I pose with my school's principal. The kocho. NOT the kancho. That's something else entirely.
I pose with my school's principal. The kocho. NOT the kancho. That's something else entirely.
Looking west out the window at school.
Looking west out the window at school.
We invade a gym class and pose with them. Japan takes school visitors very seriously.
We invade a gym class and pose with them. Japan takes school visitors very seriously.
Playing a crappy Jeopardy game. I am a terrible teacher.
Playing a crappy Jeopardy game. I am a terrible teacher.
My mom and I deliberate over a tough question. Which answer is better: "My favorite animal is pizza" or "My favorite animal is furniture"?
My mom and I deliberate over a tough question. Which answer is better: "My favorite animal is pizza" or "My favorite animal is furniture"?
We walk to a 7-11 for lunch. Beautiful day.
We walk to a 7-11 for lunch. Beautiful day.
Token Fuji shot over my school's baseball field.
Token Fuji shot over my school's baseball field.
The view out my classroom window to the South.
The view out my classroom window to the South.
I'm in charge of cleaning the bike area. Which means, I am in charge of making kids clean the bike area.
I'm in charge of cleaning the bike area. Which means, I am in charge of making kids clean the bike area.
The kids like to make up reasons why some students are absent. "Junya is...very bad boy!" I don't want to know what that means.
The kids like to make up reasons why some students are absent. "Junya is...very bad boy!" I don't want to know what that means.
I can hardly contain my enthusiasm for sweeping dirt around with novelty witch brooms.
I can hardly contain my enthusiasm for sweeping dirt around with novelty witch brooms.
Weird traffic cop telling cars to do something.
Weird traffic cop telling cars to do something.
Much like cigarettes are legal tender in prison, I bribed Kevin with Skittles to drive my family to Dragon Park.
Much like cigarettes are legal tender in prison, I bribed Kevin with Skittles to drive my family to Dragon Park.
Because everyone's happy at Dragon Park!
Because everyone's happy at Dragon Park!
And I play on the playground like a 10-year-old.
And I play on the playground like a 10-year-old.
One of the namesakes of the park.
One of the namesakes of the park.
If you're visiting Japan from a Western nation, you have to take a picture of the toilets!
If you're visiting Japan from a Western nation, you have to take a picture of the toilets!
My parents were concerned about the kerosene heater's open flame. Hey, no insulation or indoor heating. Take it up with the architects of Japan.
My parents were concerned about the kerosene heater's open flame. Hey, no insulation or indoor heating. Take it up with the architects of Japan.
The language lab room where I quarantined my parents so they didn't completely stop production in the teacher's room with comments on how tall my dad is.
The language lab room where I quarantined my parents so they didn't completely stop production in the teacher's room with comments on how tall my dad is.
My high school's courtyard.
My high school's courtyard.
The librarian/History teacher who bought me a book in Tokyo about the samurai who founded my town. What a hip, hip lady.
The librarian/History teacher who bought me a book in Tokyo about the samurai who founded my town. What a hip, hip lady.
More artwork at school. I work at a classy joint.
More artwork at school. I work at a classy joint.
My dad looking terribly awkward about being surrounded by tiny Japanese teenagers.
My dad looking terribly awkward about being surrounded by tiny Japanese teenagers.
My dad lifts up my tutoree Kao.
My dad lifts up my tutoree Kao.
And can't leave out Rio! 
And can't leave out Rio! 
Kao teaches my parents origami.
Kao teaches my parents origami.
Why not walk on the ceiling, too? Tall people are useful in society!
Why not walk on the ceiling, too? Tall people are useful in society!
Gaijin are human jungle gyms.
Gaijin are human jungle gyms.
I smell a sitcom!
I smell a sitcom!
They try on my dad's cowboy boots.
They try on my dad's cowboy boots.
Rio is ready to rock American fashion into Japan.
Rio is ready to rock American fashion into Japan.
I give the international symbol for not going to Makudonarudo. Dame! Onegaishimasu!
I give the international symbol for not going to Makudonarudo. Dame! Onegaishimasu!
