UAB Does Japanese Cool

This blog is for the students and instructors of the UAB Study Away trip "UAB Does Japanese Cool" in Summer, 2012, to share their experiences with UAB, the city of Birmingham, and friends and family.
Some highlights of the planned trip include:

• May 29 (Tue) - Leave Birmingham, Alabama.
• May 30 (Wed) - Arrive in Narita Airport; last group arrives at 4:35 pm on ANA 7019 to Terminal 1; escorted to Birmingham's sister city of Hitachi. Stay first 3 nights in guest rooms of Ibaraki Christian University.
• May 31 (Thu) - Visit UAB sister university of Ibaraki University, in Mito; karaoke near Mito Station
• June 1 (Fri) - Visit Ibaraki Christian University classes; cookout in late afternoon. Tim Cook offers workshop on singing American shape notes, 6:00-8:30. Info in Japanese here.
• June 2 (Sat) - Students begin homestay with Hitachi volunteer families.
• June 3 (Sun) - Attend Hitachi Sister City 30th Anniversary Celebration, Hitachi Civic Center.
• June 4 (Mon) - Visit Nakasato Junior High School in Hitachi; visit mayor of Hitachi, Mr. Akira Yoshinari.
• June 5 (Tue) - Escorted to Tokyo; lodging at Sakura Hostel Asakusa; meeting, neighborhood sightseeing, free time (laundry)
• June 6 (Wed) Meeting, classes, shopping nearby, bank, free time.
• June 7 (Thu) Classes in the morning, Shibuya in the afternoon.
• June 8 (Fri) Classes in the morning, Akihabara, Tokyo Anime Center, Ameyoko in the afternoon.
• June 9 (Sat) Classes in the morning, Shinjuku, Tōkyō Tochō (Tokyo City Hall) Observation Deck in the afternoon. UAB reunion at 6:00 pm at Sushi Izakaya Alps in Kabuki-cho.
• June 10 - Traditional festival in the Tokyo neighborhood of Rokugo. Info in Japanese here.
• June 11 - Ghibli Museum (of Ghibli Studios, producer of many famous anime; info here)
• June 12 - Visit Komae High School, Komae, Tokyo.
• June 13 - Visit Imperial Palace.
• June 14 - Day trip to Kamakura
• June 16 - International Tokyo Toy Show. Info here.
• June 17 - Harajuku, Yoyogi Park, Omote-sando, Meiji Shrine
• June 19 - Leave Tokyo for return to Birmingham.