Jets, time machines, and Japan

Statue-pretty random-outside an Akita convenience store. Japan!

 Jet planes are the closest thing to time machines that I can imagine. You get in, sit down, and a few hours later you cross into a completely different time and place. I am awe-struck by this fact. If a real time machine became available (believe me, I've thought about this a lot), I would ask to go to Amboise, France, April of 1519 to meet with Leonardo da Vinci the month before his death. In my fluent Italian (!)  I would seek the answers to so many questions, and then I would tell Leonardo that his work and life would be remembered forever as that of a genius, that his bronze horse would eventually be built, and so would his bridge. I would tell him that bicycles would become reality, helicopters and submarines, tanks, machine guns, and worse.

Flying past Mount Ranier on our way to Japan

Most of all I would want to tell him that we learned to fly. To fly! Seriously, isn't that crazy-talk? After I spill all of this out to Leonardo...he would begin to ask questions. He would want to know how things worked. Things like aerodynamics, alloyed metals, and internal combustion engines. Could I even explain a bicycle? I doubt it, but maybe in the end he would allow me to join the sixty beggars who, in accordance to his will, followed the casket. Rest in peace, Leo. We did learn to fly, just as you knew we could.

John and I flew to Japan over 2 weeks ago, and just returned yesterday. I have over 900 images on my camera, only 10% of which are any good. But that leaves about 100 pictures and an equal number of thoughts. What to write about? Ten posts on Japan? I must narrow it down. It looks like things fall into categories, roughly:

Akita & its surroundings (Akita was our main destination due to John's interesting work)
Umbrellas (Yes, umbrellas)
Bullet trains (Why don't we have these?)
Things about us that annoy them (Long list, but I will limit it)
Temples and gardens in Kyoto (amazing, not boring)
Dogs of Japan (I know you're shocked.)
Tokyo bright lights (omg)
Tokyo fish market (eels?)
Japanese food (crazy)
Weird stuff and funny English (The Japanese hold a special niche here)

What to skip, what to include. I am stalled. Help.
(Note: "Dogs of Japan" is not optional. I will do this even if nobody wants it.)