Tokyo, Japan: A very late night last night - and that healthy dinner with Messi - caused us to wake at 9a. Glorious to be able to sleep so long. I think our jetlag is behind us? My tour guide had mapped a route that included a visit to the Tokyo Tower and a large shrine/temple near the tower. We had a few light things to eat in the executive lounge before leaving. Their selection is always varied, and they always have coffee, tea, etc, but lunch today included a few raw veggies for a salad bar, potato salad, croissants and a few tea sandwiches. Whatever - it was enough to get us through our 8000 step trek around Tokyo.
First stop was Tokyo Tower, a tower inspired by the Eiffel Tower, but was needed as a broadcasting tower after WWII. The top deck - at 820 feet - has grand vistas all over the city and out to Tokyo Bay (but there was so much moisture and clouds today - and every day since we have arrived - we had limited distance views). I snapped photos from all three observation floors towards the bay:
Tokugawa family cemetery at the bottom of the photo.
I must say the views were outstanding and it was amazing to see a city that never ends, but the entire experience was like a ride in Disneyland (without any thrills). Guests are herded into one elevator, then into a room, then into a line, then into another elevator, then down a corridor, then you MUST pose so they can take a souvenir photo (that you can buy or not) and then again one more elevator up, then the scariest photo of all (where DT couldn't even look down to his vertigo):
I completely lost track of the amount of elevators we were in - I'm serious. If you want to go to Tokyo Tower, just buy the elevator ticket to the first level, look around and get outta there. Skip the lines, skip the photo session.
Our expensive photo is SO over-exposed!
After a stroll through the gift shop, we headed out across the street to visit the Zojo-ji Temple. With our usual luck, the temple was closed, but the doors were open so we could see inside.
Next to the huge temple, there is another smaller temple - with a gift shop in the front:
Each stone cat statue represents a stillborn or miscarried baby. They wear red caps and aprons to keep warm. Nearly broke my heart. By the aging of the stone, it is easy to see that some cats are new, others ancient.
Then we began retracing our steps back to the tower, hoping to find some food - but every single restaurant was closed. So, we went back to our hotel because we learned there is a French restaurant near our hotel open during the day. We stumbled in at 5p and had an early dinner. This is only the 2nd actually dinner we have eaten since arriving in Tokyo Thursday. We cleverly ordered food we knew we could not finish, so we would have a doggie bag for when we return to our room at midnight, starving. On the way back to our room, we stopped to buy fresh fruit. Our diet has seriously been lacking in fresh food in the past five days.
I mean, not even a sprig of parsley.
Then it was back to the track. So many heats and rounds again tonight. The events began with men's 800m qualification. Americans Bryce Hoppel and Donovan Brazier made it onto the semis, but the 16-year-old high school kid (who has stoopidly turned pro) Cooper Lutkenhaus did not. Nor did Canadian Duck Matthew Erickson.
Jasmine Moore qualified to advance to the triple-jump final. Long-time American favorite, Grant Holloway, 27, did not advance in the 110m hurdles. Holloway is a 3-time World Champ, and an Olympic gold medalist. This was sad. The final was the last event of the evening, and the gold went to American Cordell Tinch, followed by two Jamaicans. The green and yellow Jamaican fans in the section next to us went crazy mon. Deh not fasa den Tinch.
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone was so far ahead of the other women in her 400m semi-final heat, they didn't even show up in my photo. Sydney was the only American to make the final. Jacory Patterson was the only American to make the men's 400m final.
The women's 1500m final was won by the amazing Kenyan, Faith Kipyego, followed by her teammate Dorcus Ewoi. Australian Duck Jessica Hull took the bronze medal. Polish Duck Klaudia Kazimiersa finished 7th 3:57.95 - her personal best. American Nikki Hiltz finished 5th.
Canadian Ethan Katzberg won the men's hammer throw gold with a championships record of 84.70 (over 277 feet). There were two Japanese men in the high jump final, so all eyes were on the high jump pit tonight, and the competition took hours. Both Japanese men were in it through the final rounds - finishing 8th & 10th - so the stadium was again super loud. Another gold for New Zealand - Hamish Kerr took the gold!
Back to the hotel - early enough tonight to grab a drink (no food was being served of course) with our fellow track fans. Our old friend, Louise, was in the bar as well, so we caught-up.
Pedometer: 11,776
Until my next update, I remain, your happy correspondent.
Links:
World Athletics Championships | Tokyo 2025
Meet Schedule
How to watch from the US
World Championships Results
Tokyo Weather