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Grandpa's Daily Diary of Trip to Japan,
October 29th to November 5th 2000

First Day-Monday  

Second Day-Tuesday

I slept comfortably, Japanese style on the family room floor and woke up early to do some computer work. I went walking for about one half hour before everyone got up. The weather is still cool but very comfortable. We all had breakfast together and the boys went to school. Nobuko made a very healthy meal. Nobuko and I talked and talked. I got dressed to go to prepared to meet Renji at the train station. We went to get the two bikes in front of the house to ride to the station but a tire was flat on one of the bikes. So Nobuko road the working bike and I walked real fast. Nobuko carried my big bag of gifts for Yasuko’s family in the basket of her bike. Nobuko dropped me off at the Ogikubo station although she was late for work. I went three stations as per Nobuko's instructions and got off the train to meet Renji. Renji and I met as I stood on the curb waiting for him after he left a phone conference at his office. He had warned me about a possible delay. However, either I didn’t understand Renji the day before or Renji changed his plans and decided to play hooky, because he informed me I was heading for an overnight stay in the Nagano prefectures where Renji’s second house is. Yasuko's family home is in Ueda a small town that is also in the prefecture of Nagano.

Renji dropped me off at the station that was conveniently located between Yasuko’s home and his Nagano summer home. Yasuko, her Dad and Baby J where waiting to greet me in front of the station. This was very special as Yasuko had decided to take off sick on this day but could not take any more time off because this week begins a big holiday weekend. With a little confusion we got connected and took off with Yasuko and gang as Renji went to his 2-nd house. We drove for about one half hour to Yasuko's family house through farmlands and causally talked together using Yasuko as the translator. In our discussions I discovered that Yasuko’s family has lived in the Nagano prefecture for almost 300 years and Yasuko had lived in the same area only leaving to go to go college in Tokyo. Nobuko too lived in the farmland and only came to Tokyo to go to college. During the drive, I saw very little as I could not take my eyes off of Jessica and she would not take her eyes off of me until she snoozed to sleep. She seemed very curious as to who I was. She had been sneezing during our drive with a little cold. We arrived at a very comfortable, two-story home where a very nice meal had been waiting at a traditional Japanese table in a traditional Japanese dinner room. It was about 2:00 pm when we arrived in Ueda.

Third Day-Wednesday

The next morning we got up, had coffee viewed Renji's home, collection of art, the fall colors and some of the homes that were visible through the still thick foliage. Renji drove me to the very famous Mampei Hotel for breakfast and we both had waffles. We drove back to Renji’s Tokyo home to pick up Mieko. They had planed to attend a company reception after dropping me off. When we got to Renji’s, Mieko and Renji drove me back to Nobuko’s home where Trip has already arrived from school. When Nobuko and Jesse later arrived, we began to make plans for dinner. Trip acted up, so he and we mutually decided he was not going to go to dinner with us. We had a very nice sushi meal in one of the upscale departments stores. We got home with a small doggie bag of sushi for Trip. Trip comes clean as we walk in and apologizes for acting up. I believe that Trip was just a little anxious about this big birthday weekend and my being in town. We all go to bed on and up beat.

Forth Day-Thursday

Nobuko and I left the school and had a very nice lunch at an Italian Restaurant near the Ogikubo Station that she selected

We went to the station to select Trip’s birthday gift. Amazingly, as we walked we met several of Noubko’s friends in this big complex including: the pastor of the seven-day Adventist church that Trip served as a alter boy during weddings; Aiko, Bob’s wife; and another friend.

We got home and I took a nap as the kids watched TV and Nobuko did house work. We pack lightly for an over-night stay and prepared to go to Shiria san’s home for Trip’s birthday.

It is now raining lightly so we don’t walk but get on a busy bus to the Obikubo train station. When we arrive we waited for a second train because the first was so crowded. As we are boarding a very crowded train to Tofu we meet Nobuko’s closest friend. However, we sat in different sections of the very long train for this trip. Because of the holiday it was very difficult to get seats together. In fact, Jesse had to set with Nobuko and me in a two-seat arrangement. As we exit the train at the Kofu station we spoke briefly to Nobuko best friend. She was also in attendance at Van & Nobukos wedding.

