June 1, 2018

Tokyo, Japan

This week we get to stay in the same hotel for six nights. To most people. sleeping in the same bed for that length of time isn't a big deal, but to us it's massive! Being able to unpack, do some laundry, find a routine and relax in the same space for nearly a whole week is a real blessing. And, what's more, we had a whole day off yesterday.A Whole Day Off is something that happens on tour perhaps 2-3 times each year, if we're lucky. No travel, no meetings, no performances and no deadlines. Well, no official deadlines on that day, at least. Which isn't to say that we don't have work to do, but it makes you feel a lot more free. So I started by going for a walk with Johnny, visiting his favourite bookshop (which is very nice, and sells all kinds of books), enjoying a quiet lunch, and walking a bit further with Johnny to a decent coffee shop before returning to the hotel. Chris B and I harboured ambitions to go and watch baseball at the Tokyo Dome last night but, in the event, decided to stay in and work. We did grab a late pizza from the restaurant opposite our hotel, though. All in all, it was a good day. And, I managed to complete some arrangements and programme work for my Phoenix Chorale audition next year!Now we're down to the final push on this long tour: three concerts in a row here in Japan, followed by a quick stop in Taipei and then home next Wednesday/Thursday. Tomorrow we return to Tokyo Opera City for the first time in a while; my last performance there was with the choir of St John's Cambridge, with a very young Julian Gregory singing treble! I remember sitting in the restaurant at the top of the tower, feeling the earthquake-proof building swaying in the wind. As always, it'll be fun to go back and re-live that experience, whilst making some new memories to look back on after I've moved on from the KS.This is my tenth visit to Japan, spread over 20 years, and I can safely say that this is a country I'd like to bring my family to see! I think Stephanie and the girls would be fascinated by the culture, food, architecture and people. This is one "last time" I'm sad about...