Electronic Keyboard Concert

Kaoru and I went to see an electronic keyboard performance by Shizuka and her mother today. It was part of a contest sponsored by the Yamaha corporation (they make electronic keyboards among other things) and it was great. There were many performances and they went on close to last. I know I might be a bit biased, but I really thought they were the best that night. Every performance had a Yamaha Electone keyboard used in it in some capacity. So all the performances had a videogame-music vibe to it, but the effort and many hours of practice were still very evident.

After the concert we went to "yakiniku" Japanese bbq where you cook your own meat right there at your table. Our waitress took this picture. (Clockwise from the left: Me, Shizuka, Shizuka's Mom, and Kaoru.)
It was my first time meeting Shizuka's mother, and she was so sweet and nice, and she knew a fair amount of English, so that helped too. I tried some unusual stuff that night... beef toungue, beef heart, and small intestine. A few beers really lowers your inhibitions when it comes to food.


Outside the restaurant...


Later on that night at Shizuka's house, they threw an early mini-surprise b-day party for me. The cake reads "O-tanjoubi omedetou Brian" or "Happy birthday Brian" and it was Oishii.


I slept at Shizuka's because we were going to "Tokyo Disney Sea" the next morning and it's near where she lives. I slept in a Japanese style bedroom on a futon, and it was sooo comfortable. This is the room I slept in.