Category: From Japan

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Saturday

Sunny Saturday Morning

Notice that it is pretty chilly back home. That has not inspired me to get plane tickets yet. At this instant – I can decide early in the morning and have us back in Arlington by supper time the next day. For less than $400 each. So, what is to be gained by “planning” ahead?

I very noisy family speaking some unknown language very loudly have moved in next door. Just went out and tried the famous Hawaiian “stinkeye” – didn’t do any good. But, I see they have taken two rooms.  Oh well, that is why I have ear plugs.

Carlton says they are Japanese. No way. Japanese would not be that noisy. And they wouldn’t have more than one kid. And the language is sing songy south east asian.

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From Tokyo

Real Time: Friday August 6 at 0645

The 65th Anniversary of the Hiroshima A-Bomb. For the first time, the US ambassador is going to the ceremony. That is a big deal here. Also, you might think that Japan would not have nuclear power plants. You would be wrong – they have 56. And, like us, have not a clue as to where to put the spent fuel.

Leaving tomorrow. The first 12 hour flight is a little daunting. But, the second time – you know you can make it. Watch a movie. Listen to the iPod – I have a new book on the iPod. Eat. Snooze. Walk around the plane. Eat. iPod. Snooze. Walk around the plane. Maybe watch another movie. And then you are over Kansas. Almost home.

How about some photos from Tokyo?

Why you should consider podiatry as a career.
Reflected Madness
I shouldn't even be looking in the window of a shop that sells real diamond tiaras.

And how, exactly, does one shop for a tiara? “Hi, I like a nice tiara. In diamond, please. Size medium.”

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From Tokyo

Realtime: Wednesday, August 4, 6:25AM

A few random shots from yesterday.

Is it public art or an advertisement? Like so many things Japanese - I haven't a clue.
Department stores in Japan have entire sections devoted to "Funeral Wear".
Old Edo Castle wall and the New Tokyo

Another sunny day with great blue sky and fluffy clouds.

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From Tokyo

Real Time: August 3 at 0700

Yesterday was all about food.

Tokyo street ca 1958

We headed to Yokohama and the noodle museum. The time is summer of 1958.

The basic shoyu style plain raumen

The price of a bowl of noodles was not ca 1958. But, it was still good.

From the Demel's of Vienna Shop

Back in the Ginza – we got chocolate treats from the Demel’s counter for our dinner. Our hotel room lacked the Demel’s atmosphere. But the pastry was great. Note to self: Start Dieting next monday.

Blue sky and puffy white clouds this morning.

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From Tokyo

Real Time: Monday August 2 at 0630

A few from Tokyo

Nissan Concept Car
Fishy Window Display
How many Japanese policeman does it take to direct traffic at the intersection of two one way one lane streets?

The policemen are at the end of the alley our hotel is on. Less than 100 yards away there are another 4 police directing traffic. The US attempts to deal with unemployment with unemployment compensation, welfare and retraining. The Japanese approach is to use 4 men to do a job that doesn’t need doing.

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From Tokyo

Real Time: July 31 at 0610 hours.

We will not even go into the trouble we encountered upon our arrival in Tokyo. The short version – the hotel could not be found, there was a driving horizontal rain, we killed 3 umbrellas in 20 minutes, soaked right down to the undies.

May the goddess bless Mazda. Much to the teenage person’s embarrassment, I marched into a Mazda show room and said in perfect English – I am lost. Please Help. And they helped. They couldn’t figure out the hotel map either. So, they made me a new, laser printer and hence semi waterproof map – wrote street names on it. Gave me an umbrella and sent me on my way. (The umbrella lasted about 5 blocks.) After about 10 blocks – I asked a cop for help. He said that we should have turned right down an unnamed street about a block back. We retraced our steps and that was it – within 10 more minutes – we found our little oh so french hotel.

