It's a long plane ride
Japanese toilet
Our first bathroom stop in Japan. It took longer than your average bathroom stop!!!
Our first night in Tokai-Mura.
Chris' instructions for his air conditioner remote.
Our bathroom in the Akogi Club.
Breakfast at the Akogi Club.
Visit with the Mayor Murakami of Tokai-Mura.
Flags outside of Tokai-Mura City Hall.
Group shot in the Council quarters.
The lilly is the Tokai-Mura's flower.
Our first lunch in Tokai.
Michelle after giving her speech in Japanese.
More yummy lunch!
Mike helping with the cooking.
Evil spirits!
Throwing beans at the evil spirits.
Playing Hanetsuki - Japanese badmitton.
Kiyoko holding a decorative Hanetsuki racket.
Tokai-Mura Sister City Hall
On the train to Mito City.
Mito City.
Art Tower Mito
Group shot at the top of Art Tower Mito
Dinner in Mito City.
Caligraphy lesson at Tokai Junior High.
Making iciees
Tokai Junior High students
What a tourist!
The boys had more fun playing basketball with other Tokai Junior High students
Piles of shoes - a common sight.
Mr. Aritani of the Ricotti center.
Lunch at Ricotti center.
Ricotti center
Shopping at Jusco
Tokai Junior High Archery
Mr Aoki - Kendo demonstration.
Kendo practice.
Akira
Akira getting Justin suited up!
Strong pose.
Kendo group shot.
Figuring out the coffee vending machines.
Tokyo Disneyland
Splash Mountain
Seafood pizza!
Tokyo Disney
Fish market
Octopus on a stick!
Kirin Orange pop was a favorite.
The end of our banana boat ride.
Shop at the beach.
Chisato and a HUGE snowcone!
Uni - Sea Urchins
It was actually quite good!
Mike needs a shave.
Group shot with our captain Mr. Kashimura on our "hune" (boat) called Heiseimara
Checking out the Uni
Holding Uni.
Family visit in Hitachi.
Karate practice
Adding the mochi to zouni (soup).
Zouni
Tyko drum practice
Trying out the drums.
New monument at the Terunumas house.
Lilly
Guard dog statue w/ Hydrangea in the background.
Tea in the Terunumas house.
Fireplace in the Terunumas house
Close up of the thatched roof of the Terunumas house.
Grounds of the Shunpuu Banri-so Villa.
A type of Iris.
Shunpuu Banri-so Villa.
Craft Hills Kasama
Kasama-Inari-Shrine
Guys at the Saki shop.
Note the footware - Crocks!!!
Chanting "Wasshoi" which means "heave ho!"
Hydrangea
Dance rehersal for Kim's host mother's class.
Hyakutsuka Nursery School
iPhone envy.
Lunch at the Akogi Club
Tour of J-PARC
Electron Accelerator.
J-PARC Group shot.
Quick stop at the ocean.
Where did that wave come from???
Japanese T-shirts in "English"
Fashion Cruise Mall
Dinner at Akogi with the 2008 Sitere City Delegation.
Cemetary down the street from Akogi.
On the bus to Kitaibaraki City
Abusing Mike
Working on our designs for sandblasting.
BBQ lunch
Cooking lunch
At the Kiraranosato cabins
Boys playing!
Bingo
Chopping
More chopping
Stiring
Oknomiyaki cooking
Kyoko holding a plate of Okonomiyaki
Closet "bunk beds"
Frizbey
Decoration in the bus. Note the Idaho belt buckle!
Odaira (founder of Hitachi works) Memorial Museum. Replica of the shop that started the Hitachi Works company.
Pretty grounds at the Odaira Memorial Museum.
Lunch at a chinese restaurant in Hitachi.
Sea bridge in Hitachi outside of the restaurant.
View from Ryujinkyou (Dragon King) bridge.
Ryujinkyou (Dragon King) bridge
Dam below Ryujinkyou (Dragon King) bridge
Dinner at Saiki
Okonmiyaki from Saiki
Saiki
Kara-okay!
How to open a towel package.
The kids got a lot of use out of their fans on this day!!!
Pile of brown glass for recycling.
Aluminum cans
Pint sized garbage trucks
Making paper.
Decoration for the upcoming Tokai festival.
Lunch at the Sister City Hall.
"Otaku" - Computer geek.
Gretchen in front of a rice field down the street from the Sister City Hall.
Rice!
Kokuzoson temple.
A new red scarf is added each year.
Daijingu shrine?
Lillies
Kim sized passage way!
Sushi restaurant
Tea Ceremony.
Tea Ceremony group shot.
Rice field.
Chris and his family.
Farewell speeches
Farewell dinner.
Idaho gift to mayor.
Idaho gift to Tokai-Mura Sister City organization.
A family fairwell. (The young boys were too shy to speak!)
Idaho delegation singing Deta-Deta.
Kim's host mother leading everyone singing Deta-Deta.
After Celina's song.
Group shot.
Kazuki and Chris dressed up!
Chris and family
Bowling Alley
Really comfy bowling shoes -- they even fit!
Kazuki
2nd one over is a megaMac
Mike & Gretchen on breeze way at Akogi club.
Our translators son at Nagomi center.
Showing us her work.
Mike trying out the work sorting car parts.
Roof top garden.
Wish tree at Sister City Hall.
Yes, they loved that Kirin Orange soda!
Chaperones with Ipo Kun and Sakura Chan. (Idaho POtato Kun (boy)) (Sakura (cherry) Chan (small girl))
Sendoff Ceremony
Mike with Mayor Murakami
Sendoff group shot.
Farewell!
Dang, you can take carts up the escalator!!!
Keeping cool!
Farewell to Masa!
Luggage sprawl in Salt Lake City.
Final group shot.
Warn out group shot!
Warn out chaperones!
Happy chaperones!
