Sumo Grand Tournament

Greg and I went with Jo and Andrew Cox to the Grand Sumo Tournament!  It was such a cool experience.  We got there in the early afternoon and walked around the Kokugikan stadium.  We got some beers and food and headed to our Box B.  This box was for "four people" -- hahahahahaha.  Not so much.  All four of us big ol' gaijin (foreignors) had to squeeze in this thing -- Jo and I had to mainly sit between Andrew's and Greg's legs!  Regardless, it was a blast.  We were there all day, but it went by too fast!  All of the famous, better sumo wrestlers don't wrestle until the end, but before they do, they do this big parade out to the ring and show all their sponsors, etc.  Very cool.  This is something I'll definitely want to do again next year (but maybe a little bigger of a box)!  

Birthday Trip to Kamakura

For my birthday, Greg and I took a day trip to Kamakura, a coastal town about an hour from Tokyo.  We visited the Hasedera Temple (on a hill with great views of the coast) and the bronze Great Buddha.  Then, in the afternoon we hung out at Enoshima beach.  Great trip!