Back to Toyama

We returned to Toyama after a very tiring trip to Osaka and Kobe. It was great to visit these huge cities but we were relieved to return to the relative calmness of Toyama.

There is a very popular festival on in Yatsuo right now (Owara Festival). If you were at our wedding in Japan you will be familiar with the dancing that takes place at this festival. This has resulted in a huge influx of people into Toyama and Yatsuo. Extra trains have been brought in and the Yatsuo train station is swamped with people. It was standing room only on our train from the main Toyama station on our way to Yatsuo. I had never seen anything like it.

Even though we were packed into the train like sardines a brave older man struck up a conversation with me in English, wondering where I was from and how many times I had been to Yatsuo. He was shocked to learn that I had been to Yatsuo more than him. I was shocked that he knew where Saskatchewan is! Apparently he had been in the fish business and had been to Victoria and Vancouver many times, thus he had some familiarity with Canada. I really regret though not having the courage to try my basic Japanese language skills. It was a perfect opportunity to practice...

Highlight of the day though -- I was able to catch the Rider game on CFL Broadband -- and what a great game it was!  :-)