“Cat hope welcome you cat’s happy home!”
At the end of a thirty hour day that included crossing the International Date Line and being sidelined by a typhoon, which closed Tokyo’s Narita Airport for several hours while our plane waited at the airport in Osaka, I lay my weary bones upon a floor futon in a tatami room and breathed in gratitude for Toyko’s remarkable hospitality. Dear Koki Aso waited for me for EIGHT HOURS at Narita, sweetly and cheerfully, and delivered me to Yuko Tsukamoto in North Tokyo, who waited up for me until 1:30 AM, and stayed up with me another hour to make sure I was comfortable. I am fortunate indeed to have friends such as these.
I discovered the little box above on the bathroom shelf in Yuko’s family’s apartment where I am spending four nights.
Alicia Bay Laurel 