Now some photos from yesterday. Yesterday was devoted entirely to watching the teenage person’s attempts to kick-start the Japanese economy by power shopping.

But first, the French version of the $25 Japanese Breakfast - not the best we have had.
Note to Old Persons - Abandon Hope Upon Entry
Got to get ice cream and corn flakes at the Hello Kitty Ice Cream Store.
Safely Back in the Friendly Confines of Ginza and our hotel

Tonight – big-time fireworks – if we brave the crowds and subway system – weather permitting.

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Leaving Hiroshima

Real time: Thursday July 29 at 0630

A few shots from yesterday’s layabout day in Hiroshima.

Hiroshima Castle - at the top of the stairs.
Japanese air conditioning
Temple inside castle moat

Overcast today. Will try to get us out of here sooner rather than later. We have a subway ride in Tokyo from the train station to our hotel. And, I really want to avoid being on the subway with our backpacks during Tokyo’s famous subway crush time.

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From Hiroshima

Real time: Wednesday July 28 0630 hours

Some photos from the last couple of days.

The A-Bomb Dome - Hiroshima
Miyajima Island
Miyajima Island - Everything in Japan is at the top of a hill or long flight of stairs or both.
Miyajima Island

Haven’t a clue what we will do today. The teenage person is getting geared up for 9 days of shopping in Tokyo. I have decided to buy nothing that I can buy back home unless it is way cheaper. Which means I don’t have much shopping planned. But, the old person can look.

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From Kumamoto

Real time: Monday July 26 0630 hours

Selected photos from a lazy Sunday in Kumamoto, which is far off the western tourism track.

Start the day with a very Japanese breakfast

This hotel chain always has fried onion rings on Sunday morning. That would be fried onion rings, two kinds of soup – one with quail eggs. Tofu. Lotus root stuffed with hot mustard – that was a wake up call to the taste buds. A few green beans and carrots. A bowl of rice. Coffee, yogurt and a small roll.

I then left the teenage person to herself and her computer and wandered around town. I was tempted by $75 hair combs – but decided that the goddess would not be pleased if I spent $75 for a hair toy – and that she might show her wrath by visiting breast cancer and chemo on me. I settled for a perfectly fine $5 hair comb.

Another Day, Another Castle - Kumamoto Castle

By mid afternoon, I hauled the teenage person away from the computer and out to see the castle. Where, we found some unknown festive event in progress.

I don't have any idea what is going on here.
But, I suspect that alcoholic beverages where involved.

The day was topped off by a visit to the the delightful communal bath, where they have washers and dryers – so all my clothes got clean along with me.

This morning – we will head to Hiroshima for 3 nights, then 9 nights in Tokyo. Then home.

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From Kumamoto

Real time Sunday July 25 at 0630 hours

And why are we in Kumamoto – because it was the only place that had a hotel room on Saturday night. And, today is laundry day. A day when washing gets done – and since this hotel has washing machines – that will nice. This hotel also issues you snappy pajamas which you can wear to the onsen – they have 4 machines in the women’s onsen (that would be the communal bath) – so, you can wash everything you own – including yourself.

A few parting shots from Nagasaki:

A walk thru Nagasaki's Chinatown
Teenage person has close encounters of the naval kind
Night Ships

The old person and the captains of the Russian sailing ships were all glad to have the teenage person safely away from Nagasaki and the Russian Pacific Fleet!

Am looking at a pretty cool castle out side my window – might just sneak in a little tourist action between laundry and soaking my person in the onsen today.

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From Nagasaki

Real time Friday, July 23 0730

A few pictures before the teenage person pounces on the LAN connection. BTW – LAN really is better than cranky WiFi.

Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Blast Site
Young Russian Sailors - Nagasaki Tall Ships Festival
Flying Fat Men - before leaving Nagoya we made it to Sumo.

This is our last day in Nagasaki. We are moving on to Kumomoto tomorrow. Mostly because that was the only place I could find us a hotel room.