Japan October, November and December, 2012
This was a busy trip from a work perspective – unfortunatelly not from a Datascore growth in Japan, but froma Fitgenes Project Management.  So there is not a lot to write.  The majority of my days folowed the same theme:
– Wake up
– Have breakfast
– Have a shower
– Work
– Have lunch break with Kaoru
– Work (Kaoru would go to work @1.30)
– Kaoru gets home (sometimes I would meet her at the station)
– We eat dinner (Kaoru would prepare during the day so this would be not long after she got home – usually about 8.30 though.  Sometimes I would take her out for dinner)
– Work (Kaoru would relaxin the bath)
– Go to bed

There were a few variations.  I had a couple of Japanese lessons, but it became apparent to me that they were a waste of time without the books to prepare for the lessons with (I had progressed from Introductory to Beginner, but nobody ever told me to get extra materials).  We bought the book one day, and I have made a start on it, but not enough to warrant another lesson.  When I get back home…

We went to Ryu and Naoku’s for dinner one Saturday.  As always, they introduced me to another amazing meal – Takoyaki.  I don’t know how to best describe them, but Kaoru and I have looked on line for a Takoyaki kit in Australia!  They have had their baby – this was the first time I had seen Naoku not pregnant.  It was also 12 months since Kaoru and I first met.  So we brought a bottle of champagne with us – the first drink Naoku had tasted in about 15 months.  So she was glowing after a mouthful, and Kaoru isn’t a big drinker, so Ryu and I had to drink most of it, as well as a few beers.

Their daughter was staring at me quite a lot.  I was the first Westerner she had seen and she seemed fascinated.  Maybe it was the nose…

They made a big effort to speak a lot of English.  Often if Kaoru asks them a question she will revert to Japanese, but most of the conversation was in English, which was good to know what they are talking about.

We had a customary dinner with Occhi-san.  He is in training for the world cup in November next year, so is on a diet, meaning no beer!  He has been studying English a lot lately, so enjoyed the practice.  A couple of his mates that came along were actually English teachers in Japan, so we thought Kaoru can have a night off translating.  They may know some theory, but have no idea how to talk or listen!  They may have been better if I wrote instead of talked, but they teach English by speaking Japanese?!?!?!  Go figure.  As always, it was an enjoyable night and we had a great dinner.  I even ordered one of the rounds of food!  I had to find one that was written in Hiragana, and had a picture so I knew what it was.

We went to “our” restaurant a few times while I was there.  They look after us every time we go there, and it is strange not to leave a tip for the extra service.  The first time we went, there was a different head waiter, who we hadn’t seen before.  He started to take us to one table, and then the chef recognized us (me).  He told the waiter to take us to a different (better) table instead.  Given it had been over 5 months since we had been there, it was great to get that extra personal attention.

The next few times we went, the usual waitress and head chef were there, and as friendly as ever.  On our last night, when we told them I was going back to Australia next week, the “master” (head chef / owner) came to the door and saw us out.  They knocked 10%off the bill once, and the next time gave us a ¥1000 ($12) voucher.  When we used that, they gave us another one!  So we haven’t been to many restaurants in Fujisawa – why would you when you get service like that?

I tried to be more interactive on weekends.  There was still a lot on, so I worked on some of them.  We would take time out for a walk though, and had a couple of visits to Mosburger.  We met up with Kaoru’s parents on Saturday 3rd November, for lunch.  We had tempura, and it was the first tempura restaurant I had been to.  Kaoru’s Dad knew the owner and hadn’t seen him for about 20 years.  He spoke quite a bit of English and was quite funny – certainly helped ease the situation.  Not that there was tension, but as we couldn’t communicate directly (it was all through Kaoru), it was difficult at times.

On Saturday 17th, we went to Kamakoura Shrine.  If you read back 12 months, that is the first place Kaoru took me to, but this time we were there because her neice was celebrating “7-5-3” day (best way to translate it).  Basically it’s a day that children aged 7, 5 and 3 come dressed up in their Kimono’s and pray.  A lot of the women dress up too, so it is a very colourful event.  Photos to come later.