Week 3 of 4 in Japan begins, weekend 2 of 3 is behind me – my own dear Mrs. Animal arrives in Japan today to spend balance of the deployment here with me, which will make my remaining time here inestimably more enjoyable.

Japan’s an interesting place.  The serious and hurrying salarymen, the porcelain beauty of the young women, the crowded trains that are almost eerily quiet, the admirable, ever-present courtesy of Japanese culture – it’s quite a change of pace.  But in the weekend past I did a lot of walking, and saw a lot of not only some of the famous Japanse sakura – cherry blossoms – but also some other flora and fauna as well.  Photos follow.