I'm here. The first person I met was my guide, Sumiyo Terai, a lovely woman who spent a summer in New Hampshire studying at Dartmouth and lived a year in Boston in the mid-90s. And yes, she's heard of Dice-K.

The first thing I saw on approaching the city was an enormous Ferris wheel, its neon outline making a colorful curve against the night sky. It is open year-round and is a favorite evening spot for couples. It takes almost an hour to complete a full circuit, and the views of Tokyo must be breath-taking. What a great place to kiss!

 I've been up 24 hours, so I think it's time for a rest so I can be prepared to talk about global warming tomorrow with Koji Tsuruoka, director-general for global issues, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. I'm presenting him with "Abandoned in the Arctic," a book about Adolphus Greely, who took scientific measurements in the Arctic between 1881 and 1884. After the Navy finally rescued Greely and his five surviving men (two resupplying missions had failed) the six were taken to the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and given a hero's welome in Portsmouth in 1884. The measurements Greely took are being used as a baseline in a climate change study that is part of the 2007-2008 International Polar Year. So you see, all roads really do lead back to New Hampshire.

Tomorrow (Tokyo is 13 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time) I will also get to visit the Diplomatic Record Office and see some of the original Portsmouth Peace Treaty documents, and talk to Professor Toshiyuki Shikata of Teikyo University. The day ends with a dinner hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' director of the International Press Division.

Better get some sleep!