A few thoughts first on Japanese flats, or if you prefer, tower blocks, apartment buildings or マンション. It doubtless says something about my as-yet narrow view of the world that I find it difficult to disassociate this kind of accommodation with ideas of a lack of space and temporary lodging while waiting for something better to turn up. Therefore it was refreshing and eye-opening to learn there are places where flats are as spacious and charmingly comfortable as any house, and even with a guest-room twice the size of my room at Yamazato. If ever I should once more find myself living in Japan for any extended period, to shack up in such a place would make me feel that I had "hit the big time."
On to the party itself! Food included sushi, pizza, various arrangements of chicken, onion-ring-like things except with squid instead of onions, and various crisps-and-chocolate style snacks. Also, I ate pig intestine and I liked it. Certainly, there were lots of introductions to be made, can't remember everyone's names. There was one character who kept calling me Charlie, and introduced me as a younger sibling of Takahiro's. He turned out to be rather knowledgeable about England, not that anyone believed what he said without confirmation from me. Another chap was quite up on rock music of the UK, USA and Japan, so we a had quite a bit in common. A few times I was asked what I thought of Japanese girls, whether these questions were posed in a purely curious or somewhat matchmakery way I'm not sure, but answered with a tactful "There's someone I like who's in England."
I stayed overnight, in the aforementioned large guest room, complete with futuristic toilet and tatami-flooring (not in the same room). During the night I had the classic experience of being taller than the average Japanese person and finding the futon a little bit lacking, but I still managed to be comfortable. The next morning I was kindly driven home, though we stopped first at a coffee shop to perk up a bit. I was much impressed by the level of technology in the car - there was a card that fit into a slot somewhere and handled the paying for toll bridges and the like, and a screen that had functions of GPS, radio and TV! So all in all, I was very glad to have seen various aspects of Japan I would not have experienced on my own, and much touched by Chihiro and Takahiro's generous hospitality. And with that, on to Exam Week!
