After a long 11 hour flight across the Pacific, we landed in Tokyo at 4:00 pm Monday. Okay, so the airport is actually 40 miles away in Narita, which meant hopping on two kanko (touring) buses and riding 1 ½ hours to our hotel in the Shinagawa district. Along the way, I got a glimpse of my favorite Japanese countryside scene --rice paddies.
IASW (it’s a small world) ALERT #2! My seatmate on the bus had been an exchange student at Waseda University in the 80s. Hey, so had my brother Bill. Turns out they were in a class together!
How had our group magically increased from 70 to about 80? Three people from Hawaii arrived, as did a woman from Shanghai. There were also some locals who joined our adventure.
On Tuesday morning, our buses left for the Tokyo American Center, where we were given a heartfelt welcome by U.S. Ambassador Roos, followed by reports from a US AID chief, the director of the TAC, and a Navy Colonel, who is the Embassy Naval Attache. All 4 have been up to Sendai and environs several times and were able to share their experiences with us. Heartbreaking stories (I had tears running down my face), but also stories of support and hope for the Japanese. I think it was important for us to hear that we could expect a variety of emotions, that we'd be seeing scenes of utter devastation, but that our efforts would be greatly appreciated. A famous Japanese saying was displayed on the video screen.
After that we headed to Fuji TV headquarters. There were speeches of welcome by the head of Fuji TV, the head of JNTO (Japan National Travel Organization) and Saori Yuki, a very famous Japanese singer (the Barbara Streisand of Japan!), who has gone to the affected areas, and also flew to Portland to do a benefit concert for Japan with Thomas Lauderdale of Pink Martini; that concert raised over $300,000! All thanked us in glowing Japanese for coming to Japan to volunteer and to show the Japanese that we care about them. We had a BEAUTIFUL bento lunch in a room overlooking Tokyo Bay and parts of the city.
From there, it was more busing--this time to the Asakusa area for some sightseeing--Sensoji Temple and Nakamise shopping street.
And no trip to Tokyo would be complete unless you see the kin no unchi, also known as the Golden Turd, on top of the Asahi Brewery.
Being a bicyclist, I got a kick out of the double decker bike rack!
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