Another busy week of pre-Japan preparation - I have practiced with my chop sticks with some Sushi; watched an amazing performance by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales - conducted by the fantastic Taaaki Otaka (who, in 2010 became Artistic Director of the New National Theatre Tokyo) with brilliant guest solo performances from Adam Walker, Anthony Marwood and Lawrence Power.  WMC kindly invited me to their interval reception where I also met the CEO of Sony, MD of Panasonic and Minister Edwina Hart - all of whom were very complimentary of our future endeavours and are excited to hear all about it when we return. Since Thursday I have also attempted to adjust to Japan time by waking up at 4am!!!  Friday evening I went to see Sutra by Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui and the Shaolin Temple monks and design by Antony Gormley - another brilliant evening of 'Bullet Proof Monk, meets Jenga, meets The Cube' extravaganza....I loved it. And finally a few hours of wrapping gifts and then trying to find somewhere in the suitcase to pack them in. Today I have been scrolling through Google Maps and walking the digital streets of Tokyo so I know whether to turn left or right out of the tube station to get to the apartment - it does freak me out that you can walk in to a shop on these things....how do they do that?!!  So far I have noticed a number of American fast food chains and lots of Tokyo residents wearing face masks.  Hopefully I shall make it in one piece.  

Some questions for you all;

What is the one thing we should do whilst in Tokyo/Japan?

What is the one thing we should eat?

What is the one thing we should not eat?

Are there any cultural events we should go to?

Who should we meet?

What do you want to know while we are out there?

Next posting will be from the other side of this world, until then Ogenki de

Michelle