One of the absolute joys about travel is the unexpected. The Hounen Matsuri had passed, I was walking by myself around the narrow streets when this tiny guy intimated for me to take his picture. He was only about 5 foot high and walked with an ornate cane.

He offered his hand and introduced himself. I later found out he was in his late 80's!!

We sat on a stone wall together and shared sake. All the while, he was laughing and talking to me in Japanese, I was laughing and talking to him in English, but we could not understand a word the other was saying :-) Another younger guy came over and said hello, and offered to translate for the both of us.

We sat in the afternoon's fading light, drank more sake and had a great time. Great guy.