K1 GP Final Tokyo 02.12.2006
As many english speaking K1 Fans requested me, i will put the description of the few days spent in Tokyo in english language.
Mostly the pictures show the impressions about this short but cool journey - so there won`t be any big problems for my german friends.
The impressions do not contain any pictures of the fights themselves, because there are enough high quality pictures from journalists to find around the web. I only show some pictures and feelings around the city and Tokyo Dome itself.
But let me start...
On Wednesday the 29.th i left early in the morning to catch my flight from Düsseldorf to Frankfurt at 10 o`clock in the morning.
After approximately 40 minutes i arrived in Frankfurt. The transfer flight left at 13:30 in Frankfurt directly to Tokyo Narita Airport.
Unfortunately i didn`t find much time to sleep on the nearly 12 hours long flight. So i arrived in Tokyo arround 8:30 in the morning of the 30.th of November. The timedifference to German time is +8 hours.
For this reason i was very tired. I picked up my luggage (Hopefully it arrived also in Tokyo) and looked for a transfer from the airport to Shibuya (Tokyo City Center) which is located approx. 60 km away from the airport.
First i changed some money and then looked around.
I checked the several possibillities to go there (bus,train or taxi) and decided for the smoothest and nearly chepeast means to drive. As a taxi costs around 130 Euro - i decided for the limousine bus for about 20 Euro. Clever decision - he,he
30.11.2006 in the morning
Waiting for the bus
The bus started at 10:50 and the transfer was about 2 hours caused by heavy traffic in Tokyo.
I took some pictures from the tour in order to get some first impressions about the city. But look yourself...
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| Uah - i am tired. Fresh air is good, but slightly a little bit too cold. | This is the gate it should arrive. | Shit thats not my one yet. |
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| After nearly 2 hours waiting i am sitting in the bus - yeah - let`s take a ride through the city. | Here are some pics - and it`s raining. Cool, regarding the weather i feel like in Germany... | uh looks quite ugly |
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| The bus is not very full. | Super Magnum ?- no, thanks i do not want one now. | There is also plenty of water - Ahh Japan is an island, i just remember... |
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| The train would not have been faster than the bus. | We are near the harbour. |
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| We are now entering the main city. | This is not!! my hotel. | Sh... rain - drives me crazy. |
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| Everything looks very grey. | Where are the shiny skylines? | Quite a lot of skyscrapers here |
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Ups - very high here.
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| What if the bus has an accident and falls down? | Ah it will not - the driver is a pro. (I hope...) | |
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| Quite a lot of traffic here. | interesting - some colour... | |
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After approx. 2 hours i finally arrived at the hotel... |
After bringing my suitcase to the room and some short rest i unfortunately had no time to go to bed and sleep. Why should i ? It was 14.00 and i felt as it was deep night.
I had an appointment in the city for the afternoon. With this guy here:
Stefan Leko 2 days before the final.
So i took a taxi and drove to the New Takanawa Prince Hotel where all the fighters usually stay. The tour took me 15 minutes and approx. 20 Euro. Grr - i think the most money i have spend in Tokyo was for stupid taxirides.
In order not to disturbe the fighters privacy i decided not to take pictures from the guys hanging around. I didn`t want to stress their nerves on top of all the trouble they had. There were enough japanese people to take photos with the their stars.
When i entered the entrancehall of the hotel the first guys i saw was Ramon Dekkers with Semmy Shilt standing in the middle of a small crowd.
I saw some of the famous K1 Fighters sitting in the lobby. Even management and promoters of these guys.
I remarked Stefan sitting there and went to him in order to say hello and bring him some of his new designed TShirts.
He was sitting together with Chalid, Cor Hemmers and a good friend of Stefan. After some while Remy and his manager Charley entered the hall and came up to me. We talked a little bit and i gave Remy an engraved glass sign as a special thanks for his seminar held on the 28.10. in Germany.
After a small talk they went to their place in the hall. Someone has to imagine that the different teams were sitting with their groups in different places of the lobby. But the behaviour between all the fighters was very friendly and peacfull.
Later Peter Aerts came to our table as well as Alistair Overeem.
The mood of the fighters seemd to be relaxed but i do not want to know what goes on in their mind.
After having some drinks Stefan felt a little bit tired as well as i. So we made an appointment for the next day at the pressconference. The pressconference was recommended by Charley (manager of Remy) to me. He told me that i should take the opportunity to go there. It was held at the same place the next day (01.12.2006)
Stefan went to his room for taking a rest and i had an appointment with somebody of Team Le Banner.
We met also in the lobby and talked about some issues as well as Jerome and his chance to get the title.
Approx. 40 minutes later his boss (Jerome) came and they wanted to go out. So i also decided to quit the hotel.
It was almost 10 P.M. and i didn`t sleep for more than 24 hours.
