Hey everyone! Whew! I got back from Japan yesterday and arrived in 34c degree Santa Cruz! Whoa nellie, it’s warm!
I didn’t have much time on the computer in Japan, but am very happy to see that the Bachido forum has been vibrant and active! 
I look forward to getting back involved once I get settled in!
Bachi on!!
Kyle
Welcome home, Kyle. So glad that your trip was safe. And congrats to everyone who did so amazingly.
Soo, is that a new doukake I see? Beautiful! XOXO
Welcome back to the states! :). So how was your trip?
Thanks Lorraine! I hope you have been keeping California jolly and singin’!
Ah yes, that is a prototype doukake made in Japan. Adrian is connected with a brilliant Japanese tattoo shop in San Jose who was willing to design doukake for us. Stay excite!
David, Thanks! That’s an excellent question and a long story. Let’s just say, I learned a lot!
I’m so jealous you got to go to Japan. The closest I’ve ever been is Hawaii, whose population is like 70% Japonic, I think. Haha
The only thing that could make me more jealous is if you secretly went to a Hatsune Miku hologram concert.
Glad you made it back safely bro!!!
The vid of the big group performance I watched was awesome - whatever the difficulties, misunderstandings, disappointments, it did not show on stage.
Some funny trivia is that while we had a really good practice the evening before, the practice outside just before showtime SUCKED! Nothing went right and it was hard hearing each other so we got out of sync. It wasn’t a good feeling to go on stage with, but once we sat down and started playing it felt soooo good.
We didn’t reach the dynamics level that we had in earlier practice and I think it was part due to that not all people were in Misawa and started working the dynamics in time.
Kyle, would you mind terribly showing a better photo of your new doukake? I’d really like to see it!
Oh, by the way, Karl? When you have a GREAT “dress rehearsal” just before the show (usually opening night) - it often means the actual performance is going to experience massive amounts of suckiness. (That’s a technical term 
)
So, it was a good sign that the last practice was BAD - psychologically, it pumps everyone up to listen better, and perform better for the actual performance.
I’m always nervous when dress rehearsal goes great. 
Lorraine - totally agree with you on that! My group’s best gigs have always been preceded by a crappy (another technical term) dress rehearsal.
Karl: Hahaha!! That’s true! We were so out of sync, I thought we were going to get third place again! (out of two teams) I’m pleasantly surprised how everyone pulled through at the end.
Lorraine: Sure! I’ll post one up soon. It’s a little dark now though. 
Linda: Similarly, my worst performances have always been when dress rehearsal went fabulously.
Ok, now I will be scared if rehearsal goes well