Some time ago I wrote about visiting Boeing's Everett factory near Seattle. Now a reader, planning to make his first trip to Seattle, wants to see where the plane he will be flying on was made and asks how he can see the factory.

In 1966, Boeing first announced its plans to build the wide-bodied 747 capable of carrying twice as many passengers as any previous model. First, a huge factory capable of handling the huge planes had to be built; it was and is the world's largest building. Tours began almost as soon as the first worker arrived, and now it is a popular tourist site.

Most start at the tourist center with exhibitions and a theater. More than 140,000 people take the free, hour-long tour each year. If you have children, they must be over 127-cm tall to go along. It is exciting to watch the giant planes -- 747s, 767s and 777s -- being put together. For more information about your own tour, e-mail [email protected] or phone (access number) +1 (206) 544-1264 or toll free (in the U.S.) (800) 464-1476.

There is also a gift shop with Boeing-oriented gifts, a great place to buy souvenirs for the kids. There are other things, too. I recommend a small, oval-shaped wrist support for your mouse pad, the best I have ever used. It says Y2K Ready. I hope that guarantee extends to my computer. I wish I had bought them for all my friends.

A reader saw an article recently about a woman who was horrified to see sparks being emitted from her baby's diaper. It was blamed on triboluminescence, the emission of light, usually in flashes, due to grinding, crushing or tearing apart. He remembers something I wrote years ago about a woman in Japan being equally distressed when she saw a knife she had used to cut squid glowing in the dark. Could there be a relationship? he asks.

Yes, I suppose there could be, but I don't know an expert on comparative, non-heat-generating light/sparks to ask. The explanation for the glowing knife was provided by a sushi shop owner. At certain times of the year, he said, a kind of squid becomes luminous. Cut this kind of squid and it is possible some of the substance will be transferred to the knife. We were assured that there is no reason for worry. It has no effect on the taste or texture of the squid.

Tonight on TV I saw these luminous squid. At first I didn't know what I was watching -- tiny dots of blue light, streaking, jumping, quickly reversing, often in swirling groups, incredible light-accented movements. They were fireflies, or sparklers, dancing in the water. They must also have been tasty because a number of people were enjoying the small, glowing squid fresh from the sea. I wish I had been on one of the tourist boats where people were enjoying the light show, but not necessarily the feast.

Some time ago I told you of the closing of the popular Honjo Gallery. Honjo-san's daughters, Kazuko and Yasuko, often helped in the gallery, and both were there for the final sale. Now Kazuko has responded to the urging of many friends and decided to reopen the gallery on weekends and by appointment on the second floor of the same building located across from the entrance of the Nezu Museum. Phone (03) 3400-0277 or fax (03) 3400-0278 for information.

She will have antiques, prints, paintings, furnishings, maps and ceramics, and will occasionally have special shows. Scheduled in the near future is a show of prints by provocative artist Hideo Takeda and calligrapher Machiko Kitayama who also does innovative mountings for scrolls. She will also assist with arrangements for special shows like the one at Tom Gallery in Shibuya not far from Bunkamura Hall. On display are monoprints by women prison inmates in India, a representation of their release from their cells through art. Freedom was short lived. The progressive woman prison superintendent who encouraged them was soon transferred. Here is a rare chance to share the feelings of disadvantaged women in a country where many have not yet become aware of the existence of rights. For a map to Gallery Tom, call (03) 3467-8102 until June 16.

A day to remember: May 17, a bazaar to benefit Asian women at the ANA Hotel featuring foods and products from 24 countries in Asia and Oceania, 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Admission is 2,000 yen.