I introduce my parents to my friends at an izakaya. They're impressed that such cool people hang out with me.
I introduce my parents to my friends at an izakaya. They're impressed that such cool people hang out with me.
My dad relaxes(?) on my tatami next to my stupid, stupid air conditioner.
My dad relaxes(?) on my tatami next to my stupid, stupid air conditioner.
Takeda Shingen, the aforementioned samurai who founded my town.
Takeda Shingen, the aforementioned samurai who founded my town.
A view of Tokyo from the hotel in "Lost in Translation."
A view of Tokyo from the hotel in "Lost in Translation."
All JETs instinctively flock back to the Keio Plaza Hotel like the salmon of Capistrano.
All JETs instinctively flock back to the Keio Plaza Hotel like the salmon of Capistrano.
Sensoji Temple in Asakusa on the windiest day ever.
Sensoji Temple in Asakusa on the windiest day ever.
My dad and I are easy to spot in a crowd. Just look up.
My dad and I are easy to spot in a crowd. Just look up.
My mom and I light a candle for my brother in Afghanistan.
My mom and I light a candle for my brother in Afghanistan.
I stand by a waterfal waiting for the Koi of Capistrano. 
I stand by a waterfal waiting for the Koi of Capistrano. 
Corn is my mother's favorite food ever, so she's right at home in a country where it routinely shows up on pizza, spaghetti, breakfast cereal, etc.
Corn is my mother's favorite food ever, so she's right at home in a country where it routinely shows up on pizza, spaghetti, breakfast cereal, etc.
Pigeons posing next to statues of pigeons. Birds have strange senses of humor.
Pigeons posing next to statues of pigeons. Birds have strange senses of humor.
My mom gets a free hug in Harajuku.
My mom gets a free hug in Harajuku.
I'm guessing he (she?) is not the FASHION police. OOH, iceburn!
I'm guessing he (she?) is not the FASHION police. OOH, iceburn!
My dad and I trying to not look awkward and failing horribly.
My dad and I trying to not look awkward and failing horribly.
People think I'm lying when I tell them about the Dancing Elvises.
People think I'm lying when I tell them about the Dancing Elvises.
Almost naked guy wearing a plastic bag in the freezing cold. Why not, Harajuku? Why not?
Almost naked guy wearing a plastic bag in the freezing cold. Why not, Harajuku? Why not?
Tokyo Bay, Fuji in the distance, and the moon in the slightly-further distance.
Tokyo Bay, Fuji in the distance, and the moon in the slightly-further distance.
My dad was telling me something historical happened in this harbor, but I was playing DS at the time.
My dad was telling me something historical happened in this harbor, but I was playing DS at the time.
Disney Hotel. Not too shabby.
Disney Hotel. Not too shabby.
I think my dad just did a magic trick, and I appeared. I mean, an illusion. I'm out of prison? Ta-da!
I think my dad just did a magic trick, and I appeared. I mean, an illusion. I'm out of prison? Ta-da!
My mother and I bowl over several toddlers to pose with Japanese Donald.
My mother and I bowl over several toddlers to pose with Japanese Donald.
Just before my Journey 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.
Just before my Journey 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.
Why stand and smile like a chump, when you can pretend to be King Triton holding a sceptre?
Why stand and smile like a chump, when you can pretend to be King Triton holding a sceptre?
Re-enacting Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. Kalima! KALIMA!! A few Japanese people crowded around to take a picture too! I'm like Harajuku girls!
Re-enacting Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. Kalima! KALIMA!! A few Japanese people crowded around to take a picture too! I'm like Harajuku girls!
My parents in front of a novelty lighthouse.
My parents in front of a novelty lighthouse.
I'm smoking a fake pipe and composing a fake sea shanty, of course!
I'm smoking a fake pipe and composing a fake sea shanty, of course!
Wearing my new Disney Sick Mask (tm).
Wearing my new Disney Sick Mask (tm).
A cool zen garden in the courtyard of the hotel.
A cool zen garden in the courtyard of the hotel.