAAABeU/OnpucsJKork/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+1091.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flying over Alaska, or thereabouts.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It was a great trip. I'd love to return to Japan again someday. I might even try to make it an annual or biannual thing if I can afford it, but that might be pretty hard. I'd really like to see it in the other seasons, though, and explore more of the countryside. Maybe go up north in the winter, where there's tons of snow. Stuff like that. Anyway, those are adventures for another day. For now, I'll have to be content at home in the summer heat of Virginia.<br />
<br />
Thanks for reading. I doubt I'll be posting much more to this anytime soon, but hey, you never know.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6976193792672787337.post-28726931230089311922013-05-26T11:30:00.001-04:002013-05-26T11:35:00.070-04:00Buddhism and ShintoismToday was pretty much all about religious things. First, we went to see the Great Buddha at Kamakura. This is a 2/3 scale replica of the one in Nara, which I saw last year, but this one is actually several hundred years older, because the one in Nara has been reconstructed a few times. They said it was originally completely covered in gold, but now it's basically just a bronze statue. A hint of gold remains on one of the cheeks, though.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v4VWoZkW_7s/UaIhtEntySI/AAAAAAAABX4/vGeNFryox9U/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+704.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v4VWoZkW_7s/UaIhtEntySI/AAAAAAAABX4/vGeNFryox9U/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+704.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The statue, dwarfing everyone around it.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ixn-4vAv-wM/UaIhnF9QWNI/AAAAAAAABXo/cPbRx4dEZHk/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+710.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ixn-4vAv-wM/UaIhnF9QWNI/AAAAAAAABXo/cPbRx4dEZHk/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+710.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There are windows in the back, which were probably used in construction for the workers to be able to get in and out.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fBzpUk06DDE/UaIhoKiIBiI/AAAAAAAABXw/iJTlDDVMW5Y/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+712.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fBzpUk06DDE/UaIhoKiIBiI/AAAAAAAABXw/iJTlDDVMW5Y/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+712.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We actually got to go inside it. It's completely hollow, and you can see up into the head area and everything. They figure it was built using a clay base as a mold and the copper was poured in in layers.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After that, we went to another Buddhist temple in the area. It was a pretty simple place as far as the buildings go, but it was nice outside. Lots of plum trees, which it's famous for, along with azaleas, hydrangeas, and irises.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d_fRENQXhhY/UaIh9_4zELI/AAAAAAAABYA/_x_2fs2RrTQ/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+726.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d_fRENQXhhY/UaIh9_4zELI/AAAAAAAABYA/_x_2fs2RrTQ/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+726.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I don't know what these trees were, but they were impressively tall and straight.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
At the temple, we got a lesson on zen meditation, then all participated. Basically, you sit cross-legged (ideally with both feet up on the opposite thighs), hold your hands together, palms up and somewhat open with thumbs touching to make an O, and sit perfectly still while breathing really slowly and counting each exhalation. Your eyes have to stay focused on the ground a meter in front or so, not closed. The monk also lit some incense which let out a slight smell, but wasn't too noticeable except when the wind was blowing it my way (the room was open on most sides). I made it to 57 breaths by the end, which was 20 minutes. You're supposed to start over counting after 10, but I figured I'd just keep going.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RZmTtzID0xw/UaIiiv9_YcI/AAAAAAAABYI/P2jitRnEE9g/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+737.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RZmTtzID0xw/UaIiiv9_YcI/AAAAAAAABYI/P2jitRnEE9g/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+737.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The meditation room and head monk.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Nothing really came of it, except that I realized how fast 20 minutes can pass when you're doing absolutely nothing. We couldn't take pictures during the actual meditation, obviously. You're not supposed to move at all. I had to shift my legs a tiny bit when they started falling asleep, though. And I kept slouching slightly.<br />
<br />
After that, we went to a major Shinto shrine, but I don't have the name. It was still in the same area, Kamakura, which apparently has 5 major shrines in it. We went to the biggest one.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--2qlBV-W9zE/UaIijhZfliI/AAAAAAAABYQ/GEN6na8fuaY/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+739.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--2qlBV-W9zE/UaIijhZfliI/AAAAAAAABYQ/GEN6na8fuaY/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+739.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A wall of vending machines. Apparently this path is really popular. The guide said the shrine we went to gets about 10 times the population of the town itself in visitors every year, roughly 1.7 million.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DLMjaSWZF64/UaIij4K_uqI/AAAAAAAABYU/zQIJkoO1hJU/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+749.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DLMjaSWZF64/UaIij4K_uqI/AAAAAAAABYU/zQIJkoO1hJU/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+749.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A cool tunnel we passed through.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The streets we walked along in this area seemed much more familiar to me than most of where we've been. It was a smaller town rather than a big city, so all the sidewalks were just a couple feet across, and the roads were narrow with cars driving very close by. It definitely reminded me of Izumichuo from last summer. Just more people.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M4TQTLesGHA/UaIi4AizmfI/AAAAAAAABYg/PKEpMXI8RZw/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+756.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M4TQTLesGHA/UaIi4AizmfI/AAAAAAAABYg/PKEpMXI8RZw/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+756.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amish in Japan? Or just some Japanese person selling old-style western food?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
There was a wedding going on at the shrine when we arrived. Another one was about to start when we left. Shinto-style weddings are less popular than Christian-style (girls like to wear the big fluffy white dresses, it seems), but this is a famous shrine, so it probably gets a lot of people for weddings here.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iT477RNrVk4/UaIi4_tcZkI/AAAAAAAABYk/U7mRWvCq9xI/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+759.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iT477RNrVk4/UaIi4_tcZkI/AAAAAAAABYk/U7mRWvCq9xI/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+759.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can see some of the wedding party in the suits and kimono on the right.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ToSyCXnLTsM/UaIi5vpH3fI/AAAAAAAABYw/X-Wrc7q2qZc/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+767.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ToSyCXnLTsM/UaIi5vpH3fI/AAAAAAAABYw/X-Wrc7q2qZc/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+767.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This tree stump was once a sacred tree, over 1000 years old. It fell a few years ago, I think in 2010, due to the wind, making national news.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We also wandered around some shops, then went back to the hotel and had dinner at a family restaurant. Everyone kind of split up after that, some going off to eat sushi, some shopping, some drinking (that may still be happening now). We leave the hotel tomorrow, so after going around town some, I'm back and mostly packed up again.<br />
<br />
One of our chaperones is sick with influenza. She was sent to the hospital a couple of days ago. One of the Japanese guides we've had from the beginning is also sick at the hospital, but we don't know with what. They've made us start taking our temperatures every day to identify if anyone's getting sick, but no one else is having problems so far. I've been pretty careful, I think, and using hand sanitizer and such, along with some immune system booster medicine I brought. I think everyone else will be fine.<br />
<br />
I'm not going to be able to post again until I'm back in the U.S. on Thursday. I could respond to comments/e-mail when I get up tomorrow morning, though, maybe. See you later.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6976193792672787337.post-21539210611747516582013-05-25T12:20:00.002-04:002013-06-10T16:17:44.702-04:00Chinatown, Cup Noodles, and Culture FestivalYesterday, after breakfast at the hotel, we moved to the Yokohama prefecture government office (essentially like a state government building). There, we learned about the area more specifically, including a long but interesting and enthusiastic presentation from a tourism department representative. It was kind of interesting to get to see inside, and the workers there were formal but not unapproachable, which was nice.<br />
<br />
We were let out onto the roof again. More places in America need to let you do that.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uyr2Lgz60qA/UaB69DMwYuI/AAAAAAAABTU/O1fxA4dq5eY/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+449.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uyr2Lgz60qA/UaB69DMwYuI/AAAAAAAABTU/O1fxA4dq5eY/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+449.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Everyone on the roof.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
There are three towers in the city that foreigners nicknamed King, Queen, and Jack. The government office has the King tower, and from that building we were able to see the other two:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gUAQRTvoscw/UaB6auvRAMI/AAAAAAAABTM/PLu86c-kSqY/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+444.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gUAQRTvoscw/UaB6auvRAMI/AAAAAAAABTM/PLu86c-kSqY/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+444.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Queen tower, as seen from the roof of the King.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lQFkw_Y5Sf0/UaB7UF6QUNI/AAAAAAAABTc/AaICGqAJH0Y/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+461.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lQFkw_Y5Sf0/UaB7UF6QUNI/AAAAAAAABTc/AaICGqAJH0Y/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+461.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Jack from a skybridge in King.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HyLv4IhoCqQ/UaDQ__CX_wI/AAAAAAAABTs/doYwwfCBMjE/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+468.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HyLv4IhoCqQ/UaDQ__CX_wI/AAAAAAAABTs/doYwwfCBMjE/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+468.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And the King itself from the front.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x0hYaObjx4Y/UaDRQ_F4NqI/AAAAAAAABT0/Btg8yTf2VyI/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+475.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x0hYaObjx4Y/UaDRQ_F4NqI/AAAAAAAABT0/Btg8yTf2VyI/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+475.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> On the way to lunch, we passed a cool monument with mirrored pillars.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DZjx5NjFnk0/UaDRVRgbgfI/AAAAAAAABT8/Jf8lyrev1BI/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+479.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DZjx5NjFnk0/UaDRVRgbgfI/AAAAAAAABT8/Jf8lyrev1BI/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+479.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The tourist official was a pretty fun guy, and he led us to Chinatown, where we ate.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kHZ5-NzS56w/UaDRZQhxGUI/AAAAAAAABUE/C_yxs4CfabQ/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+481.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kHZ5-NzS56w/UaDRZQhxGUI/AAAAAAAABUE/C_yxs4CfabQ/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+481.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the gates of Chinatown.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7Y5mDIQVBqE/UaDRd_0UDqI/AAAAAAAABUM/JHM2WkCOlgw/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+483.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7Y5mDIQVBqE/UaDRd_0UDqI/AAAAAAAABUM/JHM2WkCOlgw/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+483.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cute hedgehog buns and other treats.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-svDV9vj_4dc/UaDRjku2_rI/AAAAAAAABUU/ULEY4npLeTY/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+484.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-svDV9vj_4dc/UaDRjku2_rI/AAAAAAAABUU/ULEY4npLeTY/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+484.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our dinner at the restaurant was corn soup, rice, and, pictured above, mabodofu/maaboudoufuu. I can't say I understand why Kanade (Angel Beats) likes it so much, but I can understand why everyone else thought it was super spicy. I didn't particularly care for it, but I don't really like tofu.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After lunch, we were free to explore Chinatown. I went around to a few shops with a large group, but when several of them decided to go to "Doctor Fish" and have them eat the dead skin off their feet, I decided to move on on my own.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Aq_URpgFPFY/UaDRnvlQTFI/AAAAAAAABUc/iWSWY4jaT0A/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+489.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Aq_URpgFPFY/UaDRnvlQTFI/AAAAAAAABUc/iWSWY4jaT0A/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+489.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Doctor Fish at work.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4SEnt-MNqng/UaDR8rwFB4I/AAAAAAAABUk/xy_9AjGKfCc/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+495.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4SEnt-MNqng/UaDR8rwFB4I/AAAAAAAABUk/xy_9AjGKfCc/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+495.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You don't usually see black ice cream. This one is black sesame flavor, apparently.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I was thinking about buying some little animal figurines that I found at one of the shops, because they looked really cool and I thought they could add to my family's collection, but they were way too expensive. $30-40 for a 2-inch mouse carved of some sort of black stone. They had jade and gold figures, too.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pYzS_Wl1yEc/UaDSCAXS2kI/AAAAAAAABUs/9vaSSz2R8v8/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+518.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pYzS_Wl1yEc/UaDSCAXS2kI/AAAAAAAABUs/9vaSSz2R8v8/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+518.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We walked past the other side of the monument that we saw on our way over, and I found out it was for the Japan-America Treaty of Amity and Friendship.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ViI666UZA0s/UaDSF35qwcI/AAAAAAAABU0/UX-sux8N6MI/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+520.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ViI666UZA0s/UaDSF35qwcI/AAAAAAAABU0/UX-sux8N6MI/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+520.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bluegrass Bus - Traveling in Style.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Our next stop was the Cup Noodle museum. At first, I was thinking this would be kind of a waste of time, especially when I walked in and the first room was literally empty except for a massive staircase and a giant inflatable Cup Noodle cup. It ended up really being a museum to innovation, telling the story of how the noodles were invented and each of the major additions over the years, and relating that to how people can work to come up with all sorts of new things. It also had some of the most creative displays I've seen in a museum, but the whole thing was pretty short overall.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wKtmwVFLh2E/UaDSzqnOKvI/AAAAAAAABU8/aLcuVi6UU3g/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+527.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wKtmwVFLh2E/UaDSzqnOKvI/AAAAAAAABU8/aLcuVi6UU3g/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+527.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was my favorite room. It used the miniature trees and various lights, some on tracks, some still, to show a whole short movie in shadows on the wall, with words scrolling by for narration and everything. It was really impressive.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zNFancAz1cA/UaDS45gzboI/AAAAAAAABVI/V1z_Gt0h3Dg/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+536.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zNFancAz1cA/UaDS45gzboI/AAAAAAAABVI/V1z_Gt0h3Dg/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+536.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's going to take a while to clean up.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jaQ0N59aw5A/UaDS9DFbLiI/AAAAAAAABVQ/5odVIEaQ_6M/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+538.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jaQ0N59aw5A/UaDS9DFbLiI/AAAAAAAABVQ/5odVIEaQ_6M/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+538.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They had one of those trick perspective rooms. This is the first time I've seen one in person, I think.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-npKkE8oDVsQ/UaDTCOQ8OJI/AAAAAAAABVY/QVZJvaTpObk/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+542.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-npKkE8oDVsQ/UaDTCOQ8OJI/AAAAAAAABVY/QVZJvaTpObk/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+542.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Switching sides.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
While my favorite exhibit was the shadow room, my favorite activity was definitely <i>making</i> our very own instant ramen from scratch. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UkyDrm-ucLE/UaDTH6DW65I/AAAAAAAABVg/KdTUcc-UcPQ/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+549.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UkyDrm-ucLE/UaDTH6DW65I/AAAAAAAABVg/KdTUcc-UcPQ/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+549.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The workroom. We all put on bandanas and aprons and sat through instructions before getting to work.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We got to mix the dough, shape it, run it through the flattening machines, and cut it into strips. It was pretty fun. Then we watched them deep fry the noodles (which is how they dry them to be preserved and ready for instant rehydration) and they gave us the exact ones we worked on in bags that we drew on and labeled ourselves. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qh6EHN-iqZo/UaDTMBwbfRI/AAAAAAAABVo/c4rMZJEVhWw/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+551.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qh6EHN-iqZo/UaDTMBwbfRI/AAAAAAAABVo/c4rMZJEVhWw/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+551.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My finished product.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
They also gave us a normal bag, I guess in case the ones we made didn't turn out well, or just to compare.<br />
<br />
Then, on to dinner.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9guxXjUUKl8/UaDTuiKBA9I/AAAAAAAABVw/d_8o8DqWtQE/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+572.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9guxXjUUKl8/UaDTuiKBA9I/AAAAAAAABVw/d_8o8DqWtQE/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+572.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dinner that night was at a karaoke place, but we didn't actually get to do karaoke.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This was definitely the weirdest dinner yet. Since it was a karaoke place, they didn't actually have much real dinner stuff. We got some sort of fish/daikon salad (with the little white eel-like fish that I can't stand), pizza, breadsticks, fried chicken bits, onion rings, and pudding topped with coffee (which I had one bite of before realizing what it was and giving it to someone else). They were served in that order, with a good 5-10 minutes between each dish, and in rather small amounts. Very strange meal. For drinks, we had orange juice, some sort of brown soda (Coke or whatever), and... cold coffee. I didn't know that was a thing, but no one willingly drank that that I saw.<br />
