A trellis

. . . and its edge

An inviting park, near my house

Little bit 'o symmetry

Fish in the dark

Frenchmen and lizards

A picnic, but no food

Ube Material Industries, heart of the city

Boats in the air

Big boats

Small boats

Shallow soil, wide roots

There's just something about this bear that bugs me

Spring is starting

An elevator ride

I was just headed out to the 7 & i-holdings (that's 7-11 to those of you stateside), when I ran into one of my neighbors in the elevator. An elderly gentleman. We had a pleasant chat about the weather, I said goodbye and wandered off towards the convenience store. It struck me then that it ws odd to see a man in his early seventies headed out at one in the morning. But then, I thought of my friend Hide Aniki. He's seventy-six with diabetes and I have ran into him several times at Joker's. He is always in the process of ordering drinks and food for himself, the bartenders and those sitting near him. He's seen me going into the Fuji Grand for work several times now and always calls out to say hello. Truly a friendly man.

Haircut

I had my haircut a few days back now. Went to a monk that lives in Asa on Jim's reccomendation. There was no telling them what I wanted, Hiroki, the monk, just felt my head and started cutting - it turned out nice, but I'm not gonna bother with a picture here and now, it'll just have to turn up in the course of things. It was about time to my boss, my boss's boss and my boss's boss's boss had all told me to get a haircut. Now it's trim the sideburns and buy a new suit, it's never done. Hiroki and his wife Kiyoka are some of the nicest people that I've met so far in the greater Ube area. We chatted about anime and video games, and after the haircut Hiroki showed me his airsoft guns. They also told me there's a kofun in Asa (which for reference is a little nothing town a stone's throw northwest of Ube [half an hour by train]) - and to this kofun they will take me. On their ATV's. But, first they're taking me to Saga prefecture to see a temple, and maybe a ninja village. Saga is between Fukuoka and Nagasaki, and to hear the students tell it, it makes Yamaguchi seem packed full of things to do.
In NOVA news, they cut the office supply budget. Completely. We were kinda wondering why there were no pens and staples seemed in short supply, and now we know. So us teachers and the Japanese staff are now completely responsible for the purchase of pens, staples, whiteout, tape, and, well the list goes on. It's a move I don't understand. Sure, they lost money last quarter but I think a multi-trillion yen corporation can afford eight hundred thousand yen a month for staples (both literal and fugrative staples here - man I'm deep). Perhaps they could cut down on expansion and refocus, you know, and other business things.

Iwakuni and Majime and Tokiwa (again)

About two weeks ago I took a trip to Iwakuni with Akemi and Miho to see some cherry blossoms. It was still a little early in the season, so they were only twenty percent open or so, but it was still a lovely trip. We were able to see Kintaikyo, the famous five arched bridge in the evening. And we could walk across it for free, because it was after hours. I understand that, yes it's a historic landmark and very important, but I still don't understand being charged five hundred yen to walk across a bridge. Meandering around the town we saw some more cherry blossoms and a nice view of Iwakuni-jo and thankfully, no Army guys. For dinner we went to a restaurant called Sanzoku, in the middle of the mountain, decked out with fire pits and outside dining, souvenir shopping and taiko drums you could beat on. In the parking lot was a car the was completely not suspicious. A black Bentley with tinted windows with a man in a flashy suit and sunglasses getting something out of the back.

On Friday last, I went to Tokiwa for a bike ride around the lake before work. The cherry blossoms were in full bloom and it was a zoo. There's not a terrible amount to say, pictures are below.

Sunday was the NOVA hanami at the Majime River, near city hall about one click from my apartment. A pleasant if uneventful time of light drinking and snacking with coworkers in the park. The Japanese staff came, ate some Moss Burger off to the side and then left. It started to rain and we all went our separate ways after an hour.

Hanging out and snacking

Palms and cherries together again

Kintaikyo. Another view.

Hanami spot at the Majime River

Kintaikyo and Iwakuni-jo

Sculpture, palm and cherry trees

Flower lined path

Roller coaster and blossoms

Family at Tokiwa hanami