Interesting sign in NRT

I am currently in transit to Nagoya, and this sign was in the ANA domestic departure section in Tokyo Narita airport (NRT). I found it amusing. That guy in the second pic I guess is a little sweaty down there.

Some views of where I’m staying

Its been a little more than a week now.  The umbrella organization of the band that I am staying/performing with is a Tenrikyo church, Aimachi, located in Nagoya.  But the actual rehearsal facilities and pretty much anything to do with the band is located at a subordinate church in Handa (about 45 minutes south of Nagoya) called Aikiyo.  The complex that I’m staying in has the church, the parsonage (or their equivalent of one), a cafeteria, a HUGE rehearsal gym and several rooms for the different sections to rehearse in, along with gorgeous Japanese landscaping all over the campus.

Main entrance gate

The original Aikiyo church and grounds (from just inside the main gate)

Neat training & pruning of a tree

More landscape, from between the parsonage and church going farther back into the campus

Central garden. That "Dome House" is where I stay, in the basement.

Another view of the central garden.

Shopping in Nagoya

I was excited since I’ve never been in a situation where I get to go shopping, and I have to spend $500.  (If you’re not sure what I’m referring to, read this post) Its pretty cool to walk in a store and say,”Help me spend $500.”  We went to an Adidas store and I picked up the pair of shoes I’ve been wanting, then we head over to Banana Republic.  Its an American company, and I like their stuff, so I figured I could get some jeans and other things and I know how they fit my body.  This video pretty much sums up my entire experience shopping that day.

If you are an American (or American sized, or just bigger than the average Japanese person) you may have a difficult time finding clothes that fit you.  I tried on several pairs of jeans, and they all fit really awkwardly.  And my rear didn’t look good in them, either.

In the end, all I ended up buying was a pair of running shoes and a nice polo shirt from Banana Republic.  To a whopping grand total of about $150.  😦  And now that by bag came back, I can’t spend anymore, unless its delayed again.  Oh well, at least I got back what I laid out in premiums.