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On May 12, 2007, a Saturday, as I was leaving my cleaning duty, last year's exchange student to New Jersey, Yurie Hirosue stopped me. I always just call her Hiro, which is very informal and friendly, but I'm probably the only one in the whole world who calls her that. Anyway she invited me to lunch and to visit with her family. I had no idea what was in store, as we drove along the Kochi coastline. Instead of going directly to Hiro's father's Medical clinic directly, we made enjoyable little stops. First we ate lunch, then headed to Aki.
No way? If Yurie eating food? I would have never guessed. (Sarcasm, as Yurie Hirosue eats ALOT.)
In Aki, we visited the famous clock tower and Samurai residents, known as Nora Dokei. The clocks were used by farmers to time in the fields in the Meiji-era. Also it is said that Nora Dokei is the oldest hand-made clock in Japan. What I thought was interesting was that the numbers were in Roman numerals and not the traditional Chinese characters.
For once in her life, I let her be taller...
Here we are, checking out the old Samurai quarters just below the clock tower
Now I'm a daredevil when it comes to food, but not ice cream. While I enjoyed my Strawberry Ice, Yurie goobled down Egg White Ice Cream.
Yurie, Dr. Hirosue, and I at Strawberry Fields Medical Clinic
Yurie and I try to Anpanman. But as you can see, with my chubby cheeks, I win!
On May 26, 2007, Hiro and her mother drive me all the way to the world renowned Anpanman museum. Anpanman Museum, or Yanase Takashi Memorial Art Museum, located in the cartoonist Yanase's hometown, Kahoku-cho, Kochi Prefecture, Shikoku, in the southern part of Japan. This is a museum devoted to an enormously popular cartoon hero created by Mr. Yanase, a cartoonist, illustrator and author of children's books. Yanase created the Anpanman character in the picture book Anpanman, published in 1973. The original story goes a little something like this: A baker named Uncle Jam was baking bread one night. Suddenly, a fragment of a golden star fell through the chimney, and became the character called Anpanman. Anpan is one of the most popular pastries in Japan and is a round bread with sweet bean paste filling. Anpanman, a fairy tale superhero with an Anpan-head, can fly and fights for justice, but hates violence. He tries to save the world not with his physical strength, but rather by sacrificing himself. For instance, he saves a hungry boy by allowing him to eat his head. After his job as a superhero is done, he returns to Uncle Jam. Anpanman's head is often half, or even completely, eaten up. Thanks to Uncle Jam though his head is revitalized over and over again, because baking the Anpan-head is not a difficult task for the baker.
First we stopped for delicious Ohm Rice, and ran into Neko Bus.
I actually lost 5 out of the 5 times we played the silly crocodile tooth game.
Yurie, Achachanman (Baby Man) and Me.
This picture is so Kemoi (gross) Anpanman is feeding his head to a starving child. I know I keep saying this, but a hero who lets people eat his head is just freaking weird.
This is Shokupan Man. He is better than sliced bread... haha
The Anpanman villian, who is just a cute little germ.
My favorite Anpanman character is Curry Pan Man. He is a bread roll with Curry inside. He's is absolutely the coolest thing ever. I mean anyone who can fight crime with a head full of Curry is wicked.
The villian in Anpanman is actually a Germ, which makes sense because he tries to kill the Carbohydrate Clan with mold or something. Yurie and I got to drive his evil vehicle.
Jam Ojiisan, Anpanman's Baker and fatherly figure thing's bakery.
2 Gorgeous models and a stuffed piece of Bread.
I know we look like we are praying. But actually, MelonpanMan, uses the Nun-look, so Yurie and I did too.
Everyone orders juice, but I order a hot coffee. Because I'm such a grownup.
Okay I'm not pointing to Sae's boob. She had spilled some coffee on her new white blouse and Yurie insisted on taking another pictures.
Afterwards we went to the Mercedes Dealer. Dr. Hirosue was trading in his Jaguar for a Mercedes. Such a downgrade... haha. Sarcasm.
