*** Mt. Misen, Part I *** Awoken by our iPhone alarms at 2:30am, we clambered as from an unhallowed grave to dress ourselves, and elope into the night.
We returned home to a spread of delicious sushi. Awaiting us was Hisako’s mother and father, of course, as well as her sister, Atsumi-San, and her sister’s husband, Kesuke-San.
We arise to New Year’s Eve morning, eat breakfast, and lay out our battle plans. Breakfast includes cornflakes purchased from a Japanese Seven-Eleven, and some Japanese jam which, despite the diminutive size of the jar in which it is contained, packs exquisite flavor.