<br />
For the rest of the night, several of us went to the mall, which was basically like any normal mall in the US. This one wasn't geared towards tourists at all, which the others we've been to have been. I still found something I liked though, and ended up buying a cheap K-On! Azusa figure. Actually, it's in the same set as the Yui one I bought last time I was in Japan.<br />
<br />
Today, we went to Nihon Minka-en, an outdoor museum of all the different old Japanese house styles for the past few hundred years. They actually moved real houses to the museum area, and let you walk around inside most of them. We also had a fairly fluent tour guide, an older man who obviously knew all about and loved the houses. It was a pretty interesting tour.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D_aQj52A2yI/UaDTz3D0BsI/AAAAAAAABV4/sUtAwv4DCPs/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+579.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D_aQj52A2yI/UaDTz3D0BsI/AAAAAAAABV4/sUtAwv4DCPs/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+579.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Various tools used to make the houses. Rather than nailing the pieces together, they would fit like an interlocking puzzle, so pieces could be replaced as necessary, and in this case transported more easily to the museum.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pm6Nn8T7GEw/UaDT4_oa08I/AAAAAAAABWA/t-lrafH1euw/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+614.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pm6Nn8T7GEw/UaDT4_oa08I/AAAAAAAABWA/t-lrafH1euw/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+614.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The roofs of several houses. You can see thatched, ceramic tile, and stones on wood shingles. The stones hold the wood in place.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4k005Em8bos/UaDUOjEExyI/AAAAAAAABWI/K4TSN3skhZ0/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+629.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4k005Em8bos/UaDUOjEExyI/AAAAAAAABWI/K4TSN3skhZ0/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+629.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was outside the samurai's house. Water runs into the bamboo stalk, and when it fills up, it tips, pours it all out into the pond, and falls back into place with a light clatter. I've heard that it was supposed to keep away small animals and such. Not sure if that's true.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
This was probably the most interesting house. Commoners weren't allowed to have houses over a certain size, and weren't allowed to use straight wood for their beams in the roofs (that was reserved for the samurai class). Whoever built this house cheated the system as much as possible.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NAFQOU4gSrA/UaDUVU6hbuI/AAAAAAAABWQ/FrRFVv1aE-s/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+649.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NAFQOU4gSrA/UaDUVU6hbuI/AAAAAAAABWQ/FrRFVv1aE-s/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+649.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In order to have a larger house, he built two right next to each other and opened the wall in the middle.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dU--1TcoEk0/UaDUYpBqCCI/AAAAAAAABWY/PGOD3iY-YAg/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+650.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dU--1TcoEk0/UaDUYpBqCCI/AAAAAAAABWY/PGOD3iY-YAg/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+650.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A fire burning on the inside, with a pot hanging from the ceiling. These were on adjustable-length poles so that the heat level could be controlled.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dvFpekmta0Q/UaDUdqn3_nI/AAAAAAAABWg/-WFySoNBIU4/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+651.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dvFpekmta0Q/UaDUdqn3_nI/AAAAAAAABWg/-WFySoNBIU4/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+651.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The second cool thing about the cheating house: those not-straight beams are <i>awesome</i>. He had a real eye for it, and managed to turn what was supposed to be a disadvantage into a really impressive and elegant addition to his home.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VIHZ7tUl5uE/UaDUozgoSVI/AAAAAAAABWo/5EWRXdp6lF8/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+661.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VIHZ7tUl5uE/UaDUozgoSVI/AAAAAAAABWo/5EWRXdp6lF8/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+661.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the thatched roof styles used plants - specifically Japanese irises - on the top to hold the thatching in place. This swampy area is growing those irises, presumably for use on the houses in the museum.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After the Minka-en, we got to do something I never thought I'd actually be able to experience. We went to a school culture festival.<br />
<br />
We returned to Yokohama National University for their Seiryo Festival. They don't have any school events even close to this in the U.S. All sorts of clubs had stands set up selling food, and there were lots of events happening all day all over the place. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CX9yKgUDh0E/UaDUsuwU40I/AAAAAAAABWw/qVTgY2QuDrw/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+679.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CX9yKgUDh0E/UaDUsuwU40I/AAAAAAAABWw/qVTgY2QuDrw/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+679.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the first areas of the festival, lined with stalls on one side and packed with people on the other. These things are a big deal.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--SEYrLLBQbE/UaDUwx3ut5I/AAAAAAAABW4/LmYLYGGkAqo/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+681.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--SEYrLLBQbE/UaDUwx3ut5I/AAAAAAAABW4/LmYLYGGkAqo/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+681.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One stall was using anime to advertise. In particular, the poster on the right is the most popular current-season show, Shingeki no Kyojin (Attack on Titan), which I immediately recognized. They're selling curry rice.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-On_-t86pUxU/UaDU0JOKx9I/AAAAAAAABXA/ePY3s0leh7w/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+682.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-On_-t86pUxU/UaDU0JOKx9I/AAAAAAAABXA/ePY3s0leh7w/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+682.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We went to see some <i>a capella </i>performances. Apparently, it's a pretty big thing at this school, because there were a few dozen different groups scheduled to perform throughout the day. We stayed for just a few of them. The first one was doing some English songs that I was vaguely familiar with.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In another building, I found acoustic guitar performances and listened to a couple of those, including one of my favorite songs, "One More Time, One More Chance", which was used in <i>5 Centimeters Per Second</i>. He did a decent job, though clearly not as good as the original. I still mouthed all the words along with him.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y8T60UfR1Kc/UaDU6OAp6pI/AAAAAAAABXI/28ypkE5V99Q/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+689.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y8T60UfR1Kc/UaDU6OAp6pI/AAAAAAAABXI/28ypkE5V99Q/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+689.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I found a guy dressed up as Hatsune Miku (no picture), and then later a girl dressed as... Kaito? I think? But if so, it was a weird version of him. Anyway, I got a picture.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The next big event we saw was a martial arts demonstration. They showed
a few moves as normal for these things, punching and kicking at the
air, but then they went into a short series of actual sparring matches,
which were really fun to watch.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W2nyT0iDgwA/UaDU-94_sfI/AAAAAAAABXQ/qfJO441wWtc/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+691.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W2nyT0iDgwA/UaDU-94_sfI/AAAAAAAABXQ/qfJO441wWtc/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+691.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This picture was after those, when they were doing choreographed throws, demonstrating various defensive techniques.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Other than the real spars, I think my favorite part was when they were showing how to defend against knife attacks. One person would use a wooden knife to stab at the other, who would dodge, grab some part of the attacker, and throw them down, sometimes also disarming them in the process. At the end, they also had some two-on-one fights, which I'm not sure if they were choreographed or not. The club leader took on one knife-wielder and another member at the same time, constantly knocking both of them down. So I guess martial arts like that can be used in more than one-on-one fights, but you rarely see it for real. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sgpwsGMCkys/UaDVDr031hI/AAAAAAAABXY/Y4M4ZHO9w7U/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+694.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sgpwsGMCkys/UaDVDr031hI/AAAAAAAABXY/Y4M4ZHO9w7U/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+694.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They also had a live rock concert on stage after a while, but it was too loud for my tastes, so I didn't stay there long.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Eventually, it was time to go, and we went to dinner at the same karaoke place again. This time, it was a bigger room, and we actually got to do a bit of singing towards the end. I didn't, because time ran out, but others did. The food was also better proportioned and made more sense this time, and was served mostly all together. Slightly different dishes.<br />
<br />
After dinner, most of the others went to a small amusement park by the lake and Cup Noodle museum, but I decided to head over to a Book Off I had located (by asking the person at the hotel desk) and buy some manga. I'm not really into roller coasters, and while the ferris wheel is huge, I've ridden in them before, and already seen the city several times from high up. And I think that's most of what the park had, so I wasn't really interested.<br />
<br />
I ended up buying a few random manga again, along with a few old Playstation 1 and 2 games: To Heart 1 & 2 and Valkyrie Profile (only 500 yen!). I figure owning a Japanese version of VP gives me at least a reasonable claim to be able to play a translated copy on my computer rather than having to buy it used from someone for over $100. And maybe I'll eventually learn enough to actually play the one I bought, too.<br />
<br />
This entry took way too long to write. Gotta go to bed; it's already after 1 a.m. here. Tomorrow's our last full day here, and therefore my last entry before I go home next Thursday. Coming up in tomorrow's post: zen meditation.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6976193792672787337.post-15491702897145009432013-05-23T10:35:00.000-04:002013-05-23T10:48:17.338-04:00First few days back in JapanI have arrived back in Japan after only a 14-hour flight. Not nearly as bad as my three-flight trip last time. This post is mostly going to be pictures, since I've got a lot of catching up to do and I've taken 440 already. So first we landed in Narita airport, then took a bus to Shinjuku.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6t4cQka1Jvk/UZ4NYJwjQ6I/AAAAAAAABL8/QDqi6s20_W0/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6t4cQka1Jvk/UZ4NYJwjQ6I/AAAAAAAABL8/QDqi6s20_W0/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+006.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rice paddies + orange and white electric tower = Japan</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7sxYkljLzc8/UZ4NcQMVMkI/AAAAAAAABME/s0SRwfCX6Dc/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7sxYkljLzc8/UZ4NcQMVMkI/AAAAAAAABME/s0SRwfCX6Dc/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+019.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First glimpse of Tokyo Sky Tree.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fb8rk8WZsLQ/UZ4NhfyqwOI/AAAAAAAABMM/lyQzGSIl4n8/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fb8rk8WZsLQ/UZ4NhfyqwOI/AAAAAAAABMM/lyQzGSIl4n8/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+022.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful bridge and skyscraper scene.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HDfw63vnZCI/UZ4N5HL3U4I/AAAAAAAABMU/hCe6WCkLjL8/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HDfw63vnZCI/UZ4N5HL3U4I/AAAAAAAABMU/hCe6WCkLjL8/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+026.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We drove right by the Square-Enix headquarters. I was about to take a picture of it because of the cool brick design, then looked up and saw the logo.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Once in Shinjuku, we dropped off our stuff at the Prince Hotel, and then moved out en masse to a nearby restaurant on foot.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h3GIhHgHkvU/UZ4N-mgrHQI/AAAAAAAABMc/LGPg-hUFd-A/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h3GIhHgHkvU/UZ4N-mgrHQI/AAAAAAAABMc/LGPg-hUFd-A/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+032.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The shop had a bread buffet, so I collected several varieties.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zbBONG1hfjY/UZ4ODk95YjI/AAAAAAAABMk/itJTjcTCeMk/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zbBONG1hfjY/UZ4ODk95YjI/AAAAAAAABMk/itJTjcTCeMk/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+034.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our school occupied one whole wing of booths. 25 people.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-N0CJ55IA_Y0/UZ4ONpEAyAI/AAAAAAAABM0/0FUEpgfwrKA/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-N0CJ55IA_Y0/UZ4ONpEAyAI/AAAAAAAABM0/0FUEpgfwrKA/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+031.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Everyone's meals. This was a fairly western-style menu, but obviously with a Japanese take on it.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xvMQKa6mRZo/UZ4OH7INztI/AAAAAAAABMs/sCwXym6C9qo/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xvMQKa6mRZo/UZ4OH7INztI/AAAAAAAABMs/sCwXym6C9qo/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+035.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And, of course... Calpis Water!! I realized that I have not been making it strong enough with my mix back home. This is a lot stronger than I remembered, and therefore better.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LlBZE6CffgY/UZ4ORgyJvFI/AAAAAAAABM8/4UIjnNEd5Ng/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LlBZE6CffgY/UZ4ORgyJvFI/AAAAAAAABM8/4UIjnNEd5Ng/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+037.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On our way out of the restaurant, I decided this would make a cool shot.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
A lot of the others decided to explore straight after eating, but I didn't remember the way back to the hotel, so my roommate and I went back there first with the guide before wandering around some more.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K_y-N7ynaxw/UZ4OVvhIJoI/AAAAAAAABNE/PKtsJ1_sp0I/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K_y-N7ynaxw/UZ4OVvhIJoI/AAAAAAAABNE/PKtsJ1_sp0I/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+041.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The only thing consistent about the architecture in Tokyo is that the buildings look cool. There is no unifying design element besides that.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LtSlXkRce_o/UZ4OZoBFs4I/AAAAAAAABNM/rlaN8hlEkrM/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LtSlXkRce_o/UZ4OZoBFs4I/AAAAAAAABNM/rlaN8hlEkrM/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+046.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A karaoke <span class="kanji" style="z-index: 149967;">tower. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We got free slippers. They let us take them home. I read the Japanese to make sure I was interpreting that part of their translation correctly before deciding to keep them.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JoOj7X8AMrU/UZ4OeL-1ZCI/AAAAAAAABNU/Z7tVxtz4FIQ/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JoOj7X8AMrU/UZ4OeL-1ZCI/AAAAAAAABNU/Z7tVxtz4FIQ/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+048.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You should never Slippers. Especially not outside of your room.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We went out again and explored the area a bit more after that, but quickly decided to return to the room after we were both made well aware that the area across the street from the hotel is a red-light district. It took us about two streets in before we fully realized it. Since we couldn't see much in any of the other directions, we decided to give up for the moment and go to bed.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P4cr5hmtqkc/UZ4OrC01QmI/AAAAAAAABNk/dLDcUO4fR04/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P4cr5hmtqkc/UZ4OrC01QmI/AAAAAAAABNk/dLDcUO4fR04/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+059.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nothing like fresh smog in the morning. This was taken looking out the hotel window.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We went to orientation at the Youth Olympic Center, which seemed a lot like a college campus from what I could see, but had more tours. Orientation was long and boring, and it was really hard to stay awake during the 2+ hour lecture on Japanese-American relations. The fact that this was on our first full day didn't help.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qhtessSQlmk/UZ4Om-Sa7OI/AAAAAAAABNc/g3wHmteHZUI/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qhtessSQlmk/UZ4Om-Sa7OI/AAAAAAAABNc/g3wHmteHZUI/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+061.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lunch at the cafeteria. I couldn't eat the barely-not-raw egg, but I finished the rest. The melon gelatin was pretty good.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6TtnYAI7YMg/UZ4O_eFPLVI/AAAAAAAABNs/xZKa3yFxc5c/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6TtnYAI7YMg/UZ4O_eFPLVI/AAAAAAAABNs/xZKa3yFxc5c/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+064.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just a friendly airport limousine.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fTOvHYvvKP0/UZ4PC14lrNI/AAAAAAAABN0/9HwdWcvaDzE/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fTOvHYvvKP0/UZ4PC14lrNI/AAAAAAAABN0/9HwdWcvaDzE/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+072.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We can't actually stand up in the back of the bus. For some reason it slopes up almost a foot in the last few rows.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We next visited the Tokyo National Museum for a couple hours. They had a lot of Buddhist statues, some swords, and a lot of writings and paintings. We didn't get to see everything since it was a pretty short visit. Self-guided tour, though, which was the first time we got to really get out on our own (unless you count the night before).<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LGeQzATQBDQ/UZ4PIjZ7ZKI/AAAAAAAABN8/phmkV_V0uN8/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LGeQzATQBDQ/UZ4PIjZ7ZKI/AAAAAAAABN8/phmkV_V0uN8/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+074.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the museum.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wRqRkuLak34/UZ4PZo6uGKI/AAAAAAAABOE/x3B6oqKabZE/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wRqRkuLak34/UZ4PZo6uGKI/AAAAAAAABOE/x3B6oqKabZE/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+087.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Four-season folding painting. From right to left, it has scenes from spring, summer, autumn, and winter, all in a continuous set. This was a common style.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jqPfma2DYxg/UZ4Pek6R77I/AAAAAAAABOM/sSrCMwRdqQI/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jqPfma2DYxg/UZ4Pek6R77I/AAAAAAAABOM/sSrCMwRdqQI/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+088.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Detail on the same painting section above.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ceZT92nzgII/UZ4Pi_pTPGI/AAAAAAAABOU/PBzFM2pvyZE/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ceZT92nzgII/UZ4Pi_pTPGI/AAAAAAAABOU/PBzFM2pvyZE/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+126.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A very, very long scroll. There are lots of these.