Another Kencho day. Yesterday was one too, but I had a few things to do, thus, no writing. Most of my schools are finished with me for the time being but next week and tomorrow I am attending a few of them for different reasons.

Tomorrow I will go to Yamanashi Gakuen for a final day of fun with the kids. All the classes will have me directing nothing but games and the day should go by fairly quickly. I think the students are all done with final exams but still have to attend school, so I have been told to just make it a fun day. So I will. Then next Friday, I will attend the junior high graduation. Not really excited about it but it gets me out of coming to the Kencho and should be a short day.

Monday I have to go to Minobusan. Strange thing about that school. School is essentially done but I keep being asked to come out. Two Mondays ago I attended the graduation rehearsal, then this last Monday I went out there but the kids had to take a test, so I eneded up merely observing them taking this test. I did absolutely nothing up there but watch. And Kobayashi-sensei was there, so I wasn't really needed. All this has gotten me to thinking that perhaps my comments, when asked here at the Kencho (I mentioned this a while back), somehow got back to the school and they are having me come out for show. I don't know, perhaps I am over thinking it but it seems strange to have me come to school and then have me do basically nothing. When my other schools have nothing for me to do, they tell me not to come. But anyway, for this next Monday I have been asked to prepare a lesson, so that's one thing I did yesterday.

Tuesday I will be here again.

Wednesday I have been asked to come to Yuda. But not for classes. Apparently my first class, my favorite, the one that sometimes sings and plays music, wants me to come out and are going to sing for me again. This might be some kind of a farewell thing. I don't know. But I love those girls (and the one guy) and am looking forward to it. I already told them all "goodbye" last time I was there, but then this invitation quickly came along. So it should be fun. I will really miss this class.

Thursday I have been asked to come out to the academy only to help the international club, a group of about 20 students, prepare for a play they will be performing. I have no idea what play or when or where they will perform it. I told Ito-sensei that I am no director but that I'd be happy to help out where I can. So that should be fun. Just have to avoid letting Amy see it as she is the professional in the world of theatre and I am no Stanley Kubrick.

And I already told you about Friday, so I won't repeat it.

So next week should be a good one. The week after that I go to Minobusan on Monday but then spend the next four days here. That will be a bit of a drag but I am getting used to filling my time here when need be. I've started Steinbeck's "East of Eden".

Today Amy went to Narita to pick up her parents and take them into Tokyo. They will stay tonight and then tomorrow afternoon I will head out to join them. We will all stay there throughout the weekend. Amy told me she'd like me to come for two reasons: one is so I can get us from place to place as Amy thinks I am good at working the transit system, and two is so I can help carry the luggage back. Nice to feel loved.

Her parents will be here for about 11 or 12 days and then three days later my parents arrive. Gonna be a busy month of tour-guiding, I guess.

In sports news......Formula One has run its first race of the 2004 season, baseball in both America and Japan is about to start, and the Sumo basho in Osaka starts this Sunday. The Yankees are kicking off their season with two or three games here in Japan. I probably won't go (I imagine they are already sold out) but I might check them out on the tv. I'm sure the people here will love the chance to see Matsui, aka. Godzilla, playing for the Yankees right before their eyes. As for Sumo, I am anxious to see if Asashoryu can repeat his 15-0 performance that he turned in during the January basho. I think I heard that a 15-0 record hadn't been done in 8 years or so, and there are 6 bashos a year, so that is quite a feat. Anyway, a new season of sports is underway.

So I do have a story to tell you about a fesival this last weekend but I wouldn't be able to get it in before lunch so perhaps if the mood strikes I will write about it this afternoon. If not, do not worry, cause my Kencho days are not over just yet, as I have told you.