I'm back in Japan and my old buddy from high school is here visiting me; it's his first time anywhere in Asia. We'll be bouncing around the country for the next couple of days, so blogging may be light. I'll try to keep posting at least once a day, but no guarantees.

Notes on returning to Tokyo:

1. No problem going through the airport. I arrived three hours before my departure, and there were no lines at all. Security screening was no more annoying than usual, either. For example, I did not have my face searched (via kottke.org).

2. Our flight continued on to Seoul after Tokyo, so there were plenty of Koreans on board. One attractive young Korean woman rushed urgently to the bathroom during the flight, but it was occupied. As I was seated in the exit row, which was right next to the bathroom, I got a great view of her vomiting on the floor of the cabin directly in front of me. I have no idea why she didn't use a barf bag.

3. We swung by Azabu-juban, where a street festival was winding down, and made our way up to Roppongi Hills, where an Africa-themed "beer garden" and food truck had been set up on the outdoor plaza to coincide with the African art exhibit I blogged about here. So my high school buddy's first meal in Japan was ostrich steak washed down with Kenyan beer.