Only in Tokyo

Today on my way back home I dropped into a coffee shop for a quick lunch. After a few minutes a young man sits down with a middle aged lady, I don't think much of it except they seem like an odd pair. The lady proceeds to hand the young man two very large stacks of money. Finally she filled out a form and I waited till she filled in the amount, it was ¥1,000,000. The guy just leisurely counted the money like it was nothing. This is like going into Starbucks and casually counting out $10,000, in 100 dollar bills. then he just put the money in an envelope and put it in his bag on the floor. I think if this had happened in the states the money would have easily been swiped away and used to pay off someone's Christmas debts.

Christmas in Tokyo

On the way to the Kodo concert we walked by the light and fountain display in La Qua near Tokyo dome. We only got to see a few minutes of the display where they have the lights and the fountain synced with Christmas music. Then we had to run of to the concert because we were running late, mainly because we got on trains going the wrong way twice. I couldn't believe myself, in all my time here this is one of the only times that I have gotten messed up on the train. Then it happened twice in the same day.

The concert was of course great, and after we went to dinner at Bubba Gumps, it was actually really good. I had the drunken shrimp and sausage served with a spicy sauce over mashed potatoes. Got home feeling stuffed and I think I had what Joey on Friends would have called the "Meat Sweats". I think the apple crisp and the cup of coffee put me over the top. The apple crisp was really good but they served it with some kind of funky sauce that I still don't know what it was but it did help off set the tartness of the apples.

On another subject, Saturday the 23rd was spent playing tennis. Once a year we have a big party and invite the parents and we have a mixed tournament with the students, it was fun, but it left me a little sore. I ran from there to our church Candle service. On the way I found out that one of the people that was to sing a duet had called to say they couldn't make it. So I was asked to fill in, of course they had practiced in a key that was out of my range but we just had to improvise.

I ended up spending the night at a nearby hotel so I didn't have to make the long trek home and back again in the morning. Glad that I did because I got to sleep in till almost 8:00. It was so nice. I wanted to get to another service at my former students church but I was so tired on the way home I just went home and crashed. I did get up the energy to go out and get the last two episodes of "Prison Break" and watch them. Now I can get around to downloading season 2. Yeah!!!

Today I'm at school, Christmas day, and this is the second year straight that I have worked on this holiday. Last year there weren't too many people here but today things are pretty much back to normal and you would never think this day is any different then any other. Maybe next year we can talk someone in closing the school on this day. It would only make sense. But I'm sure that someone would complain.

Kodo

This is a picture that Katie took a number of years ago, and I keep it on top of my TV. This guy is my favorite drummer. The reason for this picture is tonight is my annual outing to The Kodo Dec. concert series in Tokyo. This year I am dragging Alina along. It is always a good preformance that I look forward to every year. And all the best drummers are at this show. I have been dissapointed before when Eichi is not on the roster. If your not familiar with the group check out their web site, they have tours all over the world. KODO

Christmas Dreams

This has been a busy week so far, but am so happy that today is the last day of school. It is the big Christmas worship for the students. It is quite a production with all grade levels singing a Christmas song. The Sr. High students all do a piece for the Messiah and finish it all off with all the students singing the Amen from the Mesiah. It is actually very beautiful.


But what I wanted to coment on was dreams, now I don't often remember my dreams but this week for what ever reason I have been having some unusual dreams. Maybe it means I am sleeping better. Yesterday I dreamed about my upcoming trip to Taipei, the funny thing is I don't think that Shige who is going with me was in the dream. Anyway the funniest thing was that we rented a car and parked on the street to go in and see a movie, we came out of the movie to find the car gone. So of course thiking it was stolen we panicked not knowing what to do. Come to find it had been towed and after pnicking for awhile the police brought it back.

Last night I dreamed the Brenda and Deiter came to visit me and meet me on school excursion. It was so odd, they had their 2 boys with them, except they don't have two boys, I think the boys may have been Drew and Conal. Then their nephew Zacharey showed up. Must be because they have come up in conversations with Alina lately. Who knows, anyway I hope that at this time of year you will have some more realistic dreams and they will come to pass.

Tamasei Christmas

Today was rainy and cold all day, not quite Christmas weather, but the start of all the Christmas celebrations at school. This morning there was a Christmas service and explanation mtg. for perspective students, and in the afternoon the alummni association had their Christmas service. The teachers always sing, this year we sang "Born on This Day" and Rachelle and I sang a Duet. It was quite fun. This is probably not the best picture I took it of the school's home page. If I can get a video downloaded I will try to put it up. I really thought that I wouldn't have much of a voice on Friday it sounded like I had rocks in my throat, but my voice feels better today in better than it has in a while. And the best part of that is it's just in time for Christmas. How fun it is to sing Christmas songs.

Friday

Well after 2 hours of Karaoke which included costume changes, I finally made it home but didn't get to bed till about one o'clock. Nii san and Miura are pictured below, Nii san brings all the goodies, we all tried the hat with the fake hair. It made most of us look like 70's wanna-be rock stars.


Well after the long evening, I woke up this morning at five after seven. I usually like to be out of the house by at least 20 after. I almost screamed! Jumped up actually made it out of the house by 7:30.

Today was Christmas visitation. We went to a local day-home, sort of a day-care facility for the elderly. The 4 different classes go out to 4 different homes and put on a small show for the people and give them a small gift and Christmas card. It is always a really good experience for the kids and the elderly, there are always a number of people who are moved to tears. I took the picture below on the way back, it is the entrance to the huge shrine in Kuhonbutsu.

Year End Party

Well it is that time of year again, Bonenkai 忘年会 Season. Fortunately I usually only have one to attend there are people that have them almost every night.
This year the Nagihana members met in Musashinokuchi. We went to a nice restaurant and our main dish was chankonabe, the meal that sumo wrestlers eat. It was very good. In the picture below is Miura the head of our group with Yoko san and of course our teacher.


Once people start taking pictures it is almost non sto and of course everyone wants a picture with our teacher. Nii san was the MC for the evening. She is a crack up. and she knows how to keep a party going.


So after everyone else had their turn the gaijin's decided to have a group picture. I guess we are a pretty unique group with 4 foreigners, the 3 ladies are German.

Tanaka sensei has changed a lot, the last few times that we have gotten together he has cried. I think he is moved by our groups friendliness and camaraderie. In his speech to use he thanked us for teaching him the importance of putting feeling and warmth in to our music. I realize that he is very thankful for the warmth that our group has shown him.

After the party we moved into part two which was another 2 hours of karaoke. And let me tell you some of these people lreally know how to let their hair down.