And on the 8th Day, God realized that Jet Set Zero would crash-land in Tokyo, and that the days would be long, the food unhealthy, and guesthouse cold and lonely.  And so He sent a man to save them from despair, to teach them the ways of sushi and yaki soba, to watch wrestling with them late at night, ultimately to give them a reason to miss their trying times in Japan once they left.  That man’s name was Hiro.

Hiro was our closest friend in Oakhouse, almost every memory worth having from our home in Japan involved him in some way.  His life story was crazy enough that I asked for clarification a couple times.  He started as a financial trader, with a major company.  After amassing a small fortune, he left to start trading on his own.  That didn’t go so well, so he decided to become a sushi chef.  While touring Tsukiji, he told us stories of 5am tuna runs he used to make for his restaurant.  The days of a sushi chef are impossibly long, and after enduring some 14-hour days while working in Australia, he quit for a life with a little more relaxation and focus on friendships.  He took up fire dancing, traveling, carefree summers, and savings-heavy winters.  And so our lives intersected….

He made us sushi and showed us how to make it ourselves – basically all-you-can-eat for 500 Yen/person.  He joined us in our late-night drinking, sharing Franzia boxed wine and Chu-hi’s.  He showed us that there was more to 120Yen meals than French Toast and Eggs.  He showed us mesmerizing fire dances and taught us how light ourselves aflame.  He brought us to Tsukiji Fish Market and wandered around the Tea Gardens with us.  He made us yaki soba noodles, fried rice, and teriyaki chicken.  All in all, he made sure that returning to the guesthouse after a long day wasn’t entirely an exercise in defeat and demoralization. 

Hiro, you were aptly named (I know I know, an obvious pun, get over it and watch our trailer).  We miss you man.