Nice flights yesterday. Austin to LAX where I met up with seven other Seiwakai folks, all of us scheduled on Malaysia Airlines to Narita. That was also a good flight and we actually arrived an hour early because of slower than usual headwinds in the jetstream. I sat next to a young Japanese guy who was returning to Japan after a year in San Francisco studying English -- which, by the way, his was very good. He was from the far northwestern tip of Hokaido where his father is a Buddhist monk. Now he lives in Tokyo and has a Chinese girlfriend. The world is getting smaller.
We stayed near Narita since we arrived in the evening and I believe it was easier than going on into Tokyo and dealing with crowds and confusion while tired from traveling. My room cost just over $50 US and was quiet, large, and comfortable. We met up with Sensei Craig Vokey, Seiwakai Canada, in the top floor lounge for a nightcap and caught up on things while watching planes float into the night like beautiful Japanese lanterns. I slept well considering the 14 hour time juxtaposition, but since it is light here at 4 a.m. in the summer, I was up early. We caught a hotel bus to the Narita station for the express train into Tokyo, and just made the Shinkansen to Omagari. It was the wacky chaos of a group of gaijin trying to quickly navigate the Tokyo station! I'm now sitting next to Sensei Desmond Tuck, both of us typing away. I'm drinking a Suntory Premium Malts beer -- my new favorite.
The weather is slightly overcast and much more temperate than past trips. I'm hoping that holds, but that's doubtful. What would a training trip to Japan be without copious amounts of sweat? We begin the Omagari training tomorrow. Go three days. One rest day. Three more days, then down to Wakayama. Since I will be grading for JKF Gojukai rokudan (6th dan) in Wakayama, I'm sure I will enjoy a lot of attention to shape me up, which, of course, I need. Don't know if enjoy is the right term exactly...
Arrived Omagari and walked to the ryokan. The train ride from Morioka to Omagari is nothing short of spectacular and is reminiscent of scenes from Switzerland. Lots of other karateka began arriving from Australia, London, Slovakia, and many other countries.I heard from Lipinski Shihan this will be a smaller group this year. Rod Martin of Brisbane said probably only 40. Last year it was 80. Also heard we are going to the waterfall on our rest day for "fun" training, so that should be an experience. The day after rest day is a national election day and the Budokan will be used as a polling station, so we will train in another dojo that day. I plan on taking it all in stride and soaking up the training and the associated experiences. It's been six years since my last trip here. Right now the temperature has grown very hot and I suspect it will be a hot training.
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