I went back to my hotel by taxi.
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| But when i arrived at the hotel i felt that | i must have a look | around the corner. |
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| So i had a small | walk down and back | the DOGENZAKA in Shibuya. |
01.12.2006 new day begins
After sleeping not too long i "woke up", having a shouwer i had to watch out for breakfast. When i entered the hall in the hotel i was dreaming of a huge american buffet. Now having some cheese and ham and bacon would be really cool.
But.... where are all these things gone? - I searched at the "buffet" , but didn`t find anything like that.
The things i found was: coffee, toast,butter,eggs, strawberryjam and some garbage (who will eat this in the morning??)
I took a cup of coffee, toast and butter including jam. That was it for the morning. But enough for a Superheavyweight`s start of the day? - No definetely not. So for the next day i would take the straight way into the supermarket around the corner.
The hotel was just mad for sleeping - not for having cool breakfast. But this didn`t change my mood. It was very good.
After having this rather small breakfast i went out of the hotel. Have look into the street:
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but now let`s take the taxi to the New Takanawa Prince hotel again. The pressconference is waiting for us. |
| In front of the hotel on the left and | on the right |
It was 12:30 and i took a taxi to the Hotel where the pressconference was held. The traffic was rather heavy, but the taxidriver was friendly he just ashured to me that it would only take another 5 minutes to get to the destination. I had an appointment with Charley 30 minutes before the pressconference started at 13:15.
The taxidiver looked back another time and talked to me and it came like it should - he crashed with a bus.
Sh... - not 5 minutes - the trouble with the police should take some more time so that i miss the start of the pressconference.
But - the first thing the driver did is to stop another taxi. After a short explanation i changed to the other taxi and the new driver started.
I wondered if this would have happened in the same way in Germany. The guest (in this case i) had the first priority.
So i made it on time.
Although i didn`t find Charley before conference i made my way to the room where it was held.
I saw all the fighters in suits (except one - Badr Hari). Chalid came up to me and asked me how i felt. I responded good and he also seemed to be relaxed. I saw Stefan , gave him a short sign and took my way to the room.
In front of the lift i just said hello to Ernesto who came along and made the same way.
The hotel was really pretty big, but everything was organized very professionell.
After some walk and taking the lift to the 3. rd floor i entered the room:
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| Quite a lot of people here. | Nice atmosphere. |
Now let`s just get some impressions
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| The goal of everyone participating the tournament. | just empty | Stefan`s place |
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| Let`s take a seat. This one is good. | Quite a good view on everything. | yeah - i am in the right place... |
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| After some time the room filled up with people from the press. | Let`s have a look into this kit. No news... | the first fighters that have been introduced on video screens and the enter into the room for photographs and answering some questions. |
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| Remy and Stefan | Nice | |
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| The introduction of the fighters. | Big photoshooting. |
8 friends
Badr Hari in action
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Ray - the man
Glaube and Ray
Semmy at the interview
The most have allready left...
Musashi in action - tired??
Take a coffee
nice thing
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This pressconference was very well organized and rather informative for the press. Every fighter was introduced by videos and there were given a lot of information besides the films. It was enough time to get photos and also having some small talks with the guys one is not going to meet every day. Some of them answered the questions given by newspaper,magazines or even TV.
I remember very well Semmy Schilt`s comment on the fight against Jerome le Banner: Oh, it`s just one out of three - he answered and all the people in the room were loughing.
After the conference i quit the hotel, because the fighters and managers had an agenda to meet an i was quite excited to look around in Shibuya.
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So i took a taxi back to my hotel and had a rest for approx. 2 hours.
After i woke up and got out of the hotel it was already dark outside. It supposed to get dark at 5 PM. So i started my early night walk.
But let`s look around:
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| Oh yes i was quite hungry. | But was is this? | let`s enter a shopping mall |
After the 1.st photo inside the mall a security guy hurried to me and showed by crossing his fingers that i am not allowed to take any photos here.
But 10 minutes later i tried it again. (He,he)
And i left the mall again
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| Want to buy a brandnew | mobile? | |
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| Quite a lot of people around here. | ||
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| There are so many video screens | and lights... |
All around Shibuya station
Can you count the people?
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Puh now i felt a little bit tired and walked back to my hotel.
I got to bed because i wanted to be fresh the next day at the final.
02.12.2006 the day of K1 GP Final
After breakfast from the Supermarket let`s walk
Now it was the day of the final. The 02.12.2006 - i was very excited to see how huge the Tokyo Dome is and all around it. And off course i wanted to see how Stefan`s performance was at that day. He felt in a great shape and i was in a good mood too.
