I was most previously in Fukuoka in 2018  to attend a hydrogen conference, when Kyushu University paid expenses for me to give the invited lecture.    I also asked if they could take me to a fugu restaurant.   Here are two fugu testicles.  Note:  each is bigger than a lemon wedge.  And the fish is not much larger than a grapefruit.  I also took a  tour of Fukuoka   with colleagues from the Hawaii Natural Energy Institute. So yesterday we first had an excellent breakfast in the Ritz Carlton Club Lounge. Then, off to Ohori Park, which was only one subway stop away. Met by my Blue-bar Pigeon. Started kind of gloomy, for the weather was threatening and it was cold. I was watching this black duck of some kind, who now and then dived underwater.  Finally, he caught a fish that was several inches long, and had difficulty swallowing it. Other sights. Two foxes and Fall Colors. A nice outing and some good walking,  Back to our Cl...

The Sheraton Grand Ocean Resort is not quite in Miyazaki, but the city does have a population of 400,000.  Fukuoka, has 1.54 million people, more than the whole state of Hawaii, which has around 1.44 million, Having to wake up at 5AM, we had a quick breakfast, caught a taxi to Miyazaki Station, and boarded the train to Oita. We took this longer route because we once came to Miyazaki from Fukuoka using this slower path and saw the most spectacular Fall Colors in our life.  Unfortunately, my camera was on the wrong setting, and we did not get much.  However, reminiscent of Hokkaido, there was not much to view this time.  A few mountain settings where the colors were just beginning to change, an occasional wow scene, but not that overwhelming display of nature we earlier experienced.  On this trip: Train whizzing past a tree. We had a scary transfer at Oita.  When our Miyazaki train arrived, there was our Sonic train waiting, with the exact car number on our t...

Tried to get a tour to visit the wagyu beef farm, sturgeon caviar facility and mango orchards, but they have no such thing.  So the next best thing is to send you to some of my earlier visits to Miyazaki.  As for example, this was in 2015:       GAWA Day #7:  Miyazaki Wagyu Beef--THE BEST STEAK IN THE WORLD Miyazaki Wagyu has won various awards from the industry, including the most honoured "National Wagyu Award" by the Wagyu Registry Association in Japan. The award, also known as the "Wagyu's Academy Award", is given to the best cattle once every five years. Each time, more than 400 wagyu from some 30 places of origin would compete in the event which is attended by imperial family members. The beef are judged by their colour, fat distribution, meat fibres and taste. The National Wagyu Award has now gone to Miyazaki Wagyu two consecutive times meaning it has held the reigns for ten years! With its outstanding meat quality and breeding ability, the Miyazaki ...