tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9500463811612142012024-03-21T09:47:46.241-07:00Jikiden Reiki with Mari ~ return to Japan 2023Joyful Reiki ~ Reiki diary of Reiki mama
is now back in JapanMari Okazakihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14459766098610986608noreply@blogger.comBlogger145125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950046381161214201.post-79531721144081411322023-11-07T17:07:00.001-08:002023-11-12T19:28:31.788-08:00Switching blog page to Ameblo<p> It has been already 5 months since I moved to Japan! </p><p><br /></p><p>At first, it felt like next to impossible to adjust to a new life in Japan.</p><p>Now it feels like I am adjusting. </p><p><br /></p><p>I am spending lots of time on marketing myself on SNS and talking to people.</p><p><br /></p><p>I have decided to move my blog to Japanese site so I can have one page with </p><p>both Japanese and English.</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://ameblo.jp/okazakimari/">https://ameblo.jp/okazakimari/ </a></p><p><br /></p><p>Please scroll down to the half way bottom to read in English.</p><p>There are small triangle arrows to go back/fourth to read other stories.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3t7AZmmqncsIIm3i46E7lZ8XR1o9JfkVsSSOQvwbBqa2PIRvKwSHegHBBxyBvnNUvrX3VPHOpL26ZQNkQ7fO5HmkNOTU1oXA38rJmFrXU05of4JI-mv5l5G84zDSbDttXpZ9gvfcLj5HVmOSMcrM8Qk0MbF18AoOYBOGue_5gla9cBzqc_gQag0vnGeEH/s2268/Screen%20Shot%202023-11-13%20at%2012.21.52%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="2268" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3t7AZmmqncsIIm3i46E7lZ8XR1o9JfkVsSSOQvwbBqa2PIRvKwSHegHBBxyBvnNUvrX3VPHOpL26ZQNkQ7fO5HmkNOTU1oXA38rJmFrXU05of4JI-mv5l5G84zDSbDttXpZ9gvfcLj5HVmOSMcrM8Qk0MbF18AoOYBOGue_5gla9cBzqc_gQag0vnGeEH/w549-h259/Screen%20Shot%202023-11-13%20at%2012.21.52%20PM.png" width="549" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Thank you so much! </p><p>Mari</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Mari Okazakihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14459766098610986608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950046381161214201.post-82697107584472917362023-08-28T00:50:00.000-07:002023-08-28T00:50:06.460-07:00 *the first Obon in Yamashita, Tomie Town*<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #374151; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Having moved to Goto, it's been two months since I arrived on August 12th.</span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; margin: 1.25em 0px; text-align: left; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> I experienced Obon for the first time in Yamashita, Tomie Town.</span><span style="background-color: white;">.<span style="font-size: medium;"> </span>(<span style="color: #202124; font-family: "Google Sans", arial, sans-serif;">is </span><span style="color: #040c28; font-family: "Google Sans", arial, sans-serif;">an annual Japanese holiday that commemorates and remembers deceased ancestors)</span></span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="background-color: white;">Normally, it would be the time for visiting my family's ancestral grave, </span><span style="background-color: white;">but having spent 23 years in Canada and not having a family home anymore, I couldn't go back every year. So, instead, I made sure to pay my respects to my ancestors daily.</span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="background-color: white;">Therefore, rather than visiting the grave just because it was "Obon," I wanted to cherish the experiences I could have now. With that sentiment, I deliberately chose not to return to Nagasaki where my family used to live and stayed in Tomie Town.</span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="background-color: white;">Obon in Goto is a bustling time with people returning to their hometowns and tourists. Local shops, restaurants, cafes, and such are all very busy. It's a good thing! 😀</span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="background-color: white;">I'm helping out at a nearby store, and they're really busy making bento boxes from early morning.</span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="background-color: white;">My task was making rolled sushi. Rolling sushi endlessly for hours...</span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="background-color: white;">The ladies who are over 20 years older than me have so much energy, seriously! 💦</span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="background-color: white;">"Yodoretaro?"
"Kuwashikane."</span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="background-color: white;">I'm not familiar with these dialect words they're throwing around, so I ask what they mean. And then, the ladies happily explain the meanings of the dialect expressions.</span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="background-color: white;">"Yodoretaro?"</span><span style="background-color: white;"> means "Aren't you fed up already?"
</span><span style="background-color: white;">"Kuwashikane." </span><span style="background-color: white;">means "You're doing a good job."</span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="background-color: white;">You must be tired of making rolls all the time. But you're rolling them so well.</span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="background-color: white;">And then, one of the ladies gladly teaches me a rather crude dialect phrase:
"Yodore hakkabutta."</span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="background-color: white;">This expression, which I've never heard before, apparently means </span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="background-color: white;">"To be so tired that you feel like throwing up" (laughs).</span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="background-color: white;">Yes, after rolling sushi for hours, I'm indeed "yodore hakkabutta", lol.</span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="background-color: white;">And then, the landlady enthusiastically invites me:
"What are you up to tonight? Will you come to see Tomie's Obon? We'll all go to the graves together. You'll see Onneonde too. Shall we have dinner together? While you're here in Yamashita, why don't you have various experiences?"</span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="background-color: white;">This landlady jumped straight out of a manga from the early Showa era. She's cheerful, kind, and strong-willed.</span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="background-color: white;">"If you go straight down "that street", you'll see the graves. Go there first, and then come to my house."</span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="background-color: white;">I don't know "that street", I don't know where their graves are, and I don't even know where she lives. But I trust her words and think, </span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="background-color: white;">"If I go straight down that road, maybe it's here." So, I drive around with my car and...
"I found them!"
The landlady's directions were really accurate (laughs).</span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-i-fHe9l4XGnBqOt1ffVA9n-mYzSP6qgc4nqfSpXK2QeG-z1qm98RC0i-WeQZeZ04fsAFT5c6kDJdQIWOfuvovLiNCX1qigX5ckcNQbeKTRfzZX0_eNNKKjIj0_wMLB6jQV1h5ZUHps0lrkOeAQqhm3yjSOS27cLUvfVW1OoTs5tUuTYRI77XjynIpfbA/s4032/EFED721F-907C-41B4-9C68-4F2CC3759C8B.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-i-fHe9l4XGnBqOt1ffVA9n-mYzSP6qgc4nqfSpXK2QeG-z1qm98RC0i-WeQZeZ04fsAFT5c6kDJdQIWOfuvovLiNCX1qigX5ckcNQbeKTRfzZX0_eNNKKjIj0_wMLB6jQV1h5ZUHps0lrkOeAQqhm3yjSOS27cLUvfVW1OoTs5tUuTYRI77XjynIpfbA/s320/EFED721F-907C-41B4-9C68-4F2CC3759C8B.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="background-color: white;">So, I light incense and took a seat as instructed.
It's not for fireworks, it's not for chatting; for about an hour, we're waiting for something.</span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="background-color: white;">Among their relatives, my son and I feel a bit out of place. Still, we wonder what this quiet atmosphere is about, and hesitantly I ask, "Are you waiting for someone?"</span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq4QYUTBbj3OiqUfF7tkDjNyEEUGgkc1MPXRAGhs3LAaRZkzcZwVnZqlSfgCfISI2TWvhXAiE2u27Gl-EUGZmU6wP8oifwoW2RIy5mFV3HEIDEMxeS4WiB8ZeJ-tp64wcN0gCQAM9LnwhFKSlp7dX6NfLjAGgIXqPX8nATrJET-wUbojpVwoxDtD17MsHp/s4032/17AF5924-A439-402E-8A28-8E41D9AFA7EF_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq4QYUTBbj3OiqUfF7tkDjNyEEUGgkc1MPXRAGhs3LAaRZkzcZwVnZqlSfgCfISI2TWvhXAiE2u27Gl-EUGZmU6wP8oifwoW2RIy5mFV3HEIDEMxeS4WiB8ZeJ-tp64wcN0gCQAM9LnwhFKSlp7dX6NfLjAGgIXqPX8nATrJET-wUbojpVwoxDtD17MsHp/s320/17AF5924-A439-402E-8A28-8E41D9AFA7EF_1_201_a.jpeg" width="320" /></a></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="background-color: white;">"You can't leave until the candle inside the lantern goes out."</span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="background-color: white;">Ah, I see!</span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="background-color: white;">To properly welcome the souls of the ancestors who have returned for Obon, they wait until the candle inside the lantern extinguishes.</span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="background-color: white;">And then, I was able to watch the traditional dance called "Onneonde." In the past, it was danced by farmers after sowing seeds as a wish for a good harvest, meaning "Come out." But now, it's danced for those who recently passed away during the Obon season.</span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJD9V3bENejcpKHtfsEzvH5tUdgMAY0VEKFuN5lwVpf0a0tP7nGKGCsQRQZfT1PoTZl2kiXJlfeeTN2qMAsNGcKsuL0klkT6im0zC1vG6sHabCic5Vpe8ggletF_qxeGbXZSavLIciHkpfINSLGxF55qnkkSmIdoIW6Z8afsuT1u65IvVTIkhb7D7-HkZd/s3520/F9D1199D-1A5F-45A4-9BA4-396E83678047.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1980" data-original-width="3520" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJD9V3bENejcpKHtfsEzvH5tUdgMAY0VEKFuN5lwVpf0a0tP7nGKGCsQRQZfT1PoTZl2kiXJlfeeTN2qMAsNGcKsuL0klkT6im0zC1vG6sHabCic5Vpe8ggletF_qxeGbXZSavLIciHkpfINSLGxF55qnkkSmIdoIW6Z8afsuT1u65IvVTIkhb7D7-HkZd/s320/F9D1199D-1A5F-45A4-9BA4-396E83678047.jpeg" width="320" /></a></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="background-color: white;">I hope these old traditions like this continue to exist. 🙏</span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="background-color: white;">After all, I've had a wonderful experience at my first Obon season in Goto.</span></p>Mari Okazakihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14459766098610986608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950046381161214201.post-48513389741689118672023-08-16T01:34:00.008-07:002023-08-16T01:34:41.604-07:00 *Story of My Son's Incredibly Cool Taiko Drum Debut*<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">So, I went to the Tomie Festival.</span></p><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">We moved to Gotō on June 12th, and since the beginning of July, my son has been participating in the Wokou Taiko drum group run by the Tomie Bara Mon Society. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">He comes home from practice every week looking so excited, so I thought, </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">"Maybe I should join too." </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">When I said that, my son replied, </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">"Wait until the festival so you can see it at the Tomie Festival." So, I waited.</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">After a month and a half of practice, yesterday was his debut. </div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I secured a spot in the front row to watch. ...<span class="x3nfvp2 x1j61x8r x1fcty0u xdj266r xhhsvwb xat24cr xgzva0m xxymvpz xlup9mm x1kky2od" style="display: inline-flex; font-family: inherit; height: 16px; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle; width: 16px;"><img alt="🥁" height="16" referrerpolicy="origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/t2d/2/16/1f941.png" style="border: 0px;" width="16" /></span> </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivzcsucIfzfcAM-d8UUxB_ua_YQHT34YsvMgOLxAOoI2h_wW_VNvTpfvlCofSBZKJMoHYbOAM8DfiMtxw7dgGGh9QS3a8LoJh5VhOH1m6EhrrFpC7tg3TvMBYenMsHn4Fc9l00FvqmRrVciSmQ6J52r_ZwKsOQ9TCynorWl5OVjr2-Rs0xtmsuGDPImFB9/s3520/54345B15-7EA2-40E7-ABCB-4BC78A3AC4A8.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1980" data-original-width="3520" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivzcsucIfzfcAM-d8UUxB_ua_YQHT34YsvMgOLxAOoI2h_wW_VNvTpfvlCofSBZKJMoHYbOAM8DfiMtxw7dgGGh9QS3a8LoJh5VhOH1m6EhrrFpC7tg3TvMBYenMsHn4Fc9l00FvqmRrVciSmQ6J52r_ZwKsOQ9TCynorWl5OVjr2-Rs0xtmsuGDPImFB9/s320/54345B15-7EA2-40E7-ABCB-4BC78A3AC4A8.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYaSORKgfHPQUhDZYh2z4py45kSNnl3QWS9aV5Ist-iRthS3H5Ovz4NlP0svQD23dSq7p1CoQy8Vdly-VYAR1LXXiYXu6ClPSf4GpDft3vzZAwvn3TDlyURMA4PUQo1EFWfx0jycTsOY9e-I3Wnn1F6CxIVnfYsS_erNIrg8Yf_UvzewB4R6KDXNzoiAJ7/s4032/F8131231-94B7-4815-8D92-83F02A84EE53.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYaSORKgfHPQUhDZYh2z4py45kSNnl3QWS9aV5Ist-iRthS3H5Ovz4NlP0svQD23dSq7p1CoQy8Vdly-VYAR1LXXiYXu6ClPSf4GpDft3vzZAwvn3TDlyURMA4PUQo1EFWfx0jycTsOY9e-I3Wnn1F6CxIVnfYsS_erNIrg8Yf_UvzewB4R6KDXNzoiAJ7/s320/F8131231-94B7-4815-8D92-83F02A84EE53.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">So cool... </div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">The vibrations of the drums resonated throughout my body, and seeing my son playing the drums, it brought back memories of the past two months and even reflections on life itself.