Aug. 28 - Ann and I both love to eat. One of the true pleasures of Japanese train travel is the chance to try new box lunches (bento) that include local delicacies. On our train trip from Hachinohe to Sendai, my travel companion, Sapporo Consul General Donna Welton, ordered a delicious bento from a local company called Matsuribayashi or "Festival Orchestra." This box lunch came in three layers. The top layer contained delicious crab and salmon eggs over rice; the second layer contained sushi salmon and horse mackerel; and the bottom layer contained a small scallop, cooked squid, and egg. We enjoyed our lunch thoroughly as we sped through the Tohoku countryside relaxing on a comfortable high-speed train.

Until next time,

Jim