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DXJoQUx9Djw/UZ4PrNCA4HI/AAAAAAAABOc/w7DOeMW6DVM/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+150.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DXJoQUx9Djw/UZ4PrNCA4HI/AAAAAAAABOc/w7DOeMW6DVM/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+150.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A music stand. I mean, reading stand. But it's the same basic idea. Only this one's gold (or looks like it at least).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5z1yX8JJIww/UZ4PvcW9fII/AAAAAAAABOk/mhLj3DO2cMg/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5z1yX8JJIww/UZ4PvcW9fII/AAAAAAAABOk/mhLj3DO2cMg/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+166.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of many swords on display. This one had a cool engraving in the base of the blade.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After the museum, we went to Kappabashi Dougu Street, which is the largest concentration of shops dedicated to cooking goods, primarily for restaurants and such. They had lots of huge knives, pots, etc. I also saw a taiyaki maker, which would be pretty cool to have if it weren't 20,000 yen or something.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ybiDWEtJ2A8/UZ4P2-_fKNI/AAAAAAAABOs/jRtRUrvVAMI/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+192.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ybiDWEtJ2A8/UZ4P2-_fKNI/AAAAAAAABOs/jRtRUrvVAMI/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+192.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A kappa on Kappabashi street. Kappa are water spirits. There are lots of weird stories and ideas about them, so you can look them up if you're interested.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We next went to Sensou-ji, an ancient temple. I've seen and posted about many of those before, so I didn't take all that many pictures this time. Just the main buildings, mostly, and they look basically like all the others I've already posted about.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GM28_KMOMrE/UZ4QNV-m3NI/AAAAAAAABO0/_R7xB7vMoRs/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+208.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GM28_KMOMrE/UZ4QNV-m3NI/AAAAAAAABO0/_R7xB7vMoRs/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+208.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another shot of Tokyo Sky Tree from the temple grounds.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Wtutd90Uexs/UZ4QSD-fylI/AAAAAAAABO8/LkeGa6o7JMo/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+212.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Wtutd90Uexs/UZ4QSD-fylI/AAAAAAAABO8/LkeGa6o7JMo/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+212.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't feed the pigeons. Feeding pigeons makes them sad. Pigeons can get their food by themselves.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-325IjHZk_WA/UZ4QXxrc8QI/AAAAAAAABPE/HN9We_9cNMU/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+215.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-325IjHZk_WA/UZ4QXxrc8QI/AAAAAAAABPE/HN9We_9cNMU/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+215.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On our way to dinner after the temple. The building just looked cool with all the ivy.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Dinner wasn't great. Tempura of all sorts, but I think we got there a little late, so it was all a little colder than it should have been, and I wasn't a big fan of the stuff anyway. I heard later that some of the others at least agreed that it wasn't good as tempura goes. I don't remember having any before, so I can't really say.<br />
<br />
That night, I went with a larger group, 5 or 6 of us, to better explore the area and buy stuff at Book Off. We stopped at several shops along the way and lost a few people who decided they'd walked far enough, so only 3 of us made it there, but I ended up buying 3 manga I'd never heard of before in hopes of practicing my reading and improving my vocabulary. I don't really have any idea what they're about. Didn't have enough time to try to figure it out beyond the titles and quick skimming of the pictures inside before deciding.<br />
<br />
Today, we moved to Yokohama National University, where we had more lessons on Japanese culture. This time, though, it was actually fun and interesting. We learned about the cultural emphasis on work, various opinions on different topics, seasonal foods, and other things, most of which I already knew but were still kind of interesting. Then we had lunch.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-592rkwsktvc/UZ4QbYyLTYI/AAAAAAAABPM/LEhNlYgZo7g/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+221.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-592rkwsktvc/UZ4QbYyLTYI/AAAAAAAABPM/LEhNlYgZo7g/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+221.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A friend poses with a ridiculously large bite of ramen.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
On our way out of the cafeteria, I saw one girl outside talking to her friend pointing in at all of us (I think at me specifically at the moment, because I happened to be right in front of her). When she saw me look at her, she started laughing and waved, so I waved back. It's weird being looked at as a foreigner again, but it doesn't happen nearly as much in Tokyo as it did around Izumichuo. Most people ignore us.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xlRdxeCZgrQ/UZ4TBLMVeMI/AAAAAAAABPc/U8p-SSiU9l8/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+223.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xlRdxeCZgrQ/UZ4TBLMVeMI/AAAAAAAABPc/U8p-SSiU9l8/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+223.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We had our pictures taken in front of the school emblem.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6Ok4j_F96xU/UZ4TFqaN58I/AAAAAAAABPk/n7n0JrWdOKo/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+224.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6Ok4j_F96xU/UZ4TFqaN58I/AAAAAAAABPk/n7n0JrWdOKo/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+224.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And then we climbed up to the roof. Well, I did. Everyone else took the elevator.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Mvr_rGOEK4I/UZ4TKU0dVoI/AAAAAAAABPs/GqpCXzwqGRw/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+246.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Mvr_rGOEK4I/UZ4TKU0dVoI/AAAAAAAABPs/GqpCXzwqGRw/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+246.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Most of us then climbed the ladder to the top of the little building on top of the roof. Because why not.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VjkyzY-T3OM/UZ4TUtB00pI/AAAAAAAABP0/nrwl5k9VofE/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VjkyzY-T3OM/UZ4TUtB00pI/AAAAAAAABP0/nrwl5k9VofE/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+239.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was a pretty long way down, though only maybe 15 feet to the roof below.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yKi2bOG2sEs/UZ4TY3aRV5I/AAAAAAAABP8/3HAZfOWoU60/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+254.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yKi2bOG2sEs/UZ4TY3aRV5I/AAAAAAAABP8/3HAZfOWoU60/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+254.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My roommate and his new Japanese friend pose on the rooftop.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After that adventure, we headed inside to learn how to put on yukata. This time we all actually did it for real, unlike last summer where we just kind of messed around with it until we got something that looked almost sort of right or gave up. I think I could actually remember the knots well enough that I could do it again if I had one.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OSYVwTIhOd4/UZ4UEc9Dt6I/AAAAAAAABQE/2npLzMOf2QI/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+256.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OSYVwTIhOd4/UZ4UEc9Dt6I/AAAAAAAABQE/2npLzMOf2QI/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+256.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the men in their yukata inside.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OUzUcO1oFQc/UZ4UJOK2mQI/AAAAAAAABQM/k-Q6DseiIEw/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+258.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OUzUcO1oFQc/UZ4UJOK2mQI/AAAAAAAABQM/k-Q6DseiIEw/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+258.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All the men in yukata and geta by the university's emblem. Walking out there we got a lot of looks from the college students.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XU2UCdC2DiI/UZ4UOitmb-I/AAAAAAAABQU/40QGDIGaEhw/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+261.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XU2UCdC2DiI/UZ4UOitmb-I/AAAAAAAABQU/40QGDIGaEhw/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+261.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And suddenly, color. The women always get the better-looking outfits.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_jcEgKVF40c/UZ4UTAvSiII/AAAAAAAABQc/SvLlDSzoKwQ/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+265.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_jcEgKVF40c/UZ4UTAvSiII/AAAAAAAABQc/SvLlDSzoKwQ/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+265.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The instructor and Japanese students who helped with the presentation and lesson.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r3qqSsA7Bmo/UZ4Xs0Sub1I/AAAAAAAABQ8/sI4QeF-8qGk/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+266.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r3qqSsA7Bmo/UZ4Xs0Sub1I/AAAAAAAABQ8/sI4QeF-8qGk/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+266.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Then we learned how to properly fold the kimono.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After a little while waiting for the bus, we went to our new hotel, the Heiwa Plaza Hotel. The rooms here are bigger and more spacious than the other ones (which were absolutely tiny), but the beds, doors, and bathrooms are smaller. But now we have internet. Some of the guys promptly opened the windows and walked outside to the other people's rooms. I stepped out to see what was there.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C3dFKXj95zs/UZ4XoZYSjVI/AAAAAAAABQs/QLjPzzy5WR4/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+273.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C3dFKXj95zs/UZ4XoZYSjVI/AAAAAAAABQs/QLjPzzy5WR4/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+273.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My roommate at the next room over.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-83q4iHXB7I8/UZ4XsXZnM1I/AAAAAAAABQ0/uEpTZjxQuU0/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+277.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-83q4iHXB7I8/UZ4XsXZnM1I/AAAAAAAABQ0/uEpTZjxQuU0/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+277.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking down from our "balcony"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0AsMZmrHYDw/UZ4Xxm6GzsI/AAAAAAAABRE/WfOiV2yzbRs/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+288.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0AsMZmrHYDw/UZ4Xxm6GzsI/AAAAAAAABRE/WfOiV2yzbRs/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+288.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another ostensibly western-style meal for dinner. Bread, chicken with cheese and tomatoes/tomato sauce on top, corn, and potato wedges. And of course Calpis Water, but this time I also changed it up and got Melon Fanta, which was actually pretty good, too.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4BD0OioLyaw/UZ4X8ZIkj3I/AAAAAAAABRM/UL-i-l1-K1U/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4BD0OioLyaw/UZ4X8ZIkj3I/AAAAAAAABRM/UL-i-l1-K1U/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+289.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bread was just too cute. It's like a whole loaf from the store, but it fits in the palm of your hand.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We had plenty of time after dinner tonight to explore, so we went to the Landmark Tower Sky Garden.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kAOs3SAtkqs/UZ4YokR7HNI/AAAAAAAABRU/5stK-l1UlOg/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+294.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kAOs3SAtkqs/UZ4YokR7HNI/AAAAAAAABRU/5stK-l1UlOg/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+294.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some cool buildings along the way.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9WiOlplvmGY/UZ4Ysw912ZI/AAAAAAAABRc/E54ubjQNmUQ/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+301.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9WiOlplvmGY/UZ4Ysw912ZI/AAAAAAAABRc/E54ubjQNmUQ/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+301.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The tower itself. The tallest building and third tallest structure in Japan.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IbcaSGbUzWQ/UZ4YwxHDSiI/AAAAAAAABRk/FQP2j4fDS4w/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IbcaSGbUzWQ/UZ4YwxHDSiI/AAAAAAAABRk/FQP2j4fDS4w/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+304.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I just thought this was a cool shot.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EIydxFwGNE0/UZ4Y1d-msKI/AAAAAAAABRs/sZ0-1XuQcAA/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+311.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EIydxFwGNE0/UZ4Y1d-msKI/AAAAAAAABRs/sZ0-1XuQcAA/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+311.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It wasn't actually this light outside, but I thought the framing of the bridge, buildings, and grass around the water was nice.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-61S66bifLu4/UZ4Y5qWmGLI/AAAAAAAABR0/-Zkcm4wB3mE/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+334.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-61S66bifLu4/UZ4Y5qWmGLI/AAAAAAAABR0/-Zkcm4wB3mE/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+334.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We had many adventures along the way. The 15-minute walk took us almost an hour and a half.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GB2u4H359-w/UZ4Y-JCx7VI/AAAAAAAABR8/kqmvnw351lk/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+342.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GB2u4H359-w/UZ4Y-JCx7VI/AAAAAAAABR8/kqmvnw351lk/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+342.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Japan. The vending machine capital of the world.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CTJOO3GnGc8/UZ4ZCAD78wI/AAAAAAAABSE/qgjTm-7tuFs/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+352.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CTJOO3GnGc8/UZ4ZCAD78wI/AAAAAAAABSE/qgjTm-7tuFs/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+352.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some possibly famous sculpture near the tower. We don't know what it is.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8JsYiBrqNcs/UZ4ZGBaD8MI/AAAAAAAABSM/OlxrD2ZYeLM/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+356.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8JsYiBrqNcs/UZ4ZGBaD8MI/AAAAAAAABSM/OlxrD2ZYeLM/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+356.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Riding the escalator down right after going up because no one else followed.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ac-hPu_wnpw/UZ4ZKa0uy5I/AAAAAAAABSU/chD65eQXCYc/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+361.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ac-hPu_wnpw/UZ4ZKa0uy5I/AAAAAAAABSU/chD65eQXCYc/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+361.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the mall between us and the tower, I found the Pokemon Center.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZiccA8oy3E8/UZ4ZPWdxaBI/AAAAAAAABSc/kud8zKUSoBo/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+366.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZiccA8oy3E8/UZ4ZPWdxaBI/AAAAAAAABSc/kud8zKUSoBo/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+366.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now that all our pokemon were back to full health, we continued to the actual tower. This is the ceiling of the fastest elevator in Japan, reaching the top of the 69-story building in just 40 seconds, with a max speed of 750 m/min (45 km/hr or about 28 mph).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j8YIbPgxlrc/UZ4ZUX1Cp6I/AAAAAAAABSk/WgcczgyFL4g/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+378.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j8YIbPgxlrc/UZ4ZUX1Cp6I/AAAAAAAABSk/WgcczgyFL4g/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+378.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The vast city as seen from the observation deck. It looked about like this no matter which direction I took a picture of.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rRHphpzgffo/UZ4ZYkK3TeI/AAAAAAAABSs/fsP6ycBBO_s/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+403.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rRHphpzgffo/UZ4ZYkK3TeI/AAAAAAAABSs/fsP6ycBBO_s/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+403.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bridges of light seemingly over nothing.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x6rAJB4WfaU/UZ4Zc3SIYPI/AAAAAAAABS0/aX_fLscz3o0/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+423.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x6rAJB4WfaU/UZ4Zc3SIYPI/AAAAAAAABS0/aX_fLscz3o0/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+423.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A subset of our group at the top of the tower. The girl taking the picture didn't want to be in any of the pictures herself, so my roommate and I made it our mission to get good pictures of her. Then I realized when I got back to do this blog that I already had a few (on the escalator).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dbOwttSOSVo/UZ4Zgz4hYkI/AAAAAAAABS8/shBvmZ70JXM/s1600/Kakehashi+Japan+436.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dbOwttSOSVo/UZ4Zgz4hYkI/AAAAAAAABS8/shBvmZ70JXM/s640/Kakehashi+Japan+436.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the Nippon Maru, at the Nippon Maru Memorial Park just at the base of the tower. I don't know anything else about it.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So now I'm back at the hotel, and that concludes the recap. I can elaborate on anything if there are questions, but I'll only have internet for a few more days, then nothing until I get back to the States.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6976193792672787337.post-86867190183972943662013-05-18T06:09:00.000-04:002013-05-18T06:09:50.792-04:00Back To Japan!It's been a while since I posted here, huh.<br />
<br />
I'm heading back to Japan. Most of you who actually know me probably found out through other means, but I've won an all-expense-paid 10-day trip to Japan, courtesy of the Japanese government, for a brand new youth cultural exchange program they're doing. They picked three American universities, and mine happened to be one of them. And they actually chose me from among all the applicants (along with 22 other students) to get to go!<br />
<br />
I leave Monday. We'll be heading to Tokyo this time instead of Osaka, so I'll get to see a lot of new places. Since it's all planned by the government, every day looks like it's going to be completely packed this time. Usually we'll be visiting 3-4 different locations each day. This is going to be super busy, but should also be a lot of fun.<br />
<br />
I don't know how much internet access I'll have there. I think I'll have some during the middle days of the trip, but probably not in the beginning or end. I'll be sure to take lots of pictures and post when I can. Look forward to it! :)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6976193792672787337.post-45970969958945589162013-01-01T00:33:00.000-05:002013-01-01T00:33:26.382-05:00How I Spent My New Year's Eve - by Thayne BohmanI barely slept at all this morning, spending the last two hours (of three in bed) tossing and turning most of the time. Then, around 5:30, I got up and had breakfast. Then I played some piano while I waited for my mom to get ready to take me over to a doctor's appointment I had at 7:30. Once there, I filled out a bunch of paperwork and had the doctor test out my legs. I've had a bad left knee for around six years now, ever since it moved out of place while I was limboing in a dance class back in my first year of college. Finally decided I should do something about it.<br />
<br />
After that appointment, I went to get my knee x-rayed, and didn't make it back home until around 11:00. So I had lunch and watched some anime with my mom and brother. Normally, the anime only comes after dinner, but we were already all up and eating at the same time, so I suggested we do it then. Then I messed around on my computer, played some games, and fell asleep around 4 or so.<br />
