Much practicing and strict lifestyle do have certain consequences. I would not have realized it, but Björn emphasized that the weak aura surrounding my body was getting stronger and stronger. Well, I still need food (and also have to deal with the consequences of eating:-), but I feel like a somehow cleaner and better person. And, which is incredibly useful, I will never knock coincidently against door-jambs and such things in the dark any more.

We did not tell about it so far, but we also have Japanese lessons every week. In the first time we felt it too expensive (300 yen pro person for a whole month:-)), but this is an expensive country, anyway. The lessons are held by volunteers, and we can meet a very manifold population there. Our teacher is on the left side of the picture, during the mandatory tea-break.

I discovered a small graveyard with a buddhist temple near to Kodaira dojo. I often spend some time here, polishing my photographic skills or simply rubbernecking.

The big event of the weekend were the higher level promotion tests held in Honbu Dojo. We were very curious: firstly, about the center of the aikido, and secondly, about the level of the tests. As of the first, the dojo was great, but the building was rather disappointing. The general quality of the tests and the process itself was about the same as those held in Hungary, which was nice to realize.

These aikido-guys are patient folks, and people in the Honbu dojo are thinking in bigger time ranges, as you can see on this warning message.

There was a big party after the tests, which was free for us. Even the most serious persons became very friendly this time. Everybody tried to have small talk with us, with more or less success. I had conversations with an acupucteur, a businessman, an Iranian car-dealer, and many more...

I did not mention Uchino-san yet. He speaks German, but if he can't express something, he changes to English. And German-English-Japanese sentences are sometimes hard to understand. When he speaks German only, I have to translate it to Björn. I started to improve in German-English switches...
And this is a very special feeling, when you are scavenging the Japanese street early in the morning, and suddenly you can hear a loud "Guten Morgen!";-)

Kobayashi sensei also enjoyed the party, he visited all tables for a chat and for having some fun.

Travelling home, in a bit tired manner...

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