Hiroshi's Birthday

We've been invited to attend our friend Hiroshi's birthday dinner. He's told us that he was born on "President's Day" 2/22, but he didn't realize that's what day it was until he went to the US to live & work. Flat Stanley is relaxing at the Iwakuni local train station while we wait for our train to arrive. We're riding the express this afternoon to Miyajima, but the station is not crowded. The bags hold presents that we're taking. Some are late Christmas presents for their grandchildren, since one of the children got sick and we didn't get to go. Some are for Eiko for inviting us to her home. and some are for Hiroshi's birthday. The Japanese love to give & receive gifts.





















Stan holds Flat Stanley near an Iwakuni station sign. In Japanese, the characters are read from top to bottom, but they're also written in English in the blue section. These can be clearly read from the train, so we always know where we are . . . Behind them is one of the vending machines that are everywhere in Japan. They dispense coffee, tea, juice and water, and if there's a red bar under the selection, it is a hot drink. If there's a blue bar under the selection, it's chilled -- all in one machine. Very clever . . .