</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">It's a five-minute video, so if you're interested, please check it out on YouTube:</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a class="x1i10hfl xjbqb8w x6umtig x1b1mbwd xaqea5y xav7gou x9f619 x1ypdohk xt0psk2 xe8uvvx xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r xexx8yu x4uap5 x18d9i69 xkhd6sd x16tdsg8 x1hl2dhg xggy1nq x1a2a7pz xt0b8zv x1fey0fg" href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fyoutu.be%2FSsLiApHKoDY%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR0JLvtC7SSWunLUz9WtUEtihSX7VyUG1t1YJKdVwbzXJCMNtxfxC_5_w3E&h=AT2qzOL4w9GtBNOCeP5w8WCqX7hs0avu26CvMyMDPjbIZ3CXMEOGKuHmtdHwkCFDvqo7_qIjB5CacKWSzOJoI7NGREetJbkHCBS6zJ2cbuf0YA2uDo5-ciDmt--585IWYlZEsBw&__tn__=-UK-R&c[0]=AT0NiNuXIEa89TU72NB4GUwpRa3fxmIt2PYYTVsnP44J_EdtbyluHVUjzVn5ASgkZ_7bxqyVKyCO7WxYB4vP8Z2smyMLfU9E5owLsfBq9XfXXTSQBv5tpPk7DCZAZ5MYivD9bFVg5ew4-L6iV4mKq2oY6fCN7jW5xdlT70S-demUiXWqh0y_lQ" rel="nofollow noreferrer" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/SsLiApHKoDY</a></span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">And to wrap it up, there were fireworks. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">A summer tradition that my late mother loved. Underneath the fireworks, I could almost hear my mother's voice, excitedly exclaiming, "Beautiful, beautiful!" </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimKMHhqqa-q13WYRDy0eHC_NnzoI_GVP5JrReo2FZH5rzWtjIYZwoxygA---XcsDRwPRGkz2RfAOu-IHHFyEpE7IDbHm-UvDiN0K5H6sBH-hxV6-vwIEDMyaMjwoTUunLTTuPoFYE4yCm869yA_UaX_WkxcTBV1PI1-Z51PsVdbBaUfAfYS7oFwA_rQpuv/s3520/1A79D8DA-9E69-4150-9BFD-87D60813ED5A.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3520" data-original-width="1980" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimKMHhqqa-q13WYRDy0eHC_NnzoI_GVP5JrReo2FZH5rzWtjIYZwoxygA---XcsDRwPRGkz2RfAOu-IHHFyEpE7IDbHm-UvDiN0K5H6sBH-hxV6-vwIEDMyaMjwoTUunLTTuPoFYE4yCm869yA_UaX_WkxcTBV1PI1-Z51PsVdbBaUfAfYS7oFwA_rQpuv/s320/1A79D8DA-9E69-4150-9BFD-87D60813ED5A.jpeg" width="180" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSS7HRVR_BltDCvc7Ewf3c-XlWrSQ-6yHcpiCPHAKC4OZdM7G76ToLh3N_5zdw3BUK-VGPWaboM-xoC5kEJFxZjPylDJqWuh4Em3In6Ko2zhsFhdgeO_9y9JqOi10g_ldmdqow9SR6Xpp946Rz9IhODFvbZy19-UqQ9OfiEZ0l9SiJMq-s25PEaIamPwdB/s3520/63873634-FE19-4423-8307-737DC215638A.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3520" data-original-width="1980" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSS7HRVR_BltDCvc7Ewf3c-XlWrSQ-6yHcpiCPHAKC4OZdM7G76ToLh3N_5zdw3BUK-VGPWaboM-xoC5kEJFxZjPylDJqWuh4Em3In6Ko2zhsFhdgeO_9y9JqOi10g_ldmdqow9SR6Xpp946Rz9IhODFvbZy19-UqQ9OfiEZ0l9SiJMq-s25PEaIamPwdB/s320/63873634-FE19-4423-8307-737DC215638A.jpeg" width="180" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Tvn1050_lO0NVpW_lfEfjqg5mO0CHPhMdWJotLa6kxg9X4yePJwO9FCj1Wn8wjFzImGkTeiadbqqtWyxuEGQxEMeVs5-7pn8dDGVnduXjQYrUV8jXzf3tjTTqagGfIrcaf1viweEkmuH6XLSTicimYrD9Y2tuj_Ywt6vJfaZvM8T1tu6NQtLo2K5-wKv/s3520/FFD823F8-AF46-41CA-B34F-7AD55346F0BB.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3520" data-original-width="1980" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Tvn1050_lO0NVpW_lfEfjqg5mO0CHPhMdWJotLa6kxg9X4yePJwO9FCj1Wn8wjFzImGkTeiadbqqtWyxuEGQxEMeVs5-7pn8dDGVnduXjQYrUV8jXzf3tjTTqagGfIrcaf1viweEkmuH6XLSTicimYrD9Y2tuj_Ywt6vJfaZvM8T1tu6NQtLo2K5-wKv/s320/FFD823F8-AF46-41CA-B34F-7AD55346F0BB.jpeg" width="180" /></a></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">It has been 23 years since I last saw Japanese fireworks, and it truly made me happy!</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">It was a day that touched my heart.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div>Mari Okazakihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14459766098610986608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950046381161214201.post-13508140756262493832023-08-16T01:32:00.003-07:002023-08-16T01:32:24.224-07:00 *Story of My Son's Debut at the Tomie Festival*<p><br /></p><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I started to live on the Gotō Islands with my 19-year-old son. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">A half-Japanese born between a Japanese mother(me), and my Canadian husband. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">With our three sons, our conversations follow a pattern: I speak Japanese, and they reply in English. When they give me a puzzled look, I switch to English and the conversation continues.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Born and raised in Canada, he grew up in the same house, and never moved before. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">This time he's staying with me on the Gotō Islands for an extended period. In an unfamiliar country, dealing with unfamiliar language, weather, and battling with insects, he initially felt a bit out of place. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Yet, he never once uttered, </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">"I want to go back." </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Instead, he said, </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">"I can't leave without trying something new." </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I appreciate that he trusts and came along with me, and faced challenges together. I wonder if he realizes how much strength he gives to me. Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU my son.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">While he was still adjusting to life on Tomie Island, he came across a taiko drum performance as part of a triathlon event. Intrigued, he joined the Tomie Balamon Club and began learning Wokou Taiko (Japanese pirate drumming). </div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">He has a musical background, specializing in the harp. Isn't he cool?!</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Thus, his knack for rhythm made him adept at taiko drumming, and he quickly made his debut at the Tomie Festival through the club.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT1rp0LGo5Sz7EehBEARFtxvUmDa3gSjlb5KYb6SYh4iw-h7b1XLZclxIW54HDgATexaa6zspo7mpO4MwiRLi1a_-zzXBCQzj7bNnsFbf_yl8L96f8PTulCph6N37Gdv7ukKjr1njCEubG36KhZXpdyi4s091uUNTWlINdTmQeQRssIytnRk0aGagWMb5C/s4032/9F6E2CAA-F5D4-4DC6-B819-4DB3FFEF7877_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT1rp0LGo5Sz7EehBEARFtxvUmDa3gSjlb5KYb6SYh4iw-h7b1XLZclxIW54HDgATexaa6zspo7mpO4MwiRLi1a_-zzXBCQzj7bNnsFbf_yl8L96f8PTulCph6N37Gdv7ukKjr1njCEubG36KhZXpdyi4s091uUNTWlINdTmQeQRssIytnRk0aGagWMb5C/s320/9F6E2CAA-F5D4-4DC6-B819-4DB3FFEF7877_1_201_a.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I haven't had the chance to witness it yet since he drives himself to the taiko club. Apparently, the vibrations of the drums resonating throughout his body bring him immense joy, and he returns home with sparkling eyes after each practice.</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Tomorrow at the Tomie Festival, starting at 18:45 at Tomie Elementary School, he will make his debut with the Wokou Taiko (Tomie Balamon Club). </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Everyone, please come and be his audience!</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">He's 19 years old and quite skilled in English (of course). We are talking it would be fun for him to have similar-aged friends who can teach him Japanese and he can share his English. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">By the way, he works part-time at the bakery </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">"Wondertrunk travel-bakery" </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">near the Tao Bus Stop in Tomie Town until around 2 p.m. on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Feel free to visit him and say hello and buy delicious bread!</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Here's the schedule for the Tomie Festival, available on the Gotō City Tourism website: Tomie Festival Schedule.</div></div>Mari Okazakihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14459766098610986608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950046381161214201.post-50601479786293079082023-08-16T01:30:00.004-07:002023-08-16T01:30:19.120-07:00 *Strength of an Old Folk House *<p><br /></p><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Now, it seems that the first typhoon since I arrived at the Gotō Islands is about to pass. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I still feel the lingering wind.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">"Absolutely do not go outside," </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">the senior islander’s suggestion, my son and I quietly stayed at home yesterday.</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">There were various first-time experiences.</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Firstly, lizards started to appear all around the house.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I wonder if this is a good thing or a bad thing. I wonder if there's a behavior where lizards seek shelter indoors when a typhoon comes?</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb5lWmnXKV7-Rm1tOBwrKuwnmbb8Obo-NAyv86tZjyxFfsRHFB0g8bnmo5kXw56ZU6WvfbAdVAuNldV5bI7EpYkjvJNNBa8o0ho7H3AwKJBtmZKYQhamlJPJi_KlMcMowwifxiz-Y_d9w06p6NS5eF6IcjLOA0Txe-Gccu7q5MjY55IdwWbkjOcp8yfzAk/s4032/4458BDD6-6224-42F2-BF8F-1C4DA200F9D4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb5lWmnXKV7-Rm1tOBwrKuwnmbb8Obo-NAyv86tZjyxFfsRHFB0g8bnmo5kXw56ZU6WvfbAdVAuNldV5bI7EpYkjvJNNBa8o0ho7H3AwKJBtmZKYQhamlJPJi_KlMcMowwifxiz-Y_d9w06p6NS5eF6IcjLOA0Txe-Gccu7q5MjY55IdwWbkjOcp8yfzAk/s320/4458BDD6-6224-42F2-BF8F-1C4DA200F9D4.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">There seems to be a rule for dealing with insects,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">The kind nurse we met advised,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">"For centipedes,,, pour boiling water. But for spiders, coexist without killing them.”</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">You catch grasshoppers and walfroaches and release outside.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">But I didn't hear the rules about lizards..</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">And for other senior islanders, they introduced an app called “Windy” to constantly check and close the storm shutters when the Gotō Islands are surrounded by a red color. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I faithfully follow this as well.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Regarding measures against natural disasters like this, it's important to faithfully listen to the voices of the locals. This applies even when I was racing windsurfing, understanding the character of various beaches through conversations with the local residents is crucial. The attitude of arrogance, saying, </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">"It's okay, I’m used to the ocean” is the biggest no-no. It's important to remember how small we are when humans face nature's grandeur, </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">And when the Gotō Islands enter the red zone, the wind does indeed become fierce.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">However, this old house I live in, probably standing for 60 to 70 years, remains incredibly sturdy even in the face of strong gusts.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Not even a creak.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Surely, the wisdom of the old craftsmen from this island, which often faces typhoons, is packed within this house.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">That's the feeling I had.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">And as night falls, suddenly I notice,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">The rain and wind have stopped, and an eerie quietness sets in.</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">The eye of the typhoon is passing over.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVe69SSSwuUbumqMT2Onr6mKmFuDkNMXKcBXTnbpzdk_xbvoMKelvISR0h8Hxj7LZHYsy9GeDXs4D1cOMpArIKbNEJHavm6H5Mbymp8MMP6vBTaoUixpAY0Wky0p5BzLjXCSGGfQJWFIJBBdiSn11c_ZSAnfdAIpXKpbXdOMp9A8HDd8imdVOsmRljVdBG/s1792/D1BF24D4-6182-41CD-9135-EB93D12C58C3_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1792" data-original-width="828" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVe69SSSwuUbumqMT2Onr6mKmFuDkNMXKcBXTnbpzdk_xbvoMKelvISR0h8Hxj7LZHYsy9GeDXs4D1cOMpArIKbNEJHavm6H5Mbymp8MMP6vBTaoUixpAY0Wky0p5BzLjXCSGGfQJWFIJBBdiSn11c_ZSAnfdAIpXKpbXdOMp9A8HDd8imdVOsmRljVdBG/s320/D1BF24D4-6182-41CD-9135-EB93D12C58C3_1_201_a.jpeg" width="148" /></a></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I remembered when I was a child, living in Nagasaki, during the passing of the eye of the storm, my mother used to say, </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">"I'll go buy things now quickly!" and leave.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Thinking the wind will surely pick up again once the eye of the typhoon has passed.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"> I lay down to sleep and in the middle of the night,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">"Oh, it's coming again,,," and doze off.