As we left the station I noticed some beautify flowers on display. Nobuko pointed out the advertising agency she worked for when she lived in Kofu.  

We catch a cab and pick up a birthday cake on the way that Nobuko that day. We arrive at Shirai-sans at about 8:30 pm with a big dinner waiting on the table. Takako san (Nobuko’s elder sister) and her husband Casuo were not there but Takako prepared the meal. I think they elected not to come because they are Jehovah Witnesses and we were to celebrate Trip’s birthday. I presented Shirai san with a gift of Dave Grusin’s “West Side Story,” CD. We all enjoyed complete meal as we listened to music. We wrapped up the evening with the first singing of happy birthday to Trip. Nobuko’s father presents him with enough yen to purchase the MD stereo he has been dreaming about. I presented him with MD disc and gift certificates to purchase CDs.  

To bed we go.

 Fifth Day-Friday

I awoke at 4:30 am and studied my Japanese; made these notes and got back to sleep for an hour until everybody is up. We have a wonderful breakfast made up of left overs from the previous night. Shirai san makes several special teas as the boys run all over the small living room playing with his pet bird that is out of the cage. Jesse makes an attempt at playing Shirai’s violin that is kept neatly on display. We await Takako. As she is late, we cut the cake and sing another birthday song to Trip. Takako arrives and presents me book on Japanese writing and annotates the book. I am introduced to Rooibos tea, which Shirai was serving to the boys.

While watching the TV, I noticed that the Japanese have a big thing on Red beans and rice ( Osekihan). I mention that this is also a Louisiana tradition

Takako gives me a little lesson in Heruna, the Chinese lettering system used to right Japanese. I learned from Nobuko that Yasuko can’t make dinner in Tokyo this evening. Takako drives us to train station at about 1:30 PM. The weather has now improved and it has stopped raining. We take train back to Tokyo and eat noodles on the run at the station before boarding an almost empty train. At about 2:00 pm, we take the Express train back to the Metaga Station and transferred to a local train that takes us to the Kichijouji Station to buy a Sony, MD, HiFi stereo system for Trip. We lug a big box back home taking a cab. Before we get to the Kichijouji station, we pass the Hachioji station, which is in the town where Casuo’s family lives.

Once we are home Jesse acts up as we complete installing Trip’s HiFi System. It seems that he is understandably a little jealous of all the attention Trip is getting as he didn’t get the same. He says he didn’t want to go to dinner and would stay home. He later changes his mind.  

We all go an have a wonderful dinner and second birthday celebration for Trip at the same restaurant that Nobuko and I ate at two nights ago.

I wanted to make contact with Bob, one of Van’s friends for the Miyoshoji Park that is less than 100 paces from Nobuko’s house and the park that Van would regularly meet all of the guys in the neighborhood. Van had a very interesting collection of friends who where professional people from other countries of all walks of life. They would have “fellowship” in the park each evening, as space in their homes was obviously limited. I needed to speak to Bob for assistance in installing the printer I brought and to get advice on adding a Zip drive and get Photoshop software that I wanted to purchase. We go to park and met Van’s friend at about 5:30 and to see if Bob has contacted Jerry. We then went back home.

Sixth Day-Saturday

I awake at 6:30 am to make notes. Normally the boys would go to school on Saturday but they played hooky! The boys and I got up and warmed up for walking for an hour along the river. I discovered that the boys are not in shape for serious stretching. The morning weather was beautiful. And since this is Saturday, many people are out walking and trimming their plants and flowers. We returned walking through the park and back home. We come back for a healthy breakfast prepared by Nobuko. I tried to get in contact with Bob and Jerry again so that I could get help with the boy’s computer but to no avail. Jesse tells us that we miss seeing some of his artwork. So we want to go back to the school and see it. Trip tells us incorrectly that the open house ends at noon. Our original plan was to go back with Yasuko but Nobuko apparently finds out that Yasuko and Jessica will not get to Tokyo before noon. So we go back to school and this time take pictures of the art with the boys next to their projects. We run into Jesse’s teacher and some of the students again. We also see one of Van’s park friends, with the British accent and his daughter who asked me if I have talked to Jerry yet. I told him no and he told me that Jerry should be at the park today.

