Japan 2nd Day

My "home" for the next 11 days. Very compact but has everything I need. ( ^ ^ ).

 Mini Kitchen comes with the basic utensils for cooking and eating.

Mini Refrigerator, Plasma TV, Microwave, Toaster oven and my Bed!!!

The bath! ( ^ ^ ) it's a tight squeeze but I can still soak leisurely in the tub.

Strolled through Chinatown before hooking up with my daughter and her mom.

 Like all Chinatowns in the world, its colorful and jam packed!

 There were a lot more ALL YOU CAN EATS than before.

 Hmmmmm Tempting!

The main temple in Chinatown Yokohama

For whatever reasons there was a Hawaiian Shop in the middle of Chinatown!

 We ended up at Soup Curry place that My daughter loves to eat at.

 I had the 12 vegetables curry at spicy level 3. I still sweated!

 My daughter had the beef at level 5.

Her mom had the Okra curry at level ????? Burn Da Mouth!!! ( _ _ )

BUT IT WAS ONO! (delicious in Hawaiian)

More to follow! Time to catch the train to Tokyo!
Ittekima-su! Y( ^ ^ )Y

Japan 2102 Y( ^ ^ )Y

Safely arrived in Japan yesterday and thanks to Shihandai William was able to crawl into bed a little past midnight. But alas! My body is on Hawaii time and so after a short restless sleep I woke at 0330 and am now waiting for the Buffet Breakfast to begin at 0600. As some of you may know, one of Shihandai's many hobbies is car racing (the legal kind), so i got to get a ride in a souped up car with fins and all. But  not to worry he is a very careful driver. He had just returned from his studies in the States and was briming with confidence.
Since I couldn't check in at my usual Hostel due to the late night arrival(beats a two hour trip from Narita!) I stayed at a hotel in Chinatown and what a name ! Super Hotel, I really like it, Too bad its not as cheap as the Hostel.

      As I mentioned I've been up since 0330. I decided to take an Asaburo 朝風呂。I haven't soaked Japanese style since retiring and going back to Hawaii. Ahhhhhh, It was sooooo relaxing! Now I need to figure out how to get an Onsen (hot spring) into my schedule. I only have two free days left!
     Another great feature of Japanese hotels are its toilets. The seats are heated (if needed) and your derriere is cleaned with pressurised water that is also temperature and pressure controlled. There are some folks that get addicted to the cleaning! ( ^ ^ )

I also liked the fact that the front entrance is secured and locked at midnight and you have to remember your room entry code to get in. Gahahahaha Who can remember such a thing when you're out drinking past midnight! Incentive to go to sleep early.

Just back from breakfast at 0630 hours. Whew! Am stuffed! A very decent spread with variety of breads and jams, pastries, salad, two kinds of meat, rice porridge, a large selection of drinks. It's included in the room cost. ( ^ ^ )

The buffet line, very clean and orderly.

The coffee machines with all sorts of choices!

 My first pickings, Egg Salad on toast, yogurt, pork sausage, mini burgers and rice porridge

Rice porridge with pickled veges, seaweed and umeboshi.

Boiled organic egg.Very tasty as is.



Off to Japan

I will be going to Japan on July 3rd to take care of my mother's affairs and to make a report to her parent's grave in Tokyo.
While in Japan I will see many old friends from work and Dojo. I will be very busy. ( ^ ^ ) My nights are rapidly being booked up, Of course I will be conducting classes as well.
The schedule for classes are 7, 8 (Sunday morning) 10, 12 14 and 15 (Sunday morning).
The Kyokushinkan tournament will be held during my stay so  hopefully I can go see it.
Two weeks will go by fast. But then, with the current yen rate, any longer I will be penniless. Gahahaha. I truly miss the days $1.00 was 360 yen.
I hope to post some pics from Japan.
Osu!
Richard

お誕生日おめでとうー！！Y( ^ ^ )Y

Today is Yachiyo Sensei's aka Mrs. Kimura, Da Boss birthday. Her newly acquired age is Top Secret and Not Releasable to the Public. (NRP) She is celebrating her 21st birthday for the ?? time.  The picture was taken at Los Cabos, Mexico during the top sales awards ceremony called the President's Club. Only the top 10 percent are selected to this prestigious group. I got a free trip as baggage holder! Y( ^^ )Y

I hope that Yachiyo will continue to diligently train in Karate and take me on another trip! 

