Welcome back! I spent a couple weeks in Japan (Osaka area) a while ago when my brother lived there for a year and taught english. Had so much fun and opened my eyes quite a bit. It is a DAMN SHAME I didn't develop a love for sushi until years later but I did find I liked Tako Yaki (am I remembering that right after all these years?

Anyhow, your post brought back memories of proposing to my wife there, biking around to beer vending machines, visiting temples, and going bowling on shrooms (was legal when I was there!)

Theanks for posting and welcome back.