Sushi

 
For all of you who hold the cultural misconception that "sushi" means raw fish, here is a vivid example to show you that it does not. Sushi is actually short for "su meshi" which is translated "vinegared rice." While raw sliced fish, called "sashimi" in Japanese, is a popular topping for sushi, it is not the only one. In Japan, I regularly see cooked fish, hamburger, and many other varieties. One of my personal favorites is the "natto maki," fermented soybeans wrapped in rice and then seaweed. This particular one includes two short but fully cooked weiners and a generous squirt of ketchup adorning two mounds of sushi, or vinegared rice. There is no fish on the plate whatsoever. While the ketchup and rice combination was new for me, it wasn't bad!
Also, for the record, the vinegar in the rice is not very obvious. They only use enough to help it stay together, don't ask me how. 

Horn Ensemble

 
Here is the group picture. Hooray! After a bit of trial and error I've figured out how the scanner feature on my printer works.
The lady to my right (next to the high table) has been especially helpful to me in adjusting and learning what I need to play well in the orchestra. She's playing first horn on the Tchaikovsky (4th symphony; I'm playing 3rd horn). The two men behind her both have excellent English conversation ability, which has been nice. Of those two, the one on the end is the section leader, responsible for communication and organization, welcoming new members and making sure all the parts are covered. The lady to my left (next to the low table) joined at about the same time as I did, this January. 

 

This is Angie filling in for Betsy. I attended this concert on an unusually sunny Niigata day. I was not really sure what I was in for, but I was delightfully surprised. As I learned later, each group performing were members of Niigata Symphony Orchestra. Some of the groups were all one instrument, i.e. eight cellos. Betsy was apart of an all-French horn group. This concert in a word was 'fun'. It was quite entertaining watching a group on the same pressing the outer limits of the instrument's range to complete a well-rounded affect.