Nagoya Skyline

Sometimes being away from home makes you thankful for the strangest things.  Do you think I'm losing it when I say:  I'm thankful for underground power lines?  I had never thought to be thankful for that before, but here are just a few reasons why I am grateful for underground power lines:

There are views like this and the following, all around Nagoya.

There are many of these, but I've never seen two alike.
I guess I should also be thankful for cell phone towers
that are camouflaged like trees.

Literally, almost everywhere you look!

These are creative.

Atop nice buildings

Ditto

Ditto Ditto

Even near beautiful, historic parks, there they are!  

Note the walls and mote of Nagoya Castle, and---towers.

Lee and I go past this water tower and too many power lines to count
 three mornings a week on our walk. 

It's amazing they can have a parade around them all! 

But then I remember a couple of photos my friend Joan Caldwell sent me, and it reminds me it could be much worse.  This is India:

Finally, here's a beauty shop name for you:  Miracles Arm Sin.  Please let me know when you figure out why they named it that.

Immortality of Man

Elder Barney wanted to share thoughts and feelings he has had recently. 

Being alive is a blessing.  Being able to live, learn, serve and experience the joys of life is something we often take for granted.  When we reflect on our lives-- who we have been, who we are and who we may become, and despite obstacles and challenges, we realize how blessed we are to be alive.  Our loved ones are a joy to be with, and we joy in their lives and our relationship with them. 

But as we grow older there are vivid reminders of mortal life--our loved ones, friends, and associates are passing on to the other side of the veil.   Yes, it is natural and very human to mourn the loss of the close relationships and we feel a deep personal loss and we are saddened by their departure.  Grieving and letting the tears flow as we mourn the end of a loved one’s sojourn in mortality, leads us to turn our burdens to Jesus and find the comfort we need.

 As I ponder this experience we call life, my mind goes to a recent lesson I taught at church a month ago while serving as a senior missionary in the Japan Nagoya Mission:  The lesson title was on the “人の不死不滅”. 

While you have now seen the lesson title, unless you read kanji characters, you still do not know what the lesson was about.  This may help:  the kanji characters “人の不死不滅” read “Hito no fushi-fumetsu” in roman characters (This is what the Japanese call “romaji”).  Breaking the kanji down: “Hito” refers to a person, people or man in a general way, and “fushi-fumetsu” is immortality.  Therefore, the title of the lesson means the “Immortality of Man.” 

So my first full-length lesson in Japanese to an all-Japanese group was about immortality.  I appreciate immortality and the teachings of Christ related to eternal life.  As I prepared, I was concerned about having a meaningful lesson and discussion for 45 minutes all in Japanese. Not that there was not a lot to share; it was just that I am still re-learning Japanese words again, and this opportunity to teach was no small challenge--at least it was for me. 

The source of much of the lesson was from a prophet who was alive when I was born.  His name is Joseph Albert Smith and he taught us that “Our life is eternal, and this knowledge helps us make correct choices and comforts us in times of mourning.  He reminded us that “we are living eternal lives”— that eternity doesn’t begin after this life but that mortality is a crucial part of eternity.

He would tell his friends who were at a crossroad in their life, ‘Today is the beginning of eternal happiness or eternal disappointment for you.”

He taught that at our various crossroads, we can choose to take actions that bring joy and happiness to ourselves and those around us, or we can miss the mark, and choose to do things that distract us from our missions in our lives.  It is our choice.

“In the language of the poet, “Life is real, Life is earnest,” and “the grave is not its goal.” [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, “A Psalm of Life.”] The spirit that inhabits the tabernacle is immortal. It lives beyond the grave. The body decays and returns to earth but the spirit lives on.” 

I sincerely believe that with our hope in Christ, there is life after this life, and immortality is a gift from Jesus Christ as a result of the Atonement and His resurrection.

