November 11

We arrived yesterday in Tokyo from Nagoya on the bullet train. If you have not had a chance to ride on one, it is quite the experience. The speed with which you travel is extraordinary. This time of year in Japan, the trees are all changing color and it was incredibly scenic as we made our way through countryside and mountain ranges. Along the way was Japan's most famous peak, Mount Fuji. As they say here "she is very shy and will not show herself often" as she is usually covered in clouds. But it was our good fortune to find her in a welcoming mood. Her size and beauty was something to behold.

Tokyo is an amazing place. One of the largest cities in the world, it is said to have over 20 million people in its metropolitan area. This is a remarkable mass of humanity in a somewhat restricted geography . I have been in many great cities in my lifetime, but Tokyo will always be one of the most interesting. From a visual aspect, this city offers architecture as interesting as anywhere in the world. Skyscrapers litter the landscape for as far as the eye can see. Modern buildings arise around every corner and to heights that are impressive. Such large structures are of course needed to accommodate this massive population.

We have been here for almost two days and tomorrow is our semifinal match against a great undefeated team from Russia. Our team is ready. We have had a chance to practice a couple times on the stadium court. The team seems loose and practices have been crisp. The players have had some free time to walk around and enjoy the city between practices and meetings. Tonight the team will get some rest. It has been a long three weeks. Two more matches to determine who is the 2010 FIVB World Champion. More later. Until then, as always, GO USA!

Kenny Sullivan