Our new friends in Japan

We are so blessed to have met so many wonderful people in Tokyo who took care of us and helped us get around this big city.  We'd like to say Arigatou Gozaimasu to all.   

 
In our previous entries, we told you a lot about Coach Yoko San.  She took us all over Tokyo every day. Even when she's not available,  she'd made sure someone is there to take care of us.She is so sweet, kind, generous, patient, thoughtful,  accommodating, funny, and so much more.  She's like an old friend.We felt so "free and easy" around her.  (We gave a T-shirt with the words "free and easy" on it.)  She also treated us to so many delicious meals -- ramen, sushi, tempura, monjayaki, etc. (It's a good thing we've been walking everywhere and climbing those stairs.) Thank you from the bottom of our hearts, Coach Yoko. 

Coach Suzuki San from Nakamura School was also very good to us.  We stayed up on the top floor of Nakamura School for 3 days and 3 nights.  Su-San was there every day making sure we had everything we needed. He provided us with soaps, shampoos, towels, blankets, etc.  He even gave us the medicine for our mosquito bites without having to ask for it.  Super nice guy! We had a blast there. I think it's even better than a hotel.  Thank you, Coach Su San.  Wishing you the best retirement has to offer.  (He looks too young to be retiring.)

We would also like to thank Masashi, Yuki and Ai.  Masashi was our driver to and from the airport.  He is one of Coach Yoko's sports agent.  He'll be in New York next week for US Open.  He's accompanying two top tennis players from Japan. Yuki and Ai also took us around Tokyo.  They were our tour guides on the days Coach Yoko San had to work.  Thank you all.  We would be hungry and lost in the subway without you.

This is Masashi Ogawa.  He's into tennis, married with a 4 year old boy.

Ai on the left and Yuki on the right.  Ai is a runner and Yuki is a baseball player and fan.

We also met a super nice team mom, Kumiko, from Coach Yoko's youth camp.  She and another mom brought us the most delicious cream puffs, drove us from one gym to another, treated our girls to ice cream popsicles and be our translator for the day.  Kumiko is the mother of the most energetic, awesome volleyball players, Rioka and Honoka (twins born in Virginia or Washing DC.  Can't remember now.).  They are only 11 and they took turns playing the 6th player with our Top Gun girls. Rioka is a really good setter and  Honoka is a great defensive player. Coach Joe, you would have loved these girls and recruited them to our team right away. Even though they did not speak a word of English, they played amazingly well like they've been playing with our Top Gun girls for a long time.  They even slept over at the school one night to spend more time with us.  We love you Kumiko, Rioka and Honoka.  We hope you stay in touch and can visit us here in US one day.  

At Coach Yoko's Youth Camp!  The two moms next to Kira brought us cream puffs.  Kumiko is in pink.

Rioka, Honoka & Shaelika.  Bed head for Honoka!

Tati and the twins.

Oh...of course we have to thank Moeka, our other 6th player.  She too is an awesome volleyball player.  Her serves were powerful and fast like a fast-pitched baseball.  She got along great with our girls.  She too is a little shy and quiet; but very sweet, fun, hip, and pretty. She stayed at the school with us for two nights and kept us company with all the volleyball games, shopping and dining.  Thanks to Ayaka, too.  Both sisters took us to cool popular shops and sticker booth in Harajuku. (Stay tuned for a post from Shaeli about Harajuku.)   Ayaka also took some really nice photos of us. Both sisters are very pretty, smart and fashionable.  Arigoto!

Moeka is in white next to Samantha.  Ayaka is her sister on the left next to Sam.

Flower Power!

Lots of yummy snacks -- a snack court in Harajuku

We also have to thank this beautiful stranger who helped us figure out which train to take.  Her English was not very good but her Japanese was pretty impressive.  Arigotou!