Recently, a friend and associate of 31 years died suddenly while visiting the Oregon State University campus for recruiting of interns for his employer.   I join with many who mourn the unexpected death of one who has served others so diligently, and who set a wonderful example of a loving caring person.  I know that Rand Sherwood, a husband, father, friend and associate, lived with faith in Jesus Christ, and made choices every day to be eternally happy.  Rand’s love and faith was felt by all who knew him.  Rand had faith that the human spirit continues to live after this mortal life ends.  He cherished his eternal companion and believed in the eternal nature of family.  While the family and loved ones mourn the temporary loss of companionship, they joy in the prospects of being together again as a family.

George Albert Smith also taught, “Eternal life is to us the sum of pre-existence, present existence, and the continuation of life in immortality, holding out to us the power of endless progression and increase.”  He said about this life, which is a time to prepare to meet God, that “this probation is not to prepare us to die, but to live.”

Those of us who still are living may ponder and think seriously about our own lives. We should look into our own lives and discover if we are prepared for the future.  In Japanese I asked the class “ 準備ができているかどうか” (this question is “… Junbi ga dekite iru ka dou ka.  Sore wa eien na taisetsu no shitsumon desu.”)  In English, the question and statement is “Are we are able to be prepared? That is an eternally important question.”

It is sobering to think that if we were called “home” tomorrow whether we would be prepared to give an account for our earthly lives.  Will we be known as a loving the son or daughter of God.  By the grace of Jesus Christ our Lord and through His infinite atonement we will be able to return to what our Father in Heaven has prepared for us as His children.

We had a touching and meaningful discussion for the 45 minutes of the lesson.  I truly appreciated the Japanese who kindly shared their experiences and beliefs concerning the immortality of man.   While the lesson that day ended, the pondering and praying on this eternally important topic has continued as I experience life and exercise faith.

As we ponder the meaning and purposes of life:

• May we treasure each day we live. 
• May we appreciate the health and life we are living.
• May we appreciate the miracle of the body to heal.
• May we use wisdom in our choices as we go about life.
• May we “not be lulled to sleep… by the abundance of the good things of this life.”
• May we not “let the object of our creation be overlooked; but let us labor for the salvation of …souls.”
• May we lay up treasures that matter most by ministering to our Heavenly Father’s children.
• May we comfort those in need of comfort, and mourn with those who mourn, lighten other persons’ burdens,
• May we invite others to come unto their Savior Jesus Christ and follow His example of doing the will of Father-in-Heaven.
• May we live to bless the lives of others and glorify our Father-in-Heaven. 
• May we treasure the memory of those who have led the way and were called home early.  They shared and gave much for us—they made a difference in who we are and what we may become.
• May we honor our ancestors by remembering their love and sacrifice.
• May we set examples for our own posterity of 1) faith, 2) love for all mankind, and 3) treating all with respect as Children of God regardless of differences. 
• May we prepare the way for others to follow and build bridges that cross the chasms of life.
• May we humbly do our best to be servants to others. 
• May we strive to enable and to help in some small way for many of our Father’s children to feel encircled in the arms of our loving Savior--even Jesus Christ.
• May we help as many as possible to be received by our Heavenly Father, and His Beloved Son with a welcome at their time of passing of “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
• May you be blessed to realize the righteous desires of your heart.

This is my prayer that you and I may be so blessed in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Warmest regards and love,

Elder Lee A. Barney

Japan Nagoya Mission

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

Wonderful Japanese English

I have thought for quite a while about doing a blog called Things I Love About Japan.  I still may.  But I just can't wait any longer to talk about how much I love Japanese English. Of course, the names of beauty shops are really fun, and it's sometimes hard to imagine what they were trying to get across with the name.  For instance, "Brownie," "Hair Make Sheep."


But I also regularly see signs and hear people say things, or read in an email, and they are understandable, but just so charming.  I love it.  So here are a few examples of what I mean:


In Nakano, we went into the visitors center near the monkey park.  The floor was shiny clean and smooth.  On the door it said, "Attention of Slippery Floor."  

On the trail up to the monkey park, in the forest, there was a steep hillside above us and a huge boulder had rolled down onto the walkway.  The sign next to it read:  "Because of the situation when a step is bad, please be careful."  



