Saturday, March 11th, 1989

Note:  This is a series of journal entries from my two years living in Himeji, Japan (1988-1990).  I'm archiving them electronically through my blog.  Last names have been deleted and replaced with first initial only.  For details on this series of blog entries, see this post.

 Well, it's been ages (actually a week & 5 days) since I've written, so I guess it's time to catch up.

The week of the 27th (Feb.) to March 5th, I didn't do much of anything.  E.S.S. girls were in Hokkaido, so no E.S.S. rehearsals, Nobu & 2 other teachers on same trip, so no faculty mtngs.  I hung around my apartment all week, did some occasional shopping, cleaned, did laundry, knit, watched t.v. and hibernated...it was great!

Friday the 3rd, I scrubbed all of the scum off of my wash room walls and in the shower...felt good to see the stuff come off the walls.  Also scrubbed floors.

Saturday I met Kimberly in Kobe, ordered the yarn for my sweater, shopped, then we came back here & watched videos and talked.  Kim stayed over.

Sunday we slept in, then lazed around until 2 or 3, and went for okonomiyaki in Mikage.  I gave the lady the Iowa towel I brought back from Christmas.  She was surprised!

Choir practice went well, as did our debut in church (except that the 1st song kind of died in the beginning, because we sang from the back and couldn't hear the piano).  Our anthems went well.

After church was singles.  We did an activity where we signed a piece of paper and everyone int he room had to write something nice about us.  (Editor's note...I still have this piece of paper in my bible!).  It was fun, and good positive reinforcement.  The lesson was about how soldiers are healed when wounded, but when Christians are "wounded", other Christians "finish the job" by adding insult to injury (meaning that instead of building someone up after they've sinned, we say things like "you're kidding", "you did what?", "that's terrible", etc.).

I stayed over at I's.  Carol knit my scarf off the needles, and we had a nice talk.

Monday was a stupid, boring faculty mtng.  I rode in the Nobu and Koko sensei.  Nobu didn't translate shit, so I have no idea what we talked about.  (I was so mad!!).  I got home 30 minutes before Kayo came for her lesson.  She had a cold, so didn't do very well.

Tuesday I bought traveler's checks, sent them to mom, bought Robin's b-day present, sent it off, and taught my Mizoguchi class...only 3 kids showed up.  It was a good class though.

Wednesday was an E.S.S. rehearsal.  It went pretty well, but Michiyo went home sick.  We didn't do the script, we worked on choreography and lip sync.

Thursday, Michiyo, Chinatsu, and Tomoko came over for dinner.  (Tomomi was grounded).  I made chili, and we ate lots of junk food.  We watched part of "Dirty Dancing", but they had to leave before it was over.

Friday was the graduation party.  It was at the castle hotel, and was really nice.  We had a sit down meal.  There were ice sculptures, girls in ceremonial kimono, gifts for sensei (desk lamps), and lots of pictures.  It was fun!

Afterwards, Kimberly and I ran to Kobe.  I picked up my yarn and came straight back.

Megumi class was dull.  I keep saying I don't think I'm teaching after spring break, but no one acknowledges my comments.  

Today I went to A-Coop to buy make-up for my theater class.  How embarrassing (and, with a few groceries, my bill was 10,714 yen...ugh!!).

Tonight I'm going out with J's, K's, and Barrett for Barrett's farewell party.

One embarrassing thing, I forgot to mention- on Wednesday (I think) when I went to school, I went to the station early to buy Kaisuken (11 tickets in a booklet for the price of 10). I went to the window and instead of saying "kaisuken o kaitai" (I want to buy a ticket booklet), I said "kisuten o kaitai"...( I want to buy a coffee shop)...I'm beginning to have a lot of empathy for foreigners who flub in America!

Monday, February 27th, 1989

Note:  This is a series of journal entries from my two years living in Himeji, Japan (1988-1990).  I'm archiving them electronically through my blog.  Last names have been deleted and replaced with first initial only.  For details on this series of blog entries, see this post.

Yesterday I slept in until about 10:30.  I got up and puttered around the apartment until 3:30.  I caught the bantansen, then the shinkaisoku, then Hankyu Rail, and went to Rokko.  I got there at 4:30.  The key arrived at 5:00.  We had practice.  It went well.  We'll be ready for next Sunday's debut.

