Little Brother: The sometimes traveling musician

Sunday, 5/17, Tokyo

2009-05-23T07:51:00.000-07:00

After a pretty good sleep, arose about 5:30 and spent time calling family and friends, snacking a little, reading some and watching the news. The morning was rainy and windy outside, perhaps a precursor of the soon-to-come monsoon season. Inside sounded good for the time being.

About 8:00 the rain had mostly stopped so I donned a shirt and jeans to head out to check out the temperature outside. It was windy, but not cold, so I headed out on a little walk around. It lasted 90 minutes.

The Sunday morning traffic was nearly non-existent and few people were walking or biking. I headed out somewhat aimlessly, first arriving at the cocoon building, needing to check out this distinctive form in the building landscape, made up mostly of fairly traditional high-rise steel, glass and concrete structures. It was part of the Shinjuku district of Tokyo, the area that the government decided, some 40 years ago, would be the city and government center. The previously low level structures of this traditional area have given way to a dizzying collection of tall buildings and neon.

Surely steel and glass like many of the rest, the cocoon building, with its long, curving sweep on four sides from bottom to top and four large glass and steel spines with a lattice work of steel supports, was to become a landmark building as I negotiated my way in the surrounding area.

The wind blew and I walked street to street. As I explored mostly-deserted outside cafes and community areas, the wind would howl and send down showers of former raindrops from the leaves above to keep me alert. One poignant moment came during my walk through the Shinjuku Central Park. I had gone past a few of the ever-present morning street sweepers tidying the public space with old, rough brooms, and had stopped by the Shinto shrine and temple where an older gentleman was offering his morning prayers at the outside shrine and a younger woman bowed and rang the bell at the main entrance of the otherwise still temple.

I headed back through the park and saw the blue-tarped structures of the local homeless community, typically neat and tidy (and in this rainy time, almost all with a scavenged umbrella attached in open state above the entrance to the makeshift shelters), noticing no movement around the little camp. Unknown in previous years, in the last decade or so, I think, the encampments have become more commonplace in the cities, but always with the characteristic order so common in Japanese communities.

As I rounded the bend on one of the pathways through the park, I saw two men by a park bench. One, the older, sat in an upright, dignified manner in his mismatched suit using a worn umbrella as a support for both hands out in front, as he gazed in apparent serene contemplation of the lovely flower beds on the other side of the path. Beside the bench, a younger, scruffier man had a cart of some sort, and he moved around corralling the bags and piles of cans and bottles and the few belongings he had collected. He moved constantly for those few moments it took for me to approach and walk by.

What a study in contrast between those two men, and between those two and me, the privileged foreigner who knew that not far away was running water, warm food and very nice lodgings. It is a bubble in which we are able to do this music and have this experience. A gift in many ways. We offer for awhile the chance for people to escape whatever their surroundings are and have a bit of peace and recollection of years past when they heard this music in an earlier time in their lives. I was pretty certain those two men would not be in the audience the next night. Perspective is good.

I walked on, back toward the hotel, and saw a raven perched on a sign in the park. I stopped to gaze at the strong, curved black beak and the impressive size of the bird for a minute or so. As I turned to walk off, not ten seconds had passed before I heard and then felt the wingtips and the air created by the raven at my neck as it flew by. I wheeled around, watching as it flew back to a nearby tree to watch me every bit as intently as I had studied the raven earlier. Perhaps it was protective parenting, perhaps just the raven saying “who do you think you are, trespassing on my territory?”

As I turned the last turn back toward the hotel, I began to feel the chill of the wind and raindrops on my thin shirt. I headed for the ubiquitous Starbucks store a block from the hotel for a Matcha Tea Latte. The warmth felt good--one more sign of my privilege, I guess, knowing how those men might have enjoyed a hot tea at that moment, but it was very welcome.

