So I uploaded a few pictures from the trip to Tokyo. Nothing too much of consequence, but I didn’t leave the city so it’s mostly shots of the Imperial Palace and in and around Tokyo. By the end of the week, I could do the subways like the back of my hand. They’re so incredibly efficient that it really doesn’t make sense to travel any other way. Last week I mentioned that the subways were crowded, so allow me to illustrate this through an annecdote that my colleague in Japan mentioned. He said that periodically, there will be so many people on a subway car that the windows pop out under the pressure. You really have to see it to believe it!

Lastly, it was a interesting to work all day in Tokyo on Friday, and then leave from the airport Friday evening. Flying all night, I landed in Toronto on Friday slightly before I took off from Japan. Smile.

For those of you who might never have been to Japan, I realize that my description from last time might be a little scarce in details. I’ve decided that the only way to correct that would be to give you ten ultimate truths about visiting here.

1. The Japanese tend to be shorter than Americans by at least 5″. I’m not a tall chap, and I’m always hitting my head on the the rungs in the subway.
2. The Japanese are incredibly polite. Bowing multiple times is the accepted form of greeting. A bow begins at the waist, not the shoulders.
3. Although the sumo wrestler is afforded tremendous respect and attention, the average Japanese person weighs 80 lbs.
4. More than 12 million people live in Tokyo. Most of them are on my subway car in the morning.
5. Nine out of ten Japanese business men over the age of 18 wear black suits. The tenth wears navy blue.
6. Nine out of ten Japanese career women wear 3″ heels. The tenth wears 4″ heels.
7. Nine out of ten Japanese working class folks smoke cigarettes. The tenth smokes second hand smoke.
8. In America, Denny’s is open 24 hours and sells breakfast food all day long. In Japan, Denny’s is open 24 hours.
9. The streets and subways of Tokyo are impeccably clean, but I’ve yet to see a trash bin on the side of the road.
10. History is a subjective thing. Visit the war museum in Tokyo and read an American history textbook. Compare and contrast.

With regards to item two, have you ever stood at the side of the road with 1000s of people cheering 1000s more running in a marathon? I have. They all waved flags and not a sound was made. Nothing. Eerie quiet except for the sound of runners feet pounding by … If you saw someone you knew. You didn’t call their name. You waved your flag harder.

So perhaps some of these observations are a little out of control. Take number four … there was certainly not 12 million people on the car during rush hour, but standing in there was a full body massage. I hope you don’t need personal space. There are entirely separate cars for the ladies. Little wonder …

The last item is one of tremendous interest to me. Perhaps its because I’ve always been interested in history. The story relating to WWII is so radically different in Japan and America that you wonder who writes the books. Perhaps our wonder at the lack of accuracy from Flavius Josephus is a little misplaced.

Tokyo still doesn’t have the vibrancy of other places I’ve been, but I feel like I’ve absorbed a little more of the culture. I’ve also learned that just because I’m in Japan, not all sushi places are good. Smile.

I bet that by now you’ve all given up on coming here every Monday for an update. Really this just goes to show that there wasn’t anything exciting in our lives to report in the first place! If I were to take over the responsibility of putting something in every week I’m afraid you’d all be innundated with boring news of Jake’s lastest feats and trials.

But since he’s my most favorite subject I have no problems doing just that! To start, he is finally sleeping through the night, all night. Hooray for the extra sleep that we’re getting! :-)He is sitting up now too although he wobbles a little precariously until eventually the momentum carries him to the floor! He’s also in the throes of teething, or so we think from his constant crying out loud and’out-of-the-ordinary’ fussing. Or maybe that’s just what babies do…

In the travelling arena we were up in Palmyra for Cynthia Porter’s wedding to Jonathan Gorgas (CONGRATS). It was nice to see everyone from up there again. Danny has a seven day business trip to Japan this week 🙁 and then he’s taking us with him to San Fransisco at the end of June. This travel stuff doesn’t seem to end for us! Also, Teddy and Julie and Ben (who is very, very cute!)came up for a weekend visit which was entirely too short. But maybe if you ask them it was a little too long! Teddy left here with a broken arm after skateboarding with Danny at a local park. Sorry Teddy!! Hopefully they will still be able to look back at their time here with a smile. 🙂