<br />
My mom woke me up to have some dinner before going to the church dance tonight. The dance started at 9, but I didn't show up until a little after 10. There were probably about 4-500 people at the dance, of whom I knew 3, sort of. None were really my friends, and I've never been much of a dancer (despite taking the class), so I mostly just stood around and watched other people dance. Then they started doing the limbo, and I got all depressed because that's what made my knee bad in the first place. But I figured, it's been years since I really got to limbo (I don't think I've done it since the accident), and I used to be really good, and if I'm careful and pull out if my knee starts to hurt, then I think I'll be okay.<br />
<br />
So after they'd already lowered the bar probably two feet from the starting position, and it was now at low chest or stomach level, I joined in. My first run wasn't great, because I wasn't into it, and honestly it was still too high for me. By the next time I went, it had dropped another foot or so, but I made it through easily. After one more run, there was only me and one girl left, and they lowered it to just above my knees. She went first, but bumped her chin on the bar, and they called it out. I went through and cleared it with an inch or two to spare, so they declared me the winner. Didn't get to see how low I could actually go. I'm surprised my knee held out, though. Didn't even hurt this time.<br />
<br />
Anyway, I stuck around and ate some stuff there, watched everyone attempt to dance to Gangnam Style, and then decided to go home. That was around 10:50. When they started playing Cha-cha Slide, I left immediately. I despise that "song."<br />
<br />
So I got home around 11:20, talked to my parents a bit, changed out of my nice dance clothes, did some laundry, and have spent the last 45 minutes or so discussing the finer points of Windows 7 and 8 with a friend online. And now it's past midnight. So, yay? Happy New Year, to those of you who care. お正月おめでとうございます。Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6976193792672787337.post-38059888926610888382012-08-09T19:32:00.001-04:002012-08-10T00:50:18.503-04:00Otakon 2012 pictures from FridaySo, Otakon was two weeks ago, and I haven't gotten around to uploading any pictures yet. That changes now. I took a ton of pictures, and handed my camera off to other people during the photoshoots I was in, so they took a ton more pictures, so all in all, I've got 843 images. I haven't gone through all of them yet, and I'm sure some at least are pretty blurry. Anyway, let's go in order.<br />
<br />
<h3>
Thursday</h3>
We arrived Thursday afternoon, around 4 or 5. By far the earliest we've ever arrived.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2iMnAtR_Zeg/UCQ7pyVHNuI/AAAAAAAABEk/W6GtjH7kG_k/s1600/Otakon+2012+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2iMnAtR_Zeg/UCQ7pyVHNuI/AAAAAAAABEk/W6GtjH7kG_k/s640/Otakon+2012+004.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our hotel room, once we'd brought all our things in. The whole left wall in this picture was lined with boxes for my friend's costumes. It took several trips with multiple people to get everything in.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After unpacking, we went and got our badges and met up with some other friends, then wandered around a bit more before coming back to the room. All night, we (well, one of my friends and the girls we met up with earlier) worked on making a bow and arrow for someone's costume for the next day. It was a cheap prop, but it worked well enough, I suppose.<br />
<br />
<h3>
Friday</h3>
Since we had picked up our badges on Thursday, and we were in the Hilton (which is connected to the Convention Center), we were able to walk right in on Friday morning. After putting on our costumes, of course.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WinkEyG4bCU/UCQ700tjutI/AAAAAAAABEs/lLOc1Phsz38/s1600/Otakon+2012+017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WinkEyG4bCU/UCQ700tjutI/AAAAAAAABEs/lLOc1Phsz38/s640/Otakon+2012+017.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is my friend's Canti (from FLCL) right before we left. He has spent the better part of the last 6 months working on it. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XhSmj5lB6HQ/UCQ8ANr-9tI/AAAAAAAABE0/XE_JJfVW-5g/s1600/Otakon+2012+026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XhSmj5lB6HQ/UCQ8ANr-9tI/AAAAAAAABE0/XE_JJfVW-5g/s640/Otakon+2012+026.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some people from Full Metal Panic on the way over. I don't really know the show, but I liked the giant... mouse? It squeaked with every step, too.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r3bVtvP-EaU/UCQ8Mlby8LI/AAAAAAAABE8/YTbAToP-x88/s1600/Otakon+2012+037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r3bVtvP-EaU/UCQ8Mlby8LI/AAAAAAAABE8/YTbAToP-x88/s640/Otakon+2012+037.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Friday morning crowds. Nothing compared with what would come later.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IzysbLvuRTk/UCQ8Zz1lN0I/AAAAAAAABFE/eM0nj05GDL8/s1600/Otakon+2012+056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IzysbLvuRTk/UCQ8Zz1lN0I/AAAAAAAABFE/eM0nj05GDL8/s640/Otakon+2012+056.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We met a second red Canti, so my friend had to get some pictures together.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g40IXXZ7whA/UCQ8mMkOQnI/AAAAAAAABFM/xeNuwlxJWCI/s1600/Otakon+2012+060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g40IXXZ7whA/UCQ8mMkOQnI/AAAAAAAABFM/xeNuwlxJWCI/s640/Otakon+2012+060.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kid, from Chrono Cross. I always like seeing the lesser-done shows and games that I know.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l7yF5zRQjfI/UCQ8z3eQpTI/AAAAAAAABFU/945Kqg9JaO8/s1600/Otakon+2012+070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l7yF5zRQjfI/UCQ8z3eQpTI/AAAAAAAABFU/945Kqg9JaO8/s640/Otakon+2012+070.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The fountains were off all weekend. I don't know why. Maybe someone got in trouble last year, or maybe they were under maintenance or something.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o9DspTnLefs/UCQ9DU6B6eI/AAAAAAAABFc/6yq2s--j4wk/s1600/Otakon+2012+079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o9DspTnLefs/UCQ9DU6B6eI/AAAAAAAABFc/6yq2s--j4wk/s640/Otakon+2012+079.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The line for preregistration was 3 or 4 hours long in the morning. At-door registration was probably about the same. Glad I didn't have to wait through that in the 100+ degree weather.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l9meEpawM_0/UCQ9PTnwpbI/AAAAAAAABFk/2Jj2CrXSqvc/s1600/Otakon+2012+088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l9meEpawM_0/UCQ9PTnwpbI/AAAAAAAABFk/2Jj2CrXSqvc/s640/Otakon+2012+088.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The line for the Dealer's Hall was also stupidly long. Well, it was just stupid. They kept opening it and closing it, telling people to disperse and come back later (very few people did). It seemed like no one really knew what was going on. Apparently, the line was too long for fire codes or something. Hopefully they'll figure out how to organize it better for next year.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tZdJViccwhA/UCQ9e5wVZnI/AAAAAAAABFs/HqSs7gy7eOM/s1600/Otakon+2012+099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tZdJViccwhA/UCQ9e5wVZnI/AAAAAAAABFs/HqSs7gy7eOM/s640/Otakon+2012+099.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You're not an anime girl!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1E1tPqFKSXQ/UCQ9sXnDxqI/AAAAAAAABF0/C0CaiLDES9I/s1600/Otakon+2012+108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1E1tPqFKSXQ/UCQ9sXnDxqI/AAAAAAAABF0/C0CaiLDES9I/s640/Otakon+2012+108.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Little Pony was popular this year. I haven't watched the show, but one of my friends was in this shot, so I got the picture anyway.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gqCKCWb1u2o/UCQ95sAgGzI/AAAAAAAABF8/Q64uchtisVY/s1600/Otakon+2012+116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gqCKCWb1u2o/UCQ95sAgGzI/AAAAAAAABF8/Q64uchtisVY/s640/Otakon+2012+116.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Canti vs Castle Crashers.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4qIC66W1tIY/UCQ-ERnM8nI/AAAAAAAABGE/sQYGT2WYBrg/s1600/Otakon+2012+137.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4qIC66W1tIY/UCQ-ERnM8nI/AAAAAAAABGE/sQYGT2WYBrg/s640/Otakon+2012+137.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White mages are always classic. I think I made his day when I asked for his picture and not the picture of the two (much fancier) costumes next to him. I'm not sure, but I think the other two were from one of the newer Final Fantasy games. I'm not that familiar with the latest ones.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Lnok0HcpFsM/UCQ-SyTmmaI/AAAAAAAABGM/L5rfsaXQfUE/s1600/Otakon+2012+155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Lnok0HcpFsM/UCQ-SyTmmaI/AAAAAAAABGM/L5rfsaXQfUE/s640/Otakon+2012+155.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My friend (middle), our friend (right), and her friend (left). We split up shortly after this picture so I could get autographs.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pHlyUo8xLC4/UCQ-hYbUY0I/AAAAAAAABGU/Hfx4wwkpb18/s1600/Otakon+2012+163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pHlyUo8xLC4/UCQ-hYbUY0I/AAAAAAAABGU/Hfx4wwkpb18/s640/Otakon+2012+163.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">While in line for Gen Urobuchi's autograph, the people just behind me started playing the game from Steins;Gate (which I haven't watched). It looked interesting. Simple game (I still remember all the rules), but complex strategy. Like chess.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HMh9XMWfj4k/UCQ-vvclS3I/AAAAAAAABGc/jtslxYOF-iE/s1600/Otakon+2012+164.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HMh9XMWfj4k/UCQ-vvclS3I/AAAAAAAABGc/jtslxYOF-iE/s640/Otakon+2012+164.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nagisa! Clannad is still my favorite show ever.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3aAAsyopxMw/UCQ-9JZWVsI/AAAAAAAABGk/cQMqF5ZZFqk/s1600/Otakon+2012+167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3aAAsyopxMw/UCQ-9JZWVsI/AAAAAAAABGk/cQMqF5ZZFqk/s640/Otakon+2012+167.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dr. Wily. Not a costume I expected to see.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rINLH0md1KI/UCQ_Lw4T74I/AAAAAAAABGs/7pI5wUmSa3Q/s1600/Otakon+2012+170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rINLH0md1KI/UCQ_Lw4T74I/AAAAAAAABGs/7pI5wUmSa3Q/s640/Otakon+2012+170.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tomoya from Clannad. Too bad I didn't see him with the Nagisa earlier. I also didn't bring my Tomoya cosplay this year.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1MU1TpjCMNw/UCQ_avQvbcI/AAAAAAAABG0/d5nBwiA9-Io/s1600/Otakon+2012+174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1MU1TpjCMNw/UCQ_avQvbcI/AAAAAAAABG0/d5nBwiA9-Io/s640/Otakon+2012+174.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Final Fantasy VI seems to be gaining in popularity over the past few years. It's become increasingly common to see characters from it, especially in large groups. This is Terra/Tina Branford and Relm Arrowny. VI is still the best Final Fantasy. And video game. Ever.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Cjt1Ii34COE/UCQ_oCU0dvI/AAAAAAAABG8/0qKq4SgO61o/s1600/Otakon+2012+187.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Cjt1Ii34COE/UCQ_oCU0dvI/AAAAAAAABG8/0qKq4SgO61o/s640/Otakon+2012+187.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's me. I'm dressed as Arc from the DS remake of Final Fantasy III, in his Freelancer (base) job outfit.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kfosdO8dvGU/UCQ_2WrbE8I/AAAAAAAABHE/UmVRYMt3IJQ/s1600/Otakon+2012+217.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kfosdO8dvGU/UCQ_2WrbE8I/AAAAAAAABHE/UmVRYMt3IJQ/s640/Otakon+2012+217.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guarding the escalators. The closer one is one of the characters from Heroes of Newearth. I
haven't played it and don't remember the character's name, but the
person in the costume said he's actually a developer for the game.
Pretty cool. They were standing there for at least 10 or 15 minutes.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tWFMtAUUbpw/UCRADCfHSzI/AAAAAAAABHM/H9tnI-wo_R4/s1600/Otakon+2012+227.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tWFMtAUUbpw/UCRADCfHSzI/AAAAAAAABHM/H9tnI-wo_R4/s640/Otakon+2012+227.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Then they got in a fight.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gFL-pnTFYpA/UCRASxnyRiI/AAAAAAAABHU/WTjQLqncv5g/s1600/Otakon+2012+252.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gFL-pnTFYpA/UCRASxnyRiI/AAAAAAAABHU/WTjQLqncv5g/s640/Otakon+2012+252.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not from an anime, but still a cool suit of armor. He didn't make it himself, though (I asked).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QmQBL38Ba9Y/UCRAeF9JeEI/AAAAAAAABHc/XnGzwKHnfsU/s1600/Otakon+2012+258.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QmQBL38Ba9Y/UCRAeF9JeEI/AAAAAAAABHc/XnGzwKHnfsU/s640/Otakon+2012+258.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lucia from Lunar II! I <i>loved</i> that game. I keep thinking one of these days I should go as Hiro.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uI6CJPbrDL8/UCRAt6w4wWI/AAAAAAAABHk/qfsszNQlEKc/s1600/Otakon+2012+260.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uI6CJPbrDL8/UCRAt6w4wWI/AAAAAAAABHk/qfsszNQlEKc/s640/Otakon+2012+260.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marle from Chrono Trigger. She has the crossbow on her back, too.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BbYJqQux2fc/UCRA-DbWyqI/AAAAAAAABHs/SmhmOz9Pk74/s1600/Otakon+2012+262.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BbYJqQux2fc/UCRA-DbWyqI/AAAAAAAABHs/SmhmOz9Pk74/s640/Otakon+2012+262.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of my friend's friends dressed in Black Rock Shooter cosplays.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o5qCZKRHqms/UCRBLepG52I/AAAAAAAABH0/OBpUySK9xP8/s1600/Otakon+2012+268.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o5qCZKRHqms/UCRBLepG52I/AAAAAAAABH0/OBpUySK9xP8/s640/Otakon+2012+268.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shortly after we returned to the hotel room for the night, we looked out the window and saw a fireworks show some two or three hundred feet away in the baseball stadium. I guess someone won. We recorded most of the show on camera. It lasted a little over 10 minutes, which I think is longer than the 4th of July fireworks I saw.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I'll come back and post stuff from Saturday and Sunday sometime later. If you see yourself in here, feel free to post a comment. If you saw me take a picture of you, and it's not in here, send me a message and I can send you the photo(s). I have far too many to post them all in a blog.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6976193792672787337.post-74914590928495542132012-07-25T17:13:00.000-04:002012-08-09T19:33:31.924-04:00Otakon quickly approachesI'll be going to my 5th Otakon tomorrow (Thursday) afternoon, right after class gets out. I haven't had time to make any new costumes, unfortunately, so I'll be reusing some of my favorite ones from previous years. This year, I'll be going as Arc from the DS remake of Final Fantasy III (Freelancer job) on Friday, and as Archer from Fate/Stay Night on Saturday. Sunday will probably be plainclothes.<br />
<br />
My plan this year is to get a ton of autographs from famous people. I'm planning to get the English cast of Madoka to all sign the donation poster I got last year, along with Gen Urobuchi, the writer for the show. I also want to get Ibuki Fuuko's voice actress to sign my copy of the Full Voice version of Clannad I have, right next to her picture in the manual. There are a couple other people I'll try to catch as well, like Hirano Aya (Haruhi, etc.) if she's giving autographs.<br />
<br />
I'll be in the Carnival Phantasm photoshoot on Saturday afternoon (1pm at the indoor fountains, moving to outdoor if weather is good) and the Fate one on the 3F terrace at 10. If you go to Otakon, say hi if you see me! I'll be sure to take plenty of pictures of the con, and I'll post some of the best ones at least on here.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6976193792672787337.post-60401066256673824152012-07-02T13:27:00.001-04:002012-07-02T13:28:20.065-04:00Day 36: The Voyage HomeI was debating what to call this post. The Odyssey, The End of All Things... I think this one is the least dramatic. Bonus points if you get all the references.<br />
<br />
I went to Book Off as planned, and ended up buying two mangas: a <i>Love Plus </i>book, and <i>Hidan no Aria-chan</i>. They were both pretty cheap, and I made sure to only buy ones that had furigana so that I would be able to at least read if not understand everything.<br />
<br />
That shopping trip took longer than planned, so I made it back to the house a little after 11:00, and we grabbed my bags and set off for the station. We did have someone take our picture together, which is the only picture we got the whole week, and the train pulled in a few seconds later at 11:13. I said a very hurried goodbye and jumped on.<br />
<br />
When I made it to the main Yokkaichi station, I couldn't find the ticket machine for the next leg of my trip, so I had to ask the person at the counter. He helped me and gave me a ticket for the 11:59 Limited Express to Namba, which cost 150 yen more than I had expected, but that was still within my planned budget deviation. I went up to the platform and waited for about 20 minutes before accidentally boarding the 11:55 Express train instead. They shouldn't name their trains so similarly and have the times so close together.<br />
<br />
How it actually happened is that I asked one of the station workers if the train that was just pulling in matched my ticket, but he was hurrying on board and just took a quick glance at my ticket before motioning me inside and examining it more fully. As soon as the doors closed and the train started moving, he said it was the wrong train. However, he was kind enough to help me figure out what to do, and he talked to the conductor and informed him about my situation. He got off at the next stop, though, and I got passed along through a few different workers on the train until we got to the stop where they told me to get off. During the ride, I saw the train I was supposed to be on pass by us, which was pretty discouraging. However, at least that meant that I was heading in the right direction, which up until that point I didn't even know.<br />
<br />
When I got off the train, the conductor spoke to one of the workers at that station, who passed me along to someone else, who finally got my ticket changed to the Urban Liner instead of the Limited Express. I had some trouble understanding what everyone was saying, because they were generally speaking really quickly. Plus I don't know train station lingo. I understood that I would be getting on another train that would get me to Namba about 20 minutes later than I'd planned (meaning I'd miss my desired connection to the airport), and that I wasn't actually in the system but would just have to take whatever seat was free. Usually the express-type trains have assigned seating.<br />
<br />
I then waited at that station for about 20 more minutes until the Urban Liner train came by, and got on near the front. Fortunately, there was a big enough space to fit myself and my luggage all together. So we sped along, making no more stops until we got to Namba. I guess the Urban Liner is even faster than the Limited Express, or at least stops less.<br />
<br />
When I got out, I looked around the station and asked a couple of different workers for directions to the airport line. The first guy wasn't very helpful, but I think I may have asked the question wrong. The second person was much more direct. The airport train ticket cost about 800 yen <i>less</i> than I expected, which more than made up for the earlier ticket costing more. In all, I have roughly $30-35 in yen right now. And in the end, I finished my trip $3.22 under budget (not counting the yen I had left over, because I haven't converted that back and in the US it's useless, so it's basically just an expensive souvenir at this point). Back to the story.<br />
<br />
I got to the platform with my ticket, and asked one last person to make sure it was the right place, then waited until the next train came and left. Since Namba is the end of the line, it was waiting at the station for quite a while before departure, which made me a bit nervous, since I'd already missed the one I'd planned to take. Finally, after stopping at every station along the way (the train I'd wanted to take would have been the faster express), I arrived at the airport with about 85 minutes until my plane left. Usually you're supposed to arrive 2 hours early, and 3 or more hours early for an international flight... but Japan's airports are faster. I made my way through, checked my bags, and got on the plane with no hassle, no difficulties. It was really smooth. I didn't have much extra time at all, and if I'd missed that last train I probably wouldn't have made it, but still, it went quickly enough that I wasn't really worried about missing my plane anymore.<br />
<br />