As I entered the Hilton lobby, I had a chance meeting with Bob. Mark joined us. Mark and I ate breakfast, then headed for a walk. Mike showed up and Huey, Duey and Luey headed out for another trek. I didn’t make the time to return for proper shoes so the long walk took a bit of a toll on my feet. Around and around we went (a frequent event for our travels), eventually to the Shinjuku Gyoen National Gardens. Shopping for bananas, o.j., boiled eggs and any GF chips I could find.

Back to hotel at 2:00 for mid afternoon--3:00-6:00 nap. Dinner at the local Ootaya restaurant for three, back to hotel and evening reading, internet, tv, practice and late skyping with Deb before retiring for the night at 11:30. Long day. The rest will be singing or traveling days, so very different feel than this one. Here we go.

BILLBOARD TOUR, MAY ’09

2009-05-23T07:36:00.000-07:00

Whidbey Island, 5/15/09

Deb and Kaj return from their author tour of Japan on 05/05. Deb had a bad cold--no voice. A few days home and Deb drives to Portland to speak at Diane Hamm’s memorial service. Gone Saturday/Sunday. Planning kids’ upcoming weekend stays, memorial service at church on Tuesday, Brothers’ rehearsal on Wednesday, WELCA presentation on Thursday, packing and kids’ homework Thursday night, bring Kaj to bus and Ollie to Robin’s office at 7:00 AM Friday, home, load car with Sandra and Jean’s stuff, load them, drop them at Means’ house to wait for school bus, drive to Freeland, pick up Anne Belov and drive to Queen Anne Books for morning book event. Sing one song. (Mona Zuill appears by divine intervention for a visit.) Take Shuttle Express to airport, smooth transit through airport to plane. Smooth flight, arrive about 4:25 PM Saturday. Sit on plane while hooded, masked, goggled and suited swine flu inspectors came on board and read our temperatures with a camera, examined our new health sheet, then sat while they finished the whole A330 plane. Took about 45 minutes. Released! Zipped through customs and onto the waiting Billboard bus with Ena, our guide. 90 minute ride to town. Arrived at Tokyo Hilton just after 7:00. Got in room.

Thus began our Billboard Tour of Japan, 05/2009.

Tired. Going to bed. Finally.

Various Brother travels...

2009-05-23T07:21:00.000-07:00

Since returning from Japan, Hong Kong and Taiwan last December, the Brothers Four have been on the road mostly close to home.

First, in January, we traveled to Centralia, Washington, still recovering from some historic high waters that flooded the town, almost up to the University where we played. We performed at the President's concert and had a warm reception and a great evening.

Next came March and a short tour to Palm Springs, where brother Vern and sister Val both came to the show, as well as friends from Trinity wintering in the area and other friends, Steve and Maureen Murdoch. A beautiful, warm break from the winter in the Pacific Northwest. A chance to visit with Loni again as she drove over for the evening.

Then we headed east to Lancaster, PA for a concert with the Chad Mitchell Trio, the New Christy Minstrels and Livingston Taylor. Cousin Fred Olsen and wife Marge and daughter Beth came to the show. I got a chance to take a car and explore Amish country a bit. It was a long but wonderful show with many new connections.

April took us to Spokane, Washington and a concert for the benefit of the faith and healing center at Sacred Heart Hospital. Mark's childhood home town hosted us well and we had Mark's mother and two brothers at the show. Our visit to Mark's mom's house the night before was a highlight. She is a host of grace and warm welcome. Former college choral professor Wally Goleeke and his family came to the show as well as an old friend, Ellen Robinson and her friend. Good to see them all.

That has brought us to May and our tour to Japan. The nightclub tour--a new experience for me. So, read on!

Karl

12/1 Tokyo/Nagoya

2008-12-28T22:48:00.000-08:00

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!

11/30 Tokyo concert/full circle

2008-12-28T22:47:00.000-08:00

Another nice room at the Akasaka--sometimes hard to leave and head out to breakfast, but we did. Up to the 40th and swinging around the corner toward the restaurant, there she is again...Mt. Fuji, for all to see. A little obscured by some haze today, but prominent, nonetheless.