I led music during church, and only blew it on 2 songs.  Oh well...2 out of 4 isn't bad??!!

After church we attempted to locate a place, and find people to go to the b-day party for Paula, Mitsuko, and Isaku...fun...since none of them were there for church.  Paula went home tired, Mitsuko came after church, and Isaku met us there.

We finally found a robata in Okamoto.   We had such a good time!  It started with the ordering fiasco.  We threw items out to vote on and the waiter kept writing everything we said down.  We asked him to come back later, and finally decided.  Among the items were sashimi, yakitori, butter corn, and someone ordered blowfish...you know...the kind were you could die eating it...no one died, though.  I didn't try it.

The entire evening everyone in the restaurant stared at us.  Of course it didn't help that one of us picked up the head of the fish and dropped it screaming when a nerve in it twitched.  It also didn't help that it landed right in a water glass.

Decorating the birthday cake for Mitsuko at our table didn't help either.  Nor did singing happy birthday to her, or doing karaoke (and not always very well, I might add).  We were so used to being stared at by the time we got the cake decorated, that we decided to go around to each table and give everyone a piece of it.  I got lots of pictures!

Isaku and Masami were horribly embarrassed that no one ordered beer or alcohol (that's the thing to do at robata).  I obliged by ordering a chuhai.

We forgot the girl from Germany, so called her later & told her how to get there and she came (we didn't know she was coming).

I took JR home from the eki near the robata.  I had to take the kaisoku.  I didn't get home until 1:00 a.m.

Today I had to get up at 7 to teach at the business school with Mike.  It was fun.  The class was pretty good.

A limo picked me up to go.  When we arrived the doorman let us in, and all of the workers saluted us as we went in. We had tea in the reception room, etc.  They paid for a taxi to take us home.  What a swanky place!  It was a really nice place.  It looked a lot like a hotel.

This afternoon I ran my film downtown, bought choir folders, and went to the grocery store.

Now I'm waiting for Kayo to come, hoping not to fall asleep.

Friday, February 17th, 1989

Note:  This is a series of journal entries from my two years living in Himeji, Japan (1988-1990).  I'm archiving them electronically through my blog.  Last names have been deleted and replaced with first initial only.  For details on this series of blog entries, see this post.

Today was a pretty good day.  It was rainy, and yukky outside so I holed myself up in my apartment and cleaned out drawers, wrote 9 letters, and played my new CD player all day.

I did go to the post office to pay my 2 phone bills, and had a terrible time with my umbrella and the wind.  I also went to A-Coop and bought stuff for french toast. It wasn't as good as Kimberly's, but it was okay.

Tonight I taught my class at Megumi then came back here.  Now I'm going to tape my food stamps onto the sheets, and maybe watch a movie.

Not a terribly exciting entry (or day) but I really enjoyed just doing 1 thing (writing letters).  I was alone, and it was a pretty stress free day.

I noticed that new nameplates were put on the mailboxes today.  Here is the old one:

Friday, February 10th, 1989

Note:  This is a series of journal entries from my two years living in Himeji, Japan (1988-1990).  I'm archiving them electronically through my blog.  Last names have been deleted and replaced with first initial only.  For details on this series of blog entries, see this post.

Wednesday night I waited at school until 6:30, and rode with Koji to Akira's apartment.  We had a good time, as usual.  Next week we're going to go downtown to the entertainment district for dinner.  Should be a great time.  Koji took me home afterwards.

Thursday I came to school and rewrote the script for Shirotopia, and typed it up.  After lunch we had E.S.S. practice.  Michiyo "forgot" we had rehearsal...again.  I'm ready to drop her from the show if she doesn't shape up soon.

Last night I went home, ate dinner, watched videos (Pop Betty House), news, and Tunnels.  I also got my videos labeled.

Caught 4 girls cheating.  Rather severe consequences...flunk the class, have to take next year, and thusly may not have enough credits to graduate on time.

Taught at Megumi.  They gave me a big box of chocolates for Valentine's Day...how nice!

Friday, February 3rd, 1989

Note:  This is a series of journal entries from my two years living in Himeji, Japan (1988-1990).  I'm archiving them electronically through my blog.  Last names have been deleted and replaced with first initial only.  For details on this series of blog entries, see this post.

Last night Akira and Hiroko came for dinner.  Koji couldn't make it.  We had tater tot casserole, salad, baked potatoes, croissants, and corn.  It was fun.  Next week we're going to Hiroko's house.

