28 April ? It?s 32,0000 feet up, 10:15 PM in New York and 11:15 AM in Tokyo. I?m trying to function on Tokyo time so I?m and typing a little on my pre-arrival musings, reading my Lonely Planet guide and great advice from Japan pro: Phil.

So far, I can report that United Airlines employees are depressed and have resorted to treating passengers to a self-service experience. But they did let us take on our six bags, some weighing in at 100-plus pounds confounding the TSA?s X-ray machines (or perhaps it was the effect of the passive-aggressive Chihuahua!)

Also, that Japanese immigration forms are a model of great design and great information design. Ah, and that yes, one does indeed have to declare ones swords along with ones guns.