Entrance to the university

It’s actually a pretty steep incline but I see it as good exercise for my knee.  Sometimes I have to go up and down several times a day because I have a lot of time between class and practice.

Kimchi & Cheese Flavored Cup Noodle

No joke.  I bought it at the supermarket the other day.  I was reluctant to try it but it wasn’t all that bad.  Interesting combo though…

Part of the Gym

It’s where champions are made…literally.  Olympic gold medalists like Hiroyuki Tomita, Takehiro Kashima, and Isao Yoneda came out of this place, as well as other Olympians.  It’s a privilege to be training at this gym with awesome athletes and coaches.

Humongous Buddha!

The Ushiku Daibutsu.  My friends and I saw it from the highway on our way to watch the “Freshmen Championships.”  The statue is huge!  You might not be able to tell from the picture but the little hazy thing by the left hand is an electric tower.  The Buddha is the tallest statue in Japan and the third largest in the world at 394 feet tall (got my facts from wikipedia).  Pretty amazing!

Mercedes-Benz McLaren

I really liked it so I bought it…ok just kidding.  No way I can afford a half-million dollar car but I saw it at a famous audio shop in Chiba Prefecture. Apparently there’s only a handful in Japan.  I’d be way too afraid to drive such an expensive car especially in the narrow streets of Japan!