They brought me some beans for today, which is "Setsubun".  This is where you throw a handful out of your house and say "oni wa soto, fuku wa uchi" (Devil is out, luck is in).  I did it at home at at work.  (I'll take all the luck I can get!).  We also talked about their upcoming wedding, things to do during spring vacation, etc.

I called home to wish mom a happy birthday.  She wasn't there the first time I called (at 7:00 a.m.  She was out picking up a birthday cake to take to school!).

Went to sleep at 10:30, but got an idea for a story so stayed up until 11:15 writing that.  At the end of this entry I'm going to write it here.

Today I recopied my story which I may use if I have to give testimony at KIBC.  I copied some music for choir, and copied a section from "Medea" in Japanese for my English Drama class.

I need to work on my book and units for English Drama, so it could be a busy day, but my hand is getting tired from all this writing.

Anyway, here's the story I wrote last night:

The Negativites of Negativonia

Once upon a time there was a land called Negativonia. No one was happy there.  The adults were negative, the children were negative, and even the dogs and cats were negative.  Nothing good ever happened, because when it did people only looked for, and saw, the bad points.

If there was a good harvest, the people would point out that the harvest twelve years ago was better or that they probably wouldn't get much rain now, so next years crop would be planted in very dry soil and not grow well, and that they'd feast this year, but starve next year.

If it was someone's birthday, they didn't have parties and celebrate.  They pointed out that they were a year older, and that it had been a difficult year, and the next would probably be even more difficult.

Nothing was ever built, or repaired in Negativonia, because people didn't think it would be worth the effort, because a tornado could come and blow it down, or a fire could destroy all their work, and then they'd have to do it all over again.  So, you can imagine what their town must have looked like!

As children grew up in Negativonia, they became more and more negative.  They started out like boys and girls from any other town, but the influence of all the other people gradually made them like their friends, family, and neighbors.   They started out by complaining about playing, then, as they grew older, school, then dating, then their jobs, and the negativity increased year by year.

Old people were so negative, that a stranger passing through town would in no way be able to convince them that it was a nice day, even it it was, and they weren't just making "small talk".

People who moved to town, and left after a short time were generally unaffected, but not totally.  They came in positive and full of hope and expectation, but got burdened down by all the negativity around them, and started to act the same way.  However, whether through realizing that they didn't like being that way, or because Negativonia didn't offer what they wanted, they moved away and the effects of their stay vanished with time.

Negativity was easy for the people of Negativonia, because they used it all the time, for everything.  Things built upon themselves here.

If the person was a teacher, first the days would be too long, then the work too time consuming, then the students unmotivated, then the administration ineffective and unsympathetic, then the school system in need of reform...and on and on.

If the person worked in one of the village businesses it started with lunch hours being too short, then work hours too long, then inconsiderate coworkers, then unfeeling bosses, and it went on and on, too.

Anyway, the Negativites, as they were called, had a custom, handed down from generation to generation, and, as with most customs, the Negativites had no idea why they did it, or what it really meant, but of course, they always did it each year, because it was, after all, tradition.

On the 3rd Sunday in March of each year, just after the close of their school year (in which the older Negativites were sure the children would forget everything they learned during that term, and the children were sure they would be bored the entire break), they participated in something called "Positive Thing Day".

They all gathered in the village square in a circle, and each person said something positive.  It didn't matter what, but they just had to say something positive.  Some people thought of things in a fairly short time (and were scowled at by the older, and more negative people around the circle), but most took many minutes to think of something to say that was positive.

The problem was, you see, that since they had no idea where this custom originated, or why they were doing it, it didn't mean anything.  Year after year they got into the circle on the 3rd Sunday in March, after the close of the school year, and said something they didn't truly feel.  Some people even wrote something on a piece of paper at some point during the year to "get through it quicker" on that special day.

It happened one year, however, that a stranger was passing through town on "Positive Thing Day", and after listening for awhile, unnoticed, asked what they were doing.  They replied in their usual bored, negative way that it was "Positive Thing Day", and that this was a town tradition.

The stranger asked what "Positive Thing Day" was, and why they held it , and one of the more optimistic townsmen, explained what they did this each year on the 3rd Sunday of March after the close of their school year, but was stumped when asked again, "why"?  And because it was a tradition, and like most traditions no one knew why it was done or what it meant, no one in the circle could come up with an explanation.

