want to thank Saito-san for driving most of the way back to tokyo. the long 6 hour drive as we were both super tired from last night. last night was a total blur to me but all i remember was having such a great time. leaving ishinomaki is always hard for me but this time, i left with a big smile because i know everything will be ok. yeah, it’s taking a long time, but little by little, fishing villages are rebuilding and so are the people. i know i’m going back again and again and i know each trip will be better and better.

i just came back from an amazing dinner meeting with my team. this is called Motsu Nabe shinjuku style! so good! thank you Ryosuke and Hikaru for taking care of my tired body and brain.

then i heard of the Standard California Night Market! the shop opens late at night as customers come in to drink and eat free food, shop, and mingle. what a great idea Akudo-san! it’s something i had to check out.

pick up a beer, eat some food, and shop. it’s always good to see my friends store doing so well.

cool store and cool people. Hikaru, Akudo-san, and Ryosuke are all cool!

riding the trains around tokyo is so convenient. this is japan and it works well. but in hawaii, a train will not work and i wish they stopped building it. it’s going to ruin our paradise and will cost too much to build and maintain.
it’s 9pm and i’m going to sleep. a much needed sleep as tomorrow will be another long day moving all around the place. good night

Tokyo, Japan

OMG, i broke the 21 year streak!!! i use to drink coffee until i finished college and never went back to it. it makes me feel weird and makes my stomach go crazy. and it also keeps me up for days. so i haven’t had a cup ever since 1992. yesterday i was really thirsty and got served what i thought was a glass of coke. i took the biggest sip, swallowed, and thought something was different. OMG, it was coffee! i thought it was pretty funny as my mind and body started feeling weird right after i put down the glass. haha.

eating in a fishermans house is the best. everything fresh, and everything interesting. some whale, abalone, ika, tako, and more.

i’m not a big whale eater but this one has had to be the best i’ve ever tried. a piece of meat together with a piece of fat. melts in the mouth!

and they call this whale bacon. it actually tastes like bacon too!

and my favorite abalone! thank you to the Kimura-san family in Kobuchihama for serving us a wonderful lunch!

then last night we had an amazing dinner. before we were all strangers to each other, now we are great friends. i met Saito-san in chigasaki as we were loading our trucks for mission 1. he came by to help and made a generous donation. i could tell he wanted to come with us at that time, and ever since, he’s been involved in our missions. i met Kiku-chan in sendai on mission 3. her story crushed my heart and still does. i met Ryoko-san in ishinomaki on mission 1. her story crushed my heart and it still does. and i met Kimura-san in kobochihama on mission 1 and his story crushed my heart and still does. the hardships these people went through is too hard to talk about. but how they moved forward and got through the hardest times in their lives is something that gives me strength. just super amazing people. we all met in totally different places, but sitting at the same table enjoying each others company is where we are today. we are all friends, and We Are All ONE! thank you Saito-san, Ryoko-san, Kiku-chan, and Kimura-san for an amazing night. i had a great time and am so happy we are all connected to each other. see you all again!