Our May trip to Japan has been in our plans for quite some time. Though It felt like a long time away when we first booked the tickets, the date crept up faster than I thought. Even though I was actually very excited to leave work and the tedious task of dealing with a certain someone, I tried not to think about it too much. Thinking about it just causes the last few days to drag out. The week in Japan passed fast. Our time there was filled nearly to the brim of what time would allow. Families, friends, shopping, and classical music performances made Japan feel surreal. Mom and Dad in Japan welcomed us and made us feel so at home as if I lived there the whole time. Friends came out to drink and eat with us. Shopping in Japan is so wonderful. Everything seems to be custom fitted for me. Of course its just the asian fit. Atsuko and Ya Kun, moved closer, to Yokohama. This means only a short train ride to Ebisu. We saw them often. We also attended our friends, Naoya and Mai’s, wedding. If there was a perfect wedding, this seems to be the one. Ahh.. There is just so much that happened, I can’t possibly cover everything. So pictures will have to do the rest.


When we arrived everyone had to undergo a health inspection. Thank the swine flu.


Yes we passed, Certificate of Health.


We pass this dance studio everyday going to the Ebisu Station.


The famous Shibuya


Mom on the very right. Tsuruokahachimangu Shrine in Kamakura


Mama, Hiroko, Me, and Daibutsu


Hiroko and Fio (our cute dog), at Ebisu Garden’s during our morning walk.


Some of the remaining old building that still remain in Ebisu, many are being knocked down.


Dad, Cello, and Fio.


Sake, lots of sake.


A dark cave lit only by the candles we had, Mark and Hiroko in a cave in Enoshima


Entrance to the dark cave


Fio walking Dad, Enoshima


Me, Hiroko, Mai and Naoya before the wedding at a fancy champagne bar.


Zero Yen for the iPhone. 29.95 a month. Man we are getting ripped off here in the states.


Hiroko standing admist Enoshima’s random shops.


Walking to the station, and everyday task, Atsuko


Mama, Papa, and Fio at Enoshima


300 yards of bikes.


Yamanote Line


CD Rental Place, Hiroko Otsuka Hsieh


A park in the city.


Koi, some people call them dumb fish


Picnic at the park, Marie and Hiroko Otsuka Hsieh


Sawako and Ito Chan, finding Lobos, everyone has GPS on their phones


The search continues...


Found the restaurant. LOBOS


Ito, Kaori, Sawako, Hiroko, Maku


At Lobos


Mama and papa at the Bikkuri Zushi restaurant, Ebisu


Find Food and Wine, a random underground restaurant/lounge/bar to the left of Montbell, Ebisu Station


At the Pub wit the Family.


Papa with daughter number 3.


The road home after family time at the english pub, a street in Meguro


Look at the size of this muscles we ate.


Beer #1 consume liquid in Japan followed by tea then water.


Coffee with Tomoko chan at Tokyo Station’s new mall.


Mai and Naoya, Husband and Wife


Naoya and Mai, just before the wedding ceremony


Friends at the wedding


Mark My Hsieh and Hiroko Ostuka Hsieh at a wedding


Picture with the bride, Hiroko Otsuka Hsieh, Mai, and Me (Mark My Hsieh)


At home with Fio


Fio and Hiroko


Fio and Mama


We tried fitting in...

After work Marty and Kenny came over to my place. Each with their own agenda. Kenny came over to dominate the Helghast soldier in Kill Zone 2. Marty came over to operate on his car and install a new pads for his brakes. I was their to offer support both morally and emotionally while they fulfilled their tasks. Kenny started and fought through nearly 1/3 of the game in one sitting. He showed nothing but impressive asian gaming skills. Marty switched his pads out with moderate swiftness and no cleanliness. After all was finished we went to the Daikokuya in Monterey Park for some ramen. We were disappointed. It definitely did not even compare to the LA one.


Marty Galang working away on his brakes


Now the driver side, he actually started on this side


Kenny Suh versus the deadly Helghast of Kill Zone 2

Today is the last of day of the 2009 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival. Ernest Quiambao, one of our friends, was part of the film selection committee and is pretty involved with the event. He invited Hiroko and I to join him in viewing some of the films. Hiroko went last saturday and watch “Day time drinking” a korean comedy. Today, we came to watch “Departures”. Departures won the Academy awards for best foreign film. All I have to say that it was a great film; it touches the heart. We also had a chance to hang out with Ernest and his brother, Christian, afterwards. It was nice because we got to get to know Christian a bit better




Check out the trailer here.




Mark and Hiroko, award winning directors.