Last couple of days in Japan inc. Tokyo Marathon

Saturday came around and was cloudy and rainy. Not a lot of rain, but enough to cramp you style and make you want to stay home.

I used the time to catch up on email and blog updates and do some additional planning and thinking for the NZ portion of the trip. Probably about time!

John and I took the kids to the park for a while and the

Kayleigh had a Girl Scouts meeting in the afternoon so we were back around 1.30 for that.

 Kayleigh with her Girl Scout jacket and lots of badges!

We met up with Satyaki and his family for an early dinner as he had to be prepared for the Marathon tomorrow. 

Sunday morning bought heavier rain, not good for the runners as it was cold as well. Temperature was about 5C (Low 40s F). John and I headed out to a place about 1km from the start and watched the wheelchair participants go flying by follwed by the first wave and then the masses. There were several people dressed in costume. A Santa Claus, Mrs Claus, a guy with a hat with flourecent arrow attached pointing to his head (probably the most easily identified of all by his friends. There were two girls in the spectators with multi colored wigs and we saw a matching wig on a runner.

 

  

These guys were carrying the AED machines at the 1km post. I thought that most of the runners would last longer than that!

 

 

We headed back home after a while and did not specifically see Satyaki, but it would have been very difficult. We watched the rest of the race on TV and the winner was done in about 2 and a half hours.

I took an early bus to the airport having handed Ethan his room back. He had “loaned” me his room and had to share with his sister, so was glad to get his room back. Thanks Ethan!!

Japan is a fascinating place full of contrasts, very structured, efficient and consistently polite and safe. The Japanese manage their limited space very well and there appears to be little poverty. The subways are crowded and everyone seems to take it in their stride. I cannot help but contrast the stark beauty of Shetland and its tiny population, with India’s vibrant and heaving bustle and Japan’s dense population but huge attention to detail and organization.