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5c_WQ9E7QuneV1voefbdKNmCqR2xPAwIAPRvF_4NjRYZjYe6rKPTNFa5ODKEiFu2ZuhbcEdw8ha_LfKC4sB3kJa-1tIbM86YgbxgQcNBTOqrEBaYoewVHJG-txA0PNNfsIjFFbZBT3yMib-WPv2pxMcP9yD973GCNanZKRZhJrAimIS4dU32AOBWyxHq8/s1792/345AC6D0-ED86-4D30-AD68-B5049269CECB_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1792" data-original-width="828" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5c_WQ9E7QuneV1voefbdKNmCqR2xPAwIAPRvF_4NjRYZjYe6rKPTNFa5ODKEiFu2ZuhbcEdw8ha_LfKC4sB3kJa-1tIbM86YgbxgQcNBTOqrEBaYoewVHJG-txA0PNNfsIjFFbZBT3yMib-WPv2pxMcP9yD973GCNanZKRZhJrAimIS4dU32AOBWyxHq8/s320/345AC6D0-ED86-4D30-AD68-B5049269CECB_1_201_a.jpeg" width="148" /></a></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">The story of experiencing the first typhoon on Goto islands.</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I hope everyone stayed safe and no harsh damage to the farming crops....</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">P.S. My friend who read this post told me it is not a lizard but gecko <span class="x3nfvp2 x1j61x8r x1fcty0u xdj266r xhhsvwb xat24cr xgzva0m xxymvpz xlup9mm x1kky2od" style="display: inline-flex; font-family: inherit; height: 16px; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle; width: 16px;"><img alt="🙂" height="16" referrerpolicy="origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/teb/2/16/1f642.png" style="border: 0px;" width="16" /></span> They are called "Yamori" in Japanese, means "protecting the house" <span class="x3nfvp2 x1j61x8r x1fcty0u xdj266r xhhsvwb xat24cr xgzva0m xxymvpz xlup9mm x1kky2od" style="display: inline-flex; font-family: inherit; height: 16px; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle; width: 16px;"><img alt="🙂" height="16" referrerpolicy="origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/teb/2/16/1f642.png" style="border: 0px;" width="16" /></span></div></div>Mari Okazakihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14459766098610986608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950046381161214201.post-13898885544032942372023-08-09T17:15:00.007-07:002023-08-09T17:15:54.505-07:00*Living chaotically on Goto Islands, for almost two months now. *<p> <span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Finally, about to experience a typhoon. </span></p><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Well, it's actually here already...</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I have asked locals for Steps to take for typhoon:</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">・Close the storm shutters.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">・Fill the bathtub with water.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">・Absolutely stay indoors.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">・Bring inside anything that might get blown away outside.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">・Put away Laundry poles and bases, and put cement bricks on top</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">・Keep a flashlight ready for power outages.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">・Prepare drinking water for potential water supply disruption.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">・Have instant noodles on hand that can be made with just boiling water on a gas stove, as cooking might not be possible during power outages.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">・Stock up on cup noodles and bread beforehand, prepare early as they tend to disappear from stores before the typhoon hits.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">・Regularly check typhoon updates (using the Windy app).</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">・Cover small windows without shutters from the inside using ・masking tape, but avoid going near the windows.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">・If gasoline is low, fill up the tank (there might be a need for living in a car if conditions worsen).</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">・Have a cooler and ice ready, so you can move items from the refrigerator if there's a power outage.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">・Stay alive</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Hummmm... It would be reassuring if daddy were here. A mom and son, both newcomers to Goto Island, staying still at home.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">To distract myself, I baked two types of bread, and both turned out to be successful, providing a sense of accomplishment! </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">(sourdough bread and regular sandwich bread)</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMBAuVSpDUe3IUX88nSakzYctl9K1WCQy0BaB84KC97F8vXyxh0FwmE4l_9dvCUQDL2J9q7wgBKa7MiHm-7oMbo2RVcm7i_SytFrFfs4lam4F_QIBu2IHQRziJCaGeQ8rvktJ7pXaBMhfvfes9ppBmh9ou4567F_uBrxWaaP-IRSvPr8vssKguJs0oni_q/s4032/F332897E-7C71-4CE1-9573-D2A076FC410B_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMBAuVSpDUe3IUX88nSakzYctl9K1WCQy0BaB84KC97F8vXyxh0FwmE4l_9dvCUQDL2J9q7wgBKa7MiHm-7oMbo2RVcm7i_SytFrFfs4lam4F_QIBu2IHQRziJCaGeQ8rvktJ7pXaBMhfvfes9ppBmh9ou4567F_uBrxWaaP-IRSvPr8vssKguJs0oni_q/s320/F332897E-7C71-4CE1-9573-D2A076FC410B_1_201_a.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4gCUu7P755FB0XLhkf5CKFiyGMqdOY3aylVA0d6FRRKe0IJnZ-sk5BZRblSl6Su8OjvWIiNj-OnGul2xEffwQlCA2Q42hAroD3GsSXJ-jxhgOMGPIZzoXISk7wmUx0Do7-zl3vH-SoMl8-4fSxHm6PJMuWga-21fXDWXau-okk3fZExziRgteJMdiZi6k/s3520/FEA26C10-7052-4D97-9FC4-260B55E2AC75.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3520" data-original-width="1980" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4gCUu7P755FB0XLhkf5CKFiyGMqdOY3aylVA0d6FRRKe0IJnZ-sk5BZRblSl6Su8OjvWIiNj-OnGul2xEffwQlCA2Q42hAroD3GsSXJ-jxhgOMGPIZzoXISk7wmUx0Do7-zl3vH-SoMl8-4fSxHm6PJMuWga-21fXDWXau-okk3fZExziRgteJMdiZi6k/s320/FEA26C10-7052-4D97-9FC4-260B55E2AC75.jpeg" width="180" /></a></div><br /><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Again, I recognized the abundance of fermented foods in Japan is evident here as well. The hours-long homemade yeast fermentation that takes place in Canada happens in just a few hours here, thanks to the optimal conditions for yeast, which also explains the rapid growth of mold.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4pdmp81U3sT4DqVgmAMyxtrhrCg_KvCHV5Zl49t8UorSamJ91kOA4q2P1elNdQJf4UdfYEFfqfJrtiSlp_vyNFBZvhRbfA5vKXC8oL6gDk7EvjM0HCuOWzDcRibd6oQBQrW36bQzRaMJYcB6_bH62QJmiMLIGu_TJ-Loreo2_C491CJ59gOKLZPlKjM2Y/s4032/B87EBA18-BCEC-4CB7-AE98-43DD8E8B18C1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4pdmp81U3sT4DqVgmAMyxtrhrCg_KvCHV5Zl49t8UorSamJ91kOA4q2P1elNdQJf4UdfYEFfqfJrtiSlp_vyNFBZvhRbfA5vKXC8oL6gDk7EvjM0HCuOWzDcRibd6oQBQrW36bQzRaMJYcB6_bH62QJmiMLIGu_TJ-Loreo2_C491CJ59gOKLZPlKjM2Y/s320/B87EBA18-BCEC-4CB7-AE98-43DD8E8B18C1.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Living in the heart of nature means coexisting with both its gentleness and harshness. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I must hold humble feelings toward nature within my heart as a human being.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I sincerely pray that today and tomorrow, everyone remains safe and out of danger. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div>Mari Okazakihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14459766098610986608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950046381161214201.post-34465208342980036212023-08-09T17:13:00.005-07:002023-08-09T17:13:25.853-07:00 *Story of the Reliable and Helpful Young Men*<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I'm in a panic mode.</span></p><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">This Honda kei van became our precious buddy since just 30 minutes after arriving on Goto Island. His name is “Hako-kun” (Hako=box). (My son is Mako-kun.)</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">However, on my way back from work, (it's quite refreshing to be working for someone after being self-employed for so long)</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I was invited, "Hey, want to stop by for a drink?"</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Being invited to "have a drink after work” also felt so new to me. (ended up having juice)</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">But, Hako-kun wouldn’t start upon leaving the bar.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">"Oh no, what should I do? Daddy~ <span class="x3nfvp2 x1j61x8r x1fcty0u xdj266r xhhsvwb xat24cr xgzva0m xxymvpz xlup9mm x1kky2od" style="display: inline-flex; font-family: inherit; height: 16px; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle; width: 16px;"><img alt="😭" height="16" referrerpolicy="origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/tdf/2/16/1f62d.png" style="border: 0px;" width="16" /></span>."</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I'm completely clueless about cars; when I'm in Canada, I leave it all to my husband if anything happens. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">(When the kids were young, they used to call us "Mommy" and "Daddy," but as they grew up, the sons started to call their father "dad," and I'm the only one who still calls him "Daddy.")</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Then, the young men who had been sitting next to me a moment ago and the bar master came out and gathered around Hako-kun, discussing and troubleshooting.</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">"It's probably the battery. " "Maybe we should push-start it. " "No, it might be faster to call my dad."</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">The Pub master reassured me, </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">"Don't worry, we'll figure it out."</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I had no choice but to rely on these young men.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">In the end, one of their father came to the rescue at 11 pm, and those guys all pushed the van together to push start.</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">The father said, </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">“Don’t let it stall until you get home. Well, if it stalls again, I'll come to help again."</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">...How kind <span class="x3nfvp2 x1j61x8r x1fcty0u xdj266r xhhsvwb xat24cr xgzva0m xxymvpz xlup9mm x1kky2od" style="display: inline-flex; font-family: inherit; height: 16px; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle; width: 16px;"><img alt="😭" height="16" referrerpolicy="origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/tdf/2/16/1f62d.png" style="border: 0px;" width="16" /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="x3nfvp2 x1j61x8r x1fcty0u xdj266r xhhsvwb xat24cr xgzva0m xxymvpz xlup9mm x1kky2od" style="display: inline-flex; font-family: inherit; height: 16px; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle; width: 16px;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Living in a remote area, stalling in the middle of the road is not an option for me. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">So, I made it home safely!</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">However, after parking in front of the house, I thought, </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">"I've driven for 25 minutes, and the battery should be charged."</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">But when I tried to start it just to be sure, the engine wouldn't turn over.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">"Daddy~ <span class="x3nfvp2 x1j61x8r x1fcty0u xdj266r xhhsvwb xat24cr xgzva0m xxymvpz xlup9mm x1kky2od" style="display: inline-flex; font-family: inherit; height: 16px; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle; width: 16px;"><img alt="😭" height="16" referrerpolicy="origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/tdf/2/16/1f62d.png" style="border: 0px;" width="16" /></span>!"</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">What should I do? I was filled with anxiety and went to bed.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">"Oh, right. Maybe the car dealership where I bought Hako-kun can help."</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I called the dealership first thing in the morning, and he efficiently guided me over the phone. Ultimately, he decided to come to my remote location took him 30 minutes <span class="x3nfvp2 x1j61x8r x1fcty0u xdj266r xhhsvwb xat24cr xgzva0m xxymvpz xlup9mm x1kky2od" style="display: inline-flex; font-family: inherit; height: 16px; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle; width: 16px;"><img alt="😭" height="16" referrerpolicy="origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/tdf/2/16/1f62d.png" style="border: 0px;" width="16" /></span>.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">In Canada, it's unlikely that a human will answer the phone so early in the morning. You navigate through a tape-recorded menu, "Press 2 for English, Press the appropriate number for your inquiry, Press the number to speak to a representative," and even after talking to a human, you're often redirected, "We'll connect you to the appropriate department," which can be a lengthy process. Reservations might even take three days.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">However, during these two months on Goto Island, it seems the person who can help you actually answers the phone, making things progress at lightning speed. </div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I thought the issue could be resolved today if I contact them early, but it seems it wasn’t necessary to call so early (lol).</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">In the end, they decided to send a tow truck.