Japan through 1/17/08

Our trip continued with an evening dinner at an oyster restaurant in Tokyo. In total, we went to Tokyo three times. Each time by Shinkansen. At dinner was Hiroe, me, Junior, Kana, Anton, and Anton's husband Makosan. It was a great dinner!



























Afterward, Junior was a bit tired. He's sleeping better and better now. Good or bad, it's getting hard to wake him up.


















But when he's awake, he loves seeing action. Especially in the car. Fortunately, there's lots to look at.












KFC is still quite popular in Japan. I kept hearing Hiroe and Yokko referring to Kentucky. I was curious what it was about, then found that KFC is always referred to as Kentucky. Guess that's another way to avoid the "Fried" part of the name. The Japanese characters in the picture below say "Kentakee".













There's also "Makudonarudo" in the picture below. I can never say it right. I tend to add another random syllable when I say it.












Now this is what I call a full service car wash!












Better than this one. The gentleman in the picture below is drying his car in his suit.












We stopped at a nearby supermarket. Again, plenty for Junior to look at.


















I think he liked the flexibility of his seat.





































In Japan, as most everywhere I suppose, Obama is big news. Let's just say there is a lot of anticipation that he'll turn things around.













Back at Yokko's, Hiroe got a chance to read to Kaho and Junior.












Hiroe's aunt Yoko and Junior.


















We bought Hiroe's mom a macbook while we were there. She's entering the electronic age!












And some family photos. Tora-kun and Junior-kun.












Kaho and Junior.


















And Sei-chan too.





























































And back in Minneapolis... Junior and Gnocchi.