So i just walked around the streets. What i have seen the night before i wanted to see in the daylight. After getting some sandwiches from the supermarket around the corner, i started my tour. There was plenty of time, because it was in the morning and i had an appointment for the afternoon with my partner Roland located in Tokyo. We should meet near the Tokyo Dome that was about 20 minutes away from Shibuya.
So in the morning i walked around with some new impressions:
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| The street where my hotel was located. | just at the end and the turn left: | you are now on the famous DOGENZAKA |
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| strange parkinghouse.. | taxis with different colours | |
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| yes, i understand it... | here we go... | |
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| We are near Shibuya station | lots of traffic |
Bus station
let`s enter the station itself
How to find the right train?
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| and out again | really nice weather here | just made for this important day |
Ah - let`s go in again and walk through
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Want to buy a magazine?
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Let`s go back the street
Famous Shibuya 109 Shopping Center
Waiting for Nintendo`s Wii
Cool - Super White Christmas
Let`s play Patchinko
Very loud in here here...
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| everything is quite different from the night before |
Yeah - let`s have a drink
120 Yen and that`s it
Oh - a love hotel
A sign says that you are able to rest for 2 hours or you can stay the whole day. As my wife is still at home i decide not to enter. (he,he)
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| As everything is very noisy on the main street... | let`s walk through the backstreets... | it`s very calm here. |
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Police is coming
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Do you need some ice?
OK - now it was time to leave and drive to the area around Tokyo Dome. I didn`t want to miss the show.
After a tour of 30 minutes (traffic was rather heavy) i arrived in the area around Tokyo Dome.
A lot of people here...
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But now let`s get our backstage pass and enter the hall - i want to see it from inside. Must be very huge...
Inside Tokyo Dome
Wow - that`s amazing
By the time it is getting full in here
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| Hey what beutiful effects by the lights | very impressive |
Jerome is introduced
Wow...
Let`s have some small snacks before it starts
Ups - Musashi is entering the hall - hurry up
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The introduction of Remy
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Peter Aerts
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On the way to the final match
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Aerts vs. Schilt
Winner 2006: Semmy Schilt - i am not disappointed
Everybody knows the results of the fights and maybe has seen them somewhere. I am not disappointed because i have had the opportunity to see a great show and cool fights. It is somewhat awesome to be at a final in K1 GP. I received a lot of good impressions and some will stay in my mind. These pictures taken around the final are only to show how it looked like at this year K1 final.
After the tournament it was also time to say Good Bye to a legend: Ernesto Hoost
Listen to the last words of Ernesto.
The show is over
Now i had some time to discover the hall. I was really impressed by how many people are rebuilding the ring and all the seats. Take a look at what i saw myself:
Usually they play Baseball here
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Everyone needs a boss
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wow - that`s huge
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Peter Aerts giving an interview
one Mediaroom
I think i saw enough - let`s go out
It looks nice
Tokyo Dome at night
let`s go home
nice colours
Let`s have a look for a taxi and then back to the hotel. It is nearly 23:30. Tomorrow is another day...
Sunday the 03.12. around noon
After a long sleep i woke up, had a shower and went to the supermarket in order to get some sandwiches (The supermarket was open- on sunday - so what about all the discussions in Germany?? about opening shops). After breakfast at around 12:00 i made my normal walk around Shibuya in expectation of a quiet walk throught the streets. But this was only a dream. it was more crowded and more noisy than at a normal day. But we are in Japan...
Later in the evening i wanted to drive to the New Takanawa Prince Hotel after i have met Stefan in the Tokyo Dome only for a minute after the tournament. I also said hello to Ramon Dekkers who crossed my way in the hall. I told both to come to the hotel around the afternoon of sunday. So since noon till afternoon there was plenty of time to make some explorations around Shibuya:
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| this should only be a quiet sunday walk | but there is nearly nothing quiet on sundays in Tokyo |
What the hell was this....
There are so many peoples around
It`s just unbelieveable
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| When do japanese people rest? | If they are also buisy on sundays - how does it work - the balance between life and work?? | |
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Oh la la - the newest fashion
Just a short call to Germany...
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It is getting more an more crowded - i walked back
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| Some food to watch | They also know U2 in Japan... |
One of those taxis
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Funny Park
I found this plate while walking around. It displays all the rules to be followed in the park.
and below this is the park:
big park with a lot of rules
I tried to look around the corner- but there was no one. I wondered why driving in this park was forbidden. The park itself had the size of a car. Strange thing....
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| totally strange the parking possibillities here | some greens to be found... |
But it got dark again:
It was getting 17:00 o`clock and it got dark again. So tried to walk a little bit around. The night was allways very interesting because of all the Neonlights.
Patchinko please
Against 18:30 i took the taxi to the New Takanawa Prince Hotel again. But i didn`t meet Stefan and Ramon. They seemed to be out with Semmy Schilt and having a party with Golden Glory. So i stood a while for a drink in the lobby. After a few minutes i met Ernesto Hoost. We talked about half an hour about fighting and retirement from the K1 as well about some private issues.
