Horie-no Sho Hamamatsu

... can give me an excuse to say "no". What good is a cell phone when you're car's busted and you're stranded in the middle of nowhere--when a good agenda will tell you whether or not you'll be ******* off a whole group of people for being late.

And the scary part is, you wouldn't even know if you ****** them off. Maybe you'll start seeing less treats on your desk; or that morning tea that you expected after battling a kontatsu-induced cold (kontatsu = heated table/bed); or you ...

... if I wanted to run on their relay-race team, that was going on in December. I was hesitant at first, thinking of what the weather was like at the turn of winter in Ottawa, but I decided that it would be good motivation to keep on with an exercise routine, and said "yes". They asked me for my sizes, since they were going to buy a team-uniform, and so this Friday I will be picking up a matching outfit, with emblems, made by Asics. Sweeet.

A few hours after the half-marathon, there ...

... kicking-attack, but something settled in me. I had so much stress that night at the typhoon, and I remember how beating up on these kids, and allowing them to beat up on me, and doing my best to just focus on copying and catching every second or third word, really allowed me to unwind and adjust here.

I think it's too easy to look for what's familiar when you come to a new place, and do your best to re-create what you've grown accustomed to in ...

... from McD's. Interesting story here. I order a "set" (which is basically the meal consisting of the burger, fries, and a drink). The cashier gave me two wrapped bags. I ask her about my drink and she gave me a weird look. I later found out that my drink was in one of the bags! I have noticed that the Japanese loved to gift wrap just about all goods you buy (presentation is everything in Japan). But McDonald's? Wow!

... people who had (and were probably allowed) tattoos. They ranged from the symbol of strength, a giant Golfish (Koei), to dragons, famous samurai battles, portraits of Geishas, the such. It was a symbol of being badass to have a tattoo. Even today, some respect comes from going through the pain (and risk) of being tattooed.

So what kept me at bay was probably my first experience at the Koei Plaza in Tokyo, the day I arrived. I knew it was going to be a ...

Death to anyone who actually calls this a "sport". Where's the 'sport', or fun, in running long distances, causing pain, exhaustion, thirst, and minimal benefits to ones physical condition? What about one's mental condition?

I remember crossing that finish line, muttering "thanks" in about three languages, I was so delirious. Sure, it was an awesome experience, taking in the beautiful scenery on a perfect Autumn day in ...

... were as ridiculous and as fun as you can imagine. The first of these (one that they volunteered me to do) was Mukade (translation: by way of 1000 legs). We had a total of 6 legs, where 3 guys (myself included) slipped our feet into two wooden planks that we shared to complete this Mukade race. It was hilarious. I think we fell over thirty times, as the video of us competing demonstrates how well practiced at falling we are.

There was also a 'various ball ...

... not for this area). It followed the standard format: festival stands and decorations set up, ranging from drink-tent with soups, to toriniku (fried chicken) and takoyaki (fried octopus balls); early-morning drinking, usually made possible by trips to the liquor store the night before, as well as stocking the temple with its home-brew sake-barrel, music, costumes and festival outfits, and, of course, fireworks.

At this particular festival, the only ritual we saw was the ...

... along the coast later in the afternoon, and I bought her mum some flowers to say thanks for letting me stay - jeez I`m a good lad! Her mum seemed to appreciate them, and in return I was treated to a delicious evening meal at a Japanese barbecue restaurant... It was actually Yusuke who had told me about these kinds of restaurants where you are given the raw meat, and then you barbecue it yourself. He also mentioned that a particular favourite was cow tongue, and ...

... padding on top of a grass mat. Hence, my shoulders hurt. I should be capable of handling pain and difficulty, I'm Japanese. There's a lot of things in this country that I've noticed (either I'm seeing odd exceptions or this country is odd) that ppl agree to. *SITTING* Traditionally, the Japanese home doesn't have chairs, just tables and such. This has changed in modern homes with the chairless rooms confined to the tatami (grass mat) rooms. These rooms are for having guests, buddha ...