More Pilgrimage people!!

All kinds on the road to enlightenment.

1. Mr. Wakafuji- This wasn't a pilgrim, just a random-ass bastard who said hi to me as I walked through a bunch of rice fields to the next temple. This pilgrimage is a Shingon Buddhist trek, but I think Mr. Wakafuji attempted to convert me to a different sect of Buddhism. Super outgoing, chummy dude who knew a lick of English, no thanks to Will Farrell. Hes the guy in the hat in one of the facebook selfies.

2. Mr. Toru: Now this was an interesting guy. A fellow pilgrim in his 70s, he actually lived for 40 years in Southern California! He speaks perfect English with a Japanese accent, so he kind of straddles the line between Asian and Asian American, which to me is absolutely fascinating. Has a son in the US Army who is stationed in Germany. I think he owned a computer repair business or something? Real down to earth dude.

3. Hisanobu Kawanishi. Great name right? Anyway, this is the OTHER guy who studied at Alabama State. A young and handsome dude from the sleepy fishing town of Yuki, he dresses up in a ridiculous blue turtle costume to promote tourism to the towns and villages along the Eastern Shikoku coastline. When in character his name is Kamenishi Kamejiro, which translates to something absurd like Turtleguy Westingturtle. Another younger Japanese dude who, like Yuta Ishikawa, gives me great hope for the future of Japan.

4. Mr. Ozawa and The Lady from Osaka: I formed my first pilgrim traveling party with these two! Ive run into Mr. Ozawa off and on ever since staying at the Sudachi guest house after temple 12, and ran into The Lady from Osaka on the way to the mountaintop temple 27. We formed a pilgrim team to trek across rice fields and neighborhoods from temple 28 to 30. Talked with Osaka lady about hamburgers and other American food, and reminisced about old temples with Mr Ozawa. It was fun, but they walk so damn fast that I think I'm gonna let them pass while I go at my own pace. Good times!