12/1 Tokyo/Nagoya

After another lovely breakfast at the top of the Grand Prince Akasaka Hotel with another spectacular view of Mt. Fuji, Deb and I walked to a local Buddhist shrine not far from the hotel.  Quite a few people were inside (attested to by the line of shoes at the bottom of the stairs) or at the steps.  There was chanting along with drums and bells in the air coming from inside.  

Several folks stayed at the bottom of the steps, tossed a few coins in the box and bowed, clapped twice, bowed and prayed with hands clasped, clapped twice more, bowed and went on their way.  People will come when time permits (this was about 10:30 in the morning on a Monday) and spend whatever time they need.  During the ten minutes or so we were there, perhaps two dozen different people came and left.  

As we were leaving the area (which included the shrine, some small shops where you could buy gifts to leave there, a memorial/burial area and a large incense-burning container) a few people were arriving with trays of some beverage and small food offerings for the monks at the shrine.  This is the only noticeable religious activity I’ve seen since arriving a week ago.  Quite a difference from the U.S., although I’m not sure I know what to look for here.

We did a quick Skype phone home with the kids and Merrilee (they seem to be surviving, if a little ragged around the edges). Deb and Pat had an 11:30 lobby call for their departure (Deb was now loaded down with all the Yomeishu and the Yomeishu wine in her bag).  After some heart-felt good-byes with the crew and Fumiko and Noguchi, they departed for the airport.  

The four of us remaining and crew left not ten minutes later in our van to the train station and one more Nozomi bullet train--this time back to Nagoya.  As the traffic was light and Noguchi liked to run early if possible, we caught an early train. Had an enjoyable trip chatting with Mark and reading, but this time able to see sights out the window (sometimes blurry from the speed!).  Nagoya is a somewhat familiar city (from last week) and we’re in the same hotel.  Off to dinner with Noguchi-san.

Mike and Mark went out for their yearly Monday-after-Thanksgiving dinner tonight, Bob was out of his room, so Noguchi and I went out to a favorite of his--a chicken wing place behind the hotel.  The sort of small place we might not venture into without help, but lo and behold, when we got in, there were Pearson and McCoy!  (Lots of smokers--so may have hotel do laundry tomorrow.)

They left early, and Noguchi and I had a fine time.  We talked about Japan, US, me, him, travels, politics, etc.  And he bought everyone's meal.  I gave him a CD when we returned to the hotel--he came into the room and tried to help with the internet, but ended up placing the second call to the hotel tech staff.

Here in Nagoya, my internet connection has been intermittent at best.  Three different visits by the hotel tech folks and a long call to the intertouch phokes in the Philippines and it has worked twice, and not worked about 6 times.  So I may be out of luck until Hong Kong!