Conveniently walking straight into the train station from the hotel we boarded one of three trains we were to be catching during our journey. Everyone in their seats with the bags piled around us we were able to get a small amount of shut-eye for about an hour. Unfortunately, this first train was delayed slightly about 8 minutes, and Mio expressed some concern due to the relatively tight transfer we had to make at the next station. The rest of us were a little bit oblivious to the unexpected drama this was about to cause. We all started to organise ourselves, ready to get off this train and catch the all important Bullet train to Hiroshima and this was where the drama begins... due to the delay we had literally 60 seconds (I'm not kidding!) to get off the first train, up two flights of stairs, around the corner, through the ticketing centre, find platform 11 and down two flights of stairs. But let me explain how we were all feeling with with symbols: *#^~!
We ran like we had never run before, we weaved in between so many other people trying to keep as a group which of course was not easy. Yui and Simone were stuck behind the slowest moving gentlemen, Chris had to scale the flight of stairs with heavy costume bag, suitcases and trying to his ticket out. Those of the group who made it up the first stairs quickly accidently ran past platform 11 and Mio had to chase after them... as they all turned and bolted back and the vision of Lenny running with a bright pink suitcase in his right hand, a black suitcase in his left, an adidas bag over one shoulder, a camera bag around his neck and a furry koala attached swinging in the middle of his chest... will stay in the memory banks forever! 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12... with hearts pounding each of us leaped onto the train as the woosh of the doors closing was the most scariest sound we ever heard as Lenny as his koala literally scrapped onto the train! We were all very much awake now.
A two hour bullet train ride, a tram ride we arrived at the Hiroshima-shi Minamikumin Bunka Centre (min-a-me-koo-min boon-ka centre) where we had time to relax in the foyer after our exhausting journey. The venue was wonderful and the lighting technicians were incredible, the most efficient, polite and competent technician any of us have ever worked with. Preparing costuming and staging we all worked together as Mio translated from English to Japanese and back again. At 5.30pm the doors opened and we set ourselves back stage, at 5.59pm we held hands and Lenny spoke to us about how this is the most powerful experience and that it was not about how many people were out there watching but about the achievement.
The show was utterly amazing... Mio's story has now been told. Expressing herself and baring everything Mio said she has a sereal feeling, yet full of achievement knowing that everyone loved the show. Although there were slight insecurities about the response from those in Hiroshima, however receiving flowers at the end of the show captured the support and accolades expressed by those in the audience. We relaxed after the show with some more incredible food... we had a late night and finally a late start, with all of us meeting downstairs the next morning at 12pm and Monday was to be our first 'day off' during the tour...
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