You know how in england they always say to “mind the gap?” and you think to yourself “mind WHAT gap? What kind of idiot would actually fall into that!” well the same idiot who would later blog about it to his loved ones. Oy I totally ate it today in the subway and stepped right into the hole next to the train. Luckily I only hurt my leg (and dignity), but nothing serious. Just a funny way to start my day.

A note on Japanese people. Not only are they incredibly well dressed, they are soooooooooo polite. It’s obscene. Everyone is incredibly nice. Today we left for Minimoto “prefecture” (which just means a different state in Japan), and sang for the governor, at a middle school, and an orphanage. The kids at the middle school are unbelievably well-behaved. They knelt silently for our entire 30 minute set and they have these weird commands they shout when they rise or sit in unison. They’re also just so quiet. We’re always the loudest (ie – only ones making noise) ones on the subway. I think Alison would have to wear a muzzle if she visited. ALSO (sorry I’m ranting about their culture, but hopefully you are learning things)…there is no litter. There are also NO trashcans. You do the math, I really cant figure it out. All I know is I had a pocketful of hi-chew wrappers all day b/c I could not find a SINGLE trash can. Do these people not create waste!?!?

Singing for the governor was especially hilarious. We want into this room with a huge circular table and cushy chairs (“buy! Buy! Sell!” I told the other Kroks), and suddenly like 5 news crews, a handful of photographers, and the governor and his posse enter. It was like being ambushed by a press conference. And everyone else in the room was so clearly nervous it made us suddenly nervous, especially when he demanded that we ask him questions (I wanted to offer “boxers or briefs?” but figured it was the wrong time).

We also later found out that we were featured on the local news (and in at least 2 newspapers)! i find a link i will post it.

We were all excited to learn from our guide/planner/crazy lady Lina that the prefecture we are staying at is famous for the radioactive waste found there and the decades of deformed babies that resulted from it….hooray? Turns out it was actually due to mercury poisoning, and is clean now (the province today is one of the most environmentally friendly in all Japan), but it’s like a real life Erin Brockovich story that is still in court today. (Cue the digital filming of ERIN KROKOVICH, in which Christian Denman tries to save the people of Minimoto from the dangers of ethyl mercury). A note on our guide – she is crazy. She’s been doing this for a decade (why!?!? I’ve only been with them for a year and I’m ready to get out!) and is literally out of her mind. When we first got into Tokyo we went to this really nice hotel where she was supposed to meet us, and she was nowhere to be found for 40 minutes. Chris kept calling, until finally she calls him and is like “where are you!? Oh you’re already there! Well I’m at a department store nearby so I’ll be there in ten.” She also likes to get really violent massages b/c they “move all her fat to different places.” Her tagline is “cahn you be-lieeeeeeeeeve it?” Her mom is our real host ($$$) Madame Matsuda. The lady has had so much plastic surgery the entire space around her eyes is stretched taut in every direction, making her look a lot like an owl.

finally: keep tabs on the kroks here http://picasaweb.google.com/KevinHChow
its kchow's personal photos. he is very asian and thus takes many photos. this is like 1/4 of the total he has, and that is after deleting the bad ones.