Japan2019

This was my second and final day of 'work' in which I had to try to take notes at two meetings, writing as much as I could catch from a closed meeting of experts on North Korea (many of whom had thick accents) and then at two open conference sessions this afternoon. Altogether about 6 hours of note-taking. I was wearing my suit for the occasion so I fitted right in unless any one happened to notice my feet because I decided my reasonably decent black slippers were just the ticket. I did get out for a walk this morning for about an hour, up to the Imperial Palace area, which is surrounded by a wide and very deep moat, and around the Embassy district and through street after street of apartment buildings and a few neighbourhood shops. I took a photo of the hotel when I arrived back with a rather lovely sculpture in the foreground (all the buildings both near and far are part of the same hotel).  This evening we went to a French restaurant for a post conference thank you meal. ...

Update on Thursday:  Tonight we had the welcome dinner for the special guests who are speaking tomorrow.  It was in a Japanese restaurant here at the hotel (I got lost trying to find it - the hotel has three buildings and many levels.)  It was a traditional Japanese meal and I can't recall all the courses but each one was beautifully presented. It included: Egg custard with spinach miso sauce Sushimi Tempura - deep fried prawns, vegetables and some kind of little insect thing Stewed vegetables Miso soup Rice with eel Dessert -  Sesame pudding with fruits and a slice of melon All served with beer. Here's a photo of the aftermath.  I'm ridiculously full.

Today and tomorrow are about working for the Toda Peace Institute, with my colleague of 7 years Professor Kevin Clements who is the Institute's Director. So today has been a meeting with the Senior Research Fellows on the team who all work part time for TPI leading research in different areas - disarmament, climate change and conflict, and extremist violence/social media.  The morning was planning for the year ahead and the afternoon was a meeting with the TPI Board, all at the TPI offices. Now 4.30 and I'm back in my room to type up my copious notes. Tomorrow there is a colloquium with a closed session in the morning, then in the afternoon an open session with 170+ reps from embassies and other groups representing 22 countries, plus media from all over the world. There is a welcome dinner tonight for the closed session participants, then a dinner after the events tomorrow. I did manage a little walk after breakfast around the beautiful Japanese Gardens here at the hotel (...

Two meals, four movies, 3 Ted Talks and half a documentary later I am finally here. A delayed start when it was discovered that aircraft #1 had a dodgy engine. They found another plane, and only three hours late, we departed.  That means I'm installed in my hotel room (after a 140km/hr taxi ride) at the civilised local time of 10pm and the rather uncivilised body clock time of 2am. So off to bed. NB: For your interest, the movies were: Lost in Translation (thanks Sharon for the recommendation and a touch of Tokyo and Kyoto) In the Zone Juliet, Naked The Danish Girl

Now installed in Room 516 of Novotel, right across the road from the International Terminal. So far so good. Flight leaves at 9.50am and arrives about 8.15pm NZ time, 4.15 local time. Wish me luck!

Hi family and friends Here's the blog site for me to record what's going on during my eight day whirlwind trip to Japan.  If you want to tag along, then please do so. I'll try to write a little something every day and maybe even add a picture. Love to you all Rosemary