Seiichiro, my friend Maki (we used to play basketball together when she lived in NY) and I went to the famous Tokyo fish market this morning. Seiichiro turns out to be an expert on fish (who knew?) and explained what was what and how you ate it. Some HUGE tunas -- hundreds of pounds, thousands of dollars, highest sushi grade! At least, that's what I was told they were saying... You had to be careful not to get run over by the carts they drive to transport the fish. They drive them fast and they take an attitude that says if you don't work here you're invisible. One fishseller let us watch while he sliced up a tuna bigger than I am, and then suggested I could take a nap on his cutting board.

Later we went to a park donated to the city by the emperor, to a new and very futuristic development in the harbor, and to the temple at Akasuka -- all in what is reported to be the biggest typhoon to hit Japan in 100 years. More umbrellas lying in trash cans (in NY they'd be in gutters, but this is Japan) than you can imagine. Sideways rain and wind so strong Maki was almost pushed down the stairs we were trying to go up. (Had a little trouble myself, but Maki's one of the few people I know than whom I am bigger.) Everybody's soaked. At least it's warm. Now to go eat some fish for dinner.