Japan trip May 2010

[Giles]

Of course.  G

[mvb]

safe journey g

[daveo]

Safe travels, Giles.

[Dexter_]

Have a nice trip G. I'll be heading there myself this August to visit family. We'll be staying in Sapporo though so unfortunately not going to be able to visit the works garage.

[Beatle]

Cross my fingers

[LandoCal126 0]

Safe travels you two! Please say hello to Haraki-San, Ayumi, and the rest of the IH/ TW Crew for me. Oh and I will be crossing all fingers and toes for that Union Special. I received my first lesson on one last week and I must say, I'm hooked!

[Giles]

Just got to the Hotel with Alex (my son).  He flew in fron Seoul and met me at Narita, we are now waiting for daniel from DC4 to turn up…G

[Beatle]

nice..a guy trip…have fun

[DougNg]

When did you start smoking lights?

[Beatle]

Good night, Japan

[Giles]

Lights not good enough Doug?

We found Daniel eventually, he had been down in Osaka.  Oday it's the Shinkansen to Nagano.  G

[commodorewheeler]

Have fun, Giles! Can't wait to hear more updates!

[Beatle]

Shinkansen …the mere mentioning of the bullet train makes my eyes tear up...

[Giles]

I'm back, few picks taken in TFH and loads of goodies picked up.  More tomorrow, I need food and a beer

[STAN]

Mr G,
How's the weather in Japan at this time?

[Beatle]

Sounds like a great day *looking forward to pics

[that_was_easy]

Sounds like a load of fun G!

@Beatle:

Shinkansen …the mere mentioning of the bullet train makes my eyes tear up...

Imagine if a denim maker (Haraki???) got the idea to depict two of the trains ripping apart a pair of jeans.  Now THAT, would really get the point across.

[Giles]

Stan,  Weather is HOT.  G

[Katsushin]

@Giles:

Stan,  Weather is HOT.  G

This really can be a nasty time to be in Japan.  I always go to the drug store and get packs of mentholated body wipes.  Very refreshing!  That humidity is a killer…

[Giles]

So, yesterday was a Flat Head day, the 3 of us caught the Bullet train up to Nagano and spent the day with Kobayashi- san and the Flat Head gang.

Kobayashi insisted we go and play with his toys.  Here is a set of 3 Cadillac's.  Not sure you can see the number plates, but they are all 3005:

A couple more cars in the neighbouring garage:

Shame the engines are so dirty:

Daniel looking "cool" at the wheel:

The it was off to the leather workshops, here is a selection of the leathers they use; Python, Cordovan, Lizard, Stingray, Alligator:

Then off to the repairs workshop, this is daniel making hunch belt loops on a very ancient Union Special.  Kobayashi-san believes it is the only working example of this type of machine in the world.  This workshop may as well be a museum:

And this is what I need:

Today, we met with Awaya-san, the President of PBJ.  Tomorrow it's off to the main event, a day with Haraki-san and the IHHQ Crew.  Lot's of pics of that to come…G