Took my last taxi. Met Ute at the shuttle to the airport in which we made our last "souvenirs" from Tokyo.

I knew snow was waiting for me in the Midwest. I was sad and happy to be back.

It has been 5 wonderful weeks. Exciting and disturbing. It has changed my horizon on lot of topics. I have been very happy and very unhappy too. I met wonderful people. I encountered a very complex and fascinating culture. I felt confident in what I was doing as well as totally insecure. I ended up being exhausted.

Too many things have been written about Japan to be able after 5 weeks to make a meaningful statement. I need to digest.

But one day, I was speaking with Georg Kochi. I told him how I was shocked by the way people are physically pushing you to enter the subway. He answered me that Japanese people do that because if the person in front of them does not enter, they do not enter. So they push to help one before them, and then to help themselves. Helping the group is helpful for the individual.
Americans would go through.
French would sneak in.