First Day of Meetings

 Wednesday

11/16/2022

We had nice dinner together (Larry, George and Marc) at a small curry restaurant that we had eaten at many times during our past trips.  Since our last time here though, they have gotten more sophisticated and have ipad devices at the tables for ordering and electronic summoning of waiters, etc.  Of course, we couldn't figure any of that out and fumbled around wondering why no one came to take our order.  Fortunately, there was a young man who spoke quite good English and he helped us figure everything out.  It was a nice meal and we were able to catch up with each other on our travels, etc.  Plans for the first day of conferences were solidified and we retired for the night ready to go. 

Pictures of our old hotel and the street area around Kanayama.

Night time view out my hotel window.

My goodness, Christmas already in Japan?

A new one for me... Pachinko gaming- wasn't here is 2013.

Our old Washington Plaza Hotel (were we stayed on many previous trips has changed names and is called Nagoy Kanayama Hotel... bet the price went up also?

The old Washington Plaza Kanayama Hotel is now the Nagoya Kanayama Hotel.

Kanayama Station area where there are lots of restaurants and shops.

A little taste of Hawaii in Kanayama?

Kanayama train station at night.

We awoke to a beautiful clear morning in Nagoya!  The temperature outside is 51 degrees F with an expected high of 62.  

Our schedule is to meet with PNPA Director Kurita at around 1000 hours and take a tour of the facilities and see where our little loggers are being raised, etc.  

We are scheduled for lunch at 1200 h and then we will have a meeting to go over our talking points and plans for the future.  If any of you have any additions to the talking points, please send them to George or me asap and we will include them in the discussions that will take place today and tomorrow.

I got a little behind on this as we worked late yesterday during our in-tial meeting and tour at PNPA.  Director Kurita's assistant, Miyuki greeted us warmly out on the entry plaza at the aquarium after we were entertained by a large number of school groups passing by on their way to the aquarium.  George and Larry greeted them while I shot some video.  See Below.

George and Larry san greeting elementary school children going to the aquarium... nothing official, just really cute children!

Miyuki accompanied us to Director Kurita's office where we were warmly greeted and presented with gifts.  We chatted about the project and our trip to Nagoya.  George handed out mock tags for discussion about attachment and deployment.

Passing out and discussing the tags.  Director Kurita is looking at the tag and discussing the size and weight.

A couple of distinguished gentlement relaxing near the Port of Nagoya Aquarium.

George Balazs, Larry Crowder and Marc Rice with a selfie in front of the PNPA with the Chelonia institute in the background.

HANDS ACROSS THE SEA!  Director Kurita and Professor Crowder symbolically join hands "across the sea" for the STRETCH Project.

After meeting for a few minuted in the morning and discussing the Sat Tags, Kurita san took us to view the dolphin show and show us the professional videographers that are working on documenting the show.

Marc, George and Larry at the dolphin show with hundreds of school children in the audience behind us.

Kurita san took us to lunch at the PNPA restaurant, Arribada.

Director Kurita at Lunch.

One of our special lunch delicacies, tempura sea anemone.  The Japanese name for it is wake no shin osu?  Hmmm...?? delicious?

George and Marc at a display near the sea turtle display showing the ? associated with the loggerhead migratory paths... 

This year is the 30th anniversay of the opening of the Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium.

Larry Crowder made a presentation to the group about the STRETCH program (Tomomi Saito and Dana Brisco joined on Zoom) and explained the what, why and how of the project.  Review Larry's presetation.

Larry talked with a press representative for nearly an hour explaining (through the capable interpretation of Miyuki) the STRETCH project.  This man is a journalist for a press distribution network that supplies stories to many newspapers in Japan.

The clip above is looking into the sea turtle display at the PNPA.  It is a beautiful display with super viewing and real clarity.