THE NATIONAL DIET

We visited the National Diet building in Tokyo and had a tour of the House of Representatives. We met a member of the House, Kousuke Ito, who was thrilled to meet so many Americans. When he saw us, he pumped his fist in the air and said "Go Obama!" 

We went to Asakusa yesterday, an area of Tokyo that is home to the Senso-ji Temple, one of Tokyo's most popular sights. It is a community temple and in addition to all the tourists visiting it, hundreds of Japanese people were coming and going, purifying themselves in the water trough outside the temple, making offerings of incense and praying. Next to the temple is the Five-Storeyed Pagoda, the second tallest in Japan. 

The sign in Narita International Airport after going through customs. They electronically took our fingerprints and photos as a security measure.

Caroline Calhoun (right) and Jodie Victoria, participants in the JFMF Teacher Program, with Japanese Consul General Yasumasa Nagamine at his official residence in San Francisco, California. He and his wife hosted a reception for all 160 teachers at his home.

All 160 Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund (JFMF) teachers are in San Francisco, ready to depart for Tokyo this afternoon. (Monday, June 9) After an afternoon orientation yesterday, we had an incredible reception last night at the Japanese consulate's mansion in the heart of San Francisco with a view of Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge. The Japanese government is rolling out the red carpet for us! More to come!