Some preliminary matters

We'll be airborne in a few hours, heading for Narita Airport near Tokyo for a 2 1/2 - 3 week adventure (I get off a couple of days before the end). We'll be heading from Tokyo to Sapporo, Kyoto, Osaka, Takayama and Shirakawa-go in that order before I head home and Dan and Ali continue on to Hakuba. Before all that, though, it's worth taking a look at some of the things that make Japan such a great country.

THEY HAVE THE MOST ROBOTS

Japan has more robots per capita than any other country on Earth. If that robot nation from The Animatrix really existed, Japan would probably give it a run for its money. Counting only industrial robots (and by extension excluding robot maids, childhood heroes, and future Japanese prime ministers), Japan boasts an impressive 295 automatons for every 10,000 weak, pitiful human workers. Trust me: when it comes to the robot apocalypse, those aren't good odds.

A CAT CAN GROW UP TO BE WHATEVER SHE WANTS TO BE

In Japan, not being human is no bar to success (and you don't have to be a robot either!). Take Tama for example. Born a stray cat in Kinoshawa, Tama saw an opening when the Wakayama Electric Rail Company dismissed all its existing station masters. After some strong behind-the-scenes lobbying, Tama took the job and is now officially the station master of a real train station. Not willing to simply be a cog in corporate Japan, Tama has actually taken the initiative and increased the profitablity of her station. Truly this is a land of opportunity.

ASTRO BOY IS LEGALLY A CITIZEN

You may claim that Astro Boy didn't belong on the list of real Japanese robots because he's a fictional character. If that's so, then how come he is a citizen in Niizi City? Fictional people can have real significance in Japan. Just ask this guy.

IF THE ROBOTS DON'T ENSLAVE YOU, HELLO KITTY WILL

Back on to the subject of cats, it should be noted that Hello Kitty is still going strong. It wasn't that long ago that the world laughed and kittens cringed at the sight of the cat humiliation kit. But making real live cats into Hello Kitty avatars wasn't enough. Now they are coming for us. A WoW for Hello Kitty fans? I'm not sure that's a world I want to live in.

McDONALD'S IS WEIRDLY, UNCOMFORTABLY SEXUAL

I don't think anything I can say compares to just watching it for yourself.

PIKACHU! I CHOOSE YOU!

Pokemon are awesome. I don't actually like Mudkip. I didn't even know he existed before that meme popped up. But Pikachu is alright. Maybe we will meet him(?) in person.

That's all for now. I guess you'll be updated once we're actually in Japan. Have fun until then.