While we are walking around the exhibits, one of Nobuko’s friends gives us some very nice pictures of Trip’s and Jesse’s crossing the finish lines at a recent track meet held in the park. One picture was of Jesse finishing first and another was of Trip running. Trip finished 5th or 6^th in his heat. We started our walk back home and again walked though the park. We ran into Bob and the British chap.

We went back home and waited for Yasuko and Jessica to come. While just setting around, Jesse hears something and jumps up and says, “Jessica” and runs to the front door. And sure enough Jessica and Yasuko appeared. We all get reacquainted, as the two parts of the family had not been together since grandmother’s visited last May. We took pictures, exchanged gifts and the boys played briefly with Jessica. This was a very happy occasion! This time Jessica, tired from the trip from the country didn’t warm up to me right away as she did when I saw her on Tuesday. We all packed up and went back to the open house as one big, happy family. Jesse was carrying Jessica in the most awkward positions but Jessica was just loving it and very happy to see her brothers. When Jesse would get a little tired Trip would take over, and she was just as happy.

We went back and took pictures of the boys and Jessica with the art projects. We also visited a special art exhibit at the school of Chinese character writings by one of Nobuko’s friends and neighbors who recently retired from on the world’s largest ad agencies. We all walked back home and go through the park. This time we run into several of Van’s old friends and their children. We have a brief moment to play and all get acquainted. The kids played and we took pictures together. We had a mission and plan so we had to go home to have a lunch that was prepared by Nobuko. Afterwards, we took pictures and decide to go shopping for the computer stuff for the boys. Because we were running late after shopping, we picked up Chinese food for dinner and returned home to listen to Trip’s new music system. We played “Unforgettable,” by Natalie Cole and talked about our plans for the next day. Jessica & Yasuko returned to Yasuko's younger sister’s apartment by cab. The boys watched TV as I crashed.

Seventh Day-Sunday(JAPAN)

The weather is now beautiful but this was a rocky morning for all as Trip & Jesse got into it for what reasons I am not for certain. It appears that Trip was bossing Jesse around to get up this morning to go exercise and Jesse felt he was too sleepy and being pushed around by Trip. We must keep in mind that Jesse is almost four to five inches taller than his older brother but Trip speaks better English than Jesse. I told the boys it was O.K. and not to fuss and went walking by myself. As I rounded the park at 180 degrees, up pops Jesse, and we continued our walk. As we were making our return, up pops Trip walking in the opposite direction. I signaled him to complete the course. Trip runs the course so that we end up first in the park and we sat on a bench in front of the pond for about twenty minutes. We talked a little and took some pictures. The forecast was rain but this day was one of the best for my trip.

We went home to a frustrated Nobuko. After a brief wait for Yasuko and Jessica, Nobuko serves up another tasty breakfast. Because the weather was beautiful, the boys were waiting and playing outside with great anticipation for Jessica after breakfast. Nobuko and I had a special opportunity to talk about the boys, the Japanese school system and the overall challenges that Trip & Jesse presents her at times. I indicate I observed what happened and inquired as to what I could do to help. It was agreed, that I could do a little at a time. At about 10:15 AM Yasuko and Jessica showed up as I am poking around with the boy’s computer. Yasuko and I together successfully installed the Zip drive and decided to stop at this point, as I was to complete my packing and leave for the train station at 12:30 pm. So we take a few more pictures, pack and head for the train station by cab with all the kids and three pieces of language. We stop at the train station and make a few purchases at the big department store. Everybody stops to get a cone or cup of soft ice cream after we pay for each order in a vending machine, but being served by typical ice cream servers.

We purchased Yasuko’s and Jessica’s tickets back to her sister’s house, which is in the opposite direction. We then board the train at the Ogikubo station and ride for about six stops to the Shingiko station where I board the Norita Express to the airport at 12:42 pm. We arrive at my train at about 12:35 pm and board. Yasuko, Jessica, Trip, Jesse and Jessica all wave me off at about 1:45 pm., Sunday.  Trip & Jesse ran down the tracks some so that as the train pulls off I see them still waving at me.  

EIGHT DAY-SUNDAY (USA)