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The Kitchen Table

Japan, day #2

7 years ago

The second day was spent with my cousin Isamu and his wife driving to Chigasaki, which is on the coast, a couple hours drive from Tokyo. We went there to meet two of my uncles and their wives. These are the two I thought had passed away. They took us out for conveyor belt sushi. When we left before heading back to Tokyo, Isamu went to Yokosuka, which is again on the coast, where there is a Navy/Marine base. This is where my parents met in the 50s. My mom was living there, working as a waitress and my dad was in the Navy. Isamu loves planes, boats and photography. It was funny to watch him get all excited when on the way to the docks we saw two big U.S. Navy ships there. Unfortunately they were positioned where you couldn't get a good picture of either one. But he was jumping up and down like a little kid on his birthday when he first saw them. ( : This is also where our exchange student, Nana, is from. She is now teaching English and working in a bar, where she met her American Marine boyfriend. Lauren and Rachelle spent the day with Isamu's daughters in Tokyo. They went to an interesting interactive museum and other typical tourist places in I think Shobuya and Harajuku. Then we all met for a big dinner at a bbq place in Tokyo.

On the way to Chigasaki: Mount Fuji in the clouds.

Featured Answer

lgmd_gaz

7 years ago

Kathy, so happy for you that you were able to make this trip. Wonderful pictures and a wonderful time with family and so many memories to cherish.

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Comments (17)

Kathsgrdn
Original Author
7 years ago
Here is the photo:
Kathsgrdn
Original Author
7 years ago

My uncles and their wives, me in the middle.
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My pieces. I was surprised they came out so good. They fire them and glaze them after you leave. You get to pick the glaze you want and then they mail them to you. My cousin had them mailed to his house. Not sure if he has received them yet or not. Stone sculptures outside.Lunch was delicious and massive. So massive I had to share with Isamu. The pretty blue ceramic dish in the upper left hand corner had the most delicious dish in it. A kind of seafood stew. Custard-like on top with chunks of seafood on the bottom. Probably my favorite thing I had there.Mito park, swans (black and white), egrets, carp, swan boats, famous Shogun statue (not on my computer so I couldn't post it). The round thing on the right side of the picture in the middle of the water is a fountain. Every so often it would turn on. We got there late in the afternoon so no swan boat rides. Just looked around, took pictures and went to eat conveyor belt sushi with Isamu's wife.
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Kathsgrdn
Original Author
7 years ago

Yokosuka
Kathsgrdn
Original Author
7 years ago

BBQ, Lauren, Rachelle and cousin Isamu. There was SO much food and they kept ordering more and more. I declined soup because there was gonna be so much food and I knew it would be too much. The girls had barely eaten their soups and the younger cousins ended up finishing them off.
Kathsgrdn
Original Author
7 years ago
Isamu's wife and girls.
schoolhouse_gwagain
7 years ago
Lovely photos. So happy you had a such wonderful trip.
OutsidePlaying
7 years ago
What a great experience to see and connect with your family members! Looks like fun!
glenda_al
7 years ago
Looking forward to your sharing more pictures!
Kathsgrdn
Original Author
7 years ago
The youngest girl, 2nd on the right in the black top and jeans showed me a video of her dancing at a cherry blossom festival. Traditional Japanese dance, it was really cool. So much talent!
eld6161
7 years ago
So wonderful for you to connect with all these relatives. Which is your daughterin the fourth picture?
User
7 years ago
What kind of meat are you eating...on the platter in the last photo?
User
7 years ago
I'm enjoying your pictures and stories from your trip -- what a special time for you and your family :-)
Kathsgrdn
Original Author
7 years ago
Eld6161, the dark haired one on the left is my daughter. Nicole, it's all beef. Later in the night we ate what I'm assuming is more expensive beef because the fat content was much more. That platter was also much smaller. The beef on the table was very marbled with lots of fat too, much more than in the US. Very tender and delicious. Lauren and I shared Wagyu at a market. I think it was 2 pieces lol.
eld6161
7 years ago
Sounds delicious.
User
7 years ago
It's sounds/looks like...they are incorporating a lot more beef into their diets.
dedtired
7 years ago
What a wonderful trip. Nothing like having local “guides”. How. Ice to reconnect with your family. i bet you are hearing lots of stories. Fun to see you!

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