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">However, my location is a relatively remote area, even the local folks can’t seem to find our house.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Even though the narrow bumpy farm road is on Google Maps, why isn't the road leading to my house on Google Maps?!</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">The dealership was lost, and I couldn't provide good directions since I'm new to this neighborhood.</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">After a while, I went outside and found him there!</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I apologized for the early morning and not being able to give him a direction, also the long drive in the heat, but his next words were,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">"No problem. When we talked on the phone, </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">the sound of cicadas was really loud, </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">so I figured you must be near the mountains."</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">…Wow, so cool!</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Not only he is handsome but also cool in what he said.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">"I figured you'd be around here since the cicada sounds were close."</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">That explanation, I've never heard anything like it before, and it gave me a strong sense of nostalgia.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">It's a feeling of Japanese beauty, a sense of the seasons, and a connection to nature that you wouldn't experience in Canada, or maybe even in the urban parts of Japan.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">So, the story of those young men I met for the first time, who turned out to be my heroes, and the handsome car doctor who followed the sound of cicadas to my house, left me deeply moved.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I am managing somehow my eventful life on Goto Islands, thanks to the warm support of everyone, </div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">To all those involved, truly, thank you very, very much.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div>Mari Okazakihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14459766098610986608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950046381161214201.post-47205845986537688282023-08-08T05:10:00.004-07:002023-08-08T05:10:22.334-07:00 There are more enjoyable days for sure.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpRjeBEu85ya3wCYfILMruHqjcp1geeOVbSimeC4QiYIzOLuoZCmLzemTElcm02gmulRW8ZEJSSr7w5_5fi2ytKHjC89GVGaTr55Gxo-WIcWqRfFhLUU11lmkCg11M7ZtfxmYuo3fBy5ZtUwcgbdw5RNVLGL5coaXZChRo_AE1EiYlz_Wl4WMYAHNBSenV/s4032/00DFF31E-E24A-45C5-9F27-69B795EBD940.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpRjeBEu85ya3wCYfILMruHqjcp1geeOVbSimeC4QiYIzOLuoZCmLzemTElcm02gmulRW8ZEJSSr7w5_5fi2ytKHjC89GVGaTr55Gxo-WIcWqRfFhLUU11lmkCg11M7ZtfxmYuo3fBy5ZtUwcgbdw5RNVLGL5coaXZChRo_AE1EiYlz_Wl4WMYAHNBSenV/s320/00DFF31E-E24A-45C5-9F27-69B795EBD940.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">On this island, there are so many places to see,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjweJXVV-lbxJJ85upFYH1420Ili76Kc2YuZoAnfd7PIR5h6Sj3tNWNEU4RPxUtjnB-F2iJKYUGM6w3q7CUXrDAYCmLbVnb1ZeV13YymL5WJor8NSXa7i5FPr3UoykiSUrFf0M5ZBgNmEleh0lacuO6XMiNAPkW5vSrefXAFWmaTsgLAunydtbMDgUvCT45/s4032/1B2C65D6-1160-4A29-AFB9-A16AD0BD9C6B.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjweJXVV-lbxJJ85upFYH1420Ili76Kc2YuZoAnfd7PIR5h6Sj3tNWNEU4RPxUtjnB-F2iJKYUGM6w3q7CUXrDAYCmLbVnb1ZeV13YymL5WJor8NSXa7i5FPr3UoykiSUrFf0M5ZBgNmEleh0lacuO6XMiNAPkW5vSrefXAFWmaTsgLAunydtbMDgUvCT45/s320/1B2C65D6-1160-4A29-AFB9-A16AD0BD9C6B.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Even if you suddenly take a detour onto a narrow path, I think nervously,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">"This definitely isn't a road for cars, it's a pedestrian path, right?"</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Though it is certainly approved by Google Maps.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip7iqyZrtSYm88N5eZHHW3HL1ighpu0UHyjcNOdcPdgYTLM0zww1KD1hBeFF6QJDTizVBVfTM7AxpX41JkyWBDvGX-HBtSYaUiGFLDdEDl-DPurQFkNySAQ46knvjfnwCL8ez-Mvd0YQrJ_RCFlLWv7NOS2dz61THf5LdShr-tR1RWyTpev1SrlGmDRgFs/s4032/1E171422-B57D-4B4D-B42B-A97694D8556A.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip7iqyZrtSYm88N5eZHHW3HL1ighpu0UHyjcNOdcPdgYTLM0zww1KD1hBeFF6QJDTizVBVfTM7AxpX41JkyWBDvGX-HBtSYaUiGFLDdEDl-DPurQFkNySAQ46knvjfnwCL8ez-Mvd0YQrJ_RCFlLWv7NOS2dz61THf5LdShr-tR1RWyTpev1SrlGmDRgFs/s320/1E171422-B57D-4B4D-B42B-A97694D8556A.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWIghACe4MJESDY6B1NaaPxE1orrnFEgFFCQfZIlK9xWBky_zgnS7a4m6wieWP4_ZgxSv-VUGoSNe7yj-H-zLMYFgVxLnfdyg9oZhB7e5GadrbVriNZpoKnlHQ676z5zf8_eN771zrFONSVVRYOOCvrTkJZ9Entf_DU2WqE54OOEkjkg1OhcTwIjNdJzBw/s4032/36F546D5-2966-4C01-B89A-558029E30166.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWIghACe4MJESDY6B1NaaPxE1orrnFEgFFCQfZIlK9xWBky_zgnS7a4m6wieWP4_ZgxSv-VUGoSNe7yj-H-zLMYFgVxLnfdyg9oZhB7e5GadrbVriNZpoKnlHQ676z5zf8_eN771zrFONSVVRYOOCvrTkJZ9Entf_DU2WqE54OOEkjkg1OhcTwIjNdJzBw/s320/36F546D5-2966-4C01-B89A-558029E30166.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMEGBzUOCEaQh1_GpWQPZj7dwLU7YBgQOJBf1oYKW9YhVLJJzsyw0C__R91_29m5khQLoho5C0aLfvKUKzytbgTIJbwXb63otyYIJdC2IkNQRnoxlqjaoqUOu9GkTE1x1liU_qmll9oMEBlaeriiw6KBJykhCzyFcA9z0hMdUyEKOE4edL49UbXyU7BHXL/s4032/486E4463-4F10-45A8-9E00-8899040ECC63.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMEGBzUOCEaQh1_GpWQPZj7dwLU7YBgQOJBf1oYKW9YhVLJJzsyw0C__R91_29m5khQLoho5C0aLfvKUKzytbgTIJbwXb63otyYIJdC2IkNQRnoxlqjaoqUOu9GkTE1x1liU_qmll9oMEBlaeriiw6KBJykhCzyFcA9z0hMdUyEKOE4edL49UbXyU7BHXL/s320/486E4463-4F10-45A8-9E00-8899040ECC63.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJzGi0_MP4sAMsmZuibR42_To4f_qj9TC1F_mL1TbZxCgXB6T4PIPKgCA6CeSIGEhzn25Q1TzOwQo8u-ah0nzvL3Dj1xMPimsxZ_jEUY7qZxC-mdtHIzmmQyM1qjpqiVKktbE90ehiNT4tGpAiZVHzG8O51LQ0rKIMOIg1EvJM7Q7dJ33XNE1VgRKyyk2V/s4032/603AB282-A6FC-4172-A507-E50AA25E5E39.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJzGi0_MP4sAMsmZuibR42_To4f_qj9TC1F_mL1TbZxCgXB6T4PIPKgCA6CeSIGEhzn25Q1TzOwQo8u-ah0nzvL3Dj1xMPimsxZ_jEUY7qZxC-mdtHIzmmQyM1qjpqiVKktbE90ehiNT4tGpAiZVHzG8O51LQ0rKIMOIg1EvJM7Q7dJ33XNE1VgRKyyk2V/s320/603AB282-A6FC-4172-A507-E50AA25E5E39.heic" width="240" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">If I overcome that anxiety, I always ended up back on a main street.</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I find myself being impressed by things</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">that probably aren't all that significant.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuG-ROjiRNFwQGlDH5umgCwd3TAmqiA9hunmKGF-530uf938gFIO_ass__L2yIAV-Yqfj2H7r80Tav9IPhHJrGA_uzRp7DeGgJyfDPvMR_eCXQAQPGRdYDV7cOIKZuShlbUB0egO1YR40mbJftFktNOC2L7uYRIt9-U5x_ADUBuASCmXFiwiJgRzy1g7ml/s4032/E412D5D1-14C6-4FCE-B098-9B82C518EC57.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuG-ROjiRNFwQGlDH5umgCwd3TAmqiA9hunmKGF-530uf938gFIO_ass__L2yIAV-Yqfj2H7r80Tav9IPhHJrGA_uzRp7DeGgJyfDPvMR_eCXQAQPGRdYDV7cOIKZuShlbUB0egO1YR40mbJftFktNOC2L7uYRIt9-U5x_ADUBuASCmXFiwiJgRzy1g7ml/s320/E412D5D1-14C6-4FCE-B098-9B82C518EC57.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">This Island,</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">The history is rich,</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">The people are kind,</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Their eyes are truly beautiful and pure,</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">and, it's a place full of vitality.</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I wonder if the local people</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">can see the greatness of it.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsTSMY3LcvGXEiHWXMnZk8EIOzypjS5Q9K33hQCyguGqhDr5OGvYDFBiRIbJyO4Fuil9b4H-ucm-KUfXPjNT2ybkfmtXwpO1K7VZ4sp6ByD_HX68DW4BKdxm1o2lvfpS0qW-ZEhs9RsxRHLb4i4SE_3TrgUkH2oIIuMzrv3b5U_ctC3fxXgbQF0amMGD0m/s4032/EF94E2E7-7353-4289-B3B0-A6917F18243F.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsTSMY3LcvGXEiHWXMnZk8EIOzypjS5Q9K33hQCyguGqhDr5OGvYDFBiRIbJyO4Fuil9b4H-ucm-KUfXPjNT2ybkfmtXwpO1K7VZ4sp6ByD_HX68DW4BKdxm1o2lvfpS0qW-ZEhs9RsxRHLb4i4SE_3TrgUkH2oIIuMzrv3b5U_ctC3fxXgbQF0amMGD0m/s320/EF94E2E7-7353-4289-B3B0-A6917F18243F.jpeg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsTSMY3LcvGXEiHWXMnZk8EIOzypjS5Q9K33hQCyguGqhDr5OGvYDFBiRIbJyO4Fuil9b4H-ucm-KUfXPjNT2ybkfmtXwpO1K7VZ4sp6ByD_HX68DW4BKdxm1o2lvfpS0qW-ZEhs9RsxRHLb4i4SE_3TrgUkH2oIIuMzrv3b5U_ctC3fxXgbQF0amMGD0m/s4032/EF94E2E7-7353-4289-B3B0-A6917F18243F.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: inherit; text-align: left;">That's what I was thinking today.</span></a></div></div></div>Mari Okazakihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14459766098610986608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950046381161214201.post-23417609744900943292023-08-08T05:06:00.005-07:002023-08-08T05:06:25.026-07:00 to be honest, this move has been quite challenging<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">but I'm not backing up!</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi81-Tqa4uTy9B-2mMiQQnNJfCKC0VnkM3PeqPw4gnojyNDXbbTgy5y_dy6QrWHq0uW7GdtqTMGGyqf5U6_pErlUbLPEkgHhA4eK4p0VUd7bdgB-n1nNIDBFuCt4WLLGjioHr5SnKvrWKAzBnudPSWoSnWI4uWTo0X3WH0ce9XI3e6jxC9MEZD17XkWTZV5/s4032/859FBA32-D560-4D11-98B8-0DF25393D67A.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi81-Tqa4uTy9B-2mMiQQnNJfCKC0VnkM3PeqPw4gnojyNDXbbTgy5y_dy6QrWHq0uW7GdtqTMGGyqf5U6_pErlUbLPEkgHhA4eK4p0VUd7bdgB-n1nNIDBFuCt4WLLGjioHr5SnKvrWKAzBnudPSWoSnWI4uWTo0X3WH0ce9XI3e6jxC9MEZD17XkWTZV5/s320/859FBA32-D560-4D11-98B8-0DF25393D67A.heic" width="320" /></a></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibMg0d5nN3ZAGRao0kFwofGE7LQ9qnqYmVI8QcAjrEHb1PBpeO97uBdXwOEBPKHKSc7JdV42svRsQw9NUWDasOiSRoOiISIChW91xjzk360CQKuIrfsMSBXD2LeZ537HMhnkHNLyAU4CDSlyy57HsHMlz3n3alFzudPeDGe4IBT3pg71XuykYQ2AqYjIFO/s4032/82A8C3F6-0DED-4AF8-A1C8-0BDE889B39FC.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibMg0d5nN3ZAGRao0kFwofGE7LQ9qnqYmVI8QcAjrEHb1PBpeO97uBdXwOEBPKHKSc7JdV42svRsQw9NUWDasOiSRoOiISIChW91xjzk360CQKuIrfsMSBXD2LeZ537HMhnkHNLyAU4CDSlyy57HsHMlz3n3alFzudPeDGe4IBT3pg71XuykYQ2AqYjIFO/s320/82A8C3F6-0DED-4AF8-A1C8-0BDE889B39FC.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO6pn7pSfc8lzmT_ZiwpIYrwSON5hE0_b85rnJ-7VLtJ0qzCPGe9x8CseroZ40yrfAT-ns_gsLgVoBHA0CnAlr0qhbFzQ9IRaEvTGvVuuHbzd8sox4h7kujzMY4yp25l2QZjdDbbJxsplCXGYQodzfOjYNwx_3mybgshqAlCGm5Mat0zv43tIOxh5G2Gat/s4032/358F79F0-16DA-4AA9-878B-C5F6F6AE3C39.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO6pn7pSfc8lzmT_ZiwpIYrwSON5hE0_b85rnJ-7VLtJ0qzCPGe9x8CseroZ40yrfAT-ns_gsLgVoBHA0CnAlr0qhbFzQ9IRaEvTGvVuuHbzd8sox4h7kujzMY4yp25l2QZjdDbbJxsplCXGYQodzfOjYNwx_3mybgshqAlCGm5Mat0zv43tIOxh5G2Gat/s320/358F79F0-16DA-4AA9-878B-C5F6F6AE3C39.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I don’t feel like I am came “back” to Japan, but rather a feeling of “immigrating” to Japan.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">What's difficult is not physical strength or financial matters,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">it's the mental aspect. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">How to deal with this indescribable sense of loss.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">In my 51 years of life, I have experienced various kinds of feelings of loss. Pets, parents, relatives, friends' deaths, parting with the piano, and more.</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">The feelings of loss I've experienced before come on their own, and I know I can never get them back what I lost, so I have to accept the loss and move forward.</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">And the sense of loss I'm feeling now is as if I've lost something I haven't actually lost.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">It's there, but it's not.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">My loving husband is there, but not here.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">My beloved dog is there, but not here.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">My established status through Reiki was there, but not here.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Dear old friends in Canada are there, but not here.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">If I were to go and get them, they would be there.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">The option to go back and retrieve them exists.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">However, for now, going back to retrieve them is not my choice. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I am experiencing a sense of loss I've never felt before.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">At first, I even thought</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">"I wonder what I've done. To willingly plunge into something so painful. I might be making a huge mistake. Maybe I'm insane,"</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Losing what I had, not having it taken away, not failing and losing it, but I chose to step away myself, yet knowing I can have it again if I choose.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Losing success. Not having it taken away, not failing, not making a mistake, but switching it myself, resetting to zero.</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Leaving a place of comfort to create a place of comfort.</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Leaving a place that nurtured growth to grow further.