We did land and we borrowed other people for the Welcome to Japan sign ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140265 before checking in and out and finding our way towards our next flight where I were amused by this sign as was Suzanne by the music when she went to flush the toilet. ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140266 But, we were happy that our flight was ready to go ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140267 and so we boarded ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140268 and I recorded the details of the seat ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140269 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140270 as Suzanne slept ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140271 and before we knew it we were at Komatsu ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140272 where we were whisked away to our hotel room ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140273 together with our baggage ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140274 and admired the space that we had ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140275 and the 3 room (all small) bathroom ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140276 with sink ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140277 shower/bath ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140278 and toilet (but more about this later). ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140279 Having had a few minutes to refresh, we headed down to dinner with the language teachers and Professor Makino and some of the local dignitaries. It was a remarkable feast of course ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140280 after course ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140281 after course ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140282 and despite our jet lag, we enjoyed the occasion ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140283 as courses kept coming ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140284 some clearer than others ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140285 and some fishier ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140286 than the vegetarian courses ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140287 as we kept being served ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140288 with remarkable presentation to go with the good food ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140289 including this course served in a leaf-like structure ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140290 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140291 with condiments ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140292 and food inside ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140293 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140294 as sake was poured ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140295 and Suzanne had her first chance to say kanpai which she did happily since the fish was the best she had ever had. ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140296 There were more treats to come ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140297 as I recorded my menu ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140298 even as more courses came ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140299 including the tempura ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140300 in full presentation ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140301 and Suzanne's next course ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140302 in its full presentation ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140303 which could be opened ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140304 as I recorded the non-vegetarian menu ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140305 and the origami on the table. ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140306 In all, it was a remarkable meal and we ended with photos of the assembled ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140307 and then of the local leader of the program with Suzanne and me and one of the language teachers, now at Columbia formerly at Princeton and formerly our neighbor ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140308 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140309 and then the other local leader with me and Makino ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140310 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140311 followed by the women language teachers with Suzanne. It was a remarkable welcome to Japan and to Kanazawa which despite our tiredness made us feel very good. ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140312 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1140313