Saturday, April 20, 2024 – Photo of the Day – Tokyo, Japan

**Tokyo, Japan with Mt. Fuji in the background**

Where in the World Are We?

We are in Tokyo, Japan.

TOKYO, JAPAN
A SEEMINGLY UNLIMITED CHOICE OF SHOPPING, ENTERTAINMENT, CULTURE & DINING

Dense and delightful, there’s nowhere else like Japan’s kinetic capital – a city where ancient traditions blend seamlessly
with a relentless pursuit for the future’s sharpest edge. See the city from above, as elevators rocket you up to towering
viewing platforms, from which you can survey a vast urban ocean, interspersed with sky-scraping needles.

Look out as far as the distant loom of Mount Fuji’s cone on clear days. Futuristic – second-accurate – transport seamlessly
links Tokyo’s 14 districts, while the glow of flashing advertisement boards, clanks of arcade machines, and waves of
humanity flowing along its streets, adds to the sense of mesmerising, dizzying and glorious sensory overload. One of
Tokyo’s most iconic sights, don’t miss the flood of people scrambling to cross Shibuya’s famous intersection.

Join the choreographed dance, as crowds of briefcase-carrying commuters are given the green light to cross at the
same time – bathed in the light of massive neon advertisements. The culture is immensely rich and deep, with 7thcentury,
lantern-decorated temples, stunning palaces and tranquil scarlet shrines waiting below cloaks of incense and
nestling between soaring skyscrapers.

Restaurants serve up precisely prepared sushi, and wafer-thin seafood slivers, offering a unique taste of the country’s
refined cuisine. Settle into traditional teahouses, to witness intricate ceremonies, or join the locals as they fill
out karaoke bars to sing the night away. In the spring, cherry blossom paints a delicate pink sheen over the city’s
innumerable parks and gardens.

IMPERIAL PALACE
The Imperial Palace has served as the residential place of the successive Emperors since 1868. It contains the Imperial Residence and the Imperial Palace Complex, where His Majesty the Emperor undertakes official duties. Various ceremonies and public activities are held there too. The East Gardens of the Imperial Palace are located on the eastern part of
the palace grounds and opened to the public.

SIGHTS

Sensō-ji Temple
Tokyo Skytree
Meiji Jingu Shrine
Tokyo Tower
Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
Shibuya Scramble Crossing

Today’s Activities Included:

Bridge Lessons
Dance Lessons
Enrichment Lecture with Mark Stanton: Top 20 Useless Inventions in the World
- Everyone thinks that they have an idea for the best invention in the world. Everyone is going to need one and it will make him or her a fortune. The truth is far from this utopian idea. The British are famous for having had more patents issued than any other nation on Earth, but not all of them have been the roaring success that their inventors hoped for. What were some of the more useless inventions that have been granted a patent?
In Conversation and Q&A with Forensic Anthropologist Kathy Reichs hosted by Cruise Director Moss
- We all watch TV crime shows, and hear about criminal investigations on the news. Our forensic expert Kathy, separates the facts from the fiction, and then she answered your questions in the Q&A session. It was a fascinating insight into the world of forensic evidence and crime investigation.
Enrichment Lecture with Michael DiSpezio: Christopher Columbus – The Science and History of Encountering a New World
- Discover the incredible backstory of Columbus and his journey to uncover a shorter route to the Indies. Plus, discover the real story of why sailors use nautical miles.
- The sliges are self explanatory.

TONIGHT’S LOCAL SHOW – THE POWER OF CORE

CORE is Japan’s first drum performance group using marching drums,
formed in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, the birthplace of marching
bands in Japan.

At that time, drum line entertainment only existed in the United States, the home of marching bands. It did not exist in Japan, and CORE could not even find marching instruments in Japan.

CORE creates performances derived from traditional US marching drum line shows combined with the expression and style that is uniquely Japanese.

The core of CORE performances include:
“A powerful performance with the entire stage”, “The Art of Stick Control”, “The stage and the audience are one”.

Our performances surprise and inspire audiences and as a pioneer of the first drum performance group in Japan, The CORE will continue to provide smiles, hopes, dreams, and impressions to all people in the world sharing their
exciting and unique drum performances.