Lunch with Saza Investment

Friday, I got to go to lunch with Saza Investment. Saza is one of our Referring Parties in Japan. They were told I was coming into Tokyo and they wanted to take me out to dinner. The morning of the lunch they called into the office and spoke with Emily giving her the address to their office. Telling her that I should be there at about 11:40. At that time we thought that Toshi was going to go with me, but he had another meeting and was out of the office. Apparently, Toshi arranged for Emily and I to go, but forgot to mention this to her. She was a little apprehensive about going, but I assured her it would be ok. I need a chaperone or I wouldn't know how to get there. We take the train to their office, the area that their office is in, is quite different than GFTs. Their office seems to be in an alley way, where as GFT is in the Financial District. We had trouble locating and walked around for a while.

When we arrive, we are greated by Fumio Kofu. He is the President of the company. I have met him a couple of times when he has come to our office, but it was always brief meetings. The majority of the contact that I have with this office is via email, so it was really nice to be able to put faces to the names that I have seen for the last couple of years. They take us into this small conference room. One of the things that they do in Japan is they have a formal introduction of all the employees. Each of the employees come into the room with a business card and they hand it to you. The card has english on one side and Japanese on the other. It was a little awkward because I didn't have anything to give to them, but I get a kick out of the formalities that they have in this country. After the introductions Emily and I are left with two of the new girls and we have casual converstation about my trip to Japan.

They take me to this Korean BBQ restuarant in Shimbuya where Emily and I went Thursday night. Lunch was with Fumio Kofu (the guy in the picture with just me), Masako Watanabe (lady in orange jacket next to me) , Miho Yoshimura( the lady with the bangs on my other side), and Yukio Ikeda (guy next to Fumio) and Emily (in the blue jacket on the end). Watanabe-san sat next to me and when the food came out and placed in front of me, she leaned over and told me that if I didn't like something I didn't have to eat it. I was relieved with this. I tried everything that they brought out, most of it was good. Every dish that came out, they had to explain to me what it was, when I tried something new, they would watch me for a reaction. It is very nerve racking being watched so closely while eating. When they brought out the meat to cook on the grill I was the only one who didn't have seafood. I think that everyone in Japan is aware of my "Seafood Allergy." They wouldn't let me cook my own food, Watanbe-san took on the mother role and made sure that I always had a piece of meat or vegetable ready when I finished what I was eating. I am so independent and like to do everything for myself that it is hard for me to let people take care of me so well and everyone here wants to "Serve me."

Everytime I am nervous about going into a situation, it has turned out much better than I have anticipated. I am very grateful for this experience.