{"id":1098,"date":"2012-10-01T21:56:51","date_gmt":"2012-10-02T02:56:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ironcheffans.info\/wordpress\/?p=1098"},"modified":"2012-10-01T21:56:51","modified_gmt":"2012-10-02T02:56:51","slug":"my-trip-to-japan-sendai-best-day-ever","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/ironcheffans.com\/?p=1098","title":{"rendered":"My Trip to Japan – Sendai (Best Day EVER!!)"},"content":{"rendered":"

My Trip to Japan 2012 – Part 5 – Sendai<\/p>\n

So much cool stuff happened on this day. I’m sure I’m going to forget something. Saturday morning, and it’s time to head out of Tokyo for a couple of days. Our first stop is the largest city in the Touhoku region, Sendai<\/a>.\u00a0 After a couple of days in the middle of one of the world’s busiest cities, it was nice to get different view of Japan on the train ride up. We took the Shinkansen<\/a> to Sendai. After dropping our bags at the hotel, we headed back to the station. We needed to get a new memory card for Lynn’s camera. How did we ever expect to find a memory card for a camera in Japan? Luckily, we found a shop to buy one for him. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

Lynn and I broke off from the group and went looking for a pachinko\/slots establishment we saw advertised on the outside of the building. Imagine the loudest buzzing, clanking arcade you’ve ever been in, then multiply that by 10 and you might have an idea of what it was like in there. We did see some nice Eagles memorabilia there. Also while underground, we came across the scooter\/bicycle parking area under the station. There had to have been 1500 bikes under there.<\/p>\n

We decided were going to walk from the station to the stadium since it wasn’t that far. While looking at the map, we were approached a Japanese gentleman who asked us what we were looking for. We told him the baseball stadium and he gladly showed us the way to go. He started walking along with us. We thanked him for the directions and he went back toward the station. Thank you Yuuji for your assistance. We continue down the street toward the stadium, taking a few pictures along the way. A few minutes later, Yuuji comes around the corner. He gives us his phone number and e-mail address and even invites us to sit with him at a music festival that night. Unfortunately, we had other plans so we were unable to attend with him, but just being invited was a very cool thing to me.<\/p>\n

We finally made it to Kleenex Miyagi Stadium<\/a>, and we were in for an outstanding afternoon of baseball and fun in the stands. Before we even went into the stadium, we were amazed by all the activity outside. Once we got inside, we found our seats and got settled. The atmosphere was somewhat more lively<\/a> than the previous night’s game at Jingu Stadium. The Seibu Lions<\/a> had a great cheering section<\/a> in right field. (We would take in a Lions home game in a few days.) And the Eagles fans in the stands around us were really fun to be around. There was some unique mid-game entertainment<\/a>. Lynn made a lot of new friends<\/a> giving away some baseball themed gifts to the fans around us. The 7th inning celebration with the balloons<\/a> was a lot of fun. The Eagles won the game<\/a> 6-5 in walk-off fashion.<\/p>\n

That would have been enough to make it a great day, but the night was just getting started.<\/p>\n

The “other plans” that prevented us from taking Yuuji up on his music festival offer were a barbecue at the home of Marty Keuhnert<\/a>. (You can learn more about Marty at his website<\/a>.) We had a great time enjoying the spectacular view from Marty’s balcony and talking with some of the players<\/a>. The freshly grilled burgers and sausage were also outstanding. And while that was wonderful, there was still one more event that would make today even better.<\/p>\n

Earlier in the day, while walking around Sendai, I mentioned to Lynn that there was a Japanese band I liked, Monkey Majik<\/a>, that was based in Sendai. (You can see some of their music videos HERE<\/a>.) We were sitting outside at one of the tables when I saw what looked like a familiar face getting some food inside. I wasn’t sure I was seeing right until I saw a second person I recognized. I turned to Lynn and said, “Hey, remember that band I was telling you about earlier today. Well, they’re here. Monkey Majik is HERE!!!” (Well, half of Monkey Majik was there.) And while I didn’t want to interrupt them while they were eating, I had to go say something. I approached Maynard Plant<\/a> and said to him, “I hate to disturb you while eating, but I just had to come over and say something. I am a huge Monkey Majik fan.” He thanks me and then asks if I live in Japan. I said, “No. I live in Texas.” Needless to say, he was surprised. Surprised enough to tell his Japanese wife and her friend, which drew a reaction from both of them. We talked for a while about why I was in Japan for the baseball tour, how he met Marty and all kinds of things. I kind of felt like Chris Farley a couple of times, “Remember that song you did and that video? That was awesome.” His brother Blaise<\/a> comes inside for a minute. I get a picture (coming soon) taken with the two of them, get a compliment from Blaise on my Brand Legendary Mike Modano<\/a> shirt, and I go back outside one happy camper after chatting a few more minutes with the two of them. Both Maynard and Blaise were incredibly cool guys and patient with their Texas fan. Later, right before we left, we were sitting around a table outside talking with Maynard about eating healthy. (I obviously had zero to contribute to that conversation.) Anyway, I was hanging out with Maynard Plant from Monkey Majik!!! And that brought my day in Sendai to a perfect close.<\/p>\n

Videos: Bike parking under Sendai Station<\/a>, Eagles fans cheering on their team<\/a>, Manager argument<\/a>, Mid-Game Entertainment<\/a>, Seibu Cheering Squad<\/a>, Balloon release during 7th inning stretch<\/a>, Lynn making new friends<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n \t

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