Here are some photos from the trip.

The image of the Beckoning Cat is everywhere in Japan. It is a symbol of good luck. According to legend, a powerful lord once rode by a shrine and saw a cat sitting on its haunches, beckoning to him. The lord had never seen a cat do anything like this before. He got down from his horse to look at the cat more closely. At that moment a bolt of lightning struck the spot where he and his horse had been standing. The cat had saved his life. Do you think that story would make a good picture book?

Tokyo's streets are jammed with traffic. A rickshaw might be a good way to get around. However, you don't see them anymore. This one is part of a special museum about life in Tokyo's neighborhoods during the 1920's and 30's. Doris and Eric were fascinated to see how the people in those crowded neighborhoods made use of every bit of space. We can learn a lot from them.

This gentleman is a shamisan maker. The shamisan is a traditional Japanese instrument, much like the banjo in that it has a skin head. (Don't ask what kind of skin. You don't want to know.) Eric plays the banjo, so he was interested in learning as much as he could about the shamisan.

This busy shrine in Tokyo was jammed with people visiting the temples and doing their shopping in the stores outside. Hanging here by the temple gate are what must be the biggest Japanese lanterns in the world! Can you see the woman talking on her cell phone? Japan is an exciting mixture of old and new.

Doris met this gentleman outside a McDonald's restaurant in Osaka. He is a sumo wrestler. Sumos in training must follow a strict diet to build up their weight and strength. When they have time off, they like to eat at McDonald's. What does that say about fast food?