Shu and I arrived in Tokyo on Easter Sunday after a cramped flight. I slept 15 hours after Makoto gave us the keys to our tiny flat in Nakano. This blog will chronicle our two month stay this spring in the neighborhood near Shinjuku and Narita Higashi, where Shu’s parents live and operate a ceramics studio.
Our trip was timed to allow Shu time to set up a small gallery show with his parents this Friday. It combines his drawings with his parents’ ceramic work in a broad theme of “Haru” or spring. Unfortunately, our trip required me to miss my favorite Xtian holiday including bunnies, pastels, chocolates, and Dolores Park’s annual Hunky Jesus contest.
In addition to the art show, Shu will be working on his next two novels– one set in his childhood neighborhood that includes Nakano, the other at Penn State where he used to teach Comparative Literature. My plans are to continue my human technology consulting, improve my Japanese language abilities, and learn more about shared urban spaces in Tokyo.
The first night I heard crows outside our flat. So familiar from our bedroom in San Francisco.
Tokyo Moe 
Hi Jared, Hi Shu,
Hello to both of you from Lu and me…We miss you here but hope to see you very soon. Have a greaat time in Tokyo! xxxxxoooooo Kourosh
Thanks for the great photos! What’s up with the hair do’s? Are they big enough?
Big blond hair, deep tans, huge nails signify bad girls here. Poor parents!
Btw, this seems to be a graduation event! Mazel tov! Omedetoo!