At just past 12 pm we met with Mario at the University of Tokyo Hongo campus. We had a lunch meeting with him to catch up with what had happened since we last met. Mario is an Italian that arrived at Professor Kimura’s lab a short time before I had to finish my post doc at the same lab.
Mario was just back to Tokyo from a trip to Italy during the holidays. He had spent the time there with his family increasing his weight by 5 kilos in 7 days.

After lunch we went back to Hongo campus to have a coffee/hot chocolate at Starbucks. And to continue talking. After 3 hours Chie and I had to leave for some serious shopping in Ginza.

On our way out of the campus we met with Professor Kimura. He is usually a man that do not express much feelings, but today he looked quite surprised. However, he regained his usual controlled expression shortly after that. And we exchanged some greetings and he got my business card for future contact.

Then it was serious shopping in Ginza. Omiyage for my family in Sweden. And some for my business colleagues as well.

Time was flying and we had to hurry to get in time to our dinner appointment at Walnuts. We were a few minutes late but still the first to arrive. Just after us came Tomo-san, then Michio-san, and then Akiko-san.

We started eating while waiting for Mina-sensei but it turned out that she had to much work to do and she never arrived. But we still had a fun time without her. Hopefully I will see her the next time I come to Tokyo.

For dessert I got a big plate with a chocolate cake with whipped cream, Tiramisu, cinnamon ice cream, and coconut sorbet. Around the plate they had used chocolate to write “Johan Welcome Back & See You Soon”.