Flashback – Japan 2009 – a Day with Friends in High Places

All photos taken on September 19, 2021.

Way back in my first post on this series, I talked about Kunika, a home stay student that one of our dear friends, J had hosted for an entire school year. In the good old days of not knowing everyone’s E-mail address, we relied on snail mail to make the initial contact and let her know when we were coming and asking if we could get together. As the day of our departure drew closer and closer, we still had not heard from her and we grew worried we would miss meeting up with her, altogether.

At long last, I received an E-mail from Kunika, reading “Kunika is Alive”. The only mailing address we had was for her parents, who had moved not long ago. The letter had been held up, but was finally delivered. The parents let Kunika (now married and living elsewhere) know she had mail and the rest, as they say, is history.

We had arranged to meet at our hotel on this day to head off an adventure in Kamakura (separate posts) and then join Kunika and Masa for supper, back at their home. Masa was in the dentist chair in the morning, but would join us in Kamakura later in the day.

Kunika and Patty in Shimbashi station

Waiting for our train

trains come, trains go

some fast, some slow

catching up on old news on the short ride to Kamakura

arriving back at Shinigawa station in the evening

the commuter crush

Shinigawa station

walking out of Shinigawa station

Shinigawa is a busy office complex area

on the way to Kunika and Masa’s home

office building where Masa works on Sony Street, of course

posing with Masa

more office highrises

the building where Kunika and Masa live

city sunset

evening falls on the Meguro River

views from the 40th floor observation area of Kunika and Masa’s building

night has fallen

enjoying our dinner and home visit

giving gifts

We were so lucky to have good friends who lived in the area to show us around.