Steven's Home Page - ホームページ: ワタシノニッポンノトモダチ。。。

During this year's century bike ride I got a chance to hang out on three nights with my good (and famous) friends from Japan, Kushima-san, his wife, and their hardcore triathlete friend Maki-san. Kushima-san and his wife are very famous throughout Japan being published 2 times in Japan's Cycle Sport magazine for their stories about riding around Oahu in 2005 and 2006: http://www3.plala.or.jp/kushima2/bike_tour.htm .

On the Thursday before the Century ride, the 3 of them rode around the Island and it was VERY HARD. 180kms, strong head winds, and 3 heavy showers made for an 11 hour torture fest. Then, on Sunday, they did the entire Century ride.....according to Kushima-san, the 160km Century was "easy" compared to riding around the Island. Talk about being in FANTASTIC shape...I guess I shouldn't be surprised as they are ALL avid triathletes! Here's the story of Kushima-san's time in Hawaii: http://www3.plala.or.jp/kushima2/hawaii2007.htm.

One night, we went over to Pho Bistro which makes the most ichiban Vietnamese food in town...but...when I went to pick them up...I was SO SURPRISED!!!!!...perhaps we should have gone to a Japanese restaurant instead???

Then to recover from the Century Bike Ride, we went over to Side Street Inn for a little Hawaiian Style Izakaya action...

Then another night we went over to a "true" Japanese restaurant that is NOT in Waikiki. Here we are walking over to Imanas Tei...

Of course, we had to wait for 20 minutes or so...

With lots of "real" Nihonjin in the house, you know it has to be really good...sanma, sake, jyagaimo, beer, salad, yakitori, etc. etc...some of the best authentic Japanese food in town. Lucky I had Kushima-san and company with me, else I would have never known how to eat (or even order) "Jyagaimo"...I remember NOT knowing how to eat it when I went to Kyoto...