Look at me. Here I am thinking that I am going to get this new series on Japan off to a good start and I forget to go ahead and publish the entry. What's wrong with me? Not half of what was wrong with my friend Jesse in this picture.

Days before I disembark from India to travel to Japan, I catch word that my dear friend Jesse and his relationship of eight years had ended. When I had arrived, I found him quite a few stops past his wits end. I was very happy to arrive and be there for him during this difficult time.

I'll never forget being in the laundry mat in Itabashii sharing a welcome jovial conversation. At any moment, something would click over and he would get the sourest of all looks on his face and exclaim something to the effect of, "how on earth could she do that?!?" He would lament and fume some more and then we would go back to sorting laundry.

I will tell you that even at his emotional bottom, Jess is a great man to travel with. You'll never meet a sharper wit or a more personable fellow in your life. He's a damned sharp cookie to boot.