Good day to everyone!
Not much interesting has been happening lately, aside from work and my catching up on The Big Bang Theory (I started watching it at the beginning of this year, so I have many episodes to view. No complaints!).
However, on Sunday, my friends and I spent a day in Kurayoshi, home to our Japanese co-worker and friend. I love this small town in Tottori Prefecture: It's surrounded by lakes, mountains, open fields, and beautiful Japanese homes. I felt more connected to Japan in the hours I was there than I have since I was in Okayama.
We attended a manga fair that featured artwork and displays for three famous local manga artists. The only character I recognized was Detective Conan, whose anime in America is called Case Closed! I love the quirky, clever plot behind this fascinating mystery series.
Look! I'm Conan!
I'm the princess of Tottori's Manga Kingdom! :P
Which pose looks better? I wanted to imitate Conan.
Autograph from and picture with two girls at the fair.
My friends and I had an awesome time at the fair. Not many people were there by the time we arrived--we caught the last two hours of the event--but we still enjoyed some live entertainment that included singing, dancing, and comedy acts. We also perused the gift shops to see the manga, anime, and other Japanese goodies the merchants had to offer.
On our way to the fair, we spotted a beautiful Chinese shrine surrounded by a lush garden. We stopped over there for about an hour. I was in heaven! I adore pandas and Oriental architecture, so this spot was a must-see for me.
Our panda caddies for our bags.
Trying to look sophisticated, pensive, and maybe a little emo.
Our Japanese co-worker kindly invited us over for dinner at his home. Out of respect for his privacy and to avoid appearing creepy, I didn't take any pictures of his abode. We had a great time playing video games on his N64--I love games, and playing old favorites like Super Smash Bros. and Mario Tennis 64 in Japan may have added to my "Life Completeness" meter--and eating Japanese curry. I also learned how to play the card game Revolution as well as an American board game he had purchased in California called Sequence. I think I have new pastimes to share with my friends back home.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy the pictures! Till next time!