The plane rides were mostly uneventful. I noticed that all the food on the way home had Japanese labels instead of English ones, even though the crew was mostly American. The flight was also a lot more crowded than when I went to Japan, and a much higher percentage of Americans than Japanese, whereas it was the other way around on my way there. Another interesting thing is that during my flight across the Pacific, night passed — in about 4 hours — and the sun rose again, and it was still Saturday. Long distance flying is so weird.<br />
<br />
During the plane ride, I tried reading the manga I bought. The Hidan no Aria book is incredibly difficult to follow. It's in 4koma format (4-panel comic strip, basically), but I can hardly understand half of it, even with the furigana. I gave up after just a page or two. Then I switched to Love Plus, which was much, much easier. I read the entire first chapter (about 30 pages) and understood all but 3 or 4 words. Frankly, I'm amazed. If only the game were as easy to understand.<br />
<br />
I stopped in Seattle, Minneapolis, and Baltimore before finally meeting up with my family and driving home, arriving shortly after midnight on Saturday/Sunday night, concluding the longest day of my life (37 hours, 26 of which were spent traveling).<br />
<br />
My sleep schedule is still a little messed up, obviously, but I'm doing alright. My next semester of summer classes started today, and I made it to my 9:30 am class just fine, but my eyes are hurting from lack of sleep, or sleep at odd times. Still, it's surprisingly easy to readjust, just like it was when I arrived in Japan. I guess I'm naturally suited to resist jet lag. I'm sure it also helps that I was staying up super late the last few nights before I came home.<br />
<br />
Well, that concludes this post. I'll post a few final pictures soon, but I don't have them on hand at the moment; they're still on the camera. I'm not sure how much use I'll make of this blog in the future, but I'll probably keep it up a little for the more interesting events in my life. I doubt it will be as detailed or as frequent as it has been up until now, though.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6976193792672787337.post-82689803701022854672012-06-29T20:46:00.000-04:002012-06-29T20:46:18.503-04:00Days 34-36: Preparation for departure and farewellOnce again, not a whole lot to say about these days. I didn't end up going out and doing anything exciting, although I did go into downtown Yokkaichi with Charlie for dinner last night. He took me out to a Chinese place. It helps that he speaks Chinese. There were actually a lot of Chinese people on the street there, too. It wasn't exactly a great neighborhood, but we were okay.<br />
<br />
I did get out some to do shopping and such, but otherwise I've mostly been at home preparing to leave. I'm going to do one last bit of shopping this morning at Book Off and see if I can find a couple of good mangas with Charlie's help. I haven't bought any yet, but they've got really cheap ones, and reading will definitely help to improve my vocabulary.<br />
<br />
After that's done, I'll get to the train station around 11:00 for the 11:13 train, and start my journey back home. It should take roughly 25 hours. That's a long trip. I've got three train rides, followed by three plane rides and a car ride before I get home. I'll be bringing my two suitcases, which each now weigh in at about 48 pounds, and my backpack, at about 25 pounds. At least the weight is a little better distributed than when I came to Charlie's house, but it'll still be a pain lugging it all around.<br />
<br />
Okay, I'm going to finish up the last-minute packing (like with this laptop) and head out. It's been fun here in Japan. I hope to return someday. Bye!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6976193792672787337.post-27205470251011000862012-06-27T08:56:00.000-04:002012-06-27T08:56:04.119-04:00Days 31-33: Living in YokkaichiThe past few days have been pretty slow as far as noteworthy events go. I've been mostly spending my time at my friend Charlie's house, but I've also gone around and seen some of the local town. Charlie works during the afternoons and evenings, so I'm mostly left to my own devices. Monday was mostly spent recovering from my trip to Tokyo, but I also went out shopping for a couple things to use around the house, like soap, and some milk and cereal for some cheap breakfasts that should last all week. Later that night, we went out to a bigger shopping mall and got some more food for various meals.<br />
<br />
My arms and shoulders were extremely sore from Saturday through Monday night, because of lugging around about 100 pounds of baggage. I didn't mention it before, but it did make Akihabara a little less enjoyable than it could have been. I mostly tried to ignore it anyway. They're still a little tight now, but it's not too bad.<br />
<br />
On Tuesday, I sat in on one of Charlie's English lessons with a couple of small boys. He seemed like a pretty good teacher, and the kids were alright. It was pretty fun to watch. I participated a little bit, but there wasn't much for me to do. His boss wants him to teach by pure immersion, so I couldn't practice my Japanese with them, either, since I was supposed to be speaking English only. His boss was a pretty nice woman, though, and we talked for a while in both English and Japanese. She even took us out for a light lunch at the shopping mall's cafe.<br />
<br />
After all that was over, I went to Book Off, a used book/movie/game chain, and got a couple more Japanese games: <i>Lunar: Silver Star Story</i> and <i>Remember 11: The Age of Infinity</i>, for PS and PS2, respectively. I already own Lunar in English, but it was 500 yen, so I couldn't pass that up. Remember 11 was also 500 yen, and it's a visual novel I've been playing in English with a fan translation patch, so when I saw that I could purchase it legally, I had to do that. I try to get my games legally whenever possible, but that game hadn't been possible until now.<br />
<br />
Today, I've mostly just sat at home. Charlie went out to work around 1:30 and got back around 9:00, and in the meantime I've done a bunch of cleaning for him and played games. I doubt anything exciting will happen in the rest of tonight.<br />
<br />
There's a <i>chance</i> I'll go out to see Ise Jingu before I leave, but that sort of depends. It's a 90-minute train ride to get there, which I really don't feel like doing, and it'll also cost another 4000 yen or so, which is basically the rest of my entire budget, aside from the train fares to get back to the airport and go home. I haven't decided for sure one way or the other if I'll go.<br />
<br />
<br />
Miscellaneous stuff:<br />
<ul>
<li>The cereal selection in Japan is very limited. Pretty much corn flakes (frosted or chocolate), or bran flakes.</li>
<li>When you buy anything, the store clerk will almost always tape the
top of the bag closed for you. This does not apply in grocery stores,
because by and large you are expected to bag your own purchases there
after you're done.</li>
<li>When people are trying to explain something, or give a somewhat-rehearsed speech or lesson (such as in church, at school, or my host family choosing their words carefully so I could understand), they tend to stress their particles (ha, ga, wo, ni, etc.). Those come up every few words in a typical sentence, so the result is that they'll say a few words at a lower pitch, then a longer, more drawn out and higher pitched syllable for the particle, then back down and up and down and up. Lots of people do this.</li>
<li>People here in Yokkaichi stare at me much more openly than they did in Izumi. This isn't exactly a big city, and foreigners are pretty rare. I haven't seen any other white people besides Charlie, so we attract a lot more attention.</li>
</ul>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6976193792672787337.post-36636737439958775332012-06-25T01:56:00.001-04:002012-08-01T12:00:53.408-04:00Day 30: AkihabaraI'm no longer in Tokyo. I took the overnight bus back to Nagoya, then the train to Yokkaichi. But let me back up. Yesterday was a very long day. Continuing where my last post left off...<br />
<br />
After we got cleaned up, we planned our trip to Akihabara in a little more detail, then went and got breakfast at Sukiya (すき家). It's a common chain restaurant here in Japan. I had curry rice, because it was cheap, but I soon regretted it, as the hot food was really not agreeing with my stomach at that hour. It didn't last long, though, so it was okay.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ccelT2g4WZc/T-fzNc01HAI/AAAAAAAABAA/qIYmOKjhHmc/s1600/Japan+028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ccelT2g4WZc/T-fzNc01HAI/AAAAAAAABAA/qIYmOKjhHmc/s640/Japan+028.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tokyo Station, shortly after our arrival on Saturday night. The central station of the biggest city in the world, and it's practically deserted.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HbElU9_0P00/T-fzTtlNTQI/AAAAAAAABAI/t0Wl70RYJzM/s1600/Japan+034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HbElU9_0P00/T-fzTtlNTQI/AAAAAAAABAI/t0Wl70RYJzM/s640/Japan+034.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My capsule that I slept in. My friend had the one above mine.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jt5PxL2QfNo/T-fzZBIFEII/AAAAAAAABAQ/P9Ut1vwR6GU/s1600/Japan+037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jt5PxL2QfNo/T-fzZBIFEII/AAAAAAAABAQ/P9Ut1vwR6GU/s640/Japan+037.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view out of one of the capsule hotel windows. The window itself was wide open, and it would have been easy enough to jump or fall out. This really wasn't a great neighborhood, which was fairly obvious when we got there, but nothing happened, so it was okay. The hotel itself was also rather unappealing.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N5svp8rsulU/T-fze3KB2AI/AAAAAAAABAY/-lYbPkCdJwc/s1600/Japan+040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N5svp8rsulU/T-fze3KB2AI/AAAAAAAABAY/-lYbPkCdJwc/s640/Japan+040.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The nearby park. Near the station and the hotel. It was actually kind of nice. We spent an hour or more Saturday night wandering around here before going to bed. My friend was trying to get a group of local people to invite us into a conversation, but it didn't happen.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gPRqVuICvpQ/T-fzjxIFOlI/AAAAAAAABAg/UBZU96pUydI/s1600/Japan+042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gPRqVuICvpQ/T-fzjxIFOlI/AAAAAAAABAg/UBZU96pUydI/s640/Japan+042.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another part of the park.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pH3YYIImudc/T-fzqbS3C7I/AAAAAAAABAo/CnBo48DLtzM/s1600/Japan+045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pH3YYIImudc/T-fzqbS3C7I/AAAAAAAABAo/CnBo48DLtzM/s640/Japan+045.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A rocket park. They really need adult playgrounds. If there had been fewer people around, I probably would have gone on this one. When we saw it again in the morning, it was crawling with kids.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w6jIvkuMm5I/T-fzvyzwFjI/AAAAAAAABAw/4vfdvdvGzT8/s1600/Japan+046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w6jIvkuMm5I/T-fzvyzwFjI/AAAAAAAABAw/4vfdvdvGzT8/s640/Japan+046.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tokyo Sky Tree. It doesn't look that big in this picture, but we walked closer and closer, and it didn't seem to move much, so that's gotta be pretty far away.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We used the Tokyo rail map we picked up the day before to find how to get to Akihabara, then went to the station and set out. We arrived probably around 11:00 or so. The first thing I noticed at the station was that all the ads were anime- or game-based. That's not common elsewhere. The second thing was a huge tower labeled SEGA, to which my friend was immediately drawn. We headed towards it and found ourselves (after a few stops) on the main street of Akihabara. Both sides were lined with shops featuring gigantic images of anime characters, many of which I recognized (and took pictures of). The main stretch of the street is probably a little over a mile long, but the shops spread into side streets, too, for roughly a square mile of solid otaku shopping, I'd guess. Except that the shops had anywhere up to 7 floors each, so multiply that by at least 4. And I covered ALL of it. Except the restaurants. And the technology shops. But I at least looked in every shop, even if I didn't go in.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/---45qfbdSF4/T-fz2jkA0BI/AAAAAAAABA4/AK-mw05ZwLc/s1600/Japan+048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/---45qfbdSF4/T-fz2jkA0BI/AAAAAAAABA4/AK-mw05ZwLc/s640/Japan+048.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our first open view of the main street.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7KjzPN0UpQE/T-fz-D3e73I/AAAAAAAABBA/OSKmCAD3qvI/s1600/Japan+050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7KjzPN0UpQE/T-fz-D3e73I/AAAAAAAABBA/OSKmCAD3qvI/s640/Japan+050.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking to the right.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QOMtY9z-Ee4/T-f0E7gVeQI/AAAAAAAABBI/MopsRPKx0bE/s1600/Japan+052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QOMtY9z-Ee4/T-f0E7gVeQI/AAAAAAAABBI/MopsRPKx0bE/s640/Japan+052.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After walking to the right quite a ways, looking across the street.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yRzNEGUv--c/T-f0J0swGZI/AAAAAAAABBU/dA96Kqi6ft4/s1600/Japan+056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yRzNEGUv--c/T-f0J0swGZI/AAAAAAAABBU/dA96Kqi6ft4/s640/Japan+056.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Persona 4 had a huge ad campaign going here for the newest version, Persona 4 Golden. There were gigantic posters and murals everywhere.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The stores were divided fairly evenly among anime/manga/related media, PC and console games, and miscellaneous technology (cameras, phones, computers...). There were also lots of restaurants, including maid cafés. I didn't stop to eat, though. I'm not really interested in the maid café thing. Speaking of maids, almost every street corner had one or more girls in maid costumes or other similar attention-grabbing outfits handing out flyers or other ads for their stores.<br />
<br />
I was sorely disappointed at the lack of true cosplayers there. I think I saw two, plus someone dressed as Saber from Fate/Stay Night to promote the store's upcoming release. I didn't recognize any but her, though.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ysQdDtG_0ps/T-f4unFFt7I/AAAAAAAABD0/mH15zf0JJbw/s1600/Japan+064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ysQdDtG_0ps/T-f4unFFt7I/AAAAAAAABD0/mH15zf0JJbw/s640/Japan+064.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The only true cosplay I saw and recognized, and it's part of the store's advertising. Oh well.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KxTknL2v7A4/T-f0Oi66qnI/AAAAAAAABBc/3RR6AfG3yCc/s1600/Japan+062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KxTknL2v7A4/T-f0Oi66qnI/AAAAAAAABBc/3RR6AfG3yCc/s640/Japan+062.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the side streets, and there's still this much advertising on the buildings.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qasBsG6UNPg/T-f0VNKYJNI/AAAAAAAABBk/beysGl8a1C0/s1600/Japan+067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qasBsG6UNPg/T-f0VNKYJNI/AAAAAAAABBk/beysGl8a1C0/s640/Japan+067.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They close the main road down on Sundays for a good portion of the day, so people just walk everywhere freely.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Back to the shopping. The stores had just about anything I could have wanted to buy. I must have seen thousands each of figures, CDs, video games, mangas, light novels, doujinshi, anime magazines and so on, and hundreds of wall scrolls, visual novels, and miscellaneous other items. I ended up buying Sister Princess for Playstation, since my friend said he can let me use his Japanese PS2 back in the US since he obviously isn't using it now. I also tried to buy the Haruhi PS2 roleplaying game, but I found out too late (only after I got home) that the box only had the included figure, and not the game itself. Very disappointing. At least it wasn't too expensive. I also got a White Album Cospa t-shirt for 2/3 off, several music CDs, a Noizi Itou/Zatsuon art collection CD, and a Little Busters! Kud Wafter mini handkerchief. I planned before even coming to Japan that before I left, I'd have to find an anime handkerchief to buy and bring back. I'm satisfied with this one. Surprisingly, the only figure I bought was the one that was supposed to have the Haruhi game. There were a ton I would have wanted, but the lack of space in my suitcase and the insanely high prices on a lot of them kept me from buying any. Honestly, I could import a lot of them for the same price or cheaper in the US, if I looked around carefully.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mEKD-SE9i7A/T-f0oOomlzI/AAAAAAAABBs/FtqgAXbtkso/s1600/Japan+073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mEKD-SE9i7A/T-f0oOomlzI/AAAAAAAABBs/FtqgAXbtkso/s640/Japan+073.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's one store that had things that would be nigh-impossible to find in the US. The entire store was packed with retro games and consoles. These are original Famicom cartridges.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d0NMxEGVtHQ/T-f0uz5TppI/AAAAAAAABB0/Uv5i7zvh8FM/s1600/Japan+088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d0NMxEGVtHQ/T-f0uz5TppI/AAAAAAAABB0/Uv5i7zvh8FM/s640/Japan+088.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And here we have Super Famicom. Including Chrono Trigger over there, for a whopping 680 yen. That's pretty cheap. The store also had a guarantee that all the games and hardware worked.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LK4vNSWR6_c/T-f01ym47gI/AAAAAAAABB8/Jx9oHym1ZbM/s1600/Japan+089.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LK4vNSWR6_c/T-f01ym47gI/AAAAAAAABB8/Jx9oHym1ZbM/s640/Japan+089.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A portion of the Gameboy collection.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u8l5Te0esn8/T-f085QoDqI/AAAAAAAABCE/k1HjXOuC6iM/s1600/Japan+111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u8l5Te0esn8/T-f085QoDqI/AAAAAAAABCE/k1HjXOuC6iM/s640/Japan+111.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Many of the stores had these sorts of labels on each floor, saying what was for sale where. This isn't the best example.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4Kwx1qRIjsg/T-f1FBQKX1I/AAAAAAAABCM/VbYsmVje-u0/s1600/Japan+123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4Kwx1qRIjsg/T-f1FBQKX1I/AAAAAAAABCM/VbYsmVje-u0/s640/Japan+123.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There were quite a few anime card games around too (the green and yellow sign in the middle is advertising that). You could buy cards and play in a lot of the shops.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hJ72Yvn3kJE/T-f1Ma-TtYI/AAAAAAAABCU/0f419axEp_k/s1600/Japan+126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hJ72Yvn3kJE/T-f1Ma-TtYI/AAAAAAAABCU/0f419axEp_k/s640/Japan+126.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In addition to the labels outside, most stores had the steps show you what was coming up on the next floor.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gwFkxkx16CQ/T-f1SnEbpzI/AAAAAAAABCg/KZyPWsRu5Xg/s1600/Japan+127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gwFkxkx16CQ/T-f1SnEbpzI/AAAAAAAABCg/KZyPWsRu5Xg/s640/Japan+127.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The stairwell wall posters also gave you a hint of what to expect.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The biggest find and purchase for me, though, was the one thing I had really hoped to be able to get in Japan: The Key 10th Anniversary Memorial Box, which includes all of their Visual Novels through Little Busters! Ecstasy (Planetarian, AIR, Kanon, CLANNAD, Tomoyo After, and LB! Ex). The reason I wanted this so bad is it's the only version available of AIR, Tomoyo After, and LB! Ex that doesn't have the adult content, and it's a collector's item besides. I'm pretty sure it has more than just the games inside, but I haven't opened it yet. I had previously found the box for sale, used, on eBay, but it was over $400! This one was 8800 yen (about $110), although it's also used. I actually asked the guy at the counter if he had the game, and he looked it up and said no, but I decided to go ahead and browse anyway, and sure enough, there it was. It was the only copy I found in all the stores I went to, so I don't think any more of them exist. I really lucked out.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bujQzr2c5cc/T-f2P5v_PEI/AAAAAAAABDY/MwOPr0FW5Bw/s1600/Japan+182.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bujQzr2c5cc/T-f2P5v_PEI/AAAAAAAABDY/MwOPr0FW5Bw/s640/Japan+182.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My spoils. In the top left, the Haruhi figma (minus game :( ). The top right has music: Kyon's Sister image CD, Genesis of Aquarion opening CD, Deep Blue Sky and Pure White Wings vocal CD, Bamboo Blade OP/ED CD, Fate/Stay Night: This Illusion, and the Rewrite OST. I haven't listened to any music from Rewrite, but it's Key, and from my experience they can do no wrong when it comes to that sort of thing. On the bottom left is my t-shirt, in the middle is Sister Princess, and to the right is the Noizi Itou art collection. On the bottom is my Kud handkerchief.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3HXi2IlOR-0/T-f2V8dN0uI/AAAAAAAABDg/8FuajRZVbfo/s1600/Japan+186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3HXi2IlOR-0/T-f2V8dN0uI/AAAAAAAABDg/8FuajRZVbfo/s640/Japan+186.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The big find. I can hardly believe it was actually there, but it certainly took some searching to find it. Also, this thing is HEAVY. I had to lug it around the rest of the day, and I'll have to figure out the best way to bring it back to the US.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
