Japan Trip Report - Part III

by Linda Johnson | Published: Jul 04, 2003

Congratulations to the winner of the Japan Poker Championship, Jan Fisher. Jan played well and was very happy and proud to win the title. As I said in my last column, the Japanese players are definitely students of the game, like to compete, and are eager to learn. I was impressed with their play, but most of all, I was impressed with how much fun we all had. Despite playing hard, there was plenty of laughter and enjoyment.

The next day, the Japanese Poker Players Association had a board meeting and presented Jan with a shirt that said "Champion" on it. She gave a brief speech, thanking the Association, and then we headed for dinner.

Many restaurants in Japan specialize in "fast-food" sushi. Patrons sit in front of a conveyor belt and the food rolls by in front of them. When a dish comes by that they want, they take it off the belt and proceed to eat. Different dishes hold different types of sushi, but each generally contains two pieces and costs about $1. When they are finished eating, they call the attendant, who counts their plates and calls out the total to the cashier.

I didn't fully understand the strategy of Kaiten Sushi the first time I went. It is almost the opposite of poker. Since the food comes around the belt clockwise, you want the aggressive players (eaters) on your left and the weak players on your right. That way, you can grab the plate before they do. It is definitely better to be in the small blind than on the button in this type of sushi bar. At times, I would stake out a particular plate, only to have the player before me take it. Bummer! Of course, it didn't matter, since there was always plenty more. Over the course of 11 days, we ate at Kaiten Sushi places about six times, and enjoyed it each time.

During our remaining time in Tokyo, Hiroshi was a terrific host and showed us many of the top attractions, including the Ginza (the Fifth Avenue of Tokyo, where we enjoyed people-watching while having a drink at a sidewalk café), Roppongi (where the "cool" people enjoy the nightlife), Yoshiwara (the red-light district), and Uguisudani (the area containing many of the "love hotels").

The next day we headed for Mount Fuji. Hiroshi had rented a car, since it was easier than taking the train with our luggage. The countryside was scenic and very green in between the many populated areas. When we got to Mount Fuji, we drove as far up the mountain as we could go on the Fuji Subaru line, then got out and walked in the snow. Unfortunately, it was overcast, and we couldn't see the top of the mountain. The next stop along the way was at the spectacular Shiraitonotaki waterfalls. Our hotel for the night was the Nihontaira, which is supposed to have a nice view of Mount Fuji. Although it was a beautiful resort, the clouds still prohibited us from enjoying the mountain view.

We awoke early the next morning and took the train to Hiroshima, where we checked in to the RIGHA Royal Hotel. The afternoon was spent window-shopping in the huge adjacent mall. Uha, a friend of Hiroshi's, treated us to a magnificent dinner, then took us on a great city tour. The next day, he took us to a local lunch spot, where many of the patrons sat on floor rugs and ate food cooked at the table. We had sukiyaki, which is thin beef slices cooked with onions and vegetables. Delicious! That afternoon, we went to the Hiroshima Memorial, and saw pictures and films of the devastation caused by the atomic bomb. It was hard to believe that more than 140,000 people died and everything within three kilometers of the area was destroyed by the bomb. It was a very sobering experience.

Around 6 p.m., we got on a bullet train and headed for Kyoto, where we checked in to the Kyoto Kokusai Hotel. We were pleased with the suite that was assigned to us by accident. Sightseeing took up the entire next day. Kyoto is home to some of the most famous and beautiful temples in Japan. We got back to the hotel just in time to see a geisha girl dancing under a gazebo in the garden. The next morning, we went to the Nishiki market, and then to the Kyoto poker club. It is affiliated with the Tokyo club, and was holding its monthly no-limit poker tournament that day. The club is located in a conference room of a nice hotel. About 15 of the players from Tokyo were there, along with 15 local players. Again, the play was impressive, and everyone had a good time.

About 6 p.m., final-table action was stopped for a dinner break. They served up another sumptuous feast. (I can't figure out how the Japanese people stay so thin!) When the tournament ended, I gave a poker seminar, and Jan demonstrated proper dealing techniques to a very interested crowd. In Japan, they don't have professional dealers, so players volunteer to deal and play at the same time. No one had ever shown them proper dealing techniques. I was amazed at how enthusiastic they were, and Jan worked with many of them individually on the proper shuffling and pitching methods. By the time we return next year, they will have mastered professional dealing skills.

There was still one thing we wanted to experience before leaving Japan – karaoke, Japanese style. Twelve of us rented a karaoke room and had a great time singing and carrying on. There is a song in Japan with a chorus of "Linda, Linda," and they all stood up and shouted in unison; I laughed so hard that I hurt.

The following morning, Zoot, whom we had met the evening before, picked us up and took us to his kimono factory. The fabric and patterns were awesome. Then, it was time for our last trip to Kaiten Sushi before catching the bullet train to the Osaka airport.

I am home now, but the memories of an awesome trip will never be forgotten. I got to experience poker Japanese style, meet new friends, and see the beautiful country. The Japanese people are wonderful hosts and showed us a great time. Special thanks to Hiroshi for putting up with all our questions and patiently answering them. I can't wait to return to Japan!

Now, let's play poker!