The stranger, seeing several people holding pieces of paper in their hands then asked what they were.  An old Negativite replied sourly that at some point during the year people wrote something down to say that sounded positive for the 3rd Sunday in March, after the close of the school year just to "speed the darned thing up".

The stranger frowned, and asked if he might be allowed to say something positive, even though he was "just passing through".  Several people voted "no", because he was a stranger, but this particular year there were many younger Negativites who hadn't been pounded by negativity long enough to be truly sour.  They voted, "I suppose".

The stranger began to speak, but was interrupted by the Negativonian mayor (who had voted no, and was looking for a way to stop this interruption).  The mayor pulled out a dusty copy of the town constitution and read "a strangers comments, when submitted on 'Positive Thing Day' must be written out, and read by a native Negativite".  It could not be read by a non-Negativite, you see.  The mayor continued, "Furthermore, the writer can not be present when his comments are read". (Traditions always have little twists, or unusual by-laws that "pop up" when convenient).

So, the stranger shrugged his shoulders, and continued on his way.  After he left, one of the younger Negativites, who was 20- the age of allowance into the circle on "Positive Thing Day", opened the note and read the following:

"Positivity is not just a few words scrawled on a piece of paper, or blankly thrown from a person's mouth.  It's a feeling, it is being alive, and not restricted to a wheelchair or a sick bed.

It's being able to walk, unrestricted, to places you want to go, and not forced to march to places you don't.  It's taking time to notice the world around you and how many wonderful things are in it.  It's rejoicing in family and friends.

Positivity is believing in God, and knowing that he is there for you any time that you need him, and will watch over you even when you think you don't need him to.

Positivity is life itself...watched over by God, sought out by you, and shared with others."

From that point on the people of Negativonia started trying to mean what they said on the 3rd Sunday of March, after the close of the school year, in the circle, on "Positive Thing Day".

It would be unrealistic to say that they changed overnight, but from that point on people began to realize why they got together on "Positive Thing Day", and, maybe, why their forefathers had a "Positive Thing Day' to begin with.

The end.

Saturday, January 28th, 1989

Note:  This is a series of journal entries from my two years living in Himeji, Japan (1988-1990).  I'm archiving them electronically through my blog.  Last names have been deleted and replaced with first initial only.  For details on this series of blog entries, see this post.

Well, it's been absolutely forever since my last entry, and I've kept putting it off and putting it off, so who knows how much I can remember to write about.

Let's see...

from looking in my datebook, it says that on December 9th I stayed over at H's in Kobe.  Nora and Erin were babysitting the H's kids and Kim & I went to stay over.  We ordered pizza and watched videos, then the next day went to the zoo.  It was fun.

Kimberly and I saw "Roger Rabbit" on December 10th.  What a great movie!  The live/animation mix was really believable.

On December 11th some of the singles from the Osaka church, Barry, Kimberly and I went to an Indian restaurant in Osaka for lunch.  After that I had keys made to my apt. and office so that my plants could be watered while I was in America, then we went to Nobuya's house & watched an Amy Grant video, then went to church.

I had dinner with Akira, Hiroko, and Koji on December 12th and changed yen to $$$$!

On Friday, December 16th we had an all day rehearsal of the Christmas pageant.  It looked like it would be a really good show.  After rehearsal, I went to the Megumi Christmas party.  They gave me a winter house jacket and a good luck picture for '89.

I had to leave suddenly, because I had to catch a shinkaisoku to Sannomiya to stay with I's.  I didn't know when the last one out of Himeji was, and looked at my train schedule about 20 minutes before the last one left.  At I's, Carol taught me how to knit (grandma slippers) and I stayed up until 1 a.m. learning how to make them.

On Saturday, December 17th Kim came over and she & Nobu dropped me off at the airport.  I met some people in line & we talked while we waited to check in.  The flight home was a total ordeal.  We were 2 hours late leaving Tokyo.  When we got to Seattle it was fogged in, so we landed in Moses Lake, Washington and refueled for 2 hours, then, we circled Seattle for 45 minutes before the pilot decided to go on to San Francisco to land.

In San Francisco all 200 of us had to go to the NW counter & get reroute tickets.  It was 6:30...my connecting flight left at 1 a.m.  Somehow mom & dad tracked me down.  I called them back & they had to go back to Fairfield & come back again the next day.