</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Letting go of achieved goals to pursue envisioned goals.</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">This kind of loss with choices, or intentionally letting go, might actually be a more challenging hurdle than loss through death, which lacks choices. I think.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Why did I choose this?</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Because I was immersed in happiness, and before challenges could be assigned from the outside, I created my own challenges. That's one of the many reasons.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I've come to understand a little bit of the feelings of single mothers.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Because I'm living with my child now.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I really, really admire how hard single parents work, physically and mentally to keep children happy.</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I've come to understand a little bit of the feelings of separation from a partner through divorce.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Because we're living apart now.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">It must take a huge courage and a loss for a couple to make the decision. </div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I've come to understand a little bit of the feelings of solitude and uncertainty in the midst of solo journey.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I think it's really, really daunting. I want to tell the solo traveller, "Come and stay with me."</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I've come to understand a little bit of the feelings of those who lost everything in disasters, how difficult it must have been for them, how they must have struggled and how did they get over it. Just a little, but I understand now.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I want to become someone who can support those who feel vulnerable.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Because I'm currently being supported, and I'm truly grateful.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I want to become someone who can tell people with dreams and goals,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">“Go for it! You got this! Take it step by step, it's okay to rest, it's okay to crouch, but look ahead," </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">because I understand how empowering those words can be.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Thank you to everyone, thank you.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">The adventure comes with not just excitement. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">There are lonely days like that,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I wanted future me to remember that feeling, </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">so I wrote it down honestly.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">That's the story for today.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1HUcbJ94LFWGOuZ7iPWeLnmK34zcE1O9Vtv_wJwytiO5cBNDhdVibstYi514nOhBkKCqgYEOpSm0KZK7aAYG7O8sHLw3-HXLammLpAs1ztd_JN5g_lB9OTu8-VOrGIkz6gsRkij0g7nnpfrpz6AGpZTtG-Yq7xkecgW7HmXAkCfjNYemho1HKYz2OLELw/s4032/A32D3DDB-9B3F-41C5-8E74-7F72525A4368.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: collapse;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1HUcbJ94LFWGOuZ7iPWeLnmK34zcE1O9Vtv_wJwytiO5cBNDhdVibstYi514nOhBkKCqgYEOpSm0KZK7aAYG7O8sHLw3-HXLammLpAs1ztd_JN5g_lB9OTu8-VOrGIkz6gsRkij0g7nnpfrpz6AGpZTtG-Yq7xkecgW7HmXAkCfjNYemho1HKYz2OLELw/s320/A32D3DDB-9B3F-41C5-8E74-7F72525A4368.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div>Mari Okazakihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14459766098610986608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950046381161214201.post-82389528317539833782023-08-08T05:02:00.006-07:002023-08-08T05:02:44.960-07:00 *Back to the life near the ocean after so many years*<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Taking a break from work, waiting for my son, who works part-time at a bakery in Tomie.</span></p><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">He comes back and made sandwiches with bread bought from the bakery,</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Saying, "Let's go to the beach!" <span class="x3nfvp2 x1j61x8r x1fcty0u xdj266r xhhsvwb xat24cr xgzva0m xxymvpz xlup9mm x1kky2od" style="display: inline-flex; font-family: inherit; height: 16px; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle; width: 16px;"><img alt="😊" height="16" referrerpolicy="origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/t1e/2/16/1f60a.png" style="border: 0px;" width="16" /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="x3nfvp2 x1j61x8r x1fcty0u xdj266r xhhsvwb xat24cr xgzva0m xxymvpz xlup9mm x1kky2od" style="display: inline-flex; font-family: inherit; height: 16px; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle; width: 16px;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">This,,, is happiness.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ah5cVsiIKVy3yDW5S-fWEvT5tu8TkpTlGECRNHZi4vwx_ky8AARUwVauMWUKIyktHN4I-OKATPtXWeAGjAtJfmtdcjmmEmSdZghfBIanOBOYjIXmkmpEmJKlnxDdWDdx8HeltuLhu_gjuyyO3ACPkEKjV7tJ4hW_nczZC3TBCMx5JRF7FFQTHvPm-Bnb/s4032/E412D5D1-14C6-4FCE-B098-9B82C518EC57.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ah5cVsiIKVy3yDW5S-fWEvT5tu8TkpTlGECRNHZi4vwx_ky8AARUwVauMWUKIyktHN4I-OKATPtXWeAGjAtJfmtdcjmmEmSdZghfBIanOBOYjIXmkmpEmJKlnxDdWDdx8HeltuLhu_gjuyyO3ACPkEKjV7tJ4hW_nczZC3TBCMx5JRF7FFQTHvPm-Bnb/s320/E412D5D1-14C6-4FCE-B098-9B82C518EC57.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Late afternoon is just perfect.</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">We went snorkeling, saw little bluefish, and striped fish, in large schools, and those bumpy, bonsai-like things, are they coral?</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I'll look it up later.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">All the fish, they're so cute with wide-awake eyes.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Sometimes, it startles me when a big one comes.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoxLDZM0GzPZUp1fGCyS6UfcgA6TW5Pb8_BM1ZSAWtV3vecsf1LPI2teLDdQW6_sce-MuxedA81Q0qz4e8TRg03WQ5SozBEUDkq3WY_7VbkBg7P4i9HNWd2vGQBE6Ccan82QVN0Vnu4Bg2hZPXv7fkxmw9Ft01cbFmpdLEIGXANkh7JsjzSDMg5Q0ehGJm/s4032/0FC398DB-00E9-46D6-8D27-CC9AF16E49C0_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoxLDZM0GzPZUp1fGCyS6UfcgA6TW5Pb8_BM1ZSAWtV3vecsf1LPI2teLDdQW6_sce-MuxedA81Q0qz4e8TRg03WQ5SozBEUDkq3WY_7VbkBg7P4i9HNWd2vGQBE6Ccan82QVN0Vnu4Bg2hZPXv7fkxmw9Ft01cbFmpdLEIGXANkh7JsjzSDMg5Q0ehGJm/s320/0FC398DB-00E9-46D6-8D27-CC9AF16E49C0_1_201_a.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">And even though my hair is wet,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">It's not cold sitting by the seaside.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtv-nS2DMOmg1MQEQzAL0zGDl5Wt4EJreMdquS4pragJZk9Q5aDqwLlpk6C8MEvLlcKjB_72uuKBK1HjVprx7kW5v-Ajix1SdUAURvEVVsf0rrHCuB1VeO0Swqbs1OzwkVnOcrVR_hNwYh3ThRTSW-nHSyBFJAITVCJHSfv1nWZcqP6CjkEX3o4Alp2hzN/s2436/6F23B150-A664-4AEB-8FB7-E88572BF01FD_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2436" data-original-width="1985" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtv-nS2DMOmg1MQEQzAL0zGDl5Wt4EJreMdquS4pragJZk9Q5aDqwLlpk6C8MEvLlcKjB_72uuKBK1HjVprx7kW5v-Ajix1SdUAURvEVVsf0rrHCuB1VeO0Swqbs1OzwkVnOcrVR_hNwYh3ThRTSW-nHSyBFJAITVCJHSfv1nWZcqP6CjkEX3o4Alp2hzN/s320/6F23B150-A664-4AEB-8FB7-E88572BF01FD_1_201_a.jpeg" width="261" /></a></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Canada's midsummer lakes are colder than Nagasaki's midwinter ocean. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">When I swim and come out, it's cold!</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">And to dry off, we collected beach glass.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">It's actually really fun!</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I've gotten a tan as much as I did when I was racing windsurfing in my twenties.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">My friends used to tell me I'm as dark as a Mexican wooden ornament.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">If I could go karaoke with this tan,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">It might revive the nickname from way back when,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">"The tanned Songstress, Singing tanned Princess,"</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Will it make a comeback after 25 years? lol</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Today, I got so obsessed with collecting beach glass that I couldn't visit Sato-no-Shio Cafe.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Last time, I discovered something called "New Moon Salt"!</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHERJn18qy4XkswjVfd-jGW_pEyzqcv2YKiPmTpusGPmzlIu6aGyEe3Oaf1nrkH6bUX7JUQD0qT2zceSwIe4QeembP32b_vBblgrVQkL3hnlztPWxrk63sIANvGpd3tcUHAgdqZjVcLJ9pkwd44i3HiXP0ewMSZEm-rjgHlpBw0fZvPNp6Isgt4NpyWolD/s3288/B8B6AB6B-57FA-48D2-BC7D-E787A4800FEE_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3288" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHERJn18qy4XkswjVfd-jGW_pEyzqcv2YKiPmTpusGPmzlIu6aGyEe3Oaf1nrkH6bUX7JUQD0qT2zceSwIe4QeembP32b_vBblgrVQkL3hnlztPWxrk63sIANvGpd3tcUHAgdqZjVcLJ9pkwd44i3HiXP0ewMSZEm-rjgHlpBw0fZvPNp6Isgt4NpyWolD/s320/B8B6AB6B-57FA-48D2-BC7D-E787A4800FEE_1_201_a.jpeg" width="294" /></a></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">They carefully simmer concentrated saltwater on the day of the new moon and infuse it with prayers to finish it.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Sato-no-Shio-san says that for the salt to be good, it's essential for the creators to be happy.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Just being around them makes me feel so happy, so if everyone in the world were to lick it, they might all become happy.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I can mail some to Canada, so if you want some, let me know <span class="x3nfvp2 x1j61x8r x1fcty0u xdj266r xhhsvwb xat24cr xgzva0m xxymvpz xlup9mm x1kky2od" style="display: inline-flex; font-family: inherit; height: 16px; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle; width: 16px;"><img alt="🙂" height="16" referrerpolicy="origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/teb/2/16/1f642.png" style="border: 0px;" width="16" /></span> </div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I can have another reason to visit this beach.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">After the challenging month, </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">today's bragging was about a happy time <span class="x3nfvp2 x1j61x8r x1fcty0u xdj266r xhhsvwb xat24cr xgzva0m xxymvpz xlup9mm x1kky2od" style="display: inline-flex; font-family: inherit; height: 16px; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle; width: 16px;"><img alt="🙂" height="16" referrerpolicy="origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/teb/2/16/1f642.png" style="border: 0px;" width="16" /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="x3nfvp2 x1j61x8r x1fcty0u xdj266r xhhsvwb xat24cr xgzva0m xxymvpz xlup9mm x1kky2od" style="display: inline-flex; font-family: inherit; height: 16px; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle; width: 16px;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="x3nfvp2 x1j61x8r x1fcty0u xdj266r xhhsvwb xat24cr xgzva0m xxymvpz xlup9mm x1kky2od" style="display: inline-flex; font-family: inherit; height: 16px; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle; width: 16px;"><br /></span></div></div>Mari Okazakihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14459766098610986608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950046381161214201.post-38230689470452665672023-08-05T08:27:00.005-07:002023-08-05T08:27:27.245-07:00unfamiliar sound<div style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="" dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="x1iorvi4 x1pi30zi x1l90r2v x1swvt13" data-ad-comet-preview="message" data-ad-preview="message" id=":rs8:" style="font-family: inherit; padding: 4px 16px 16px;"><div class="x78zum5 xdt5ytf xz62fqu x16ldp7u" style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: -5px; margin-top: -5px;"><div class="xu06os2 x1ok221b" style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px;"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs xlh3980 xvmahel x1n0sxbx x1lliihq x1s928wv xhkezso x1gmr53x x1cpjm7i x1fgarty x1943h6x x4zkp8e x3x7a5m x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u x1yc453h" dir="auto" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: var(--primary-text); display: block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem; line-height: 1.3333; max-width: 100%; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Different sounds between daytime and evenings </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Sound of ocean</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Sound of cicadas </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Sound of crickets</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">So bright during a day</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Pitch dark in the evening</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Moon looked so bright because of the darkness. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I realized that I have forgotten about such an ordinary thing.