July 1997

The episode recorded here took place at the same meal as the event recorded in the February 1988 strip. It was breakfast during my first weekend homestay in Japan, about a week after I first arrived.

Pickled plums, known as umeboshi, are very popular in Japan. I’m somewhat fond of them, too. However, I had never seen one or heard of them until that breakfast. Without any idea what it was, I took one, popped it in my mouth and crunched away until I was able to swallow it, pit and all. My host family was obviously surprised.