I love getting together with long-time friends in Japan.  And there is no one more long time than my friends Anri and Yass.  I think I met Anri around 1994 or so on a plane ride returning from Tokyo (basically I passed out for the first 12 hours, and then we chatted for the last 2 hours before landing).  Every since then its been good times both state side and in Tokyo.  Last night was no exception.  Yass picked a fantastic fugu (a.k.a poisonous blowfish) restaurant in Ueno park — Innsyoutei.  Everything was excellent — the ambience, service, and the food (from first course to dessert).   Highly recommend it.