A note if you're planning a trip to Akihabara. Akihabara is NOT KID-FRIENDLY. About 3 in 4 stores have adult products. Of those, I'd say about 20% have them in visually concealed areas or on separate floors. The rest are right out in the open, usually (but not always) mixed in with all the good products. You really can't avoid it here. And, as with everything else in Japan, they never actually check IDs or anything for age, even if you buy it.<br />
<br />
Oh, so my friend had to leave around 4:00 to make it home in time to go to work the next day. I stayed by myself to finish exploring. The shops seemed to start closing up around 7:00 or 7:30, and by 9, it was basically shut down except for the big ones. That really surprised me. I had kind of figured everything would be open until midnight or later.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DDaxL58P1mY/T-f1iPoULrI/AAAAAAAABCo/4sbfD97s9zQ/s1600/Japan+131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DDaxL58P1mY/T-f1iPoULrI/AAAAAAAABCo/4sbfD97s9zQ/s640/Japan+131.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Akihabara in the evening, as things start to wind down.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F459wIStt2Y/T-f1n4VPT-I/AAAAAAAABCw/dC7OJUAk044/s1600/Japan+132.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F459wIStt2Y/T-f1n4VPT-I/AAAAAAAABCw/dC7OJUAk044/s640/Japan+132.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the two station entrances right there by the main street. I took this one in, but not back out.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Since I'd seen basically everything at least once already, and run out of money to buy anything else, I decided to call it a night and go to the station. But actually, I didn't even have enough money on me to make it back to Yokkaichi anymore. I could afford the bus to Nagoya, but probably not the trains, so I needed to find an international ATM. I was also on no schedule of when I needed to be back, so rather than take the train from Akihabara to the Tokyo station (where the buses would be), I decided to walk. It took about an hour, maybe a bit more, counting stops to rest and look at maps. I didn't actually have a map besides the train system one (and I still don't), and those aren't exactly drawn with complete accuracy in mind, so I just knew I needed to go southish. The maps you see on the street in Tokyo don't put North on top, though. Generally they orient it to the direction you're facing. This is a problem when they forget to put on any indication of which way actually is North. Anyway, it was a nice little adventure, and I was fortunate that I found maps every couple blocks to help guide me. I also found an ATM that worked, after three that didn't, so I managed to get the money to make it back.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zfRfzUVn9OA/T-f1uoUKr-I/AAAAAAAABC4/vSM8hScVHlY/s1600/Japan+147.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zfRfzUVn9OA/T-f1uoUKr-I/AAAAAAAABC4/vSM8hScVHlY/s640/Japan+147.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even after leaving Akihabara a good 10-minute walk behind me, I still ran into these Evangelion "Keep out" cones.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Kz1P0We7I3Q/T-f1-FXqj0I/AAAAAAAABDA/xeDP0D9l4xE/s1600/Japan+167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Kz1P0We7I3Q/T-f1-FXqj0I/AAAAAAAABDA/xeDP0D9l4xE/s640/Japan+167.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A cool bridge I passed under on my walk.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XYhZiFQdTMM/T-f2DvZUQrI/AAAAAAAABDI/RnZQXPOW7Iw/s1600/Japan+168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XYhZiFQdTMM/T-f2DvZUQrI/AAAAAAAABDI/RnZQXPOW7Iw/s640/Japan+168.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another view of the two layers of bridges.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y9VccAPFU8c/T-f2JaJ7M6I/AAAAAAAABDQ/G_E_dTD1Fwg/s1600/Japan+170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y9VccAPFU8c/T-f2JaJ7M6I/AAAAAAAABDQ/G_E_dTD1Fwg/s640/Japan+170.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These were decorations on the bridge. Pretty impressive.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Oh, I missed one thing. In Akihabara, on my way towards Tokyo station, I encountered someone from my home college! He was one of my friends back in my first Japanese class, but he didn't come on the school trip. Talk about a small world. We met each other on the opposite side of the planet completely by chance in a fairly densely-packed area of the largest city in the world. I mean, really, what are the chances? So we talked for a while, reveling in the unlikeliness of the situation before parting ways. I'll probably see him back in the US sometime.<br />
<br />
So yeah, eventually I made it to the station, and took the 11:20 overnight bus to Nagoya. I arrived around 5:45am, after little if any sleep, and I worked my way back through the train system to my friend's house. I've gotten pretty good at navigating Japan by myself, it seems. Which is a good thing, because I still don't have a cell phone.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6976193792672787337.post-22462613798426917702012-06-23T21:39:00.001-04:002012-06-23T21:40:41.696-04:00Day 29: To Yokkaichi and TokyoI left my host family's house a little before 7:00 yesterday morning, carrying my 20+ pound backpack, a 50-ish pound suitcase, and another smaller 20-25 pound suitcase. I carried all that luggage up and down at least a couple dozen flights of stairs, because that's how the Japanese train system is organized. After three separate train rides, totaling about 3.5 hours, I made it to my friend's middle-of-nowhere station, too small to even bother staffing with anyone. You toss your tickets in the bin when you get off the train, rather than actually having anything check them. It's interesting.<br />
<br />
My friend showed up to take me to his house a few minutes later, so I dropped off my stuff and relaxed for a little while before we went out for lunch and looked around the area briefly. After a couple hours, we went to the bus station with a much lighter load to find a bus to Tokyo. There wasn't one. So we instead went to the train station, took the train to Nagoya, and from there found a bus to Tokyo. We ended up arriving around 10:20 at Tokyo station, where we walked to Otemachi station and then rode to Kinshicho station, where our capsule hotel is located. I have a couple pictures, but our particular establishment has got to be on the lower end of the capsule hotel scale. It was roughly $30-35 a night, and you get a locker about 6 feet tall, 8 inches wide, and 1 foot deep for your stuff; access to the public bath/shower; and a bed to sleep in in a box roughly 6 feet long and 4 foot wide/tall. It has a TV and radio included in the capsule, but I didn't use them. There also wasn't a door on it, just a curtain you could pull down.<br />
<br />
After checking in, we wandered around the area for a couple hours just seeing what was here. There's a park nearby, nice and green, with a couple playgrounds for the kids and a baseball field, and we could see the Tokyo Sky Tree from just about anywhere. It's also kind of a seedy neighborhood, so there were the less desirable types of people around, especially considering we were out around 11pm-1:30am, but we didn't have any problems, and there were enough people around to be safe. Although it was actually a lot emptier than I thought it would be considering it's the biggest city in the world. The train station in particular looked deserted when we first went in. <br />
<br />
Eventually, around 2:00, we went to bed for the night. This morning we got up at 9 and haven't done much so far, besides use the public bath. Not something I exactly wanted to do, but also not something I had much of a choice about. Either I do that or I start the day feeling even more disgusting than I went to bed feeling last night.<br />
<br />
I have a few pictures that I'll post later when I get the chance. It looks like our plan is that my friend will head back to his house this afternoon, and I'll stay another night. If I can manage, I plan to just stay out all night and save money. If not, I always have the option of coming back to this hotel at any point. 24-hour check-in. Now we're off to Akihabara and wherever else we decide to go.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6976193792672787337.post-31049805084563132922012-06-22T09:41:00.000-04:002012-06-22T09:41:02.741-04:00Days 27 and 28: Family restaurant, finals and the farewell partyFirst to finish up yesterday's events. For dinner, the family wanted to take me out to a restaurant as a sort of farewell gift. I didn't have any particular preferences, and I don't know much about the restaurants around here anyway, so I let them suggest some, and we decided on a family restaurant. I don't know the name, though.<br />
<br />
When we got there, I looked through the menu and felt right at home. A lot of the stuff would have been pretty normal to see on an American menu. I ended up ordering a mixed plate with kind of a meatloaf, fried chicken similar to what I had at the izakaya, mixed vegetables, hashbrowns, corn soup, and french bread (sort of). And I got the juice bar, which is just unlimited drinks of whatever was there. The food was really good, and I ended up drinking three cups of Calpis water when I saw it was on the drink list. That stuff is really good. I've heard it's some sort of yogurt thing, but I don't think that's quite right. According to their website, it's a "lactic-acid" drink, so it's milk based in some way, but I don't know. Yukie thought it was really funny that I liked it so much.<br />
<br />
Now on to today. <br />
<br />
Despite the weather report saying 100% chance of rain through about 4pm today, it had already stopped before I woke up and it didn't rain at all today. That was a nice, unexpected boon.<br />
<br />
I was a little late to school again, but it didn't really matter. They tell us to get there at 9, but class doesn't start until 9:20 or 9:30, and they usually don't give announcements until 5 or 10 minutes before that, so I didn't miss much. Anyway, we all had to fill out surveys about our host families, the school experience, the trip in general, and so on. We also returned the cell phones and ID cards the school gave us in the beginning, so I am now trapped in Japan without a cell phone. To be precise, I have one, but it only works in America.<br />
<br />
In class, we each did a practice run-through of our survey result presentations and got a little feedback from the teacher, then did the real things in front of both classes, both teachers plus the program head, Kanzaki-sensei, and a couple of our Japanese buddies. I don't think there were any particular issues with the presentation. It seemed to run pretty smoothly.<br />
<br />
After that, we paid our phone bills (mine was 300-some yen, by far the lowest. They charged 100 yen per minute), then went to lunch, which was the usual cheap kitsune udon for me. Kitsune means fox, but it's actually just tofu stuff. After lunch, I had my final kanji test. I'm not too confident in this one. I might have gotten 10/10, but I'm only really confident in 7 of them. This was one of the harder tests, and I didn't study much at all for it with everything else that's been going on. Oh well. Even if it's just 7/10, it's not as bad as I did on some of the early tests.<br />
<br />
I came home and played piano for what will probably be the last time in Japan, then started packing my suitcases. At this point, everything's basically packed, minus what I'll be using tonight and tomorrow. I did manage to fit those figures in, but there's not really any room for more, so the rest will have to be shipped home. Well, maybe a couple small ones, but I don't know...<br />
<br />
As I was packing, Yukie came in and told me that she had bought Taiyaki, which I vaguely remember telling her was one of the foods I wanted to try while I was in Japan. Taiyaki are fish-shaped pastries, usually filled with an, a red bean paste, but really they come with all sorts of sweet things inside. I of course had one, but I chose the custard-filled one instead of an, since I've had an before and didn't care much for it. It tasted really good.<br />
<br />
Yukie also bought two bottles of concentrated Calpis formula for me to take home. Each bottle is supposed to be enough for 15 cups of the drink, so I'll be able to share it with everyone when I get back. She got two different flavors, though, one original and one grape, I think, which I've never tried. We'll have to see what it's like.<br />
<br />
Around 6:00, I went to the farewell party at the school. I was biking over by myself, because Ranmaru had tennis at 6, so they'd be late. On the way over, I was going a little (a lot) too fast down the big hill right before the school, and came very close to being hit by a car when I went across a street on the hill. Like, within a few inches. Granted, he was already stopping anyway, so the car would have barely tapped me, but even still. I'd say it was about 80% my fault, although he was also pulling a little too far forward before stopping. Not like I'm likely to ever have the opportunity to again, but I don't plan to ride quite that fast when there are streets like that in the future. I roughly stopped my bike about 5 feet past the car, turned back and signaled that I was alright, saying "daijoubu" (which I'm sure he didn't hear), and continued on. I did get a slight scrape on the side of my knee from hitting the bike as I was trying to stop it, but it's nothing to worry about.<br />
<br />
Ok, so anyway, the farewell ceremony closely resembled the opening ceremony, taking place in the chapel with much the same service. The difference was that this time, they presented us with certificates saying that we participated in the course and so on and so forth. I can only read about half of it.<br />
<br />
Then we moved on to the party portion, and everyone toasted everyone (which I could actually participate in this time, since they had juice and not just tea) before moving on to dinner, which was all sorts of small foods. I stuck to dishes where people didn't have to use their own chopsticks to serve themselves, at least after the first trip, since I don't trust people to not use the end they eat off of. It was good, and enough to fill me up. They had a slideshow running most of the time on a giant projector screen, showing a lot of pictures that they had taken throughout the trip. It was fun to look at all those again. They also gave all the students a farewell package which included a CD, presumably with those pictures on it; a towel with the school's name and logo; and a bottle of... glue. I'm still scratching my head over that one, but whatever.<br />
<br />
They also gave out prizes for the best presentations in the classes, one for the beginner class and one for the advanced class. My team won the prize for the beginner class. We each received an envelope containing... a cow keychain. But not just any cow keychain, oh no. This one has a button on its head, and when you press it, it moos and shoots blue lasers out of its nostrils. Seriously. Okay, maybe not lasers, but a really bright light. I really don't understand these gifts.<br />
<br />
Most of the other students went to an izakaya after the farewell party, but I decided to come straight home instead. After all, I wasn't going to drink, and I was already pretty full from everything else, so I really didn't see the point in going to a buffet. I said my goodbyes and headed out. I rode my bike nice and slow on the way home.<br />
<br />
So that's it for this house. I think I'll quickly take a few pictures of the rest of the house, since I never did actually do all that like I said I would, and then I'll get ready for bed and go to sleep. I have to get up pretty early tomorrow, so I should get as much sleep as I can. Goodnight.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6976193792672787337.post-13544823605927274112012-06-21T02:56:00.001-04:002012-06-21T03:12:02.836-04:00Day 27: Drawing to a close<i>I just realized my day numbering has been off since the first week, so I went back and corrected all the titles since then.</i> <br />
<br />
Today was raining all day again. I got soaked from the waist down on my way home, despite my umbrella. I walked this time instead of biking.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7g3KNQpNvxQ/T-K9fGs2uVI/AAAAAAAAA_Q/Gln7P4TWjYs/s1600/Japan+007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7g3KNQpNvxQ/T-K9fGs2uVI/AAAAAAAAA_Q/Gln7P4TWjYs/s640/Japan+007.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A classic shot. I had to get this at some point during my stay. These mirrors are designed to help you see around corners so you can tell if cars are coming before you pull out. I've gotten used to using them somewhat when I ride my bike, and it's actually pretty helpful on the narrow streets.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--kI7e3O8R7w/T-K9gwdV9HI/AAAAAAAAA_Y/iRxf7vwq7Bk/s1600/Japan+008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--kI7e3O8R7w/T-K9gwdV9HI/AAAAAAAAA_Y/iRxf7vwq7Bk/s640/Japan+008.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All the drainage systems were full of rushing water.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We were going to do the archery today if it hadn't rained. It got rained out last week, and they moved it to today, then it got rained out today, so it's just not happening at all. That's one I was really looking forward to, too.<br />
<br />
I can't believe how quickly time has passed/is passing. For some reason, all day I've been thinking it was Wednesday instead of Thursday, so when I just noticed what day it actually is, that made me feel as though it was passing even <i>faster</i> than it already felt like.<br />
<br />
I leave here Saturday morning, but I don't have any of the actual details worked out. I think I'll take a train from here to Osaka, then a bus to Nagoya, then a train down to Yokkaichi. It's a longer trip than trains the whole way, but fewer transfers and cheaper. Once I arrive there, I'll meet up with my friend who will take me to his apartment where I can deposit all my stuff. Then I think we're planning to go out and get lunch somewhere, then we'll take a bus to Tokyo. I still don't really know what I'll be doing there yet, or how long I'm going to stay, but my friend can only stay one night, and he'll come back on Sunday night. I may or may not go with him. That depends on if there's anything else I really want to do there, and on how confident I am that I could find my way back by myself.<br />
<br />
I should probably start packing everything up tonight, and make more solid plans about how I'm getting to Yokkaichi. My host family should be able to help me with that, I hope. I also still have homework to do, and a final test and presentation tomorrow.<br />
<br />
Another round of quick observations:<br />
<ul>
<li>Keyboards on Japanese computers are all different from the standard US ones. They have the hiragana printed on them, of course, but they also have a few extra keys here and there. One of the worst changes is that all the little symbols (!@#$%^&*()[];:'" etc) are in different places, so when I've had to use the computers to write things, it always takes a while to search for those. Also, the spacebar is tiny, and there's a button where the right side of it should be that changes it from English to hiragana/kanji, so it's really annoying when I keep accidentally hitting that. And apostrophe is something like shift+7. I never did figure out how to get an underscore.</li>
<li>You don't hand cashiers money directly. Instead, you put it all into a tray next to the register. Once you've stopped putting money in, they'll count the coins one by one, pushing them with their fingertips as they go, and total up the bills, then pick it all up and put it away. When you get change, they'll take any bills first, count them for you while holding them up in front of you so you can see you're getting the right amount, then hand them to you. Coins are handed to you in a single pile, and generally not counted separately.</li>
<li>Dryers seem to be rare. Looking at any apartment complex or on any residential street in the middle of the day, you'll see clothes hanging out on a line to dry.</li>
<li>Meats are often served with all the fat, skin, cartilage etc. still on them. This is generally just eaten as is. I've only had bones in the meat twice: once at the barbeque, and once a couple nights ago in some fish. They apparently ate the fish bones, too, which I can't understand. Those things hurt when they jab you in the gums. I didn't eat those (well, I tried not to), and I took off most of the cartilage from the meats I had, but otherwise I ate it basically the same way they did.</li>
</ul>
