Last Days (part three of three)

The morning of the 26th saw everyone worse for wear – or perhaps that was merely a projection through jaundiced eyes.

The day passed lazily. We took full advantage of the Western-style, all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet at K’s (I assume it was all-you-can-eat? but whose going to tell a team of Judo players otherwise).

By the afternoon we were bound by train to the airport in Osaka, and before long we were cruising at 40,000 ft. Sleeping was easy.

On landing we had the transit lounge of the Christchurch International airport largely to ourselves. The excess of personal space was intoxicating. Through the wide glass windows you could look up at the alps, resplendent and fresh in the bright New Zealand sun. The contrast, between New Zealand and Japan could not have been more stark. After a short break we were back on the plane for a flight home to Auckland. And so ended the NZ Masters Tour. Some good Judo. Medals. Defeats. Cultural enrichment, an international sporting relations coup for NZ, good food, and a few good beers thrown in for good measure. At this point all that is left to say is thank you.

The Auckland University Judo Club would like to offer official thanks to Bob, Carl, Sensei Rick, and Yumiko. We would also like to thank Toyoko Inns, K’s backpackers, Suntory, and whoever the genius was who decided to put vending machines everywhere in Japan.