prosthetic_mind (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} prosthetic_mind) wrote,@ 2005-09-22 21:58:00 |
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Almost done
I'm listening to a lecture on how to build high-speed robot hands using cable drives. There's video of the robot hand snatching a ball out of the air. Then we have the farewell lunch at noon, and then I'll hop on the subway and go to the airport.
The Sumo competition was AWESOME. It's a huge arena, and actually the guy who won the most matches was Bulgarian or something; he looked distinctly different. The Japanese people were all very round, and this guy looked more like a footbal player. Quite solid, but also like six and a half feet tall. He reached over the other guy and lifted him (300 pounds, at least) by the belt and flipped him right over. Some of the most entertaining matches were closer, where they did a lot of pushing and shoving. They're very fierce. Usually a match lasts like 15 seconds. I took pictures and a movie or two.
Then afterwards was a party at a restaurant that serves Chanko, food like the Sumo wrestlers typically eat. There was a bowl of boiling broth on a gas stove, and a huge plate of vegetables, tofu, chicken, strange mushrooms, and noodles, all raw. You pick out what you want and put it in the water to cook, then put it in your bowl when it's ready. There was also unlimited Sake and beer, and it was really good beer. I hear it was good Sake, but I didn't like it, because it's liquor.
They also served Sushi, and I've now tried Sushi four different times in Tokyo, and I can honestly say I prefer my fish cooked. I cooked some of the sushi in the bowl of boiling water, and I think it improved. One of the Japanese students said he used to do that when he was a kid, so at least it's not offensive or something. I've given it the ol' college try, so now I don't have to feel open-minded about it any more. :) There's a French student who is attending Tokyo University, and she won't eat sushi, she says raw fish is gross, and there's so much other stuff to eat that she doesn't feel the need.
It was also Yoshi Nakamura's birthday. He was the main organizer. They brought out a cake that was REALLY GOOD. It had ripe strawberries on it and cream and it just tasted great.
Anyway, I had plenty to drink. Everyone had a great time. We took lots of pictures. Then we sort of dispersed, some people went home, some went to areas of Tokyo to walk around. I saw more lights and skyscrapers, and the Tokyo equivalent of Times Square.
Now I'm all packed, and sitting in a lecture with my luggage. I am not looking forward to sitting on the airplane for 14 hours. I am also not looking forward to preparing my thesis proposal, which I need to do on the plane. If it's well prepared, I am looking forward to giving the talk; just not preparing it.
I'm listening to a lecture on how to build high-speed robot hands using cable drives. There's video of the robot hand snatching a ball out of the air. Then we have the farewell lunch at noon, and then I'll hop on the subway and go to the airport.
The Sumo competition was AWESOME. It's a huge arena, and actually the guy who won the most matches was Bulgarian or something; he looked distinctly different. The Japanese people were all very round, and this guy looked more like a footbal player. Quite solid, but also like six and a half feet tall. He reached over the other guy and lifted him (300 pounds, at least) by the belt and flipped him right over. Some of the most entertaining matches were closer, where they did a lot of pushing and shoving. They're very fierce. Usually a match lasts like 15 seconds. I took pictures and a movie or two.
Then afterwards was a party at a restaurant that serves Chanko, food like the Sumo wrestlers typically eat. There was a bowl of boiling broth on a gas stove, and a huge plate of vegetables, tofu, chicken, strange mushrooms, and noodles, all raw. You pick out what you want and put it in the water to cook, then put it in your bowl when it's ready. There was also unlimited Sake and beer, and it was really good beer. I hear it was good Sake, but I didn't like it, because it's liquor.
They also served Sushi, and I've now tried Sushi four different times in Tokyo, and I can honestly say I prefer my fish cooked. I cooked some of the sushi in the bowl of boiling water, and I think it improved. One of the Japanese students said he used to do that when he was a kid, so at least it's not offensive or something. I've given it the ol' college try, so now I don't have to feel open-minded about it any more. :) There's a French student who is attending Tokyo University, and she won't eat sushi, she says raw fish is gross, and there's so much other stuff to eat that she doesn't feel the need.
It was also Yoshi Nakamura's birthday. He was the main organizer. They brought out a cake that was REALLY GOOD. It had ripe strawberries on it and cream and it just tasted great.
Anyway, I had plenty to drink. Everyone had a great time. We took lots of pictures. Then we sort of dispersed, some people went home, some went to areas of Tokyo to walk around. I saw more lights and skyscrapers, and the Tokyo equivalent of Times Square.
Now I'm all packed, and sitting in a lecture with my luggage. I am not looking forward to sitting on the airplane for 14 hours. I am also not looking forward to preparing my thesis proposal, which I need to do on the plane. If it's well prepared, I am looking forward to giving the talk; just not preparing it.