I slept from S.F. to Minneapolis, had a 3 hour layover there, and, walking to my departure gate, noticed that I was getting closer and closer to the end of the airport.  Finally I saw that I had to go down some stairs.  My gate was a door outside to an 18 seat plane.  Ugh!

It was a one stop to C.R. (in Waterloo).  Upon arriving in w.loo, we had to disboard because there were only 3 people working at the airport, and they were behind schedule.  Looking back at the plane, we noticed that both tires were flat...we finally arrived in C.R.  I was only 14 hours late.

I met a girl named Debra, who is studying in Kyoto, on the plane, so maybe we'll get together when she gets back...

Iowa was fabulous!  The 1st week home I had lunch w/LaDawn & Peggy, bought an outfit at Perry's, did other big time shopping and on Dec. 24th we watched the Santa parade, fondued, and opened presents (no Christmas eve service this year).  I got a subscription to Time, a fondue pot, a watercolor by Susie K., a sweatshirt, and a Calvin & Hobbes book.

On Christmas day I sang & Robin read scripture to Mannheim Steamroller's "Oh Holy Night".  After church we went to grandma & grandpa Reynolds.  Kim & John, John, Doris & Charles, came down too & we spent the afternoon & evening playing games & talking.  Kim & John left that night :-(  The next day was Reynolds Christmas & I got to see everyone else.  When we left Doug hugged me, which surprised me a little!

On Tuesday the 27th LaDawn had a welcome home party for me.  I was exhausted and ready to leave when Leon and Carmen came.  We spent the rest of the evening talking.  It was so good to see them!  Others there were Nancy W., Missy, Susan A., Steve B., Therese T., Joe F, & LaDawn's new hunny.  Interesting...

Wednesday we left for Pennsylvania.  We left at noon and stayed overnight at Red Roof Inn in Elk Heart, Indiana...scary place!

Thursday we drove on and unpacked at Days Inn, then went to M's for dinner.  They have a great house in a private land development called Treasure Lake...beautiful!

Friday we explored Brookville & had the wedding rehearsal.  The church was beautiful, and I finally got to meet Dave.  Really a nice guy!  After the rehearsal was the dinner at the Days Inn restaurant.  M & D opened some of their presents from close friends & family.  They loved the bride doll I got them.  They had a birthday cake for Brian brought out as a surprise.

Saturday was the wedding.  During most of the day, I was stranded at the hotel, but dad rescued me & we went to a really great country craft store.  I practiced with the accompanist after that, then was the wedding.  It was really beautiful!  I sang 4 songs:  "If", "The Lord's Prayer", "Honestly", and "Annie's Song".  They went well.  Before the wedding Rob, Brian, Missa, & I had a picture taken together.  Can't wait to get mine!

The reception was at the Brookville Country Club.  It was kind of dull...no one to dance with.  Melissa and Dave look great together.

We rang in the new year then went to the hotel to get a little sleep (ha ha).  We went to bed at 1, got up at 5:30, & really didn't get a lot of sleep between these times. The hotel was a zoo.  When we left the next morning, there was confetti all over the hallway.

Sunday, Jan. 1, 1989 we drove & drove & drove & drove & drove (for 14 hours).  We got home at about 6 or 7 & collapsed.  It was fun, but a little depressing since I wasn't the one marrying her...oh well.

Monday I had lunch w/Nancy at Country Kitchen.  It was fun.  Tuesday was lunch w/Jan at Pizza Hut.  We hadn't talked for ages!

Wednesday grandma & grandpa came for the night.  Dave T. came that night, too.  It was nice to talk to him!  He got engaged after coming home from Japan in August, but it was broken by the time I came home.  Of course I congratulated him heartily, then found out they broke up...

Thursday I went to C.R. with LaDawn.  I charged big time on my J.C. Penney card.  We ate lunch at Bishops.  We had a good day.  That night Edna came over for dinner.

Friday I had lunch with Peggy and we fondued for dinner.  Robin & I cried together & I went to bed.

Saturday we left at 4:30 a.m. for C.R.  I said goodbye & almost made it without crying.  I cried on the plane.

