A fine Ryu-mance

Ryu-san wasn`t showcasing a blistering sense of humour when he referred to our date as the English-Japanese lesson. After the film (Brothers Grimm; all appearance and no substance - although, if you like bookish, bespectacled geeks, Heather Ledger is worth the ticket price alone. Otherwise, only go if accompanied by a responsible 13-year-old), we went back to Ryu`s and out came a pencil and paper! It was useful, to a point - I am not sure how often I will need to refer to the Bulgarian sumo champion Koto-oshu. I did get to practice `make me warm` in his far too cold flat (with all this technology, where is the central heating?! I would risk my pipes bursting in an earthquake for one evening in warmth and comfort at a sensible price). We went via the supermarket, where I got to `sample` foods I`d already eaten (Dairy Milk, bagels, Camembert...) to stave off the groaning hunger I`d subjected myself to by politely refusing popcorn because I was on a date (I don`t know why I do this - they will see me eat like a famished roughian soon enough - it will only lead to greater shock this way!).

Somehow on my last trip, I had not visited the bathroom. In Japan, matching toilet seat, toilet roll and cistern covers are de rigour, preferrably in a cutesey kiddies` design, like Hello Kitty, or, for the more discerning toileteer, Elle or such like. Ryu greeted me as I left the toilet (how relaxing) to check my impression of his animal print decor. Cheetah, apparently.

The date generally went well, Ryu`s English is coming on quite nicely (perhaps it`s all those American movies he has to sit through - I actually found myself enjoying the Matrix this time!) and I am picking up some `street` Japanese (honki - are you serious?! How street!). My pre-date nerves were intensified by the sense that I was entering an exam I hadn`t prepared for, but once I was in the car and he pointed out Britney on the i-Pod I felt more relaxed. He pointed out some local sites around us and on the sat-nav, such as the local high school (think back Block H) and the electric company and we managed to relax in the necessary silence until we were able to volley Raju`s electronic dictionary back-and-forth without risking a head-on collision.

Dinner was nice too (nabe and sashimi to begin, followed by omelette, rice, rock pool soup, beef stew and an asparagus and tomato gratin) and Yoshiko-san, one of the receptionists, nearly fell over backwards when she heard he`d actually cooked for me (he also washed up - I offered and then retracted my offer!). Another teacher pointed out he was from a different generation, but I feel it bodes well. He`ll make someone a great shoohoo one day. Still, I have let it be known he can take me out for French food, should the urge take him. All in all it was very nice, and he`s still very cute (sometimes I wonder and have to check), although I would personally never wear a cardigan on a second date.

Mayuko-san brought me some perfume back from her trip to Paris, which was lovely - and my gratitude intensified when I saw it was actually men`s cologne and she`s saved me having to fret about getting Ryu-san a birthday present for Sunday! Well done her and her flimsy English.

I saw Mount Fuji for the first time today. The skies are amazing here at the moment - vivid blue and as wide open as a bright spring morning. Beyond the mish-mash of temporary houses, the mountains peaked on the horizon, with one disappearing into a mass of cloud - that was Fuji-san. It was incredible.