Joe, as you know, its a pretty amazing thing to wake up, have breakfast and then take a 30 minute ride to see maybe six breeders before lunch! In those three-four hours you see the entire years effort of the best breeders in the world! Tosai, Nisai, sansai, yonsai and oyagoi- nothing is hidden. Its like a living genetic map of the last fives years progress and failures. All one needs is the perspective to take it all in. It is also why you should never buy fish on the first day- it can overwhelming and short circuit the evaluation process !
O and then there is lunch and the afternoon visits to six more!!!
After visting Japan once or twice a year since the first trip 17 years ago now ( first trip 1990 All Japan Show), and having missed the last two years, I'm very eager to return this fall!
I would like to organize a trip for the ZNA members. We were talking about a ZNA National show on the other board, but I think things like a 'National trip' would be a better idea to forge links between chapters. What do you think about that idea?
JR