The best bread of my life

These two items, bought at the Ueno subway station, were the best two pieces of bread I have ever eaten in my life, despite the fact that the one on the right was green-colored, with a few sweet grean beans inside. Unfortunately, together they cost me 1900 yen, about 19 US dollars.

Photos from around Tokyo

Even the bathrooms (okay, especially the bathrooms) are gorgeous by comparison.

Kawaii! (cute in Japanese)

This one's for Josephine!

Springtime

The press contingent

Also parked outside the hotel, waiting for some action

Outside our hotel in Tokyo

Outside our hotel in Tokyo, there are riot police stationed... for fear that right-wing Japanese groups will harass the North Koreans.

Background on the North Korea-Japan abductee issue

To Tokyo

I leave this morning for 10 days in Tokyo, to rapporteur for a conference on Northeast Asian security that's been called the "track 1.5 version of the 6-party talks". Pictures to follow when I return!

Fulbrighter

On Friday I got an email with good news: I've won a Fulbright award for next year! All those hours writing and rewriting have paid off.