There was an advertisement poster on the window of a store.  There was a drawing of a lamb, under which was written "lame," and an elephant, under which was written, "elephone."  So cute!!


This is from a poem written on some stationery:  A moon, only one, innumerableness twinkle stars and the bear,
They watches children all over the warld and their sleeping."  (And I did mean to type "warld.")


On another page of stationery:  "The thing that today is happy is a lot."


And this warm request:  I am so appriciate to your love for me and each of members.  Well, I planned the meeting, and atacched with this e-mail.  I hope your adivise for it.

I could give more examples, but this gives you the idea.  I love it and only hope that when I attempt what little Japanese I know, it can be half so charming.

Visit from Salt Lake City

 (This blog is written by Lee.  Yeah!!)

Don't we look cute in Sister Baird's aprons?

We had visitors from Salt Lake, Sister Dalton, General YW President, and Sister Stephens, First Counselor in the General Primary Presidency. along with Sister Stevenson, spouse of the Presiding Bishop, Elder Yamashita (a Japanese GA who spoke in General Conference) and Elder Oishi, an Area 70.  We helped fix dinner for them.  Apparently since arriving in Japan they have been eating sandwiches because of their tight schedule. They even had chocolate covered potato chips for breakfast.  

Standing from left:  Sister and Pres. Baird, Sister and Pres. Komiya, and Sister and Pres. Urasa
Seated: Elder Oishi (Area 70), Elder and Sister Yamashita (1st Quorum of the 70), Sister Dalton,
Sister Stevens, Sister Stevenson, Brett Stevenson (son).

When they arrived on Tuesday, and saw a table set for Japanese food, they were excited.  

You see a lovely table set for dinner by Sister Baird.  I see a million dishes that will need washing.
(It was five dishes each for 20, plus serving and cooking dishes.  That equals a million, right?)

The gyoza prepared by four Japanese sisters was the hit of the dinner. Little did the guests realize that except for the Gyoza (pot stickers -- it is funny to me that this is actually a Chinese dish) and dessert, the rest of the meal had been prepared by two Americans.  We cooked teriyaki chicken, a Japanese rice dish Ilene and I learned how to cook (but we put in Crab and Ham--things Americans like), and a veggie tray of veggies Americans like, a fruit plate of pineapple and strawberries.  The food was selected so an American would like it, with nothing too strange.  

Sister Baird standing, with the sweet ladies who worked so hard on the gyoza.

Interestingly, Ilene and I worked for about 3 hours on food prep and 4 Japanese sisters worked for 4.5 hours on hand making the fresh gyoza.  It was fantastic.  The Japanese sisters commented on it being the first time they stood back and watched an American make the Japanese rice dish.  Ilene used snow peas on the veggie plate, and they said it was the first time they saw snow peas used raw.  

All in all it was fun serving these leaders and helping the mission president and his wife.  We have told them, a big part of our role is to help them be more effective.  This was just one way we have been able to help.

This really is as fun as it looks.

 While the General Authority and board members had dinner in the dining room, we ate with the sisters who helped, and with the two translators.  The one at the head of the table is Megumi Yamaguchi.  She has been wonderful to us and really helpful to Ilene, especially when we first arrived. She took Ilene shopping and showed her foods to buy and explained how to cook them.

Sister Dalton came into the kitchen after dinner and gave us all a hug.
So special for all of us.

Whatcha doin?

Someone suggested to us that people might want to know a little more about what we do. So here goes:

Short version: I'm the mission secretary. Lee is the mission finance man.

Longer version: Our first goal and purpose is to support and help the Mission President and his wife in their very important (and huge) assignment. Anything they ask, we try our best to do. We try to look for ways to support them.

Each Wednesday night, we teach a free English at the church. Lee and I are teaching the advanced English class, and we really enjoy it. We usually have between 10-15 people there. We have been assigned three families who we home teach, which means at least once a month we make an appointment to go to their homes and give them an inspirational or uplifting message and see if there is anything we can do to help them.

