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Today seemed like a whole weekend in one day, if such a thing is possible. In that respect, it was a fantastic day-- one of the best so far-- but full of mixed feelings.

After an hour or so of household chores and studying, I left for Shinjuku to meet my new English client. He was half an hour late but it didn't really matter. Even though he wants to pay me less than my requested rate I'll keep him on simply because he seems like such a cool guy. His meishi lists him as Assistant Manager of Toy Design for Disney. Prior to that, he worked at a gaming company (Sega?) and designed games like Tekken and some other game (I forget the name) that apparently inspired the Wa... Wacho... WhoozaBrothers... those guys that made The Matrix.

He's recenently met (on various occasions) with Hayao Miyazaki, Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Tom Cruise and the fellow who directed Toy Story and Finding Nemo. He gets into Tokyo Disney with up to three companions for free and when I casually asked about the new release of Naussica he said he'd bring me one of his company copies for free. I didn't even ask. Apparently his job is the type that leaves him rolling in free merchandise. He showed me a picture of his desk and it's covered in plushies and figurines. I had to laugh.

Hmm, I think this is one contact I want to keep. His English actually needs work so it feels more like a lesson and less like a date.

After I met with this fellow, I hopped on the first train in Shinjuku that I felt was going in the right direction and rode this line, the Chuo-Sobu sen until the last stop. I sat next to a man who smelled of Lemon Pine-sol. I watched a woman entertain her fat, happy baby. I felt myself open up as the train moved farther and farther from the city until we crossed one river, then two, then three, and the buildings gave way to sky.

I was hoping to get far enough out to Chiba to maybe see the ocean but for some reason the line stopped before Chiba in Tsunadabashi (?) and so I got off there. For the limited amount of time I spent walking about, I don't know why I didn't gate-jump and spare myself the $10 two-way fare. Ugh.

But I can't complain. The experience was worth it... just to walk for twenty minutes in a place that felt more like a TOWN than a CITY. I saw only two other foreigners the whole time and they were both hawking goods and services at the station. It felt distinctively different and certainly more CHRISTMAS. Everywhere I went I heard English carols, even freaking Brittney Spears Xmas music from some department store.

On the way back, we passed a Toys R' Us, a Sports Authority and a Pachinko parlor ad solely featuring the faces of two Black people. I think $10 was a good price for two and a half hours of relaxation. Plus, my host dad gave me some random commuter pass tonight that still has about $6 left on it, so I'm breaking even.

When I got back, I found otoosan had ordered a mini Domino's pizza. Thin crust seems common here, as do distinctively Japanese toppings like Shrimp and Squid. But eh, I ain't complaining.

We watched The Last Samurai in a movie theater ten times as big and impressive as any I have ever been to. Dad forked out another $10 for popcorn and two Diet Cokes while I ogled the people who were buying Heinekin and wine to go with their hot dogs. Some things really are amusing about this country.

The movie itself was excellent. I think it ranks already on my list of favorites if simply because I can identify with it so incredibly much. I almost peed myself laughing at Tom Cruise trying to speak Japanese. On top of that, it was beautiful, touching, and nearly historically accurate. The latter provides a problem, as any general history concerning America and foreign countries simply makes me despise my motherland, especially in light of current international policy. I can't help but feeling a great sense of shame concerning my association with such a history and such a place. Certainly, America is a great nation and certainly, I do love it. But I love it because it is my home... not because of what it stands for. I suffer from a white man's guilt complex. Especially here, in a place where whenever someone mentions the "Second War" I feel myself visibly flinch.

Afterwards, my host dad and I tried to talk about what we thought of the movie. He certainly is an intelligent guy, and between two broken languages we managed to get out most of our opinions. I wasn't hungry or thirsty but before we left Roppongi, he wanted to go get drinks and Yakitori. We went together to a rather yuppie Yakitori-ya. Despite my insistence that water was fine, he ordered a $30 bottle of Chianti, beer for himself (though he drank about half the wine, too) and various Yakitori. It's an interesting thing to watch a Japanese man eat Chiken Kneecaps with relish. I'll admit, though, the Chicken Liver skewer was more delicious than I could have imagined.

We talked for over an hour and I even learned about my host father's family. He comes from a home with seven siblings but one, an older sister, has since passed away. I didn't ask how or why.

I accomplished a lot. Spent time with dad. By myself. Met interesting people. Saw interesting movie. Ate. Drank. Talked. Thought. Dreamed. Lived and laughed well.

If only more days were like this. Things are looking up.