Aug 14, 2018 - Last week in Japan

Returned to Tokyo for our final week in Japan. Had dinner with Hiroko-san, with whom I worked at Applied Materials (AMAT), and Shima-san, from whose company we rented the car used during our journey through Hokkaido. Great time in a little neighborhood tavern, Daruma. Also met Uehara-san (Taka) at the Haneda Airport; he on his way to Taiwan for AMAT business. Taka & I were students in the first Ion Implant PI-9000 training course in Horsham England WAY back in 1986 ! It was great to see & spend some time with friends I met at AMAT. It has...

Aug 8, 2018 - Fuji-san & the Clouds Below

While planning the journey from Nagoya to Mt. Fuji I noticed the routes took us East to Tokyo, and then back West to Kawaguchiko, the lakefront town which is the starting point for most who hike Mt. Fuji. Doing a bit more research of the train/bus options I saw we could avoid going back to Tokyo, reduce the cost by 50%, while adding only a couple hours to the journey. We would have a couple more connections between train & bus, but no big deal; could not check-in to our accommodations until later in the afternoon anyway. Seemed to be plenty...

Aug 5, 2018 - Nagoya Toyoda

Visited the Toyota Museum and was amazed at the facility and the company story. Originally the Toyoda Company (named after the founder, Sakichi Toyoda) manufactured the world's first Automatic Loom (patented in 1924) for the textile industry. While in England, researching the textile industry, the founder's son, Kiichiro Toyoda, became aware of the proliferation of automobiles. Upon returning to Japan he convinced his father that automobiles & trucks needed to be manufactured in Japan. So they imported a Chevrolet & a Ford, and totally...

Aug 4, 2018 - Nagoya Fashions

Had a couple days before our reservation at Mt. Fuji, so as Nagoya was about half way decided to visit. And lo and behold, what's going on the evening we arrive - A Festival !! Streets were closed to vehicular travel - strictly pedestrian traffic. Lots of music, young men & women in kimonos, marching/dancing, banner waving teams. It seemed like another Japanese festival, but without the floats. Then some 'variations' in clothing became more evident as the evening waned. The next day the streets were replete with not so much clothing...

Aug 1, 2018 - The Benesse/Ando Art Island

Naoshima Island is reknowned for its architecture & art. The original concept, in the mid-1980's, was that of the CEO, Tetsuhiko Furutake, of Benesse Corporation; publishing & education business. Architect Tadao Ando designed the Benesse House which functioned as a hotel and the museum to house the art collection of the corporation; Benesse House opened in 1992. The design focus was to integrate the building with the surrounding natural landscape. Subsequently, other Ando designed buildings have opened : Chichu Museum (2004), Lee Ufan...

Jul 30, 2018 - Okonomiyaki - Pancake or Pizza !

We had tried an Okonomiyaki, 'Japanese Pizza', while in Kyoto, but did not realize there were variations of this popular dish. Evidently there are three basic styles: Osaka style - all the ingredients are mixed together yielding a 'stuffed pancake' entity, the Hiroshima Style - the ingredients are stacked atop a thin 'pancake/pizza', or the Tokyo style - the 'pancake/pizza' batter is poured into the center of a ring shape of the grilled other ingredients; have not yet tried the, Bundt Cake, Tokyo style. Having tried both Osaka & Hiroshima...

Jul 29, 2018 - A City Remindful of the Past and Hopeful for the Future

Had mixed feelings about visiting Hiroshima sites relating to the Atomic Bombing in 1945. Would it be depressing, over wrought, commercialized/trivialized, or, as I'd read of, a tranquil reminder that peace should be the lesson. The many acre site is mostly green space with various works of art throughout. Walking about for an hour or so one is surrounded by peaceful, pleasant spaces. The shell of the Genbaku Dome is really the most painfully poignant entity in Peace Park. Elsewhere the focus is on rebuilding for a peaceful future. An...

Jul 28, 2018 - Lucked Out at a Sold Out

I knew there was a home game for the Hiroshima Carps the night we arrived. So, after checking into hotel & leaving luggage, I caught a bus back to the Station. From there it was a ten minute walk to the stadium. And there was no question in which direction to go. I merely joined the Red Sea flowing by me; guess what the home team color is ? Unfortunately when I got to the ticket windows I was told the game was a sellout - not a ticket to be had. Bummer. So I began the walk back to the Station for the bus back to the hotel. But, along the...

Jul 26, 2018 - Beppu & The Doo Wop

Beppu was to be the ferry embarkation port for journey from Kyushu to Shikoku. Hiking Mt. Ishizuchi was a focal point of Shikoku, before venturing eastward to Naoshima. The area around Ishizuchi is quite rural; not a lot of sleeping accommodations. Unfortunately we were unable to find a reasonably priced room within 50km of the hiking start point, and from that distance getting to & from the start point would require 3 hours of train/bus commute. Logistically it was just not reasonably feasible. So, change of plans. Instead of Beppu to...

Jul 24, 2018 - Nobeoka & the Takachiho Gorge

We left Kagoshima and the southern end of Kyushu, and headed up the eastern coast. Reading of sights to see we noted the Takachiho Gorge. So, as it is about an hour & a half bus ride west of Nobeoka, we booked a couple nights in that small city. Quiet city (no festivals !) through which flows the Gokase River (which upstream has created the Takachiho Gorge). The ride to the gorge pretty much follows along the river valley. On the bus we met a couple & their friend with whom we chatted for the 90 minute bus ride. They are from Taiwan, and so...

Jul 23, 2018 - Hiking Kaimon-Dake

Our desire to hike Mt. Aso in central Kyushu was thwarted by its volcanic activity. So instead, from Kagoshima we decided to rent a car and drive 50km south along the coast to Kaimon-dake. Although a volcano, it was last active in the 8th century. Enjoyable ride which took us along the north shore of Lake Ikeda. It is a volcanic remnant 750 feet deep. Also has a resident population of eels that can grow to 6 feet long ! Might explain why no swimmers were noticed as we drove along the lake shoreline ! Kaimon-dake has a summit elevation of...

Jul 22, 2018 - Beefcake Boys & Pole Dancing

Well we thought we'd spend a leisurely day seeing a few sights around the city. So we rode the tram across town and then walked northwest up to an observation point overlooking city center. From there we had great views of Mt. Sakurajima, east across the bay. It is one of Earth's most active volcanoes, and only 10km from city center. It has been 'continuously' erupting since its first recorded such event in the 8th century. Major eruption in 1914 connected the former volcanic island in the bay to the mainland on the east. It emits ash &...