We are officially finding our sea legs as we move through our Japanese adventure! Days 3 and 4 were a tale of two very different experiences, one filled with historic grandeur and high-energy city lights, and the other defined by a relaxing, rainy-day sanctuary. Day 3: History Meets Neon in Osaka We spent Day 3 fully immersing ourselves in the incredible city of Osaka. We kicked off the morning at the Osaka Castle, and it was truly a sight to behold. Standing before those massive, ancient stone walls, you can really get a sense of the history and resilience of the region. It’s one of those spots that feels even more impressive in person than it does in photographs. We then traded the quiet history of the castle for the electric atmosphere of the Dotonbori district. We finally got to see the iconic Glico Running Man sign in person! The energy in the streets was contagious. We wrapped up the evening by hopping on the famous Don Quijote (or "Donki") Ferris Wheel. Seeing the city sprawl out beneath us from that unique vantage point was the perfect way to cap off such an action-packed day. Day 4: A Cozy Refuge in Kochi Day 4 brought us to the port of Kochi, but the weather had other plans for us. With the rain coming down, we decided to skip the shore excursions and treat it as a "day of rest." We chose to stay onboard, and honestly? It was exactly what we needed. There is something incredibly peaceful about watching a rainy port day from the comfort of the deck. We spent the day relaxing, enjoying the ship’s amenities, and recharging for the next leg of our journey. Sometimes, the best part of cruising is just letting the weather dictate a slower pace, giving you permission to sit back and simply enjoy the view. We are feeling refreshed and ready for whatever the next port has in store! Stay tuned.

Saw this pic and thought it might illustrate something for the group. Who has the better suit fit? My gut says many folks today would say Daniel Craig. I completely disagree. Yes there needs to be some compensation given to the king. ONE: he is nearly 30 years senior to the extremely fit actor Daniel Craig; TWO: one would presume that Daniel Craig was a lot more self conscious about the condition of his suit meeting the king than the reverse; THREE: the kings schedule probably was at a different level than Craig’s (eg longer for King in the suit); FOUR: the King is known for wearing suits for decades so it’s fair to presume Craig’s suit is significantly newer thus less sagging; That said let’s just discuss the cut of the suits and disregard the fact that the Kings pocket flap is tucked in and his hand in the other pulls the suit, and the waist of his trousers have probably slipped slightly through the day in this pic meaning the break in length is a little long. First the trousers: the Kings trousers give him stature in that the fullness of the legs are stronger vs the trendy taper of Craig’s pants. Secondly (yea you guessed it) the Kings operable button is at his natural waist where it belongs. This presents a far better silhouette to the coat (again, be fair between the gentlemen’s ages and fitness routine). In fact look closely-the ridiculously high button stance on Craig emphasizes a slight paunch. 😳. Two to three inches lower where the button belongs and that would not have happened. Once a guy sees this it’s hard to unsee. Lastly the length of the jackets. Here it’s not as pronounced as I was afraid. I’ve seen AI versions of Craig where they put him in an Organ Grinder Monkey suit with the skirt of the coat 100% Porky Pig, but in this pic it covers the length of the trouser crotch and given the more narrow lapel it’s not that terrible. I welcome the end of this trendy fashion look. Hopefully the trending back to Classic Timeless Menswear (what Antonio recently described as Ivy League, Preppy, Traditional), will bring some common sense back into menswear.