In the office, we try to make everyone feel welcome and do our best to answer questions and keep things running smoothly. Our year and a half presence here adds continuity and is important to the mission.

Me with Sister Baird and a fairly new convert to the Church.
When not posing for photos we were putting out a nice meal.

And most fun, we get to interact with the missionaries who frequently come into the mission home for various reasons, to enjoy them and love them and let them know they are wonderful. (I just wish I could hug them.) Before senior missionaries started serving missions, missionaries had to come into the office and spend their precious time doing office work, instead of sharing the Gospel with people. We enable more missionaries to be doing the important stuff.

Japan has a great mail system. It's different from the US, but works really well. I'm surprised at how quickly and efficiently they get mail from point A to point B, especially within Japan. Our mailmen trek up four flights of stairs and sometimes we see four or more mailmen a day. They bring packages for the missionaries, and if I get up from my desk, find out who the package is going to, and stamp a little label with the missionary's address, the mailman kindly waits, takes the box back downstairs and gets it right back into the system of sending it where it belongs.

But the letters--he just drops off with a rubber band around all of them. We get an average of 30 letters a day, most of them to the missionaries. Right now, we have about 100 missionaries, and they are scattered around the mission in about 46 different apartments. Some of them are in Kanazawa, on the west coast of Japan and about a 3.5 hour drive, and up in the mountains above Nagano where the Winter Olympics were held a few years back. One set of elders are close enough to ride their bikes to the mission office. When we get these letters, I need to read the missionary's name, find out where he is located, and get a stamp out of a drawer where we have about 50 different address stamps, stamp a label, and then attach the label on the letter/postcard/package in a way that best covers the mission address and leaves their name, but doesn't block any of the message (especially if it's on a post card.) Then I have to stamp it with a small red stamp that tells the mailman it is being forwarded. It goes out the next day. Mail is delivered Monday through Saturday, but forwarded mail or mail that we generate in the office is never taken on Saturday.

I prepare and send out letters--lots of them. When we get notified each Tuesday of new missionaries who have accepted calls to the Japan Nagoya Mission, I send him back a packet of information along with a great welcome letter from the president. He usually has around two or three months before he leaves for the Mission Training Center. He is at the Mission Training Center for about two months. When he is one month from finishing at the MTC and coming to Japan, I send him another letter with more instructions.

Throughout a missionary's two years in Japan, he will receive opportunities in various leadership positions, especially if he is an exceptional missionary. He will be asked to be a trainer of new missionaries coming into the field, a senior companion, a district leader, a zone leader, or to be an assistant to the president, or the commissarian or recorder. When any of those things happen, and they do a lot, I get to send letters of congratulations to him and his parents.

Five months before it's time for a missionary to finish his mission, I send him a letter asking for information that will help us at the office get ready for him to leave. For instance, we need to know which airport he would like fly "home" to, how he would like his name to appear on his official Certificate of Release, and if there have been any changes in addresses of the people we send letters to.

At three months before the end of the mission, I send letters to the missionary, parents, bishop and stake president with preliminary flight plans and other details about the end of the mission. At one month, I repeat that with final flight plans and the Certificate of Release to the Stake President, so that when the missionary arrives home, he can be "officially" released as a full-time missionary.

On the day that the missionary leaves the mission, he spends time at the mission home. Several important things happen, but my role is to see that the missionary gets a special book. It contains a copy of his first welcome letter, a picture of the mission president, his wife and family, pictures of the missionary's first day here two years ago, with his first missionary companion, a very lovely certificate (special paper with a gold trim around the edges) congratulating him for being a Finisher, for a successful two years of working hard for the benefit of other people. This special book also contains a copy of every letter the missionary wrote to the mission president, usually one letter a week for two years. A great memory book. It is nicely bound and has the final letter from the mission president inside as well.

With a batch of missionaries coming in and leaving every six weeks, the letter writing is one eternal round, and I am doing letters several times a week. So getting letters out is one of my most time-consuming tasks.