</div></div></span></div></div></div></div></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="x168nmei x13lgxp2 x30kzoy x9jhf4c x6ikm8r x10wlt62" data-visualcompletion="ignore-dynamic" style="border-radius: 0px 0px 8px 8px; font-family: inherit; overflow: hidden;"><div style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="x1n2onr6" style="font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><div class="x6s0dn4 xi81zsa x78zum5 x6prxxf x13a6bvl xvq8zen xdj266r xktsk01 xat24cr x1d52u69 x889kno x4uap5 x1a8lsjc xkhd6sd xdppsyt" style="align-items: center; border-bottom: 1px solid var(--divider); color: var(--secondary-text); display: flex; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem; justify-content: flex-end; line-height: 1.3333; margin: 0px 16px; padding: 10px 0px;"><div class="x9f619 x1n2onr6 x1ja2u2z x78zum5 x2lah0s x1qughib x1qjc9v5 xozqiw3 x1q0g3np xykv574 xbmpl8g x4cne27 xifccgj" style="align-items: stretch; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #65676b; display: flex; flex-flow: row nowrap; flex-shrink: 0; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; justify-content: space-between; margin: -6px; position: relative; z-index: 0;"></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Mari Okazakihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14459766098610986608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950046381161214201.post-12891514263514371762023-08-03T08:08:00.009-07:002023-08-03T08:08:43.795-07:00 What a chance?!<p><br /></p><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">”Even a chance acquaintance is decreed by destiny.” It is a Japanese proverb means,</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">"The encounters and exchanges with passing strangers are not mere coincidences; they happen due to destined connections."</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">In early July, we decided to visit Kamakura for sightseeing. As we strolled along Komachi-dori, I heard a voice calling out, "Hmm? Could it be?!"</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">"Himali-san?"</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">It was Himali-san, someone I had met only once in Vancouver, but who had left a strong impression on me. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHOEsRcFpKFAUShxfLHRTC2_YEp32NKUJzsxHtDFGCL60eY6m6MErDBwgQ1EBvsGQqRV4AsVyn6iPDofXc9HU4B2YOL9_wGnbO1yn3IJUAblNKoouqB_rx1VzIynUZz7rWt9sp35hHD0L5FXG3NBxE0_ebK1xZa_62QL2yXIpKUqVDuE4xPL3yUbPOK0v4/s4032/9B89FA09-E8C3-4B22-84CA-668DA9AE37E5.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHOEsRcFpKFAUShxfLHRTC2_YEp32NKUJzsxHtDFGCL60eY6m6MErDBwgQ1EBvsGQqRV4AsVyn6iPDofXc9HU4B2YOL9_wGnbO1yn3IJUAblNKoouqB_rx1VzIynUZz7rWt9sp35hHD0L5FXG3NBxE0_ebK1xZa_62QL2yXIpKUqVDuE4xPL3yUbPOK0v4/s320/9B89FA09-E8C3-4B22-84CA-668DA9AE37E5.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Back in 2011, I was performing Reiki during a fundraising event for Tsunami recovery support, and this lady suddenly appeared. She walked with a straight posture, her hair tied up in a bun high on her head, and a flowing scarf wrapped around her neck. The moment I saw her walking confidently, I thought, "Ah! I want to be friends with her!" Since then, we continued to connect.</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I had just arrived in Japan from Chilliwack, and She was thoroughly enjoying her visit to Japan with her family. To unexpectedly encounter each other in Kamakura felt like it had a deeper meaning.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">2nd Photo</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh72fxJBDcVBtpRO9e4zNl60O8bGDtA77Xa-FavUDcQ3VK-JSavxXVYI_i8DU69lBgO6WZh5aDuIC4IhzMdbitSfh7zIGAyYsMM_f1uLbt6XrGdVd17MEWLxOM8is25i_f7fua3k4A07FEA2iJMCsLMDiQleZ7JSdbA_ByFsNGGAf_jAZJNHwyQZ2wmdX9O/s4032/932275A4-31AE-4E5C-85FE-E4E8D1D46588.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh72fxJBDcVBtpRO9e4zNl60O8bGDtA77Xa-FavUDcQ3VK-JSavxXVYI_i8DU69lBgO6WZh5aDuIC4IhzMdbitSfh7zIGAyYsMM_f1uLbt6XrGdVd17MEWLxOM8is25i_f7fua3k4A07FEA2iJMCsLMDiQleZ7JSdbA_ByFsNGGAf_jAZJNHwyQZ2wmdX9O/s320/932275A4-31AE-4E5C-85FE-E4E8D1D46588.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>I wanted to express my gratitude to the young woman who created the first network with me on Goto Island. So, I invited her for lunch at my place, where I used the new oven to make homemade pizza and tomato sauce pasta and chance to use the many plates that came with this house.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpBIFyhaBgvVc94TevurKtRBIn9S-mTZB8TAUAHuoq4ncPisSX-0_SLjg6ogt777JHEupACDBjKjsmFuiZETmj9ffNQK7ufCOscqvG633vL5yunkbMDqIQyiKWXh_LrkeUPc0BlShrqrmPMU1aXq64GRcdeWG_OqDTbXw8p8LygoQ0KdLHi3uQohE1Mdhu/s1440/55A24D8B-7A37-41D0-823A-7CE6977FF5AD.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpBIFyhaBgvVc94TevurKtRBIn9S-mTZB8TAUAHuoq4ncPisSX-0_SLjg6ogt777JHEupACDBjKjsmFuiZETmj9ffNQK7ufCOscqvG633vL5yunkbMDqIQyiKWXh_LrkeUPc0BlShrqrmPMU1aXq64GRcdeWG_OqDTbXw8p8LygoQ0KdLHi3uQohE1Mdhu/s320/55A24D8B-7A37-41D0-823A-7CE6977FF5AD.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I'm grateful for this connection.<span class="x3nfvp2 x1j61x8r x1fcty0u xdj266r xhhsvwb xat24cr xgzva0m xxymvpz xlup9mm x1kky2od" style="display: inline-flex; font-family: inherit; height: 16px; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle; width: 16px;"><img alt="✨" height="16" referrerpolicy="origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/t75/2/16/2728.png" style="border: 0px;" width="16" /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="x3nfvp2 x1j61x8r x1fcty0u xdj266r xhhsvwb xat24cr xgzva0m xxymvpz xlup9mm x1kky2od" style="display: inline-flex; font-family: inherit; height: 16px; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle; width: 16px;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="x3nfvp2 x1j61x8r x1fcty0u xdj266r xhhsvwb xat24cr xgzva0m xxymvpz xlup9mm x1kky2od" style="display: inline-flex; font-family: inherit; height: 16px; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle; width: 16px;"><br /></span></div></div>Mari Okazakihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14459766098610986608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950046381161214201.post-36995757462981804892023-08-03T08:06:00.003-07:002023-08-03T08:06:20.271-07:00Inconsistent life for now<p> <span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">These three photos represent the lively life on the Goto Islands.
My life is inconsistent right now, as you can see.</span></p><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">- The first photo shows me starting something new, venturing openly.
<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5EgQmdn4eV65ceJQp-sQ54wAEFfeASflNcEXcnJyebGP6IglLzjZnZKqcFP5w_ZwDwCwOvDerdisHA_5-KEq16Gg3dXkx7itjqZkUjm9p6kedzmhq-ymVmlK8T6QVL6KPRSopFqGm-iO6ue32ukQYpQAQuhVvsSlAgDeBpqbkLKDaSXrXydg1Af4YUj5y/s4032/81F8B316-A3B5-4D9D-AA9A-66DC620325A5.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5EgQmdn4eV65ceJQp-sQ54wAEFfeASflNcEXcnJyebGP6IglLzjZnZKqcFP5w_ZwDwCwOvDerdisHA_5-KEq16Gg3dXkx7itjqZkUjm9p6kedzmhq-ymVmlK8T6QVL6KPRSopFqGm-iO6ue32ukQYpQAQuhVvsSlAgDeBpqbkLKDaSXrXydg1Af4YUj5y/s320/81F8B316-A3B5-4D9D-AA9A-66DC620325A5.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">- The second one shows my Reiki room in Goto, I'm always ready to begin.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjodo66u8BJx1C7gZcqritpBrnjg_WmpLxSrrjEbPKgJ7ZIAgExGcjc9K5XkNf6YeMJUA4vLsQHERQt_NNCl4swN-10bhS8aTMDWrmEc4Pdm3lWCwgFV9m6aYpARRp_irj05jp_MTPLjuqX4iSX9BzggElKNSJEyt_0DpRnMQOAFiZqWZ7MYuohIVJ48ZLU/s4032/2AC1BAC2-99E9-4F73-BC9F-582B2AA32558.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjodo66u8BJx1C7gZcqritpBrnjg_WmpLxSrrjEbPKgJ7ZIAgExGcjc9K5XkNf6YeMJUA4vLsQHERQt_NNCl4swN-10bhS8aTMDWrmEc4Pdm3lWCwgFV9m6aYpARRp_irj05jp_MTPLjuqX4iSX9BzggElKNSJEyt_0DpRnMQOAFiZqWZ7MYuohIVJ48ZLU/s320/2AC1BAC2-99E9-4F73-BC9F-582B2AA32558.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>- And the third one captures the moment I am being asked to help in making bento lunches at a nearby store. (lol)</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWNK9RQfrY6vYD2srpYkaGzik1I5dRkiocXEs3v3n9kI88epuYJZHjlmZX9773bshWMffeFJQ0Pv3qLOBKBqy03Oe_H5PsuvkTW9ofUnEfsQms0Wu5ppGIkKMSb474-8S8Cwv9zXqTzeUwMHikI2tWxuB7QeqZ0w9Ojfe9KzFrTgJRlDYT1iAHfUC15D9h/s4032/65B3CCAD-5415-4798-A7B8-11D8A22BF8D8.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWNK9RQfrY6vYD2srpYkaGzik1I5dRkiocXEs3v3n9kI88epuYJZHjlmZX9773bshWMffeFJQ0Pv3qLOBKBqy03Oe_H5PsuvkTW9ofUnEfsQms0Wu5ppGIkKMSb474-8S8Cwv9zXqTzeUwMHikI2tWxuB7QeqZ0w9Ojfe9KzFrTgJRlDYT1iAHfUC15D9h/s320/65B3CCAD-5415-4798-A7B8-11D8A22BF8D8.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>***It's refreshing to hear the real Goto dialect and be called "Okazaki-san.", not "Mari". </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">"Don't you need a resume?" Then I realized they can confirm my identity because they know where I live. </div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Actually, for the past 30 years, I've been able to do personal card readings.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">In fact, I've been doing this much longer than practicing Reiki. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I think many people don't know about this.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Until now, I've kept it hidden, offering readings only to acquaintances through word of mouth. But since this is quite useful, I want to introduce it openly,,, finally.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">This online session is open to anyone worldwide, in Japanese or in English. However, my first customer since coming to Goto visited my new/old house, where we laid out cushions in the tatami room and offered the reading in person!</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">"I was surprised by how accurate you could see. I'll read it carefully and apply it in the future. Mari-san's embracing warmth was comforting. I was happy to receive such kind words with a lovely smile."</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">This touching feedback moved me to tears.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">If you ever feel uncertain in life or have something on your mind, </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">please don't hesitate to reach out.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">www.mariokazaki.com
www.jikidenreikiwithmari.com</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div>Mari Okazakihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14459766098610986608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950046381161214201.post-14545429906243298122023-07-25T16:12:00.001-07:002023-07-25T16:12:08.760-07:00Importance of the dates<p>I arrived in Japan on<b> June 1st</b>.</p><p>I was able to officially register my residency in Goto on <b>June 15th</b>.</p><br />In many aspects of my life, I seem to be going with the flow without thinking, <div>but when it comes to things I find essential (at least in my own view), </div><div>I tend to reflect and ponder.<br /><br />And yes, I gave proper thought to these <b>"dates"</b> as well.<br /><br />I left Canada on <b>May 31st</b> and arrived in Japan on <b>June 1st</b>. </div><div>I was even studying the positions of the stars, thinking, "This is it!" <br /><br />Moreover, the residents of Goto said, <br /><span style="color: #2b00fe;">"You will come at a good season." </span><br />So I thought, "Great!" <br />However, when I actually arrived, I realized that it might have been the opposite of what I thought.</div><div>Maybe he meant, <br /><span style="color: red;">"Oh dear, you will come during an awful season..."</span><br /><br />I'm not good at reading between the lines...<br /><br />So, after spending 23 years and my body is fully accustomed to the Canadian climate, <div>my body faced the intense Japanese summer. </div><div><br /></div><div>The temperature itself is fine, but the combination of heat and humidity is quite intense. And in the battle against bugs and mold, I was feeling quite drained and, at times, even defeated.<br /><br />The humidity is terrifying enough to fog up my phone's lens, </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu3lP1lF-oDtwZLrk808GSRWPJDUmxTfY32kwppwyXCqKMlE5ZV2nWvGUZIbXpMCALeWxCeqWr3PRzctSmn8rg7X7CCJFZdFsgjAVxhkF55O8P0DXWZPARYSTTMBX5huvTJgymzOFsHoOZn_FRs_Gm8_g1qyycM1KUpmParGdl4l2RO7OoFlpwTXTHvq48/s4032/24721DDF-3262-4B9C-AAE9-2C2A1142F425.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu3lP1lF-oDtwZLrk808GSRWPJDUmxTfY32kwppwyXCqKMlE5ZV2nWvGUZIbXpMCALeWxCeqWr3PRzctSmn8rg7X7CCJFZdFsgjAVxhkF55O8P0DXWZPARYSTTMBX5huvTJgymzOFsHoOZn_FRs_Gm8_g1qyycM1KUpmParGdl4l2RO7OoFlpwTXTHvq48/s320/24721DDF-3262-4B9C-AAE9-2C2A1142F425.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>and there were spiders in the house as big as the palm of my hand.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT_7F__X5lEjOIEj6AZ7l4HInRpG5ZvptAMw1JDjXgcuu-zR22RzwMWGDRHgPeHrJ0aQhk8vHs8F4mJogBJb_N1LDLO9k-xtGpY5PUu7KKBkhHzm4EVEylza2M2m85rYgOPA7KwjhnJlSaICvp7RMgrC4iU0gJYb0D9asnSdWSCaa6-YQkueuiulmFRxoi/s4032/4746FCA3-074D-4F55-95BF-A9BA56F7A0F1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT_7F__X5lEjOIEj6AZ7l4HInRpG5ZvptAMw1JDjXgcuu-zR22RzwMWGDRHgPeHrJ0aQhk8vHs8F4mJogBJb_N1LDLO9k-xtGpY5PUu7KKBkhHzm4EVEylza2M2m85rYgOPA7KwjhnJlSaICvp7RMgrC4iU0gJYb0D9asnSdWSCaa6-YQkueuiulmFRxoi/s320/4746FCA3-074D-4F55-95BF-A9BA56F7A0F1.