Tokyo-Hokkaido Journey

The trip to Japan from July 4-12, 2024, where I was honored to be invited to participate in the Large-scale Runoff Model Developers Conference in Tokyo and the 9th International Conference on Global Energy and Water Cycle Experiment in Hokkaido.

Returning to Tokyo after a long absence, it still feels quite familiar. But I have mixed feelings - I feel like I’ve aged, and I can’t remember many things anymore. The University of Tokyo hasn’t changed much, but the streets have changed significantly. I feel that Japanese traditions are gradually disappearing, and westernization is severe.

I remember when I first arrived nearly 20 years ago, Tokyo Skytree wasn’t even completed yet.

The hotel location was excellent with great views.

There are still some traces of Chinese culture, but they’re very faded. What disappointed me the most was the food quality - I feel that Japanese food culture is disappearing. Even the Hokkaido ramen was mediocre.