matt.me63.com - Matt Edgar

1. visited lots of temples
2. shopped in the markets at the temple gates
3. travelled by Shinkansen
4. ate green KitKats
5. trod a fine line between kawaii and genki
6. got told off by a monk
7. walked in our socks across squeeky floorboards
8. frequently confronted the question of Theseus’ ship
9. ate cherry blossom ice cream
10. took an outdoor bath in hot spring water
11. visited the valley of hell by cable car
12. climbed aboard the cat bus
13. made friends with electricity
14. made a distress purchase of two umbrellas
15. ate mcdonald’s only once
16. played on the roof of the Children’s Castle
17. Lost Darth Vader in an Asaka sandpit
18. bought disney seaweed
19. got our bags back at terminal five
20. woke up at 2am feeling like it was 10 in the morning

Thanks to Edmund and Chika: our hosts, travel agents, tour guides and translators!

Michio Kanda is a Japanese town office employee and world-record-holding balloonist who has gone missing over the North Pacific while attempting to fly from Japan to North America. My brother and sister-in-law are part of his support team. They’ve set up a blog to provide updates on the ongoing attempt to locate him at http://kandaupdate.wordpress.com/

On his latest trip Kanda-san, who is 58, was attempting to break two world records: his own for duration spent in the air, and one currently held by Richard Branson for the longest distance travelled in a hot air balloon. His balloon “Starlight” is the second-biggest ever made. It has a safety capsule equipped with 20 days’ food and water.

Here’s hoping the search is successful and Kanda-san is soon found safe and well.