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /><br />I also recently learned that the kitchen exhaust fan is so powerful </div><div>that it changes the pressure inside the house. The moment I turned it off, </div><div>a strong airflow started flowing into the house (which I don't feel it). </div><div>This explained why, after finishing cooking and turning off the fan to eat, </div><div>we would suddenly be attacked by a swarm of mosquitoes. </div><div>It wasn't that the mosquitoes became more active in the evening; </div><div>it was more like the airflow inviting them in.<br /><br />Every day is a learning experience.</div><div><br /><br />Other residents of Goto says, <br />"You shouldn't move to Goto during this season! </div><div>You'll end up hating Goto. Mold grows, bugs are abundant, </div><div>and the rain pours. If you plan to move here next time, aim for around October." <br />(But I'm already here...)<br /><br />This season is indeed challenging, and not just my personal opinion; <b>even locals agree</b>.<br /><br />I used to have confidence in my physical strength; </div><div>I graduated from a sports university and participated in windsurfing races. </div><div>I spent summers and winters on the beach, always tanned. So, I thought </div><div>I would be fine, but I've become quite delicate over the years. </div><div>(Well, it has been 25 years.)<br /><br /></div><div>Even I have been jogging in the morning in the past three years...</div><div>--- Not now, too hot! I'm learning not to push myself to the extream.<br /><br />I managed to recover by drinking saltwater and receiving distant Reiki. </div><div>I am so thankful for my Jikiden Reiki friends around the world! <br /><br />By the way, there was a liquid I saw at "Satou no Shio" in Hantomari village. I asked, <br />"What is this for?" <br />She said, "It's good to drink when you are feeling unwell." <br />It might be helpful for summer fatigue or heatstroke. I'm sure it's rich in minerals and salt components.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGI2fByp2p-9F8ULuR8DgQmWuQmkVkMPkF0etb91oFRj3WVIDpYd67Fpm9EbAsjy3Cgg-Xo69TsoxfRTIpvCi58oh4qWOYF0Eum1MHcaL6TvES6ve_0jVE0yJjDtUVsKeehwDpNwT0GmjD9wZ_57eUJ7TeB42DGci6EgXjoVj99qDVjQA0ay-fSxTLChnU/s4032/62F2DF78-447E-4FFE-8A85-3E6E53CC572D.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGI2fByp2p-9F8ULuR8DgQmWuQmkVkMPkF0etb91oFRj3WVIDpYd67Fpm9EbAsjy3Cgg-Xo69TsoxfRTIpvCi58oh4qWOYF0Eum1MHcaL6TvES6ve_0jVE0yJjDtUVsKeehwDpNwT0GmjD9wZ_57eUJ7TeB42DGci6EgXjoVj99qDVjQA0ay-fSxTLChnU/s320/62F2DF78-447E-4FFE-8A85-3E6E53CC572D.heic" width="240" /></a></div><div>(Photo is from last year)</div><div><br /><br />And regarding the date of the <b>15th</b>, in ancient times, </div><div>it was a day to express gratitude to the moon for </div><div>the harvest and to pray to the moon deity.<br /><br />So, even though it was frustrating that it took a while to obtain </div><div>my resident registration, I felt happy that the day I officially </div><div>became a resident of Goto was on the <b>15th</b>. <br />It was like, "Here is another sign!"<br /><br />When I was four years old, I lost my father at a young age. </div><div>My mother told me that he became the <b>moon</b>, so I feel </div><div>a strong connection to the <b>moon</b>. <br /><br />Becoming a resident of Goto on <b>a day to give thanks to the moon (my father)</b> and teaching my first Jikiden Reiki class in Goto on <b>my father's memorial day, July 4th</b>, I can't help but think there was some celestial arrangement behind it. <br />(I tend to connect things this way.)<br /><br />So, that's the story of how I value dates and such.<br /><br />That's all for today. </div><div><br /></div><div><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; text-size-adjust: auto; white-space-collapse: preserve;">By the way, it's not the moon, but since coming to Gotou, </p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; text-size-adjust: auto; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I saw something moving swiftly across the Great Cygnus </p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; text-size-adjust: auto; white-space-collapse: preserve;">in the night sky from the sun deck.</p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; text-size-adjust: auto; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; text-size-adjust: auto; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmUhYtez09K7UmShp6WB-9S_AAkoP_LOenvyPmFopjv6HK1KpaeWQZDm0YkRE9W0reQvdCfLoHxHNhNs6WuV9PqBzt2Pw8BKyDNAv4mvCWTahVHzJ4PMULvdATXozwgbGplsc-m-O7m_ldo4rjG-fkfowc-kRHzJTyq3JbtPVF0_4xg08ThlnwZnSGArgW/s739/C124D63F-D207-4FC2-9B9A-01CD4101EA7E.jpeg" style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: collapse;"><img border="0" data-original-height="415" data-original-width="739" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmUhYtez09K7UmShp6WB-9S_AAkoP_LOenvyPmFopjv6HK1KpaeWQZDm0YkRE9W0reQvdCfLoHxHNhNs6WuV9PqBzt2Pw8BKyDNAv4mvCWTahVHzJ4PMULvdATXozwgbGplsc-m-O7m_ldo4rjG-fkfowc-kRHzJTyq3JbtPVF0_4xg08ThlnwZnSGArgW/s320/C124D63F-D207-4FC2-9B9A-01CD4101EA7E.jpeg" width="320" /></a></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; text-size-adjust: auto; white-space-collapse: preserve;">(Photo is from Google)</p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; text-size-adjust: auto; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Many people call it Elon Musk's satellite, but I prefer not to </p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; text-size-adjust: auto; white-space-collapse: preserve;">think of such a boring and realistic explanation.</p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; text-size-adjust: auto; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; text-size-adjust: auto; white-space-collapse: preserve;">To me, it's a spaceship!</p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; text-size-adjust: auto; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px 0px; text-size-adjust: auto; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The end.</p></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div>Mari Okazakihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14459766098610986608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950046381161214201.post-23727529900445593802023-07-25T05:27:00.011-07:002023-07-25T05:27:58.129-07:00work<p>Facebook post on July 22</p><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">My son has started a part-time job at a bakery in Tomie-cho, </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">"Wondertrunk & co. Travel-bakery"</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoMQp9oUzhyy7pbml5nzX20yzNz4oXIs27kmd0eJewDXohyQB_8bTFi1oPpxIHOg9XFkPfHmqmFd3m_6JbaI82V-arajUip7vlEABt2Wb5emHFrBDJ6ksCVnGP5HVYDhjQpxMraPdkFrq30Eh9qYe0DuIMYqb0iGJX7A_wpL1pgChYtdlytM-sL8WqvB2g/s4032/92A8035B-0262-4A4A-8CDB-F6BA7B3C052A.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoMQp9oUzhyy7pbml5nzX20yzNz4oXIs27kmd0eJewDXohyQB_8bTFi1oPpxIHOg9XFkPfHmqmFd3m_6JbaI82V-arajUip7vlEABt2Wb5emHFrBDJ6ksCVnGP5HVYDhjQpxMraPdkFrq30Eh9qYe0DuIMYqb0iGJX7A_wpL1pgChYtdlytM-sL8WqvB2g/s320/92A8035B-0262-4A4A-8CDB-F6BA7B3C052A.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwfwYbDZj6Uez0KsJ6-rUaARDjhzZYEt6oZtFfb4J_fk70OamGK7LNSIO3IKjiuWetXxk_nTBm7LBXijLNTsjBx1x4TriN_CuixmH-pOd9IeD6R-BvOJro5mt40xnDZsG52Z5Qs_rfuNOz8K1gF92m617pyOiosW5fm527aOKHQG3LZc64b_vOGpxRmmZ-/s4032/C4E9B25A-9CAE-4D9D-BD2A-D7B3F2CFB9FC_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwfwYbDZj6Uez0KsJ6-rUaARDjhzZYEt6oZtFfb4J_fk70OamGK7LNSIO3IKjiuWetXxk_nTBm7LBXijLNTsjBx1x4TriN_CuixmH-pOd9IeD6R-BvOJro5mt40xnDZsG52Z5Qs_rfuNOz8K1gF92m617pyOiosW5fm527aOKHQG3LZc64b_vOGpxRmmZ-/s320/C4E9B25A-9CAE-4D9D-BD2A-D7B3F2CFB9FC_1_201_a.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeqgLyie1kv9q7qTxU--nMpuRX3vXVnjCoxcdr1amzch1lH_kGxhEDLQ3Na1p3ivM0fVMdWha0BYyRMTWkJHQlx2eCm2rhaQFKgM_fUYB-NP5REKVnmSPSnhNB8OkNr4ibBCzER4fftIoFY1osIrXPhMLwBxy1H7h5C3At4xMWRvbNApy5wyDVqMGNNsG_/s4032/791FF9E8-D6AD-45B5-AACF-A84745F41686.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeqgLyie1kv9q7qTxU--nMpuRX3vXVnjCoxcdr1amzch1lH_kGxhEDLQ3Na1p3ivM0fVMdWha0BYyRMTWkJHQlx2eCm2rhaQFKgM_fUYB-NP5REKVnmSPSnhNB8OkNr4ibBCzER4fftIoFY1osIrXPhMLwBxy1H7h5C3At4xMWRvbNApy5wyDVqMGNNsG_/s320/791FF9E8-D6AD-45B5-AACF-A84745F41686.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">A very, very delicious bakery that is all handmade. My favorites are cream-pan and melon-pan.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiovqbTZY3OLuDdVrhWSIjInxegQiJyKys0b9du1X4txRIWt7vy-jiQSaOGbgL0r1JBMTxpKH3C-8PhCdYisrj5jRo89m4utm1mSyheHZYv97eL97B2iZchNpa3FfBT8o9WpuiyrRl2Oz0bcbJH66aoTEzElh0dAc_L1FjYFs8PJc66gFehHLy9WeILDmGg/s4032/A4CEA1B5-712F-4660-82A6-45238EEA747E_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiovqbTZY3OLuDdVrhWSIjInxegQiJyKys0b9du1X4txRIWt7vy-jiQSaOGbgL0r1JBMTxpKH3C-8PhCdYisrj5jRo89m4utm1mSyheHZYv97eL97B2iZchNpa3FfBT8o9WpuiyrRl2Oz0bcbJH66aoTEzElh0dAc_L1FjYFs8PJc66gFehHLy9WeILDmGg/s320/A4CEA1B5-712F-4660-82A6-45238EEA747E_1_201_a.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">It seems that people who come to buy bread look at his face and think....</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">In particular, it seems that the elderly are thinking about it.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">"I don't see that face around here...."</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">"I wonder if he speaks Japanese..."</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">When young people and children feel comfortable talking to him, </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">the next words that come out are,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">"Ikemen! (Handsome)!" lol</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPGh8BoE42wKHyjANvBsl61NgljJ5eSEDEO9knqYQ3aA-olYZ-FelwoSp75vrNJ9jcOldkjylReILNUEjYVy3U8b862mG3B4weXXIDpX9SoOApgdOZV5IIwGe5l54c2hnDb0bGhC1HFFNMdHYhz8BY0OytpcA36VkRjdb9eIA2MXmhPUYG2gKM640J4M8n/s4032/E5043EA5-887B-4265-A721-ACACA8091897.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPGh8BoE42wKHyjANvBsl61NgljJ5eSEDEO9knqYQ3aA-olYZ-FelwoSp75vrNJ9jcOldkjylReILNUEjYVy3U8b862mG3B4weXXIDpX9SoOApgdOZV5IIwGe5l54c2hnDb0bGhC1HFFNMdHYhz8BY0OytpcA36VkRjdb9eIA2MXmhPUYG2gKM640J4M8n/s320/E5043EA5-887B-4265-A721-ACACA8091897.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">He'll be there from the time the store opens on </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays until around 3:00, </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">so please come and talk to him! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVa1i2t1wLCbdkt16g_rUD7sUE3ETddE05pznCSMy0BOydxkRLwLWKd9miz-zuyviSrIru_DQM5hqV4y7FSVqe1CkTo6KFItSs_n9Wl5HKZNpvlpZg26-Ocww0Wjbm9Ta3OG1iCs1b0wkcQPbwnWoxGc1NNw6xb4ptTZyf3DLc6DRdTYqrwkUsRjvr6LTB/s4032/449AB7AE-29E9-4F47-A59A-22D0D2F5A513.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVa1i2t1wLCbdkt16g_rUD7sUE3ETddE05pznCSMy0BOydxkRLwLWKd9miz-zuyviSrIru_DQM5hqV4y7FSVqe1CkTo6KFItSs_n9Wl5HKZNpvlpZg26-Ocww0Wjbm9Ta3OG1iCs1b0wkcQPbwnWoxGc1NNw6xb4ptTZyf3DLc6DRdTYqrwkUsRjvr6LTB/s320/449AB7AE-29E9-4F47-A59A-22D0D2F5A513.jpeg" width="240" /></a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Yes, he can speak Japanese and English. <span class="x3nfvp2 x1j61x8r x1fcty0u xdj266r xhhsvwb xat24cr xgzva0m xxymvpz xlup9mm x1kky2od" style="display: inline-flex; font-family: inherit; height: 16px; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle; width: 16px;"><img alt="🙂" height="16" referrerpolicy="origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/teb/2/16/1f642.png" style="border: 0px;" width="16" /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="x3nfvp2 x1j61x8r x1fcty0u xdj266r xhhsvwb xat24cr xgzva0m xxymvpz xlup9mm x1kky2od" style="display: inline-flex; font-family: inherit; height: 16px; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle; width: 16px;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="x3nfvp2 x1j61x8r x1fcty0u xdj266r xhhsvwb xat24cr xgzva0m xxymvpz xlup9mm x1kky2od" style="display: inline-flex; font-family: inherit; height: 16px; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle; width: 16px;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="x3nfvp2 x1j61x8r x1fcty0u xdj266r xhhsvwb xat24cr xgzva0m xxymvpz xlup9mm x1kky2od" style="display: inline-flex; font-family: inherit; height: 16px; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle; width: 16px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi98eoq5_ok0yKxwyMNik9-A-Y1KSzuiqWelHwMphzXBhYg9BDjwQDd7ajI9Rs6etDmNzphENu3RXqPCvqz6ug0_i9mOLulUW5VWC-odSghSETkbG3tL7jMUMzzrqB0izU8VQcVGVyeTKRYVVFMEdtB830FDUMsTd-O-2812YHpRsjmbQ1OqRRF2t4fAsig/s4032/D8395BF4-4316-45B0-8E2E-69894CF1B959.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi98eoq5_ok0yKxwyMNik9-A-Y1KSzuiqWelHwMphzXBhYg9BDjwQDd7ajI9Rs6etDmNzphENu3RXqPCvqz6ug0_i9mOLulUW5VWC-odSghSETkbG3tL7jMUMzzrqB0izU8VQcVGVyeTKRYVVFMEdtB830FDUMsTd-O-2812YHpRsjmbQ1OqRRF2t4fAsig/s320/D8395BF4-4316-45B0-8E2E-69894CF1B959.jpeg" width="320" /></a></span></div></div>Mari Okazakihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14459766098610986608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950046381161214201.post-20103448150940336542023-07-25T05:23:00.003-07:002023-07-25T05:23:31.260-07:00First guest and mold<p> Facebook post on July 16, 2023</p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="background-color: white;">After coming to Goto for one month and one week, I am finally starting to settle down. Gradually, I feel capable of having my first dinner guest. I'm delighted to have someone to share my homemade dumplings (even the wrappers are homemade), Hijiki rice, and vinegar-marinated salad. While it's an incredibly casual meal, </span><span style="background-color: white;">having guests like this makes me very happy while </span><span style="background-color: white;">I'm actively seeking new friends.