Anyways please wish her a Happy Birthday! OSU! 

今日はやちよ先生異木村夫人、親分の誕生日でした。年齢は極秘扱い、公不出とされています。２１際の誕生日はこれで何回目でしょうか？写真は彼女の会社主催のトップセールス（上の１０％）の表彰パーテイ。メキシコのロスカボスにて。我が輩は鞄持ちで付き添い。

これからも空手稽古の切磋琢磨しまた旅行に連れってくれるのを楽しみにしてまーす。

とにかく誕生日おめでとう！

押忍

Form

 Form 形

My wife recently received a package full of birthday gifts (all edible)  from her older sister in Japan. Aside from the fact that now I cannot conveniently forget her birthday ( - -; ), all the presents looked delectable. Perhaps I will be able to take a nibble or two while she is gone ( ^ ^ ).

Back to my main theme!  One of the packages caught my eye. The original is as you can see, an ordinary package with some printing on it.

Original package

The package actually looked like this ( ^ ^ )

Package in its presentation form.

The package was transformed by merely two cuts on the side. It was then folded into the shape of a collared shirt. I thought it was brilliant! A very unique presentation. 

As my brain is always in and out of the Budo mode, I began thinking of the package as Kata or Form.

Our Senseis and their Senseis have left us the legacy of various Katas. The Katas have, I would dare to say, have changed with the Senseis and their interpretation of it. A little tweak here and there. Interpretation of the Kata's applications also changed depending on the performer's vision of the Kata.

I think that is great! Just like the package, a little thought and vision makes it into a different form.

The original is still there as well.  ( ^ ^ ) and we can always go back to it. 

Bunkai and Oyo is now having a big impact on the Karate world (perhaps more in the Western world)

Discussions and arguments abound in numerous blogs and websites with regard to authenticity, lineage and so forth.  Just as the earth evolves and changes, it is only natural that Kata evolves and changes.

Why waste time arguing? I expect the what I passed on to my Shihandais will eventually change and it will continue to change with their successors. I think that is wonderful. 

OSU!

Farewell at the Sea, June 10, 2102

 The morning started with the completion of the Hawaiian woven basket for transporting the ashes. The  basket was decorated with flowers from members of Yokohama Dojo under Shihandais William and Nagaie  and members of Kesshinkai Dojo of New York under DeMarco Sensei.

 The trip started in shaky grounds with engine trouble. (^^) Not much for us to do but wait!!

 After a quick repair, we were able to head to our destination of off shore Waikiki.

 The weather was perfect and the sea calm as we headed towards Waikiki and Diamond Head.

 Our destination  (^^) You can see the famous Royal Hawaiian Hotel with its pink facade. We are quite far from the shore as the photo was taken with a zoom lens.

 The flower petals following the ashes in the sea.

 The sun was beginning to set as we headed back to the port.

A beautiful ending to a wonderful farewell to my parents. 

A BIG MAHALO to all of you have sent me words of encouragement and support !

押忍！

My dear mother passed away this morning at 0130 hours. She lived her fullest for 85 years and 2 months.
I last spoke with her on Memorial Day. Now she is with my dad watching over me as they have always done. My heartfelt gratitude to my parents for bringing me into this world and giving me their love.

OSU!

June 3, 2012 Sunday 

Picked up my mother's ashes this morning. Now she is next to Father enjoying being at home together and resting until their final journey out to sea. 

My parents wanted their ashes to be claimed by the sea. Dad had to wait awhile for Mom, but now they are together once again. (^^) Ashes scattering arrangements were made for this coming Sunday at Sunset.

The three of us. 1950

June 6, 2012 Wednesday . Beautiful flowers arrived from Yokohama Dojo (^^)

ありがとうございました。押忍！

 June 8, 2012 Flowers from Sensei Tony and members of Kesshinkai Dojo, New York

My parents must be enjoying the lovely flowers surrounding them.

Mahalo to all my Budo friends!