A morning off, then to the hall for sound check and rehearsal. There was a little at-the-hall promo TV shooting in the green room today, but Bob did all the talking. (I made sure to head out of the room when they started asking questions about the others in the group--never know when the camera might point my way again! They had shot around the room before Bob had come in and caught me eating lunch and talking with some other folks...I hope Bob is more interesting than that!)

It was a wonderful hall in Tokyo and probably the largest audience of the trip so far. Great sound again and enthusiastic audience response.

Noguchi-san made sure all was right and managed every detail. It was an afternoon show, so had plenty of time after the autographs for dinner and seeing the town again (that was after I and the other guys got our bags down to the lobby by 7:30 for shipment to Nagoya the next day.

Last night with all of us there, so we walked across the street in search of dinner for us all. For the first night I could remember (except in the mountains) the weather was decidedly cold in the night breeze. Looking for something that would be workable for my diet and interesting enough for the rest, a vision from the past appeared--and we ate dinner at Trader Vic’s! Bob’s treat! Hilarity and good memories abounding.

11/29 Bullet to Tokyo

2008-12-28T22:44:00.000-08:00

A very different rhythm to this day, as our bags were down in the lobby by 9:00, then a little wandering around the city and an 12:00 departure. The 3:00 show at Geijutsu Hall was successful and nearly full. Another fine set up by Ota-san, our traveling sound expert. The guitars and banjos were packed into a truck while we left the venue for the Shin-Osaka Station for our trip to Tokyo.

The 7:00 Nozomi train was on time and we boarded in the reservation car--several of those and several for last minute purchases, of which there were many. By 7:00 there was no outside light left, so we watched as signs and lights of the city and countryside flew by. As we met trains bound for Osaka, these long, 20-car trains would pass each other in less than three seconds. Something on the order of 160 miles per hour. Fast.

Our trip took just over 2 1/2 hours, just barely longer than predicted as there was something on the track we needed to stop for for awhile--a highly unusual event, we were later told.

Another mini bus to the hotel and we settled in for the night--back at the Akasaka Prince Hotel--where we stayed our first night in Tokyo. Kimonos provided. Sort of full circle for this part of the trip with Pat and Deb. A nice touch--intended or not.

11/28 Fukuoka to Osaka

2008-12-08T08:17:00.000-08:00

The next day we made sure we were up and back from breakfast in time to Skype with the family at Vern and Martha's house. 8:00 AM Friday would make it 3:00 Thanksgiving afternoon there, and everyone would be back from the Coupeville Community Thanksgiving dinner--a first for our family. It sounds like it was a fine event and the kids all had a great time getting lots of desserts! Good thing the crabby parents weren't there!! (We might have eaten their share!)

This technology thing is amazing. Writing this blog and sending the travels home instantly is one thing, but Skyping--it’s like Dick Tracy come to life. Not much bigger than a wrist phone and we can see and talk to people on the other side of the world with a few clicks on the computer. What a change from the $20 or $30 phone calls we used to make from overseas.

We had an 11:00 check out and a 12:20 flight to Osaka--the other side of this island, and some ways north of Fukuoka. 1:30 arrival, 40 minutes to the ANA Crown Plaza Hotel, bags to the rooms and Mark said “we’ve got a lot of Osaka to see before bed tonight” so we needed to get going. 30 minutes after checking in we were back in the lobby ready to venture forth.

We took subways and feet to Osaka Jo (Jo being the designation for castles in Japan). As we approached, we saw the castle take shape beyond the moat and walls and behind a large row of trees. A long path and stairs led over the moat and up to the castle gate.

A few side trips on the way put us too late to get us in to the castle (Mike says you’ve seen one castle, you’ve seen...oh well). So we looked up and took pictures from outside and then the lights came on. A wide variety of illuminations and a little music. Quite a show.