But there are a number of other miscellaneous smaller things that I do. The phone rings a lot at a mission office, and trying to understand what the person is saying in Japanese adds a level of complexity. While I am picking up a few phrases that help me communicate, I often have to get help from a missionary or Elder Barney. I do filing, emails, keep track who is where and when that will change, and generally keep the office running.

I have been asked to do the mission blog, which the Baird's would like to have made into a book (or two or three) at the end of their mission. I have been asked to go back 18 months and catch up for lost time, writing about incoming and outgoing missionaries, events (which includes the effects of last year's tsunami on the mission), and stories. I have my work cut out for me there.

I also get to help Sister Baird with meals whenever there is a group of missionaries or others who come to the mission home. The Bairds feed missionaries (varying numbers) two meals when they arrive, two meals when they leave the mission, 20 or so missionaries at monthly zone leaders conference and all 100 of them for semi-annual mission conference. They frequently invite people for Family Home Evening and other dinners. Visiting authorities regularly come and stay at the mission home as well. Sister Baird, the mission president's wife, is forever feeding groups, but I love working with her, and I love that I don't have to plan it. She's a great cook (too good--and I'm enjoying her food too much!) It's fun to work with her and talk as we put together lasagna, or a waffle breakfast for 18 hungry boys, and do the cleanup after. I really enjoy that part.

This is the Meito Ward building where we go to church.
On the right is the mission home; our office is on the top floor.
We live about 250 steps away.

The mission office is clean and fairly modern. Of course, there is no central heating. In winter, I'm lucky to have a little space heater beside my desk and I use it most days to keep my legs warm. When the wind is blowing outside, which it frequently is, the windows in our office rattle. They are single pane windows. I have worn my coat all day more often than not. Lee and I are in neighboring offices and have a nice view, both from my office and from his. In winter it is cloudy and stormy most days, or hazy with smog. But on a few days we've been able to see the snow covered mountains. They are beautiful and they aren't that far away. Maybe 30 miles.

I'm having Lee type up his work description and I'll put it in another blog. But until then, I know you are dying to know the names of a couple more beauty shops: 


 I'd go to "Hello Beauty," in hopes that it would help, but I'm not sure about "Moat Hair." Let me know if you know what moat hair looks like. Then I can watch for it and send a picture.

Blogging Away

One thing I have been asked to do as part of my missionary service, is to add to the mission blog.  When we arrived, it had pictures of missionaries going and coming at each transfer with their names.  It also had photos from a couple of conferences or activities they have had in the mission.  President Baird asked that I do a whole bunch more with it.  He is even trying to keep track of everything he does in a week, so that I can write a blog about a week in the life of a mission president.

When we first receive notice from Salt Lake City that a new missionary will be coming to our mission, (it varies between two and five months early) there is a  long list of things I have to do to get everything ready for his or her arrival.  It is long enough that I could never remember everything without a checklist.  But one thing is to send him and his family a packet of materials, including an "New Missionary Information Sheet."  It is two pages in length, but has about six questions on it for the missionary to write about.  We want to know a little about him, including why he or she decided to serve a mission.

These forms are really important in helping President Baird get to know the missionaries and place them with companions who are compatible. When the forms come back to the office, I get to summarize them, copy and file them in several places for future use.  I'm sure it's no surprise that not every missionary returns them.  When we arrived, there seemed to be about a 50% return rate.  As I have come to realize how important they are (and been assigned to write a little blog entry about each missionary), I have started sending a reminder to those who don't send it by a certain time.  This month we got about an 80% return, and those who didn't do them are still getting a bit of pressure from yours truly.

Here's the email I sent them, and some missionaries who have been here longer but who never turned in their information sheet:

Dear Wonderful Elder ________,

I need your help to fulfill an assignment made to me by President Baird.  I have been asked to write the mission blog.

I know, I know.  You only have so much time on P-day and this is hard.  But could you take just a few minutes and give me about five sentences?  I would deeply appreciate your help.  I would even love you forever, and I know THAT makes a huge difference to you.