Right as I was about to publish this, I heard the doorbell. I'm the only one home, so I went down to take a look, and apparently there was a package that I had to sign for. I wrote my name out in katakana. Hopefully that's alright. Alright. Off to do my homework.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6976193792672787337.post-39963073899644279192012-06-21T02:19:00.001-04:002012-06-21T03:09:48.633-04:00Days 25 and 26: Typhoon and flower arrangement<i>This post was written yesterday (Wednesday), but I didn't post it because I didn't have the pictures on my computer yet.</i><br />
<br />
I spent yesterday after school holed up in my room. In the afternoon, maybe around 5:00, Hiroto came in and pulled metal shutters over the outside of the window, so I couldn't really see anything that was happening outside. All the windows in the house were blocked off, and I didn't really want to open the front door in case I'd get pelted with rain or something. And at the time he closed everything, nothing was going on. During dinner, though, around 8:00, we could hear the shutters rattling pretty hard. Either that or something hitting them hard. I'm not entirely clear on what it was, but I know there was at least a lot of rain, and I could hear the wind sometimes, too. It really wasn't that exciting. It seems like the people here are all used to it. Aside from blocking off the windows, all that really happened was that I got a bit wet on my way home, and Ranmaru got sent home from school early. In the morning, everything was a little damp still, but it wasn't raining, and it didn't seem particularly windy. So that's about it for that.<br />
<br />
Class today was spent working on our final project, including interviewing students and making a poster. Tomorrow looks like it'll be largely finishing up the poster.<br />
<br />
Today's cultural activity was flower arrangement. We were given two roses with very long stems, two branches, and a basin of water with a thing with needles in it to hold the flowers up (by stabbing them on the needles). There was a specific way we were supposed to arrange them all, selecting a larger branch, trimming the flowers to different heights, and adding in a few small branches (twigs) to help blend it. The placement was also pretty specific. Anyway, the teacher liked my arrangement. After the activity was over (it only lasted about half an hour) they let us take the flowers and branches home, but not the water basins to hold them in. So all the arranging was undone and they stuck them in newspaper bouquet wrappers to carry back. I gave it to my family.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uByNt8w6wHw/T-K7-3sT0aI/AAAAAAAAA-w/RJ2_2eipomI/s1600/Japan+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uByNt8w6wHw/T-K7-3sT0aI/AAAAAAAAA-w/RJ2_2eipomI/s640/Japan+003.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Everyone's flower arrangements.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RWiLaSRSwNM/T-K8DFkGu6I/AAAAAAAAA-4/KKEbM85-mlQ/s1600/Japan+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RWiLaSRSwNM/T-K8DFkGu6I/AAAAAAAAA-4/KKEbM85-mlQ/s640/Japan+004.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A closer look at the one behind me.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lnC73WodXKo/T-K8HnNtsRI/AAAAAAAAA_A/9QgOUajglcw/s1600/Japan+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lnC73WodXKo/T-K8HnNtsRI/AAAAAAAAA_A/9QgOUajglcw/s640/Japan+005.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My arrangement, from the front.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--xIzij1Arco/T-K8LUOUlWI/AAAAAAAAA_I/B4W8Ve5UIUE/s1600/Japan+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--xIzij1Arco/T-K8LUOUlWI/AAAAAAAAA_I/B4W8Ve5UIUE/s640/Japan+006.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And from the side.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6976193792672787337.post-261693279189031332012-06-19T00:39:00.000-04:002012-06-21T03:09:14.475-04:00Days 23, 24, and 25: The final week of schoolThis week marks my last at Momoyama Gakuin Daigaku. It's been fun. Not as hard as I was fearing, but generally busier than I had expected. This week, though, we don't have many of the cultural activities planned, so I've got more free time at home in the afternoons.<br />
<br />
Sunday was church again. I got rather lost during the second hour, but so did the native Japanese, so it wasn't entirely my fault. I bid farewell to everyone at church and thanked them for their help. There weren't any special activities in the afternoon, so I pretty much just stayed home. Lunch was a few pieces of bread, including one of the ones I bought in Kyoto but didn't manage to eat there. Japanese breads are really something. Most of them are more pastries than bread, but they sometimes have things like hot dogs inside, or chocolate, or spices, or whatever. It's pretty interesting.<br />
<br />
On Monday, we worked on our final projects for class. We have to make a survey and ask a bunch of Japanese people questions, then present the answers to everyone on Friday. Our topic is home and school life, targeted towards the college students. School ended at lunchtime, so I ate at the cafeteria and came home. It was too hot to go back outside, so I stayed inside all day. It was also too hot to stay inside, but at least that way I didn't have to move.<br />
<br />
Today (Tuesday), we've got a typhoon on the way! This morning was cloudy (as were yesterday and the day before), and it started raining shortly after I got to school. It let up when I went to the cafeteria, but was raining again when I biked home, so my hands and legs got pretty wet. I had a rain jacket that helped with my upper body, and my helmet mostly kept my head dry, so it wasn't too bad. My shorts, socks, helmet, and jacket are all hanging up to dry now.<br />
<br />
Japanese people have this amazing talent of riding bycicles in the rain with umbrellas held over their heads. I haven't tried it yet, but it seems like it would be really hard to do. Instead, I just opt to get a little wet and dry off when I get home. Granted, I also bike about twice as fast as they do, so maybe it would be easier to do if I slowed down.<br />
<br />
So yeah, typhoon (taifuu/台風). It's supposed to really hit tonight, sometime between 6 and 9 pm. I heard it's a super typhoon, roughly equivalent to a class 4 hurricane. I haven't confirmed that myself. No one really seems all that worried about it, but they did close the schools early today. It's sort of like getting a snow day, except it's a typhoon day. This seems to happen somewhat often. It's a little odd, because it's out of season, but it's not a huge deal.<br />
<br />
I don't have any new pictures today, but I've got some old ones from the first week that we've received from the school. These have everyone who was there at the time, so not including the people from England.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wgDVPdu3gXI/T-AAW9d72eI/AAAAAAAAA9w/0L8dvJBpYeo/s1600/xid-13216176_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wgDVPdu3gXI/T-AAW9d72eI/AAAAAAAAA9w/0L8dvJBpYeo/s640/xid-13216176_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our arrival at the airport. The really big Japanese guy on the left is the only Japanese person I've seen so far who was taller than me. There have been a few who were pretty close, though.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vAhVjrxXL8A/T-AAZfeZVwI/AAAAAAAAA94/aXhyKZp9X10/s1600/xid-13216188_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vAhVjrxXL8A/T-AAZfeZVwI/AAAAAAAAA94/aXhyKZp9X10/s640/xid-13216188_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the classes during the first week. The teacher for this day was Kanzaki-sensei, who is in charge of the whole program. He's a really cool, nice guy. Everyone loves him.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rqNKXEJoPl8/T-AAcuxrr9I/AAAAAAAAA-A/F8lW7nZw9KU/s1600/xid-13216506_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rqNKXEJoPl8/T-AAcuxrr9I/AAAAAAAAA-A/F8lW7nZw9KU/s640/xid-13216506_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Standing outside in the sun, blocking all the foot traffic next to St. Johns Hall.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I've gotten to know everyone pretty well by now, since we see each other every day. There are a few people who I don't really talk to still, but overall we all get along.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6976193792672787337.post-71709779370772821242012-06-17T09:16:00.001-04:002012-06-21T03:09:22.020-04:00Day 22: Back to KyotoSaturday I took another trip to Kyoto with the school. This wasn't officially part of the program I'm in, but it was part of the foreign exchange student program for those people who are staying for full semesters, and we were invited to join in. Only two other people from my group came along.<br />
<br />
We visited another temple, Byoudouin, and saw the Phoenix Hall from the outside. We would have had to buy separate tickets to go inside, and the group sizes are limited, so it would have been hard to get in anyway. Also, I've kind of seen enough temples and shrines by now, they're starting to all get mixed up in my head. This particular one is famous as being the image on the back of the 10-yen coins.<br />
<br />
It was raining on and off all day, but nothing too bad until late at night, when I was already home. I did get some use out of my umbrella, though.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kpv811VstFA/T93N7Bltt5I/AAAAAAAAA60/VGQsDQy92Fg/s1600/Japan+034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kpv811VstFA/T93N7Bltt5I/AAAAAAAAA60/VGQsDQy92Fg/s640/Japan+034.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A shot of the Phoenix Hall as a group is starting to enter for the tour.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8pq-Hd0H2Nw/T93OTfGUfNI/AAAAAAAAA7E/TB9fIr8Mb8E/s1600/Japan+047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8pq-Hd0H2Nw/T93OTfGUfNI/AAAAAAAAA7E/TB9fIr8Mb8E/s640/Japan+047.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Probably my favorite angle of the building.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AAr3h33KFc4/T93OXdUcctI/AAAAAAAAA7M/QRuRF8eedhY/s1600/Japan+051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AAr3h33KFc4/T93OXdUcctI/AAAAAAAAA7M/QRuRF8eedhY/s640/Japan+051.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A more frontal view.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zHOUJIchkxs/T93OeSIYrCI/AAAAAAAAA7U/qnVmG2wMYOM/s1600/Japan+060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zHOUJIchkxs/T93OeSIYrCI/AAAAAAAAA7U/qnVmG2wMYOM/s640/Japan+060.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I don't actually know these people, except the one on the far left, but they were in the exchange student group that we joined in on.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rW5C9HBebWQ/T93OlWa4uuI/AAAAAAAAA7c/jssdF95FwOU/s1600/Japan+065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rW5C9HBebWQ/T93OlWa4uuI/AAAAAAAAA7c/jssdF95FwOU/s640/Japan+065.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I like the look with the lillypads, too.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3efwcGteIBI/T93OOgUJLrI/AAAAAAAAA68/P29bow1YT6k/s1600/Japan+044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3efwcGteIBI/T93OOgUJLrI/AAAAAAAAA68/P29bow1YT6k/s640/Japan+044.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was on the temple grounds. Some sort of trellis with trees growing up underneath and all the branches collected on top. It looked pretty interesting.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After that, we walked through the museum section, which had a lot of the typical style of ancient statues and scrolls and things. Since I can't read the details about most of them, they all end up looking basically the same to me, no matter which temple or shrine I visit. Still, kind of interesting.<br />
<br />
When we finished there, we left the temple area and went out in search of lunch, but found none. Instead, I got some pictures of the surrounding scenery.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0PRQVdGOEnU/T93OxBzUr9I/AAAAAAAAA7k/vUB4gnlES-Q/s1600/Japan+093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0PRQVdGOEnU/T93OxBzUr9I/AAAAAAAAA7k/vUB4gnlES-Q/s640/Japan+093.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A flock of birds perched on a tree near the river.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MBP6q1X9RPA/T93O06LPQfI/AAAAAAAAA7s/QcjWD-vK2HY/s1600/Japan+099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MBP6q1X9RPA/T93O06LPQfI/AAAAAAAAA7s/QcjWD-vK2HY/s640/Japan+099.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The calm river. It was hardly moving at all. This was taken from atop the bridge. I'm pretty sure they designed this river specifically for the reflection.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g5LvI_pQ7co/T93O4tEk2rI/AAAAAAAAA70/CAAnSK8_ASo/s1600/Japan+106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g5LvI_pQ7co/T93O4tEk2rI/AAAAAAAAA70/CAAnSK8_ASo/s640/Japan+106.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The clouds/fog in the mountains looked pretty impressive. I had to get a shot of it. It was probably like that because of the rain.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cY8sQ0SDWYA/T93PNK40ONI/AAAAAAAAA78/ByBd4ZcDlAU/s1600/Japan+115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cY8sQ0SDWYA/T93PNK40ONI/AAAAAAAAA78/ByBd4ZcDlAU/s640/Japan+115.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A shot of the second river, which was basically rapids. The water was moving way too fast to be safe, and they had big signs saying (in Japanese only) not to enter the water, because it moves too fast and is dangerous. I could actually understand the whole sign, kanji and all, which was nice.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
When we toured as much of the area as we cared to, we headed back to the bus and waited to go to the next stop, which was the center of Kyoto city itself. We did a lot of walking here, roughly 25 minutes from the bus drop off point to the first stop, then another 20 minutes backtracking to the shops. Along the way back, my friend and I grabbed some bread from a Family Mart for lunch. I bought three things, but ended up getting full after one and a half. I saved the rest for later. Bread is always good because it's so cheap and filling. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Vd8h9CpRWo4/T93PVzgosJI/AAAAAAAAA8M/5pMHZ7K8xlM/s1600/Japan+135.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Vd8h9CpRWo4/T93PVzgosJI/AAAAAAAAA8M/5pMHZ7K8xlM/s640/Japan+135.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our first stop. Another temple. This one was packed with visitors as well, but seemed to cover a pretty large area. We looked around inside the grounds for a while, but didn't see anything particularly impressive, so we headed back. If you want more pictures anyway, I do have them.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-naz2ZjDPAcU/T93PQlPYyiI/AAAAAAAAA8E/nGIBYaQwM3Q/s1600/Japan+126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-naz2ZjDPAcU/T93PQlPYyiI/AAAAAAAAA8E/nGIBYaQwM3Q/s640/Japan+126.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was the main shopping arcade where we spent most of the time. It was really long, taking probably a good 10 minutes to walk from one end to the other, and there were two full streets of it, next to each other.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mn19f7l1_Q8/T93PeNB_LEI/AAAAAAAAA8U/5rfQLw9OnFc/s1600/Japan+165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mn19f7l1_Q8/T93PeNB_LEI/AAAAAAAAA8U/5rfQLw9OnFc/s640/Japan+165.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One shop was nothing but crane games, where nearly all the prizes were anime figures, pillows, pictures, clocks, or other goods. Most of them looked completely unwinnable, without even accounting for the pre-programmed failure rate of these things. And if you did manage to pick up a figure and drop it down the chute, it would probably break. Needless to say, I didn't try any.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JOMJnNWsdSY/T93P4FvMGdI/AAAAAAAAA8c/pjv9u0tDsrQ/s1600/Japan+172.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JOMJnNWsdSY/T93P4FvMGdI/AAAAAAAAA8c/pjv9u0tDsrQ/s640/Japan+172.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I also found another shop that had a ton of anime figures, posters, wall scrolls, etc., which was where I spent most of my time. There were a few 3D pictures there from different series, but the most impressive thing about them was that...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EXXy1qZbQuY/T93P8eScS9I/AAAAAAAAA8k/CCwAed8fh10/s1600/Japan+173.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EXXy1qZbQuY/T93P8eScS9I/AAAAAAAAA8k/CCwAed8fh10/s640/Japan+173.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...not only were the images 3D, but there were 3 images on each poster.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bCWUvPMeibg/T93QBSOZmDI/AAAAAAAAA8s/9dSi-47af24/s1600/Japan+174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bCWUvPMeibg/T93QBSOZmDI/AAAAAAAAA8s/9dSi-47af24/s640/Japan+174.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I ended up buying this one. It's just too cool.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I also bought a couple of small, cheap stick posters (vertical-hanging wall scrolls, about 8 inches wide by maybe 20 inches long). Those had a couple Touhou characters on them.<br />
<br />
After shopping, we went to one of the shops, where we learned how to make a type of candy called yatsuhashi. This was part of the group's planned activities. Everyone got to try their hand at it, and make 16 pieces of candy. In the end, they gave us each 33 pieces of candy (32 in a bag, and 1 freshly made) and a can to carry them home in. The candy itself is sort of cinnamony, and very stiff and crunchy. It wasn't spectacular, but it was pretty good.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RgbnCXRO1B4/T93QF9xCgqI/AAAAAAAAA80/7KGUaKL85-M/s1600/Japan+184.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RgbnCXRO1B4/T93QF9xCgqI/AAAAAAAAA80/7KGUaKL85-M/s640/Japan+184.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We had to wear the aprons, gloves, and hair nets while we worked there. I'm pretty sure they ended up selling all the candy we made to random other people.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ySNSzqBMhg4/T93QKxxqSII/AAAAAAAAA88/Vdbm5RrXNII/s1600/Japan+191.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ySNSzqBMhg4/T93QKxxqSII/AAAAAAAAA88/Vdbm5RrXNII/s640/Japan+191.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At any given time, there are 8 pieces under each board, and one or two extra sets at the end, for a total of 48 or 56 pieces. You put on a new set, then rotate the board on the far right (left in the image) to the second uncovered set, remove the pieces that were under it before you moved it, and press them into the curved shapes with the metal dowels. Each of the other boards has a specific action you have to do to the pieces under it as you go, sliding them all one space to the right each time.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lwcjZ20K30M/T93QPJ5YenI/AAAAAAAAA9E/EFXvOmJEWtg/s1600/Japan+193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lwcjZ20K30M/T93QPJ5YenI/AAAAAAAAA9E/EFXvOmJEWtg/s640/Japan+193.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Receiving my gift of candy after having finished my two rounds.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After all that was done, we headed back to the bus and came home. It was raining again by then, so I had to use my umbrella. I'd walked to school instead of biking that day so I wouldn't have to worry about biking in the rain.<br />
<br />
Another thing: despite the rain all day, it was still really warm. Not as hot as it has been, but uncomfortably warm all day anyway. It's not as hot as it is back home, though, and probably roughly as humid. The real problem is the lack of AC. Except in rare cases, the temperature inside and outside are basically the same. There's no comfortable place to cool off, so I just sweat all day long. That's not very fun.<br />
<br />
Only one more week of school left, and then I'm off to Yokkaichi and Tokyo with my friend for another week. Then back home. Time has passed really quickly.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6976193792672787337.post-1751172190935805572012-06-16T09:00:00.000-04:002012-06-21T03:08:36.491-04:00Days 20 and 21: "Culture experiences" and shoppingThursday we did some calligraphy after school. It was pretty hard to do it right, as expected. In the end, we each put one kanji of our choice on a paper/plastic fan. Mine was 雪 (snow/yuki). It was either that or 炎 (flame/honoo) for me. Snow implying cold, because you use the fan to cool off, or flame implying heat because you use the fan when it's hot. I decided I liked snow better. Unfortunately, it looks kind of childish, because I'm just not that good at calligraphy, and I got the proportions all messed up. Oh well.<br />
<br />
Friday we got to try on yukata. They had enough for the girls, but not the boys, so I only put it on for about 5 minutes or so, and didn't get any pictures on my camera. A few other people got pictures of me, but I don't have them yet. In the end, all the girls (and two guys) wore their yukata for this group picture, with the rest of the guys who didn't have one standing in the back.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xTlIwcCYXdw/T9xpXMRNOEI/AAAAAAAAA5U/Fmb_QJZh0tk/s1600/Japan+353.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xTlIwcCYXdw/T9xpXMRNOEI/AAAAAAAAA5U/Fmb_QJZh0tk/s640/Japan+353.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Very colorful and flowery.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
