Welcome Home Kinoto!

Kinoto returned home last friday. Saturday, Yuri hosted a welcome home party at their house inviting Aya & myself, the Miyakoda's, and her sister Mitsuko.

Yuri putting the finishing touches on one of her dishes.

Time to start pouring the beers.

Yuri makes the prettiest food, and it tastes better than it looks if you can believe that.

KANPA-I !!!!

Kanp-i #2

I am pretty sure this is when everyone was plotting with Mitsuko to hurt me. Mitsuko is trained in Kenpo and was explaining that she is able to use someone else's size to disable them. Of course all this is going on in Japanese so I am just sitting there smiling and understanding about every 15th word (important things like "above" or "yesterday", or "10" - but absolutely nowhere near understanding what is going on). Finally Mitsuko stands up and walks over to me and motions for me to get up. Then she asks for my arm. Apparently everyone in the room but me knows what is about to happen. I stick out my arm and...

in a matter of 0.5 seconds she has grabbed my wrist, twisted it backwards and put enough pressure on it that I fall to my knees about to cry and begging her to let go. I do not suggest being the only foreigner at a welcome home party. At least after that she demonstrated some techniques on other people. Much more fun to watch I have to say.

I must have been in the bathroom crying when this picture was taken. All in all a very good night, and we are all happy to have Kinoto home.

Osaki & Marunouchi

A few weeks ago Aya and I met her parents in Osaki for a flea market being held in Gate City. Then we went to the Idemitsu Museum in Marunouchi to see an exhibit of paintinsg & writings by Sengai (Japanese Zen Monk 260 years ago).

Traditional Japanese Tea ceremony demonstration.

They asked me to participate, but there is no way I can sit on my knees as long as it takes to make the tea. I likely would have managed to kick down the walls of the temporary tea house trying to get on the floor. Plus I am bigger than all 4 of those women put together.

A very precise and methodical procedure to prepare the tea

I have to believe that part of the ceremony is the waiting which only makes you desire and in turn enjoy the tea that much more once it is served

Have I mentioned that there are a lot of people in Tokyo?

Interesting shop

Vending machine bar. That's right all of these vending machines serve alcohol , and there is a little bar where you can hang out. Go figure a foreigner has set up camp here. My camp is on the other side. We rule this bar.

When in doubt look for the 180 yen beer sign.

GO-ZILLA!!!!!

Not sure if this it to commemorate somthing or just to keep the Japanese out of this plaza.

Never trust pictures. He is not as big as I tried to make him look.

Embossed hands of famous people, ala the Chinese Theater in Hollywood. The Japanese love Sly Stallone.

Miyakoda-san demonstrating that Tom Cruise is about the same size as an average 69 year old Japanese man.

Seriously, he has lady hands. Just look back at Stallone's.

Nishida Toshiyuki, a Japanese actor. I just liked the drawing.

Interesting fountain and plaza

Tokyo Kokusai Forum near Yurakucho station.

Who is that taking my picture?

Random Tokyo

Some random photos around Tokyo on my way to Japanese language school a few weeks ago.

We represent the Lollipop Guild...

Shonanshinjuku Line

Very interesting wall detail

How's it hanging? Seriously dude, you should let a doctor check those out.

Side street with a blue filter

Meguro River in front of the Miyakoda's apartment with a blue filter

Meguro River looking the other way with a blue filter

Tamago Double Mac

The new burger at McDonalds...2 all beef patties, special sauce, egg, & cheese piece of bacon on a sesame seed bun

If only it were really that big, and didn't cost $8.

Aquarium & Dolphin Show

We went to the Aquarium at the Shinagawa Prince Hotel to see the dolphin show the end of August. I have a feeling that an aquarium makes Japanese people hungry though. If would be like americans being able to observe hamburgers and hotdogs in a replica of their native habitat. mmmmmmm hot dog habitat.....

The main tank has a glass tunnel that allows you to be surrounded by fish. Pretty cool, but it also kind of makes you a little sick due to the distortion caused by the think class.

Huge manta ray. they are beautiful to watch "fly" through the water.

you can likley see the distortion caused by the curvature of the glass in this pic of the manta ray swimming directly over.

an exhibit on artifical habitat for marine life

kiss me

I think the crab is flexing for these fish. It is important to maintain dominance in aquatic social status by being buff.

I think this guy may use a bit too much smokeless tobacco

Sunset in the penguin tank (i wonder if the penquins ever question that the sun seems to be stuck in setting mode)

sweet combover!!!

The dolphin show was really much cooler than I expected. We were in the front row wearing ponchos. I am not sure who was more excited the kids or Aya's dad.

Porpoise surfing

These were the big dolphins that liked to do belly flops and splash the crowd.

White Out!!! I did't see the other dolphin coming from the other direction as I tired to take a photo of the guy in the photo above jumping out of the water.

synchronized jumping. It was amazing how high they could get. There was a huge disco ball over the pool, and the dophins would jump up and touch it. It had to be 10-15 meters above the water.

The performers and trainers.

self photo

cheer up. At least you are not at the Tsukiji fish market

No evening is complete without a few beers and snacks on the terrace at Gate City.