When you first received your mission information packet, you were asked to fill out a New Missionary Information Sheet.  Guess what?  Yours got lost in the mail.  So I just need to know a few things about you to put in the blog.

Like, for instance:

• Tell me something quick and fun about your family.
• What do you plan to do when you get home?
• What did you love to do before your mission?  Hobbies, activities, interests.
• What are your goals, either now or after your mission, or both?  (Even just one is OK!)
• Give me a couple of words that describe your personality.
• Or anything unique and interesting that you wouldn’t mind having your future wife or your children read about you in years to come.  Because it will be on the blog for all to see.  I’m sure it will be the world’s most famous, popular blog ever, because it will have YOU in it.

I’m just not comfortable making things up about you…..yet.  You never know what I might write about you if you don’t help me out here.  So take a minute and make me happy.  Good things come to those who……help Sister Barney.

Love,

Sister Barney, of course.

(They are receiving a chocolate candy bar in the mail when I get a response.)

It was fun when I got responses from several missionaries.  One of them said my email made him really have a good laugh.  Another said, "Sister Barney, I think I might have forgotten to send mine in."  It was cute that one took me seriously and the other caught my little attempt at humor. I'm thinking that if I don't get responses after two or three weeks, I may compose an email something like this:

Dear Elder ________,  Since I haven't gotten any information from you to put in the blog, I went ahead and  composed something about you.  What do you think?
Elder ________ weighs 500 pounds and his hobbies are running (he's up to six steps) and twiddling his thumbs.  His favorite food is octopus and he doesn't burp very often after eating it.  People love him for his ability to snore while awake.  When he finishes his mission, his goal is to start a fly collection.  After that he plans to write blogs for Sister Barney as a volunteer effort.

What do you think, Elder?  Shall I go ahead a post that, or would you rather send me some information?
Love,
Sister Barney

A Little Fun

I had an aunt and uncle who were called to serve as mission president in Thailand.  I was in my teens when they returned from their mission.  I loved my Aunt Kate.  She had a really fun sense of humor and she and Uncle Clyde were great story tellers.

I fondly remember sitting at our home or theirs and listening to Aunt Kate and Uncle Clyde tell us about their mission experiences in Thailand.  One story that really stuck with me, because I thought it was just so cute and funny, was of Aunt Kate being asked by an elder if she would hem his pants.  She did, and then she asked him to step into the next room to try them on to make sure they were OK.  As I remember it, there were several missionaries around.  Uncle Clyde was probably doing interviews or something.  Anyway, as soon as she sent him into the room, she told all the other missionaries to just wait to see what happened. She had sewn the bottom of one of the legs together.  Pretty soon everyone heard him say, "Aaaa, Sister Lowe?"  And they all burst out laughing.  I don't know why that story has stuck with me, but I have always dreamed of doing it.

This is Elder Kishi from Southern Japan

Last week, one of the office elders who I really love, Elder Kishi, asked me if I would hem two pairs of his new slacks.  He had already tried them on and had them marked where they needed to be.  I jumped at the chance.  I hemmed the first pair nicely, and then sewed one of the legs closed.  But I just basted it.  I gave him the pants and asked him to try them on. I said I didn't want to hem the other pair until I was sure these were right.  He tried them on, and came out and thanked me and didn't say anything.  So I asked him if everything was OK when he put them on.  Of course, I couldn't act sincere about it, so he saw my grin and told me one leg was kind of hard to get into.  So I told him the story about Aunt Kate.  He laughed about it and  told me he had thought I had to do that for some reason to get them hemmed, and that I had forgotten to take out the thread.  

Elder Kishi is the middle child of 9

A few days later, I told him that I was almost done hemming his other pair.  He said thank you, and then he said, "You won't need to sew up the bottom."  I laughed and told him I wouldn't. 

  I put a little note in the pocket that says, "I love you, Elder Kishi,",,,,, and I sewed up his pocket instead.

We are being taught by a member how to make sushi.

