It is a while since I posted to this blog since I have been busy with other things. However, it is now only three weeks until I go to Japan and I am experiencing excitement and terror in equal measure. I have been corresponding with a Japanese couch surfer and she told me an interesting thing that I don't know about cherry and plum blossom.

Plum blossom, it seems, is associated with Chinese cultural influence whereas cherry blossom is seen as the distinctive characteristic of Japanese cultural identity. I love the idea of cultural identity being associated with blossom. I guess here it would be the rose perhaps?

One thing I have been struggling a little with is finding a credit card that you don't have to pay to use in Japan. I have found a couple I just seem to be having problems getting hold of them. In addition, I haven't yet identified a way to potentially get emergency cash sent to Japan if the worst happens and I get robbed of everything.