We left and headed for the hotel in the now darkness and headed back by some night time food vendors. Many and varied menus--lots of fried foods among them. Didn’t buy anything, but headed back praying that the long-threatening rain would continue to just go for the sprinkle, rather than total immersion. It worked like a charm!

We had dinner in the shops beneath the train station, and everyone was pretty pooped when we returned from out 3-hour walk, so all retired to rooms and are in the process of slowing down for the night.

Bags need to be in the lobby to be loaded on a truck tomorrow by 9:00 AM, hang around until the show at 3:00, then take a Nozumi (bullet train) to Tokyo at 7:00. Afternoon show in Tokyo, then bags down in the lobby for another truck by 7:30 that night. Leave mid-day Monday for Nagoya (Deb and Pat to airport and home). So, busy.

Not much luck with Osamu Sakarai (Vic’s pen pal from post WWII) yet, but Noguchi (our host here) said he'd give it a try if I had an address or phone number. After all these years...but we'll try. It would be very cool.

Tomorrow, Tokyo.

11/27 Fukuoka Thanksgiving

2008-12-08T08:09:00.000-08:00

On the return trip to the hotel..."now where is that next subway entrance?"

After returning to the hotel, we left for the radio station and a live interview promoting that night’s concert. Luckily Bob did most of the talking with some by Mark. Mike and I took up our seats in the rear, pretty much hoping we’d be forgotten, but no luck. We all got to talk about what was special or memorable to us about Fukuoka or Japan and we survived without saying anything embarrassing. I was thankful for that! I did mention that I was very thankful for the warm welcome we'd received by all the people we'd met in Japan so far.

A return to the hotel and lunch and preparing for our first full show of the trip. Deb came along in time for the sound check in order to meet Jason Rome and parents Geena and Tom. Now-10-year-old Jason emailed Deb a couple of years ago about using Dinosailors in a movie he was making. They were driving up from Sasebo City, close to the Naval Base where Tom is serving.

The two-hour trip took three with bad weather and a few missed turns and Deb hung out in the lobby waiting for them. We all got to meet them and Mike took a special interest in Jason--any 10-year-old who’s willing to put himself out and meet an author and create drawings for his potential show was worth spending some time with. Great fun meeting them all and finally get to put faces with the names. They've been helpful getting Deb started on her next year return journey to Japan to do school visits.

Not a full house for the concert, but he show was enjoyable and the first chance to do the full two-hour show. Jason and his folks were there for pictures and autographs after. A fine evening of friends, new and old and the first appearance of the Brothers Four Friends Club, a devoted and enthusiastic group of supporters, some of whom have been following the group since their first concert in Japan in 1961. What fun!

11/27 Fukuoka, part 1

2008-12-03T21:39:00.000-08:00

The morning in Fukuoka was as different from the night before as, well, day from night! The Christmas party was in progress the night before with Santas (not a nativity scene in sight) and a whole range of Christmas carols. The day broke and sun shone again, so what to do on the U.S. Thanksgiving Day in Japan?? We headed for the beach! We knew we had a radio promotion spot to do about 11:30 that morning, so a subway ride took us part way to our destination.

The subways in Japan are clean, safe, close by and almost always on time.

The maze feeling you have as the escalators, stairways and tunnels go off

in six different directions is not unlike any subway system in which the information is almost always in another language. You look at the map, look at the schedule and the signs on the wall, put the money you think you need in the ticket machine, head for the gate, wait for the train and get

on. Then you watch the display and hope you’re heading toward rather than away from your intended destination. With Mike, Mark and Pat leading the way, us newcomers to Japan fared very well.

We headed out into the sun again and walked down a road by a little canal or inlet and eventually crossed over a bridge with wonderful railing designs. Pat said the designs were filled with athletes--swimmers, runners and others.

It took some of us a little longer to catch on,

but look we did and there they were. (By the way, since I can't download our pictures until I get home, thanks to Pat Pearson for all these photos--our tour photographer!)

