Yatsushiro 6 - Mercury and Coke (6/26-7/01)

Here, we visit a museum set up in Minamata, a town where many residents died of mercury poisoning in the 1950s. The museum is devoted to environmental causes. Todd, James, Brandon, Jason, ...

2009-06-03T21:19:44Z

Heather Meadows
Here, we visit a museum set up in Minamata, a town where many residents died of mercury poisoning in the 1950s. The museum is devoted to environmental causes. Todd, James, Brandon, Jason, ...

The guys precede me to the museum. Todd is probably wondering if I'm going to make it ;P (6/26)

2009-02-22T02:44:33Z

Heather Meadows
The guys precede me to the museum. Todd is probably wondering if I'm going to make it ;P (6/26)

A display for wind power, and the coastline beyond. (6/26)

2009-06-03T19:45:38Z

Heather Meadows
A display for wind power, and the coastline beyond. (6/26)

Minamata Museum grounds (6/26)

2009-06-03T19:47:22Z

Heather Meadows
Minamata Museum grounds (6/26)

Minamata Museum grounds (6/26)

2009-06-03T21:25:26Z

Heather Meadows
Minamata Museum grounds (6/26)

Wind power thingy again (6/26)

2009-06-03T19:52:33Z

Heather Meadows
Wind power thingy again (6/26)

Back at that same spa we went to on the 18th. I don't even remember going back there, let alone why. (6/26)

2009-06-03T19:54:30Z

Heather Meadows
Back at that same spa we went to on the 18th. I don't even remember going back there, let alone why. (6/26)

Spa parking lot. (6/26)

2009-06-03T22:38:11Z

Heather Meadows
Spa parking lot. (6/26)

In the van, in the mountains (6/26)

2009-06-03T19:46:44Z

Heather Meadows
In the van, in the mountains (6/26)

Imoto-sensei and Todd at a hostess bar. This was, by far, my least favorite experience in Japan. Hostess bars are stupid, boring, and expensive. (6/26)

2009-06-04T09:08:35Z

Heather Meadows
Imoto-sensei and Todd at a hostess bar. This was, by far, my least favorite experience in Japan. Hostess bars are stupid, boring, and expensive. (6/26)

Brandon and Jason do some karaoke. I sang too, but I was recovering from a summer cold and my voice sucked. This was a shame, because Otou-san came and I wanted to impress him with my rend ...

2009-02-22T02:51:38Z

Heather Meadows
Brandon and Jason do some karaoke. I sang too, but I was recovering from a summer cold and my voice sucked. This was a shame, because Otou-san came and I wanted to impress him with my rend ...

Imoto-san sings an old Japanese ballad. (6/26)

2009-06-04T09:12:22Z

Heather Meadows
Imoto-san sings an old Japanese ballad. (6/26)

On Sunday, July 1, Todd, Jason and I headed to the Coca-Cola factory in Kumamoto City to judge an English speech contest. Upon arrival, we had breakfast at MacDo.

2009-02-22T02:51:16Z

Heather Meadows
On Sunday, July 1, Todd, Jason and I headed to the Coca-Cola factory in Kumamoto City to judge an English speech contest. Upon arrival, we had breakfast at MacDo.

The Coke plant

2009-06-03T23:40:09Z

Heather Meadows
The Coke plant

Inside the Coke plant, Nakatsuru-sensei stands in front of the stage where the children will give their speeches in English.

2009-06-03T23:13:49Z

Heather Meadows
Inside the Coke plant, Nakatsuru-sensei stands in front of the stage where the children will give their speeches in English.

MCing the event are IEC students.

2009-06-03T20:25:54Z

Heather Meadows
MCing the event are IEC students.

Before the contest, of course, various groups did various performances. Aren't they CUTE!

2009-06-03T20:00:06Z

Heather Meadows
Before the contest, of course, various groups did various performances. Aren't they CUTE!

A rock band performed.

2009-02-22T02:49:09Z

Heather Meadows
A rock band performed.

Here's Todd at the judges' table. I think he's practicing his speech.

2009-06-03T20:00:23Z

Heather Meadows
Here's Todd at the judges' table. I think he's practicing his speech.

Here's Todd giving his speech, in Japanese.

2009-02-22T02:45:47Z

Heather Meadows
Here's Todd giving his speech, in Japanese.

The view out the back of the Coke plant.

2009-06-04T00:33:21Z

Heather Meadows
The view out the back of the Coke plant.

The view out the back of the Coke plant.

2009-02-22T02:49:54Z

Heather Meadows
The view out the back of the Coke plant.

Back in Yatsushiro, I headed up to Matsuya Denki (an electronics store) to wait for Mihoshi, Yoko's English tutor, to pick me up. She, her sister, Yoko, and I had plans to go to dinner and t ...

2009-02-22T02:45:29Z

Heather Meadows
Back in Yatsushiro, I headed up to Matsuya Denki (an electronics store) to wait for Mihoshi, Yoko's English tutor, to pick me up. She, her sister, Yoko, and I had plans to go to dinner and t ...

The street in front of Matsuya Denki

2009-06-03T22:31:32Z

Heather Meadows
The street in front of Matsuya Denki

Yoko, Mihoshi's sister, and Mihoshi, at dinner.

2009-06-04T09:10:47Z

Heather Meadows
Yoko, Mihoshi's sister, and Mihoshi, at dinner.

Me, Yoko, and MIhoshi's sister.

2009-06-04T09:14:03Z

Heather Meadows
Me, Yoko, and MIhoshi's sister.

Yoko, Mihoshi's sister, and Mihoshi, in front of the movie theater (not that you can tell).

2009-02-22T02:49:06Z

Heather Meadows
Yoko, Mihoshi's sister, and Mihoshi, in front of the movie theater (not that you can tell).

Yoko and me in front of the movie theater.

2009-06-03T23:47:22Z

Heather Meadows
Yoko and me in front of the movie theater.