Historically, the title of “gentleman” was a birthright, used to identify men of a certain rank among English nobility. No doubt these men were expected to be well-mannered, but their status as gentlemen didn’t depend on how they acted. They were merely born into it. That term “gentleman” gets bandied about a lot these days, but what does it actually mean in the 21st Century? Too many think that simply being mannerly and well-dressed are the hallmarks of the modern gentleman. If you believe everything you see in print and TV advertisements you would imagine being a gentleman means that you wear impeccably-tailored suits, have well-coiffed hair, hold a glass of whisky or bourbon in your hand (neat, of course) while sitting in a leather wing chair and smoking a fine cigar in your dimly-lit private library with leather-bound books stacked on shelves that reach the ceiling. There would be a beautiful, attentive woman nearby in a skin-tight dress waiting to cater to your needs. This is the Madison Avenue concept of a gentleman, and it’s also fantasy. I’ve searched the Internet and have come up with ten recurring traits that pretty well encapsulate the concept of being a gentleman. 1) A gentleman is well-dressed. That would be a given in this company. Well-dressed, well-groomed, polished in his presentation, whether in a tuxedo at a black-tie event or at a backyard barbecue with the neighbors. He stands out in modern society because of this; most men have slipped so far towards the sloppy and slovenly in the name of being ‘comfortable’ that the well-dressed man is an anomaly. This doesn’t mean that he over-dresses simply because he can, rather that he dresses for the occasion. Wearing a tuxedo to an informal gathering isn’t gentlemanly, it’s showing off. But remember that being a gentleman goes far beyond the clothes that you put on your back. One can be impeccably dressed and still be a horse’s ass. 2) A gentleman is kind and respectful to others and to himself. It is a character trait that is done without regard to whether it is beneficial to him, whether learned or inherent. He demonstrates humility and is gracious to others, and puts others before himself. Education, breeding and wealth are not necessary determinants of a gentleman; he is a man of character regardless of social status. It is said that a man's character is what he does when no one is watching. He keeps his temper and rarely loses it, and never in public. This is not to say that he must become a doormat, far from it. He is still expected to stand up for that which he believes.

Travel is rarely about sticking to the script. We often imagine our vacations to be a series of perfect, postcard-worthy moments, but the reality is usually a mix of "oops" and "wow." Our recent trip proved exactly that. It was a whirlwind of massive luggage piles, unexpected weather changes, and, ultimately, some of the best memories we could have asked for. We started our journey with enough gear to set up camp for a month, if the photo of our mountain of suitcases is any indication, we were ready for absolutely everything! But even with a plan in place, the ocean has a way of reminding you who is really in charge. Our itinerary had us pegged for a beautiful stop in Toba, but the weather had other ideas. The sea conditions were simply not cooperating, and we had to skip that port entirely. While it’s always a bummer to miss out on a planned destination, there is something strangely freeing about a sudden itinerary change. It forces you to stop looking at the horizon and start looking at what’s right in front of you. And what was right in front of us? A ship full of possibilities. Once we accepted our fate and let go of the "what-ifs," we leaned hard into the fun of being at sea. We traded our day-trip shoes for something a bit sharper for "Pall Mall Night." Seeing everyone dressed to the nines, the tuxedos, the evening wear, the whole production, was a fantastic reminder that the cruise ship is its own little world of glamour. The highlight, without a doubt, was the shift from formal elegance to absolute hilarity on the karaoke stage. There is something truly therapeutic about hopping on the mic under the stage lights and singing your heart out while the ship sails through the night. Between the impromptu performances, the laughter, and the shared energy of everyone on board, we quickly forgot all about the port we missed. At the end of the day, a vacation isn't just a list of places you checked off, it's the stories you bring home. Whether it’s managing a small mountain of luggage or dancing through a missed port, it’s the rolling with the punches—and finding the party anyway—that makes the trip worth it

A few weeks ago, I asked you, gentlemen, about laundry soap because my shirts and pants were fading quickly. I always welcome further constructive criticism, too. Now, at this point, I can only minimize the damage to my casual dress shirt, but when I buy newer ones, I'll follow y’all’s suggestions because of y’all’s, RMRS, and The Chap’s Guide’s laundry SOPs. However, I’ll have to buy all new pants from Duluth Trading Company. It will take a few months, but at least they will all be the correct size. I’m down to a 40 waist again! As for the fading, we learn most lessons the hard way, don’t we, gentlemen? Thank you from me, my wife, and Celeste. 😉🐱