I may not have made it to where Jiro dreams of sushi, but my tour in Japan last month with violinist Yuzuko Horigome and members of the NHK Symphony was spectacularly full of Bach and Brahms, wonderful colleagues, reunions with longtime friends and family, and as many food excursions as I could fit into our concert / travel schedule. They say a picture's worth a thousand words so here is approximately 22,000 fit into a photo map :-)
Skyline view from my hotel room in Shibuya, Tokyo
A stage picture at Yokohama Minato Mirai Hall. It seats over 2,000 people!
Surprise from longtime friend, pianist, and NEC Alum Yoko Kida!
Violinists Yuzuko Horigome and Hiroyuki Yamaguchi
A beautiful meal at Kushitei Ebisuhonten showcasing traditional Osaka cuisine
Three generations of Marlboro Festival participants on tour together! Such a pleasure and honor to be playing with these two (Yuzuko Horigome, middle, and Ryo Sasaki, right)
My final meal in Tokyo before heading to the airport
Shibuya punk rock bar culture
They pour their sake VERY generously
Hyogo Performing Arts Center
Reunion with Aizuri Quartet violist Ayane Kozasa's mother, my Japanese mom!
Life wouldn't be complete without a selfie (Hiroyuki Yamaguchi, left; Yuzuko Horigome, front center; Ryo Sasaki, back center; Ryo Oshima, back right; Yuya Tsuda, right; and me, front right!)
The mountains in Yamagata, which in Japanese means mountain!
Japanese blow fish sushi...
Tsukemen @ Rokurinsha Tokyo
Reunion with my cousin, Kyu!
Goodbye, Japan! Until next time!
Dress rehearsal at Yokohama Minato Mirai Hall
A plethora of delicious Japanese goodies from L'Audrey and Cybele, the sponsor of our concert in Yamagata
Our violists and their babies strapped into our JAL flight to Osaka!
Marlboro Festival reunion in Tokyo Train Station!
Tempura salmon with salmon fish roe
Seasonal vegetables, rice with minnows and pickles
On the way to Narita Airport