Turning right at the end of the bridge took us past the Fukuoka Yahoo! Dome, and down to the beach. Many things are well-defined and organized in Japan, including the shoreline when viewed from above, so it was good to see at least a little bit of unmanaged water and beach. It was lovely, warm sand and pretty warm water too. Yes, kids, I touched another ocean for you!

Down the beach a ways, talking and picking up shells, we headed inland once again, now on the other side of the domed stadium, home of the Fukuoka Soft Bank Hawks baseball team. Some interesting art displays with gloves and hands and a new “monster” friend for Deb, our own monster mama.

The dome was closed today, so on into the atrium of the JAL hotel where the group has stayed on some previous visit. Great atrium facing out on the water and beautiful plants--so much attention to natural, growing things here, even if they are kept just so, never out of control.

Once outside it was on a bus--then off (seemed like too much money just to ride to the subway station when we could walk) and off we trekked--and trekked. The subway process repeated in reverse, a walk back to the hotel, and another memory was successfully created. Just in time for our interview. Every day, new adventures of many kinds.

More to come.

11/26 Nagoya/Fukuoka

2008-12-01T06:24:00.000-08:00

Morning time came and we searched the local area for a meal and then the ever-adventurous Mr. Pearson led us on a trek to the Nagoya castle.

Nagoya Castle was built in the beginning of the Edo Period for one of the three Tokugawa family branches. Nagoya developed into an important castle town and is now Japan's fourth largest city.

The castle was bombed to its foundation in the air raids of 1945. The reconstruction dates from 1959. The interior of the castle is now a museum displaying the castle's history.

An amazing story, building and vision of re-birth for the castle. It is well worth the visit.

We topped off the visit with ice cream--chocolate, caramel (Pat's favorite), strawberry, and green tea ice cream for Deb and me. Ice cream, sun tan and Japan in late November. They tell me it's seldom seen!

A return to the hotel and check-out brought us to airport time and we took an hour-and-a-half flight to our next concert destination--Fukuoka. Then dinner, and a little town walking in the warm evening air (well, warm for late November).

We walked a ways from the hotel to a quaint little place called Canal City.

Just joking about quaint and little. So many shops (mostly high-end) and lights and things to see. It didn’t hurt that the Christmas (shopping) season in Japan begins in early November and runs through to Christmas Day, and the place was decked out in fine fashion!

Canal City is a large shopping and entertainment complex, calling itself a "city within the city". Attractions include numerous shops, cafes, restaurants, a theater, game center, cinemas, two hotels and a canal, which runs through the complex.

At this time of year, it was especially amazing. We arrived for the on-the-hour light, music and water show--all electronically choreographed and timed to perfection.

We crossed the canal to Happy Town, the nightclub and night life district that appears in every large city in Japan. Night time was its time and the lights were on and people were out visiting, partying, playing, eating--you name it, it probably was happening there.

Reminiscent of Seoul, the clubs were stacked, one above another, in buildings four to eight stories high. A club or two on each floor and many such buildings meant a lot of night life. Into the not-so-wee hours they went. Long past the time we all headed back to the hotel for sleep. The daytime is slower there, but night time always comes again.

Yomeishu

2008-11-25T03:36:00.000-08:00

Today, Tuesday, was an early departure day--well, 8:00--and we got a great send off from the hotel staff. Bows and handshakes were the thing to do. The snow had added a little and we had an inch and a half or two on the road.

As we headed down the mountain it gradually thinned and the foggy, surreal cold, moist air cleared off to sun once more.

A little drive onward and Mark-san asked for a photo break when the time was right. A few minutes later the bus let us off at a bridge and we walked out to find a glorious view of Mt. Fuji.

Pictures all around as Mike shivered in the wind and we dodged traffic for the best shots. Apparently, Mt. Fuji is seldom seen, especially in the fall and winter, and it has been in view for us every day so far. Quite a good omen, I’m sure.

Our first destination was the Yomeishu factory, supposedly for a tour. We were in motorcade with two other vehicles from the

company, including

the vice president’s car. We left the highway and headed into the hills once more and arrived at a little nature preserve, which was the company headquarters and factory. The company's theme is harmony with nature.