I saw him next on Saturday.  He walked up to me and did a little acting out of what happened.( It's easier for him to pantomime than to speak English.)  One leg in, fine. Second leg in, fine.  Hand in left pocket, all fine.  Then he tried to get his hand in the other pocket.  It wouldn't go.  He was laughing and he thanked me again for hemming his pants and seemed to enjoy the extra attention.  I asked Elder Berrett, his companion, if I had in any way offended him, and he said no.  They all got a good laugh.  So I think (hope) it was OK.

Japanese Pizza--with potatoes and little sausages
around the edges.  Not bad.

We were cleaning up from a big meal
at the mission home and Elder Kishi
found Sister Baird's napkin rings.

Fish Market Extreme

This blog is dedicated to our grandchildren.  I hope they will read it.

And it is a continuation of our trip to Maruoka Castle and Eiheji Temple.

On our way home, we stopped at a huge rest stop.  It turned out to be a fish market.  What an interesting cultural experience that was!

Note yellow fins on the sides.

After cutting off the tail, he opened the mouth of the tuna
and put the tail in the mouth.
Can you see it?

 We watched and Lee filmed as they beheaded and de-tailed a yellowfin tuna, about three feet long, and then cut it down the middle and started the process of making it into sushi.  Fun to watch and we got yummy samples.


















As we walked around in the aisles of this huge market, people would call out to us and hold up samples of things I had never seen, much less tasted.  I decided to be a good sport and give them a try. 

Here I go.  Wish me luck!

Whatever is inside the shell to eat, I wonder how long it's been sitting there.

Doesn't this look yummy?
Can you identify it?
I can't.

This is baby shrimp.  I've seen shrimp in every size imaginable.
Some of the shrimp I've seen in rice dishes is half an inch long
and smaller around than a toothpick.

Dried squid, above and below.
2800 yen for the set, about $35.

These are in better shape, $12.50 each.

A huge bowl of caviar, or fish eggs.

More dried fish, with holes where the eyes were.

Most samples were pretty good.  But I finally got something filled with wasabe.  It's like eating a jalepeno whole.  As I fanned my mouth, the lady offered something else that she indicated would cool my mouth.  I took it and things got worse.  I had just consumed some green slime that was downright disgusting. I stopped sampling after that.  Later Lee told me that one of the things I had sampled had been soaked in sake.  I wasn't aware of that, but it had to have been better than my last two samples.

Fresh fish, ready to eat, maybe.
Only about $16 for three.

Sardines, I think.

More shrimp.  This is the kind I bought.

We bought some shrimp, about as big around as a pencil and about 5 inches long.  They had a light coating of tempura on them and had been cooked, but it was the whole shrimp, eyes and all.  They were fairly good, but after eating a few of them and thinking about their little black eyes, they seemed less appetizing.  I gave them to our Japanese elder in the office and he was delighted. We also grabbed a soft ice cream cone on the way back to the bus.  Nice to have something "normal."

Now this crab, I could enjoy.
10,000 yen is about $128.00

Octopus.  $21, but not on my shopping list.

If there is something in here, I don't want it.

Here's what is in them.
Butterscotch pudding.  (Just Kidding!)

Once again, we don't know for sure what this is.
Could it be the tentacles of squid?

More shrimp.  I wonder if they eat them like this.
If you know, let me know.

Little fishies, whole and smoked,
including their eyes and maybe everything else.

Two kinds of fish in a nice arrangement,
and it looks like people were buying.

These guys are being skewered and barbequed.
Japan has wonderful sauces for this.

These last two pictures are of a marlin (above) and a stingray (below)
were hanging on the side of one of the little fish shops.
It looks like they are not only dried, but petrified.
Kind of gross.

Doesn't this little guy remind you of ET?

We feel very blessed to have the opportunity to not only live and work in Japan, associate with great people and awesome missionaries, but to also take an occasional tour and see this beautiful country.

So, in conclusion, here are two more beauty shops:  (Honest!)  "Cut in Face" and "Hair Ants"