Hello,

So we are here! We arrived safe and sound and the flight wasn't so bad. Even with the little chipmunk sitting beside me who I thought would chat the entire time had some downtime too. Chipmunk being "one half" of the Basenji Sister team, Julie Jones.:)
A 12 hour flight flying into the Sun and so never seeing night arrive sleeping was difficult. Our HOST the Mr. Genji Ozeki arrived with his personal assistant Kumi to pick us up. We were brought to our Hotel the "Radisson" which is very "Westernized" .:)) Which is good while we get our feet wet with the Culture and Ways....in other words we had the option of a Western dinner if we so choose. Genji, his wonderful wife Kyoko, Kumi and breeders of the Borzoi "Hunter"; Marilyn McGraw and Garnet (?) the breeders of this dog that did so well in the States shown by Marilyn. Marilyn is Stewart's (Stewart who worked for the McFadden's for years) mother. Anyway, we had a table full of people with good conversation and many laughs despite how finally the exhaustion had set in quickly. Finally in bed at 9:30 pm after 24 hours of being up. Whew!
Genji Ozeki has a long and rich involvement here in Japan with the sport of promoting purebreed dogs and exhibition of them.
He has imported and shown some of the finest dogs that have won many top honors. If you would like to read more about Genji there was a wonderful article written about him in the 2009 Annual Dogs in Review magazine written by Mr. Bo Bengtson.
So we awoke this morning after 10 hours sleep, it seemed like daylight would never come. So finally at 5:30 am we got up with absolutely the worst headaches for both Julie and I. But after a wonderful breakfast and 4 delicious cups of coffee with wonderful Real whipped cream on top our headaches are gone and were ready to go....:)

Today we will be off to visit with Genji and Kyoko at their home. We then will be heading to see his new Kennel. He purchased last year a Horse breeding Farm that he is completely redoing that will be the Biggest and Finest Kennel in all of Japan. Remember that land is a premium here and so the space and land is a rarity. This Farm, previously was Home to the Emperior's Horse and Pig breeding program. So in looking at Genji's logo for his new kennel it has a Horse, Pig and Borzoi head in it to honor what has come before on those grounds. Kind of cool I think. In addition they will continue to Honor what has come before and have a few "token" Horses and Pigs. Kyoko said that she wants Mini Horses and Micro Pigs. We told her about Matt and Gene's (from Dog News) Mini Donkey's and now we think she wants those instead.

After a visit to the kennel we will have Lunch and then off about an hour away to meet his handler and see his dogs.
Then dinner. He told us yesterday that starting today he will take us for GREAT Japanese food that we will love and therefore
want to come back again. If you read the article about him in DIR I beleive this will be true as his business foundation is with owning many Restaurants here in Japan.

So a full day ahead for us. I will have pictures this evening that I will hope to get on.

First impressions are of a land that is SUPER CLEAN, like no other place you have seen. And, of people that are so kind and gracious. We are sure to have a wonderful time.

Until next time....