I went to Kitakami

And I was only there for about 19 hours. (So it was a good thing I barely slept.)

My mate Trevor, who is currently in Japan, and I went up north to visit Michael over the weekend. Even on two shinkansen (bullet trains) it still took us 4.5 hours in transit.


When we finally arrived at Kitakami Station, I caught a distant glimpse of someone up ahead. I thought, "Oh, a foreigner. What's with that smug look on his face?"

Of course, it later turned out to be Michael. I just hadn't recognised him.

I don't mean to disappoint, but it wasn't like some Hollywood reunion where people run to each other and fall in one another's arms, swearing to never part again. It was more of a "Hey. What's up?"

Michael introduced us to Sasha, his slick, purple "steed". I must admit, she was one fine transportation. It was approaching 9pm by this time, so we wasted little time in moseying on to Michael's apartment. Not long after, we all headed out to a karaoke, with Michael's friend Megan. And so began the singing, catching up, drinking, and the ice-cream eating. It was a top night, easily one of the best I've ever had.

There was also a funny story which involved me accidentally taking a dump in the female toilets. (I even left a present in there.)

It must've been about 3:30-4:00am by the time we got back to Michael's place, and the sky was already turning to a lighter purple. We basically talked until nearly 7am, when the oba-chans were beginning their morning strolls (we believe to the oba-chan graveyard). About three hours later we got up again and headed out to meet Kitakami in daylight.

Trevor stayed behind to stay with Michael for a few days, but I returned home later that day, as I had work the next morning. 19 hours - possibly the World Record for the Shortest Holiday Ever.

((Tokyo photos soon! I promise!!))

EDIT: I forgot to mention something else that happened in Kitakami... I experienced my first earthquake! I'm still kinda creeped out by the way it happened though. Trevor was halfway through a sentence when Michael, seemingly possessed, said neutrally: "Earthquake." It was the exact same tone he uses when he says "and there goes the 11:41 Shinkansen". But I'm sure there was a full one or two second delay before I actually heard/felt it. It was my first earthquake that could be considered more than just a window-vibrating tremor.

You know, Nagano is surrounded by active volcanoes, but I have to go up north all the way to Kitakami to feel an earthquake.