Yomeishu is a 400-year-old drink, descended it is said from a time when a traveller was sick and stranded in the cold and was saved from the weather by a man named Shiozawa. The traveler stayed for three years and the only way he could think of to repay Shiozawa-san was by giving him the secret of this elixer of health.

The shogun of the area authorized him to make the drink and it was originally handed out to those who were poor and sick. Made with herbs and fresh water and rice malt, it is still made today with the same ingredients. You must have the name of the original man--be in the direct Shiozawa family line--to be the president of the company.

We were shown a 15 minute film, given a guided tour of the amazing, tidy and clean factory, then led around the grounds for pictures

and visiting some of the replicas of the old dwellings that are on site.

We were then led to the showroom and shop, followed by a delicious lunch created and cooked by the Yomeishu kitchen/restaurant. The Healing Station, as it was called, was the idea of the female workers in the factory.

After dessert, we went up to the conference room (a round table for either Arthur's court or for circle with Christina) and were presented kimono style jackets--one for each of the six of us--as a thank you for joining them on this day and on this concert tour.

A departure with waves, handshakes, thanks and many bows. What an unexpected and delightful experience.

Our tour itinerary called for a 180 minute drive to Nagoya plus a lunch break, and, like most of the rest of our trip, it was just about on the nose. We stopped briefly along the road to have Mr. Yamamura show us a distant site across a lake where the Yomeishu group hopes to build a healing spa. Plans are for 2010. Sounds like a good time for a return visit!

We arrived in Nagoya, this industrial and manufacturing town with a now vibrant commercial and visitor section at about 4:30. Enough time to check in and get settled in the Nagoya Tokyu Hotel and then have a nice dinner in the restaurant. Bright lights and the Bolshoi Ballet in town. But for us, a quick stroll downtown and back to the room for some sleep. Interesting day and time for a rest.

Tomorrow--Nagoya and Fukuoka!

Peace.

Yatsugatake

2008-11-24T04:08:00.000-08:00

The three hour drive from Tokyo was all worth it! We snaked through the forests and ended up at the Yatsukatake Kogen Lodge, here in the mountains northwest of Tokyo. Something in the neighborhood of 6,000 feet elevation.

We woke to a crisp, frozen morning, h

ad a little breakfast and headed out on a walk with Mark and Pat Pearson, Mike McCoy and the two of us.

An hour and a half of trekking through the woods and lake area brought us back to the lodge (thank you, Mark) and a little light lunch (especially for me).

I took some time to practice and get ready for our show today--a show for the Yumeishu corporation who is sponsoring the concert. The hall is absolutely marvelous--all wood with leather chairs. Very attractive and a joy to sing in.

We sang a "short" 90-minute show and had good response. The snow fell as we sang and it became a magical experience for all.

We finished and went out to sign autographs. It was a contrast to any

of the shows on our recent West Coast Tour, as the autograph seekers in this case were lined up politely waiting for us to arrive and then sign.

The crowds at the signings on the West coast tour were loud, thronging and enthusiastic but sometimes cutting in line and pushing in to get their autographs. Cultural differences, to be sure.

A fine dinner followed with stories and chatting with the execs from Yomeishu.

Great food, especially for the celiac!!

It is interesting to note the traditional bow in this culture. Older folks are more likely to bow every time it is required, with younger folk less so. But the tradition remains. As the various buses and cars would pull away from the lodge, the attendant

would offer a bow to the driver as they pulled away. As we returned from our walk today, I noticed oncoming drivers passing us and glancing in our direction. I decided to bow to each driver as they passed by. Without exception they bowed back in my direction. Such a polite and tradition-filled place--it's truly a wonder!

The snow adds to the magic and the season. A winter wonderland, to be sure.

Off to Nagoya tomorrow and an overnight with no show to sing until the next day. A little rest may be in order.

Be well.