No meal like a home cooked Japanese New Year meal.

One fun thing to consider is, say you’re walking back to your seat after a bathroom trip on a bullet train. If that train is going, let’s assume at least 150mph, that means you’re walking 153mph. Take that, Usain!

So, I haven’t been specific, but just in case anyone didn’t figure it out, I’m in Japan. Was just in Tokyo specifically (writing this in Nagano).

Anyway, after waking up after a couple hours of sleep being out far too late on NYE, a grabbed a quick shower and headed to the small, nearby shrine I had stumbled upon the day before.

Yesterday, I saw there was a larger shrine and a small shrine off to the side. I had prayed at both.

This morning, I stood in line to pray at the larger shrine (it is custom to visit a shrine on New Year’s Day). Once that was completed, I saw there were tents set up selling food, beer, and sake (yes, this was at 10 in the morning). My hot sake on a cold day in hand, I sat down at some provided tables and started checking my phone.

As I have mentioned, a very good friend of mine passed away(/was killed) this year. I saw a post from his wife discussing the obvious difficulties their family has faced this year, which instantly sent me to tears. I decided I would send a prayer for their family, however from the smaller shrine as the line for the larger one was very long, being New Year’s Day and all.

As I approached, I saw a small man standing on a stone inside. He walked out before I entered and came up and started talking to me.

As he was talking to me, for various reasons, I could tell that he was a very sweet, small, old, and gay Japanese man. The fact it was relatively obvious is rare in Japan.

Anyway, my Japanese is pretty laughable, but I understood he was telling me that there was a large penis in this small temple, and that I should touch it because... I’m not sure (in any case, that’s why he was standing in the stone).

On my visit yesterday, I had not noticed any large penises (penii?). But sure enough, when I entered today: giant penis. No idea how I missed it.

So, crying for my friend and laughing because I knew he would too, I touched the giant penis, then sent a prayer for him and his family.

Happy New Year to you and yours.

Hope these last 365 days have treated you well, citizens. What were the highlights? What were the lowlights? What odd twists of fate changed the course of 2019?

I was at a spa of sorts today where I made it for about 5 minutes in a sauna at close to 200 degrees. Apparently they can get much hotter. Good times...

Had my socks blown off last night. It’s been a long time since I attended a concert that great.

This going to screw with my head.

Hope everyone gets a good box or whatever this holiday is.

We've got a bit of a jaunt today, so hoping all goes well. And I also hope the same for you and yours. Best wishes in this holiday season.