Following my piano training workshop with Yamaha at Hamamatsu and Kakegawa, I visited my son who is teaching English in Hiroshima, about a 3 hour combined train ride west from Hamamatsu. During my visit, we attended his Church, where there is a surprising number of international students and professionals attending.
Read MoreOn our last day of piano workshop training with Yamaha in Japan, we had a free day to do some sightseeing. Kazu-san, our Yamaha liaison, took us to visit Kakegawa castle (located in the same city as Yamaha's main piano factory). We were so fortunate to enjoy clear blue skies and sunshine, which made the Sakura cherry blossoms even more stunning! As a special treat, we had an opportunity to participate in a traditional Japanese tea ceremony.
Read MoreHamamatsu is a lovely small city 2 hours bullet train ride southwest of Tokyo. Being right by the ocean, there is a constant ocean breeze that keeps the air smelling clean and fresh. Hamamatsu is the hometown of Yamaha, the world's largest manufacturer of the finest pianos. We had a chance to look at one of their downtown retail stores.
Read MoreWe take one of Japan's world-famous bullet trains from Shinagawa to Hammamatsu, the headquarter town of Yamaha, about a 2 hour train ride away. These trains are incredible! They really look like something off of the set of a Star Wars/Star Trek movie!
Read MoreDwight’s passport disaster…Chad’s binary shower from hell…possessed alarm clocks and nonstop self-flushing toilets…I think our hotel was haunted! I hope these aren’t bad omens for our upcoming trip to Japan…
Read MoreThe first part of my trip to Japan has me flying from Philadelphia to Los Angeles for an overnight layover. One of the things I’m really amazed at is the fact that my massive Think Tank Urban 15 camera bag that weighs at least 60 lbs or more can slide right under the airplane seat in front of me! Now that is an impressive bag design!!
Despite an hour delay leaving Philadelphia, I manage to get to my hotel with a little time to spare before my scheduled dinner with the other members of the team - two district managers from Yamaha USA, and one other salesperson like myself.
Read MoreI’ve been invited to join a select group of Yamaha representatives to visit Yamaha headquarters in Japan! I’m getting ready to leave tomorrow, and trying to decide what camera gear to bring along and what to leave behind. I hate checking bags, so I try to limit myself to carry on luggage only. And of course, with the coronavirus concerns, I’m learning how to put on face masks.
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