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We will start with Kamakura Daibutsu, Meredith. THis is simply a large buddha statue, and many cities have one. This one is in Kamakura, hence the name. Fun fact!...Once last year pranksters painted nail polish and six pack abs on it.
At another shrine in Kamakura, you can buy these wood plaques and make wishes on them and the priests would pray for them. Mine is in the middle (yes, in japanese. Buts its pretty rough!) I wished to be the heavyweight champion in November, my best friends is on the right, wishing to be the lightweight champion in November. His wife is on the left wishing for both of our wishes to come true!
A small girl in her traditional summer festival hapi (like a robe)
Me in mine. That color blue (the sash and towel headband) is the color for the area of Kisarazu I was in. Each town has their own color.
The shrine we had to carry. (A couple thousand pounds by the way)
Me carrying it. It sucked.
One of my best friends kids. Her name is Leah, but spelled different. She looks just like "Boo" in Monsters Inc.
See? (Cue girls "awwwwww!"ing)
Me and Genki Sudo. Bitches.(There are other pics I have with other famous fighters, but none of you would know them. Drat.)
At Kamakura Dojo. The guy on the right is Kawai Shibucho (Shibucho means the head instructor of a dojo). Hes pretty famous, and real real good. The guy on the left is his father, Kawai Shihan (Shihan means the head of all the dojos in a section of the country) Hes real old, and real real good.
My good friend Masanori Mochizuki. He lives in Kisarazu, where I did the festival. He speaks amazing english, and he is Black belt in Byakuren.
Minami Takehiro. The man, the myth, the legend. I would call this guy a friend, but I wouldnt want to insult him. He and his wife consider ME a friend, but he is my hero. He is also like my personal instructor. This pic was taken at his dojo, about 30 minutes from Headquarters, which I traveled every tuesday and thursday.
Minami and his wife Yoko. She is very pretty. This was after my last night at their dojo. Minami is very very nice, and very very scary. I will tell you a story later. (He threw a guy out a window)
Before
After. With Hazama Kancho. (Kancho means the head of a style. He is the head of Shinmei kaikan.)
The best for last. Me and Sugihara Kancho, my "grandmaster." He is absolutely amazing, and could kill you with his pinkie toe. Hes also a hell of a cook. (See below)
My farwell party. Kancho makes a Korean dish called Nabe. One of my favorites. His nabe almost kicks more ass than he does.
Hope you enjoy them. Ask for more if you didnt see something you liked!