In the words of Meetloaf (if my memory serves me correctly), I have been to hell and back! Actually quite litterally. I bet in a much more litteral sense than the rock-metal-super-star was singing about. Accompanied by Naoto. Here we are dipping our feet in it!




This steaming hot spring is red because of the minerals that come in the water, and the Japanese call it Bloody Hell!!!

The reason I had to go to hell, and Naoto was kind enough to escort me, was because I needed to fire my cup. This was not to be any old cup allowing any old cup of tea. This was to be the finest cup and the finest cup of tea in the world.



To navigate our way to hell and back we had to utilize all sorts of modern methods of transport in order to dupe the devil. And I`m pretty sure he didn`t see us coming, or going. Not only did we use the motor car (for our sins), but we also used the ferry:


And I posed as my shadow




And the train.

To confuse the Devil we had to sing some songs in the train to the other people travelling, who were very kind and posed as our audience.


Here`s Chieko who was helping to smuggle us, telling the travelling public to pretend to be our audience...



And when the train stopped we got out and sung some more songs to the setting sun.


Of course we had to rehearse all of this as it had never been done before. During the rehearsal I became slightly worried that the man in the hat was the devil posing as a train guard.


And to prepare ourselves for the boiling hot climate of hell, first we had to go somewhere nice and freezing cold to cool off...somewhere on the way to heaven...


So here is the proof. Naoto and I were successful. We got in and out unharmed. And the cup...well I`ll let you know the results once I`ve sipped the tea from it. There is just one thing on my mind. I am mildly concerned that since our return I have a strange sensation of not being completely here....although I don`t mind, it feels quite nice to float about.




Nothing a good cup of tea wont fix!