“A lot has happened to me lately. It’s not very late and I’d like to write well about this, but I am absolutely exhausted so we’ll see how it turns out.

First off! I feel like my Japanese is continuing to improve. I had one of my friends, who I’ve known for a long time, comment on my Japanese, saying that he can tell I’m making improvements. Yay for THAT. I’m really trying my best to improve. Waching Risa is extremely inspiring for me, her dedication to English and skill is insane. She knows more SAT words than me! Haptics, for example.

Yesterday I went with her to a park in Shinjuku and showed her what defines me. Yes sir, that would be tricking. I really wanted to do it properly, so here’s what we did. I brought all of my tricking gear, tape, water, camcorder, clothes, etc. Of course, the fundamental element was music. I have my tricking playlist that I always trick to, similar to most tricksters I know. I usually trick “”to”" the music, and I wanted to include Risa in that somehow, so I burned her a cd with all the songs, she put it on her iPod, and we listened to the same thing at the same time, while I trick, and she watched. Needless to say, it was quite the experience. The fact that someone would do that, as a means to understand me, is very humbling for me. Thanks Risa! You’re amazing!

After that we went to some delish thai food, the first I’ve had in Japan, and then settled down in a coffee shop to talk about relations between Japan and China, our dream vacations, and language. It was the first time I got to speak what I feel was real Japanese to Risa, so I’m happy about that too. Summary, yesterday was another fantastic day with my lovely Lisa. (Alliteration).

Finally, I received two e-mails in the past few days that have had quite a profound effect on me, and I’d like to share them with you all. Here you are!

I just read your current blog entry about this guy who sent you this e-mail. What is funny about that is that just yesterday I was thinking on writing la message like that to you, too lol. You’ll probably think something like i want to make myself look sympathic to you or something like that but it’s true and i was kind of scared how much the message of this guy looks like the one i’d have probably written. man i wished i had written that one yesterday evening LOL. hajime no ippo, real passion for japan and also the fact that i just started learning japanese at a different school because mine doesn’t offer it. Further I’m also hoping to go to japan next summer. All that and also the style of the e-mail that was so much like my own thoughts had been…all that seemed really amazing to me. What I wanted to add is that what you wrote about that you’ve been hiding your passion about japan to others is just the situation i’m in at the moment. What you said really opened my eyes and today i quit lying about things so i told a friend of mine that i’m going to my japanese class this evening when he asked me why i had no time to meet. Final i want to say that your blog entrys as well as your tutorials and samplers really inspire me and that you’re one of the most amazing people in the world to me. Thanks Dogen, i mean REALLY thanks Dogen,

Yoichi

Number 2

Hey Kevin, I just read the purpose section on your site and I have to say that it brought tears to my eyes. I don’t really know what else to say except that I am so sorry for all the times that I was not nice to you or criticized you for anything regarding Japan or tricking or anything else. I realized my mistake maybe a year ago and have tried to be nice to you ever since then; I hope you’ve noticed this but I never offered an apology for all the time before that. You are my brother and I love you and that’s all that matters. To be honest I look up to you for a lot of things and have always wished I had your passion and work ethic. I hope this means something to you and know that you don’t have to hide anything from me anymore.

Love, Ryan

Enough to make you cry huh? I know I did. Reading these makes me want to keep doing my best and standing up for what I truly believe in.

Thanks everyone! Train hard!”