That night, I went out grocery shopping with Yukie. First, we picked Ranmaru up from his school, so I got to see that (I didn't bring my camera) and he came along.<br />
<br />
We ended up buying a couple small frozen pizzas, and all the ingredients for tacos and "eggs in the basket" which probably has some other more official name somewhere, but is basically just bread with a hole cut out and an egg put inside, fried together, with cheese put on top.<br />
<br />
For dinner, I fixed (with Yukie's help, since I don't know my way around her kitchen) soft-shelled tacos. They tasted almost exactly like they do back home, which made me very pleased. Everyone liked them, so I guess Yukie has another recipe to add to her collection now.<br />
<br />
And now, more random observations:<br />
<ul><a href="http://safebooru.org//images/845/e0ee2ff2272187fba5a8b09393fbf1b3a4873951.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>
<li>The most common color of umbrella here seems to be transparent. White and pale flowery colors are also common, as is black.</li>
<li>I don't know if I said this before, but basically everyone uses cash and coins instead of cards. Most places don't even accept cards. Stores, and even vending machines, will often accept 10,000 yen bills (roughly $130), which seem to be pretty common.</li>
<li>Most store and restaurant prices include tax. Occasionally, it
will list two prices, one before and one after tax. It makes it a lot
easier to see how much you'll have to pay in advance, which is
especially useful considering the reliance on cash.<br />
</li>
<li>Women in general wear their hair short far more often than they do in the US. Probably at least 50% have neck-length or shorter hair.</li>
<li><a href="http://safebooru.org//images/845/e0ee2ff2272187fba5a8b09393fbf1b3a4873951.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://safebooru.org//images/845/e0ee2ff2272187fba5a8b09393fbf1b3a4873951.jpg" width="200" /></a>Longer hair is often tied in some way. Ponytails are common, and among the middle school girls I've seen on all my trips, twintails seem particularly popular. Twintails refers to two ponytails, one on either side of the head, like in the picture. These can be anywhere from an inch and a half or so to about a foot long. It seems like a good 25% of the girls in that age range wear their hair like that. I also saw two today (Saturday) who each had one ponytail, but sticking out opposite sides in the back (one to the left, one right).</li>
<li>Instead of napkins, people use small wet washcloths, or nothing at all. Occasionally tissues serve the function of napkins if washcloths are unavailable and someone makes a mess.</li>
<li>Japanese McDonald's is very similar to American McDonald's, with some added menu items such as McPork and Teriyaki Burger. I had the McPork, which while not bad wasn't anything special. I also had a plain hamburger so I could compare with the US, and it tasted identical as far as I could tell. McDonald's was also the only place so far that I've seen a real napkin. One. They didn't give multiple with my order. Not that I would have used more than one, but they always give way more in the US.</li>
<li>I have confirmed that there is no "correct" side of the path to walk or bike on. The very concept of there being one is foreign to them. Instead, people and bikes just sort of weave in and out of each other's ways.</li>
<li>Lots of people seem to be employed to stand there. Supposedly they direct traffic, but they spend the vast majority of the time standing there nodding to pedestrians as they go by. Their actual job seems to be mostly to stop cars from running into people passing by by instead standing in their way themselves until everyone else is out of the way.</li>
<li>People give out lots of free flyers, free food samples, and tissue packets with ads stuck in them. Stores also often have someone standing outside to call customers in, shouting "irasshaimase!" (welcome) whenever anyone comes close and yelling about their various goods or special deals.</li>
<li>I will amend my previous statement about number of people into anime. While I haven't met very many into anime myself, it must be more popular, as there are whole stores and stands dedicated to it. Still, it doesn't seem to be a very universal interest (except One Piece, which, again, is absolutely everywhere).</li>
<li>Gachapon machines are common. I don't even know what they're called in the US, but they're those things in stores where you put in some coins, turn the handle, and get a random toy out the bottom. Capsule machines. The variety of goodies is much wider in Japan than the US, though. Still haven't actually bought anything from one yet, as they generally cost 200 yen per try.</li>
<li>Vending machines are all over the place, even along the middle of the street in my suburban neighborhood. Most sell drinks, such as tea, coffee, fruit juice, sometimes soda, water, and milk. Some sell cigarettes, and require a special card that proves you're over 20 before you can buy from them. Others sell ice cream or similar snacks. I don't think I've seen any for the more typical chips, cookies, crackers, pretzels, or what-have-you that they put in them in the US.</li>
<li>Pachinko and slots are both apparently very popular. There are tons of signs for them everywhere, especially when you go downtown to one of the shopping arcades, but even just around the city. They're usually advertised with famous anime characters on the signs, so it always catches my eye before I realize what it is.</li>
</ul>
That ended up being a lot longer than I expected. I think that's enough for now.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6976193792672787337.post-46381250988351696492012-06-16T07:59:00.001-04:002012-06-21T03:08:28.003-04:00Day 19: NaraSorry I'm kind of late posting this time. This post covers our trip to Nara. Our first stop was Houryuuji, another famous temple.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1VXQulrG-5s/T9xc4GO6UBI/AAAAAAAAA2E/moXj_BXAjVg/s1600/Japan+009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1VXQulrG-5s/T9xc4GO6UBI/AAAAAAAAA2E/moXj_BXAjVg/s640/Japan+009.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We were one of the first groups to arrive, so we managed to get a few pictures before the crowds hit. This is just the main entrance street.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L5Nh5Z5A6i8/T9xc_QO6ZmI/AAAAAAAAA2M/0o5TTb5oa5Q/s1600/Japan+022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L5Nh5Z5A6i8/T9xc_QO6ZmI/AAAAAAAAA2M/0o5TTb5oa5Q/s640/Japan+022.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Many of my classmates decided to wash their hands in the temple's water this time.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZyWLU_Nip4g/T9xs4lO4iWI/AAAAAAAAA50/1_twnn_uoEM/s1600/Japan+045.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZyWLU_Nip4g/T9xs4lO4iWI/AAAAAAAAA50/1_twnn_uoEM/s640/Japan+045.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the outside of the Golden Hall. Pictures inside were not allowed. Inside were a few Buddhist statues of fairly impressive scale, but not much else.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--wiWmXSH2e4/T9xdJkQDI1I/AAAAAAAAA2U/lMUHCPijnOU/s1600/Japan+055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--wiWmXSH2e4/T9xdJkQDI1I/AAAAAAAAA2U/lMUHCPijnOU/s640/Japan+055.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view from the steps of the Golden Hall looking out into the courtyard. The pagoda on the right is the oldest wooden structure in the world that is still standing, believed to have been built in 594 AD. It also enshrines a fragment of what is believed to be one of Buddha's bones (source: Wikipedia).</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZyWLU_Nip4g/T9xs4lO4iWI/AAAAAAAAA50/1_twnn_uoEM/s1600/Japan+045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lmxSFQbAzdw/T9xdRnX4nKI/AAAAAAAAA2c/u23tV1H0-s0/s1600/Japan+066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lmxSFQbAzdw/T9xdRnX4nKI/AAAAAAAAA2c/u23tV1H0-s0/s640/Japan+066.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My friend decided to go ahead and do the whole donation, gong ringing, and prayer thing. This was at another small temple away from the main one, but in the same facility.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We couldn't spend too long there, but we saw the important stuff. There was also a museum nearby, but again no pictures allowed. It had a lot of old statues, scrolls, and carvings in it, some dating back to the 8th or 9th centuries.<br />
<br />
Then we moved on to Toudaiji. We had a very long walk on the way there, during which we saw a lot of the famous and not-so-famous wildlife. I took too many pictures, so I'll just post the most interesting ones.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rD4lxKCCHdo/T9xdjKoEDDI/AAAAAAAAA2k/u1pbJdPJIT0/s1600/Japan+108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rD4lxKCCHdo/T9xdjKoEDDI/AAAAAAAAA2k/u1pbJdPJIT0/s640/Japan+108.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pigeons, resting on turtles, resting on logs, in the middle of a large pond. That's a lot of turtles, but there were a lot more in the water.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s8BSM0zwzG8/T9xdnaHo8EI/AAAAAAAAA2s/KKtQSiVG0L8/s1600/Japan+111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s8BSM0zwzG8/T9xdnaHo8EI/AAAAAAAAA2s/KKtQSiVG0L8/s640/Japan+111.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Turtles come in many shapes and sizes.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PKFJo7z8PVA/T9xdsYbhXOI/AAAAAAAAA20/GT1xgl42Bps/s1600/Japan+122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PKFJo7z8PVA/T9xdsYbhXOI/AAAAAAAAA20/GT1xgl42Bps/s640/Japan+122.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fish only come in large. But there are white and yellow. This fish is going after a bit of bread someone threw in, and it ate it a split second later. I was trying to catch it in the act, but got right before and right after instead.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MXgET-HFehk/T9xd385MixI/AAAAAAAAA28/J8nGSI5oHcE/s1600/Japan+124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MXgET-HFehk/T9xd385MixI/AAAAAAAAA28/J8nGSI5oHcE/s640/Japan+124.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A swarm of turtles and fish, devouring the bread people were throwing in.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GvXxh8iJ-wM/T9xd88OuTkI/AAAAAAAAA3E/jpaaQx_07vw/s1600/Japan+138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GvXxh8iJ-wM/T9xd88OuTkI/AAAAAAAAA3E/jpaaQx_07vw/s640/Japan+138.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The first deer we spotted. The area is famous for its deer, which were all very friendly and accustomed to people. They were also all over the place. This particular one ate some bread that someone fed it, then grabbed the map out of someone's hands and ate that too as it ran away.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WVOr8RgriFs/T9xeBFhiu2I/AAAAAAAAA3M/0pBxvguC3B8/s1600/Japan+151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WVOr8RgriFs/T9xeBFhiu2I/AAAAAAAAA3M/0pBxvguC3B8/s640/Japan+151.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's like a list of Pokemon moves. And why are the example characters an old woman and a little girl? That's just mean.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cmrAyzPj3wU/T9xeO3xtiVI/AAAAAAAAA3U/d7aleMFX3WU/s1600/Japan+167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cmrAyzPj3wU/T9xeO3xtiVI/AAAAAAAAA3U/d7aleMFX3WU/s640/Japan+167.JPG" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the smaller shrines leading up to the big temple.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WN53eUiN4j4/T9xeSt9i3yI/AAAAAAAAA3c/6oFdSNo8CFM/s1600/Japan+168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WN53eUiN4j4/T9xeSt9i3yI/AAAAAAAAA3c/6oFdSNo8CFM/s640/Japan+168.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A wide shot to show the roof.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-64QyG24Itg8/T9xeVDFBaBI/AAAAAAAAA3k/GT4ZWMHzqxE/s1600/Japan+177.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-64QyG24Itg8/T9xeVDFBaBI/AAAAAAAAA3k/GT4ZWMHzqxE/s640/Japan+177.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another pagoda off in the distance. We got a lot closer to it, but I liked this picture better than the closeups.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-n-fr--0SraE/T9xelNFHT1I/AAAAAAAAA3s/W9bz271h-oI/s1600/Japan+195.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-n-fr--0SraE/T9xelNFHT1I/AAAAAAAAA3s/W9bz271h-oI/s640/Japan+195.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My arm petting a deer. I took the picture myself, in case you couldn't tell already from the camera angle.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QdOiflS9PAY/T9xeo2c7gvI/AAAAAAAAA30/oa6kMsp9Ggs/s1600/Japan+202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QdOiflS9PAY/T9xeo2c7gvI/AAAAAAAAA30/oa6kMsp9Ggs/s640/Japan+202.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Feeding the deer is a dangerous proposition. She bought deer cookies, and was soon swarmed. One of them also ate part of her paper bag there, but fortunately she kept the contents.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9-lcuWo_VBM/T9xet8WD4dI/AAAAAAAAA38/KtFwlLVFR48/s1600/Japan+213.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9-lcuWo_VBM/T9xet8WD4dI/AAAAAAAAA38/KtFwlLVFR48/s640/Japan+213.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Very friendly.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hsglj1-EUDw/T9xezMKeaoI/AAAAAAAAA4E/gL1fbbr2skM/s1600/Japan+241.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hsglj1-EUDw/T9xezMKeaoI/AAAAAAAAA4E/gL1fbbr2skM/s640/Japan+241.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the Toudaiji, the largest (non-modern) wooden structure in the world, with construction started in 828.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K5B35C6ZsbM/T9xe2C9YJXI/AAAAAAAAA4M/6PiXi1Ui-0s/s1600/Japan+248.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K5B35C6ZsbM/T9xe2C9YJXI/AAAAAAAAA4M/6PiXi1Ui-0s/s640/Japan+248.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More funny Engrish signs.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4fFxw9E4DOY/T9xfGNNQIxI/AAAAAAAAA4U/i1QLJlok-pE/s1600/Japan+249.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4fFxw9E4DOY/T9xfGNNQIxI/AAAAAAAAA4U/i1QLJlok-pE/s640/Japan+249.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crowds of (mostly) middle schoolers advance towards the temple.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-buyLMsipkg4/T9xo8P-NSSI/AAAAAAAAA40/KT15kFCc_0Y/s1600/Japan+266.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-buyLMsipkg4/T9xo8P-NSSI/AAAAAAAAA40/KT15kFCc_0Y/s640/Japan+266.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The largest bronze cast Buddha statue in the world, almost 50 feet tall. This picture doesn't really give a sense of the scale at all. It was really dark inside, though, and hard to get any good pictures.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eTd2cIygAYk/T9xzrAh-PaI/AAAAAAAAA6U/N8KSZ-b_00o/s1600/Japan+280.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eTd2cIygAYk/T9xzrAh-PaI/AAAAAAAAA6U/N8KSZ-b_00o/s640/Japan+280.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The main statue and another secondary one next to and behind it. Also impressively large.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FQOB8hLBFCg/T9xpAGNJP4I/AAAAAAAAA48/FgWxM6O679g/s1600/Japan+289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FQOB8hLBFCg/T9xpAGNJP4I/AAAAAAAAA48/FgWxM6O679g/s640/Japan+289.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another huge statue. There were two essentially like this, set by the walls of the temple.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2YWphAWxy8Q/T9xpEz1OUvI/AAAAAAAAA5E/WHKlt17KDoc/s1600/Japan+314.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2YWphAWxy8Q/T9xpEz1OUvI/AAAAAAAAA5E/WHKlt17KDoc/s640/Japan+314.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A bunch of old artifacts, but I don't really know what they are. I can't read the information.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-peRtbuTCwlM/T9xpSlnkptI/AAAAAAAAA5M/X-hSRafSlwA/s1600/Japan+335.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-peRtbuTCwlM/T9xpSlnkptI/AAAAAAAAA5M/X-hSRafSlwA/s640/Japan+335.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The giant statue on the other side of the main one.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
There was a big line of students all waiting for their turn to slide through a hole in a column and get their picture taken sticking partway out. The hole was just above ground level, roughly a foot in diameter, and three feet or so long. It's supposed to be the same size as one of the Buddha's nostrils. It looks like I didn't actually get any pictures of it, though. Mostly because there was such a huge crowd, and I didn't want to look like I was taking pictures of a specific person as they came out.<br />
<br />
And thus ends the trip to Nara. It was pretty interesting, and the animals were fun, but we did <i>so much</i> <i>walking</i>. It was really exhausting.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6976193792672787337.post-57114148240347816792012-06-12T08:01:00.003-04:002012-06-21T03:08:20.399-04:00Days 17 and 18: Getting tired of the foodThese past couple days haven't been very exciting. The cultural activities were "Japanese manners" yesterday, which was a bunch of stuff that we pretty much all already knew (otherwise we'd be in trouble by now), and the tea ceremony today (I went through the motions, but didn't actually drink anything). The ceremony was kind of complicated, but I now at least understand a bit of the reasoning behind turning the cups and all that. And apparently one of the cups they served tea in, the fanciest one, was worth over $1,000. That's too much for any non-ancient cup, in my opinion, and it didn't even look all that special... As for turning the cups, it's so that the design faces you when it's served to you, and away from you when you drink so everyone else can see it.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-toEu3GFGR6I/T9cvaQkWPcI/AAAAAAAAA1o/vEOedBjjQkc/s1600/Japan+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-toEu3GFGR6I/T9cvaQkWPcI/AAAAAAAAA1o/vEOedBjjQkc/s640/Japan+001.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kneeling in the tea room at school after the ceremony.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I'm getting kind of tired of Japanese food. It's different every day, but a lot of the dishes are pretty similar. It's lacking the level of variety in my usual American foods. Yesterday's lunch was actually pretty nasty. I didn't realize exactly what I was ordering when I got it, but it ended up being rice with those little fish/eel things in it, covered in an omelet-style egg, with some sort of slime sauce on top. The sauce was particularly disgusting. I don't know what it is with Japanese people and slimy foods, but they seem to love them. I ate most of the food, except the sauce, but I couldn't finish it. I even ate most of the fish. It helped that it was warm this time.<br />
<br />
To make up for yesterday's lunch, today's lunch was decidedly American-esque. Breaded chicken (chicken cutlet, so not quite normal) in marinara sauce with lettuce, a tomato slice, some other greens, and a side soup and rice. That was pretty good. Dinner today was actually pretty similar to lunch, but better. The menus change daily without any input from me, so I guess I just got lucky today.<br />
<br />
Yukie invited me out shopping with her, so I'll probably go at some point when we're both free to help pick out groceries and maybe make some of the American food I know how to cook for everyone. Assuming I can find good ingredients at reasonable prices.<br />
<br />
Tomorrow the school is taking us all on a trip to Nara. I don't know much about what's there, so we'll see how it goes when I report back.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6976193792672787337.post-49480063880291433372012-06-11T03:27:00.001-04:002012-06-21T03:08:12.792-04:00Day 16: Church and barbequeSunday I went to church in the morning, barely biking there on time to be picked up. But still on time. There were actually quite a few Americans there this week, visiting for various reasons. They had 41 people, which is quite rare for them. I didn't get much out of the first two hours this week, but the third hour I understood almost all of. It helped that half the people there spoke English as their native language, and one of them had an English version of the reading material available.<br />
<br />
After church, Yukie picked me up from the train station and we went to a barbeque she and some friends had put together for a few of the host families and their students, both current and former. So there were a bunch of people there who I didn't know, but it was still fun. We were outside in a park area next to a small stream. After everyone had eaten, most of us went down to the water and watched the kids catch frogs, bugs, and fish. It was a good time. Unfortunately, I got sunburned on the back of my neck, and probably some on my arms and face, but not noticeably. I got burned a lot worse on my first Sunday here at the softball game. It took most of the first week for my skin to not look red anymore.<br />
<br />
So that was Sunday. I can't think of anything else exciting that happened. Unfortunately, no pictures, since I didn't bring my camera to church (and hence to the picnic). But Yukie did bring a change of clothes for me in the car, so I wasn't out there all day in my suit. That would have been horrible.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0