Hallowe’en. Yes, this year's loop line party was as hellish, as maddening, as the last one. Perhaps more so. About 450 of us, according to Japan Rail's estimates (so that probably means 300 in reality), crammed into 3 cars in the train. Each car has a maximum recommended capacity of, say, 50 people. I get sweaty, confused, and jostled just thinking about it. Not too many pictures this year but at least I didn't end the night headfirst in a pile of bicycles....





I couldn't decide whether to be a panda or a Japanese high school girl, so I went as both.

At one of the stations where we jumped off to take a breather from the constant crowding, I ran into this kid who'd half-copied my costume.

Outside a bar after the loop line party. The people in the forefront are Peter's co-workers, or relatives of Peter's co-workers. The weirdo lurking in the back is Ikukawa sensei, one of the cool young teachers at my school. I invited him out in order to blow his mind at the sight of a full-on gaijin Hallowe'en. Remember, it's not celebrated here. He was beet red just having to walk around in his judo costume.

At an izakaya after the bar. The Japanese gentleman in the midst of a serious conversation with a horse is Okada sensei, the other teacher I'd dragged up from my school for the party. The horse in the nice suit is Mario, a fellow teacher/friend/showtunes singer. That's right, we both enjoy singing showtunes. If you're lucky I'll send you an mp3 one day....

Peyton, as a fembot from Austin Powers, gets into the rhythym while Peter, as an old man, drums on her metal breasts.