Pankun and James

Yes, a dream come true. I met Pankun and James today. For anyone unaware, Pankun and James were once a Japanese TV sensation. Having his own show, Pankun the chimpanzee would set out to accomplish every day human jobs and tasks (going to the grocery store, making ramen, and even planting/harvesting a field of rice). Later on in the series they introduced James the english bulldog, who became Pankun's best friend and companion. Due to radical protestors (mostly from America) and other idiots, the show got cancelled. Because of this, the Japanese government had to decide what to do, they sent him and James to the Cuddly Dominion where he currently resides and is being cared for. The good side to all this is he appears to be happy and is the star of the park.

Getting there was no easy task. We left Kyoto at 5AM and after 2 taxi rides, 5 train transfers, 8 hours, and 400 miles later we were finally there, Cuddly Dominion in the volcano town of Mt Aso.

Little kids with a deadly bear in a diaper.

Free roaming capybara.

Got it.

As if the day wasn't already good enough, we ended our venture on a helicopter ride around an active volcano. After experiencing this day, theme parks and zoos just won't be the same.