We waited on the runway for 1 1/2 hours then went back inside.  It was foggy.  Standing in line to get tickets changed I met a couple from Kobe who used the same travel agent- Amy and Willie.  We got to know each other well on this trip because we changed our tickets to a 4:00 flight (which we hurriedly changed when they announced our flight from before leaving 15 minutes later than that announcement). (I called home & they were going to come & spend the day with me, then I had to call them back & hurriedly say goodbye...).

We flew on to Seattle to get out of the foggy midwest.  It turns out we missed our connecting flight in Seattle by 30 minutes.  Actually it was on the runway when we got there.  Grrr.

So, we stayed at the Hyatt Seattle, on Northwest.  It was a nice hotel & all meals were paid..., but I didn't want to deal with all the delays again (see above).

The next day was,of course, foggy, but we got out okay.  We were delayed, but made up the time somewhere.  We were bused directly to our connecting flight and made it to Osaka pretty much on schedule.

Of course my ride was there the day before, and picked up Kim, who was supposed to be my traveling companion from Minneapolis, so I caught the bus to Kobe w/Amy & Willie, then carried my baggage 3 blocks to the train station, got it all up onto the platform, got on the super crowded train full of rude Japanese cretins, and, in Himeji caught a taxi (inhabited by one of the many asshole taxi drivers in Himeji) to my apartment.

I was supposed to teach on Tuesday but I called Carol and she called & said I wouldn't be in...so ends the saga of my trip home...except that after Kakogawa the train emptied and a slightly drunk Japanese man bade me to sit with him & he proceeded to practice his English all the way to Himeji...just what I didn't want!

Since returning to Japan, I've not been real happy.  Things at Hinomoto are awful.  English conversation is looked upon as unnecessary.  O. sensei says he doesn't really like English conversation.  The faculty is "upset" that the conversation teachers are "not trained teachers" (I am, and Linda Lee is) and that our students aren't learning (it's our fault that they are unmotivated and stupid).  I'm back in my "rut" of lessons.  I felt excluded at church the first time back, Kimberly told me she's going home to stay in August, etc. etc.

Anyway, I'm adjusting again, now.  Saturday the 14th Kim & I went to Mike & Resa's new house...what a nice place!  We watched videos & ate gyoza & chicken.

Monday the 16th Akira, Hiroko, Kim & I went to Kobe.  We ate at Central Station, shopped at OPA, then went into Sannomiya.  I bought a hounds tooth, double-breasted suit, & some other clothes.

This was a horrible week- meeting wise.  Tues. & Thurs. English meetings at 8:15, Wednesday- faculty mtng. from 1:30 - 7, Thursday- English staff meeting from 4:15 - 9.  Of course I had E.S.S. on Thursday & had to cancel.  Same on the 25th because of a faculty meeting that "ran over".  I truly from the depths of my soul despise meetings at this school.

On Saturday I went to K's open house, had some cake & tea, got a check to send home.

On Sunday, January 16th, I went to Rokko and met Jim O. to practice.  We performed at a wedding reception for members of the church who got married in Hawaii Dec. 31st. (There were a lot of weddings then:  Missa & Dave, these two, Amy & Willie)...

The reception was very nice.  After that was Bible study, church, then singles fellowship.  Our lesson in singles was on forgiveness.  It was very good.  After that we bought bunches of bulk groceries from Mary & ordered more (from Dave's company)(he goes to our church).  I stayed over at I's.

Monday, Jan. 23rd it poured.  My shoes had holes in them, so my feet were cold & wet all day.  I went to Sannomiya to pick up my pants bought last Monday.  Kayo came for her 1st lesson of '89.

Tuesday was busy.  3 classes, Joyful Noise at lunch, 2 hour koto practice, Mizoguchi class.

Wednesday koto club, Joyful Noise, & "Jeff soloist" performed in chapel.  Koto was okay, Joyful noise...noise, and my solo went well.  I had my meeting (faculty) that ran over, then went to Akira's for dinner.

Thursday was E.S.S. 4th period & after school we worked hard on "Postman".

Friday- Megumi class.  I went to J's after, to copy "Postman" over & over for practice tape.

Today I cleaned, went shopping, did laundry, and wrote this book/entry.

The end (until next time)

P.S.  The emperor died on Jan. 7th- two days before I came back...I still can say I lived in Japan when the emperor died & was here when they had the funeral, but will have to say I was in America on vacation on the day he died & heard about it from Dan Rather...