Japan is Waiting...

"Flight of Friendship is the first large group to visit Japan since the disaster (大震災 - daishinsai)."

Smiles at Starbucks, Oregon loves Japan!

So that's why the girls at Starbucks were so happy to see us...

This was one of the boldest statements I had heard regarding the impact of the earthquake/tsunami/nuclear disaster that hit northern Japan.  This "three-headed monster" had taken a toll none of us had really expected to have our presence validate.  Seriously, tourism in Japan had taken that much of a hit???  Our guide patiently explained that the disaster did not just impact tourism in northern Japan, it affected tourism everywhere in Japan.

Imagine if the impacts of Katrina in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast had impacted everyone's image of the United States and all tourism to New York, California, Las Vegas had ground to a halt.  Tough to imagine, isn't it?  But that is what is happening here, and the lot of us could do nothing but shake our heads.  Kyoto, Hiroshima, Miyajima, Nagano...  We are sorry...

And so we woke up to our first full day in Japan.  85 travelers from the US received the following treatment which can only be described as: historic, never freaking happening again, momentous, heartfelt, すごい (sugoi):

Thanks you Commander Freeman
(resident of WA!)

• No Expectations: We stepped off the bus and climb the eight flights of stairs with no other thought than that we had woken up in Japan.  As we assembled in a well-monitored room, the US Ambassador to Japan (Ambassador John Roos) stepped up the podium and gave us a reality check, proceeding to share with us first hand accounts of ground zero.  Of hugs given, of tears shed, of the personal trauma of a major earthquake in Tokyo, of the mobilization of US forces (24,000 personnel, 24 ships, 189 aircraft), of partnership with the Security Defense Forces, of accomplishment, of devastation, of inspiration.  Further first-hand accounts by Mr. John Meed, Ms. Kambara and Commander Freeman gave the group a well-rounded briefing on what to expect from the logistical to the personal.  We learned that in the eyes of children there is hope, that recovery is an attitude and that despite the loss, Japan's preparedness had potentially saved thousands of lives.  From all of us, thank you.

Fuji TV Board Room transformed
into Lunch Room

• Starry Eyes: Imagine the President and CEO of ABC or Time Warner invited you to a personal visit.  Imagine that they opened up the board room (at Fuji TV) and that president (Mr. Hieda) personally sat with you and enjoyed one of the most luxurious and decadent bento boxes ever seen (confirmed by colleagues who had lived in Japan extensively).  This just doesn't happen.  It doesn't, but it did.  The Japanese are looking for signs of hope and recovery, not just internally, but externally as well.  We are a sign, hopefully a good one, but we have punctured the dam of perception that Japan is not yet ready.  It is, it has been, let the flood begin.

• Home Away From Home: In Shiodome, a business center next to Shinbashi station (JR line), on the 42nd floor of the City Center building sits the Oregon Bar & Grill.  Views abound, a replica of the Oregon governor's office welcomes guests as they enter, Rogue Ales pour freely, Oregon Pinot Noir is showcased and the menu does its best to represent the "Slow Life" values of Oregon cuisine and culinary habits.  A fitting end to an auspicious day with live and lyrical music from Nu Shooz.  But it ain't over.  Maybe the most well-known and well-respected American Nikkei in the world crashes the party.  Senator Daniel Inouye, on his own mission to Tohoku, swung by to provide a few words of inspiration...  From the US government, way to represent...

Fuji TV's homage to "From Oregon With Love" in 

honor of the Flight of Friendship

Surreal.  Simply surreal.  And lets put this in perspective, this is by far the easiest part of the journey we are on.  From tomorrow forward it will only get more difficult.  We have been warned.  We will be tested physically, emotionally, psychologically.  We may leave wishing we could have done more but we jump in knowing we will do all we can.