Half an hour later after giving my best wishes for Christmastime and regards to his wife i went back to my hotel by taxi.
This was more or less the last contact with K1 in Japan.
On the next day (04.12.) i wanted to visit the Meiji Shrine in Yoyogi Park.
So i took a taxi and 15 minutes later i entered Yoyogi Park. Fully "private" day only for chillout.
I take you with me on the trip through Yoyogi Park:
04.12. The entrance of Yoyogi Park
Description about the park
nice and green
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everywhere in Tokyo you hear the voice of these crows |
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see the nice colours - beautiful
here we are - the entrance of the shrine
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The Meiji Shrine
If you are interested in some more information about the Meiji Shrine please follow the link.
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| Nice shrine - it was very recommendable | to visit this | highlight |
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People write down their wishes for the future or prayers on a wooden table and hang it around the tree. So your wishes may come true. Nobody cares about the languages.
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Nice traditional Kimono
barrels of sake donated to the shrine
Now i had to find the exit of Yoyogi Park. The park closes at a fixed time around 17:30.
So i had to hurry up. I wasn`t able to read the japanese signs so i followed the way the most people took.
Should be the right one...
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| follow the masses | i couldn`t find a sign for the exit | Exit ?? |
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Ah there it is. Now i am out of the park. Let`s see where i am...
my view from a bridge
I am near Snoopy Town - good to know
Ah - here we are. Just round the corner there is a street that is often compared with the Champs-Elyses in Paris because of the trees on the left and the right sides.
that`s it - like in Paris
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| i had to cross the road via this bridge | Gold`s Gym - very huge here |
As it was getting allready dark again ia had to drive back to my hotel.
On the 05.12. i stood in Shibuya. After packing my suitcase i walked as usual a little bit around in Shibuya.
Here are some more impressions of my last day in Japan:
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| the supermarket that safed my breakfast (PS: i met a lot of guests from the hotel there -he,he) | in the quiet backstreets | |
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yeah - it`s also Christmastime here
Do you need accomodation?
or some cash?
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| If you should ever come to Toky | visit Shibuya | - it`s worth. |
The Dogenzaka again
The last day was just relaxing
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| another big park - but no rules | the entrance of a hotel next to mine |
The last night just started
nice restaurant
this one should be also OK
need some flowers?
one last time Shibuya Crossing - amazing at night
That was my last day.
On the 06.12. i had to wake up at 4:30 in the morning.
At 6:00 i took the bus from Shibuya to Narita Airport. As it was very early i couldn`t make any good photos from the bus. I saw an amazing sunrise over the Tokyo harbour and a huge copy of the Paris Eifel Tower. very interesting.
On the way back to the airport i relized that in the urban of Tokyo there is a lot of green. In the center of Tokyo you can only see green regions in parks.
Although i took some photos from the bus:
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| After 1.15 hours - i arrived at the Narita Airport. | My plane to Frankfurt would leave at 10:30 |
Narita Airport 7:15 A.M.
My last photo from a beautiful and interesting trip.
I had to wait for my flight that departed at 10:30 and should take approx. 12 hours back to Frankfurt.
I arrived at Frankfurt Airport at around 14:10 (German time - Japanese +8hours)
My transfer from Frankfurt departed at 15:55 and took 35 minutes.
At 17:00 i checked out and left the airport in Düsseldorf. After 1 hour drive i arrived at home.
Surprisingly i was not tired at all. i was too excited to show some pictures and share my impressions with my wife and my family.
I keep the six days in Tokyo as a very nice and interesting experience in mind. What i have learned about the culture and behavoiour of japanese people is a big difference in culture. I was very impressed about the japanese people allways treating foreigners with first priority and respect. This is not so often the case in Europe. I was very surprised about the polite and dicsiplined behavoiur of the people (exception is the underground train-only the strongest survive the rush hour).
At the end of the day i left the country with really nice impressions on my mind. Some things made me wonder why they are working in Japan but not in Germany.
I did not only visit the K1 GP Final - which was very extraordinary for me - and talked about some business issues, i think i also learned some small things about the Japanes culture.
If you should ever have the opportunity to go to Japan i.e. maybe Tokyo, enjoy it. Open your eyes and ears and you will get a lot to learn.
I only wanted to share some impressions i have made there - wether you are a K1 Fan or not - that`s why there are many pictures of the areas around.
Hope you all enjoyed it.
kind regards
Frank
If you want to leave a comment or have questions do not hesitate to contact me or leave some comments here.
12.09.2011 - qvolpfxp
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10.09.2011 - Githa
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I was really confused, and this asnewred all my questions.
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