<br /></span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="background-color: white;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAjbhsBSpWK7ijxmVp5qilLYSD_3pqjPublqQ1b5Vgf8MyCKaAlqQNnVi7FnRuEQM0qIcYCQ1_7hqbf4g9mV6SRV4w1dznC6_oknIaRyzhCfQ3BBQpjsXTUgkbKBelQoSPzzdes4CBX8MyfmvTRCFI2IQg5WAF8HcOCCr1-oOh-u0ENEWgONO1DSsCmaZ_/s4032/E4DE2A1C-2D8C-4541-A214-75AB36720849.jpeg" style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: collapse;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAjbhsBSpWK7ijxmVp5qilLYSD_3pqjPublqQ1b5Vgf8MyCKaAlqQNnVi7FnRuEQM0qIcYCQ1_7hqbf4g9mV6SRV4w1dznC6_oknIaRyzhCfQ3BBQpjsXTUgkbKBelQoSPzzdes4CBX8MyfmvTRCFI2IQg5WAF8HcOCCr1-oOh-u0ENEWgONO1DSsCmaZ_/s320/E4DE2A1C-2D8C-4541-A214-75AB36720849.jpeg" width="320" /></a></span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="background-color: white;">
It's refreshing to engage in conversations with my Senpai, the experienced Goto locals, and I'm constantly learning from them.</span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="background-color: white;">Now, about the mold.</span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="background-color: white;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpcEtFTsMUnBGtCEWQXe966TkcvdVXIa_IgmL06-Jb40sMcc1jnbx-PxZyLyzWnsgv4j61mZWo_MTKvrOrSjKRyh-P12UjHGSqRSFt2N32Y9Kat9LAqB2dTDBhJo55-gokiymUVGh-PB474llSpHpWVtev3ULb57eCa9HWHJVrmapk-abIekiVpaXunWNH/s4032/2F0FD573-F8DC-4B22-813B-B91016DD626F.jpeg" style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: collapse;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpcEtFTsMUnBGtCEWQXe966TkcvdVXIa_IgmL06-Jb40sMcc1jnbx-PxZyLyzWnsgv4j61mZWo_MTKvrOrSjKRyh-P12UjHGSqRSFt2N32Y9Kat9LAqB2dTDBhJo55-gokiymUVGh-PB474llSpHpWVtev3ULb57eCa9HWHJVrmapk-abIekiVpaXunWNH/s320/2F0FD573-F8DC-4B22-813B-B91016DD626F.jpeg" width="320" /></a></span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="background-color: white;">I spent a week at my sister's place in Yokohama and returned home to be greeted by a strong, musty smell the moment I opened the door. </span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="background-color: white;">No doubt, it's mold.</span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="background-color: white;">Even when I open the windows, the humidity is overwhelming, and I can't quite tell whether it's better to keep them open or closed. With a temperature of 28 degrees Celsius and humidity at 90%, it's the perfect environment for mold to thrive.</span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="background-color: white;">Oh no, mold on the walls? And on the back of chairs too? Wait, it's everywhere?</span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="background-color: white;">Even the utensils in the kitchen drawers like wooden spoons and bamboo chopsticks are covered in mold. Leather bags and cotton eco-bags are affected too. It's a mold invasion!</span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="background-color: white;">What did I do wrong to end up with mold inside my house? Should I have left it ventilated instead of shutting it tight? Perhaps I should have disinfected it before leaving?</span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="background-color: white;">Then, during the Gyoza party with my guest, they said, </span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="background-color: white;">"Oh, that's quite common during this time of year in Goto."</span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="background-color: white;">"Wait, is this normal?"</span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="background-color: white;">"It's not entirely normal, but Goto during the rainy season can be tough."</span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="background-color: white;">Others suggested using a "circulator." When I asked what it was, they laughed and said it's not just a regular fan but a more powerful device to move air effectively.</span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="background-color: white;">They also mentioned the importance of creating a "discard room," where you don't place any belongings in an unused room, to prevent mold growth.</span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="background-color: white;">And finally, during the rainy season, it's best not to leave the house for extended periods.</span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="background-color: white;">I also came to realize that Japan has many fermented foods, and the line between spoilage and fermentation is quite thin. Decay is a failure, while fermentation is a success.</span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="background-color: white;">Even though I have experienced many challenges in life and am quite capable of handling challenges, I'm a complete beginner as a Gotoresident. Living in a 60 to 70-year-old traditional Japanese house is entirely foreign to me, and I'm still learning the basic norms from my more experienced Senpai, who are well accustomed to this lifestyle.</span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="background-color: white;">Instinctively, it seems like:</span></p><ul style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; display: flex; flex-direction: column; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; margin: 1.25em 0px; padding: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><li style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; display: block; margin: 0px; min-height: 28px; padding-left: 0.375em;"><span style="background-color: white;">Leaving the cupboard doors open might be better.</span></li><li style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; display: block; margin: 0px; min-height: 28px; padding-left: 0.375em;"><span style="background-color: white;">The drawers in the wardrobe might be better left open too (or perhaps not using the wardrobe at all).</span></li><li style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; display: block; margin: 0px; min-height: 28px; padding-left: 0.375em;"><span style="background-color: white;">It's best to stay relatively still during the summer so I don't experience a pouring sweat just by walking three steps.</span></li></ul><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="background-color: white;">So, this was a story about the joy of having a guest and the importance of mold prevention.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-WMCmhnovI7qJv_KNPHWjBHp81pFbUwqYB2KrvnoxaPFYLFDVKLb6gmH6cmU0ViLfZylIYOGiV_WdjtLdBPtripX36ABC0JEibgo4WQOpMRnnClsMQuVj0DMhQCIyNyt22vyIjlT5CWHAaFB_bLPb93tEbUHp8hbJ0abhZAozlXj4xyFmXKCMTSo15emE/s4032/216ECD8C-E0D0-48D4-8E39-A67E6529EDF1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-WMCmhnovI7qJv_KNPHWjBHp81pFbUwqYB2KrvnoxaPFYLFDVKLb6gmH6cmU0ViLfZylIYOGiV_WdjtLdBPtripX36ABC0JEibgo4WQOpMRnnClsMQuVj0DMhQCIyNyt22vyIjlT5CWHAaFB_bLPb93tEbUHp8hbJ0abhZAozlXj4xyFmXKCMTSo15emE/s320/216ECD8C-E0D0-48D4-8E39-A67E6529EDF1.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />Mari Okazakihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14459766098610986608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950046381161214201.post-25199174490764710442023-07-25T05:21:00.009-07:002023-07-25T05:21:56.511-07:00Little by Little<p>Facebook post on July 16, 2023</p><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Since moving to the deep, deep mountains of Yamashita District in Fukue Island, Gotō Islands, on June 12th, it has been just over a month. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Oh, my official residency registration was on the 15th, so exactly one month! I've heard that the 15th is a significant day or something.</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="x1n2onr6" style="font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><div class="x1i10hfl xjbqb8w x6umtig x1b1mbwd xaqea5y xav7gou x9f619 x1ypdohk xt0psk2 xe8uvvx xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r xexx8yu x4uap5 x18d9i69 xkhd6sd x16tdsg8 x1hl2dhg xggy1nq x1a2a7pz" role="button" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0"><span style="color: #f1765e; font-family: inherit; font-weight: bold;">Congratulations</span></div><div class="x1o1ewxj x3x9cwd x1e5q0jg x13rtm0m x1ey2m1c xds687c xg01cxk x47corl x10l6tqk x17qophe x13vifvy x1ebt8du x19991ni x1dhq9h x1wpzbip" data-visualcompletion="ignore" style="background-color: var(--hover-overlay); border-radius: 4px; font-family: inherit; inset: -2px -4px; opacity: 0; pointer-events: none; position: absolute; transition-duration: var(--fds-duration-extra-extra-short-out); transition-property: opacity; transition-timing-function: var(--fds-animation-fade-out);"></div></span></span> to Mari-chan on her one-month anniversary! </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5LWoxlpGrbU6CcH-3ijOGQIZ4mXCwDHcU6S15FiNqfhxmpDLuUBWncVOsJ-BcyH0o-p4m5KqaxcvlM0-5bjD-QilttT4Ns7qBnWtJ-IRfldp2xwg-qBSrFRiGb5I3mgSvdXPP7VstjN61hKMvoHGfutdGpIeGZmFO2R4FBKql9Q_LAsF-0j9RG2cWOZmk/s4032/34E2D3C4-319C-440E-973F-0A41754DBA57.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5LWoxlpGrbU6CcH-3ijOGQIZ4mXCwDHcU6S15FiNqfhxmpDLuUBWncVOsJ-BcyH0o-p4m5KqaxcvlM0-5bjD-QilttT4Ns7qBnWtJ-IRfldp2xwg-qBSrFRiGb5I3mgSvdXPP7VstjN61hKMvoHGfutdGpIeGZmFO2R4FBKql9Q_LAsF-0j9RG2cWOZmk/s320/34E2D3C4-319C-440E-973F-0A41754DBA57.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">There's a lush forest behind my place, and when I listen carefully, </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I can hear the sound of the sea - a soft whooshing sound. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">And then, there are unfamiliar sounds like the songs of birds, </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">such as nightingales and the buzzing of cicadas,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"> the chirping of birds, and the rustling sound of crabs walking. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8FENB2JZ8vnUtxjCRrye7eyubea60xgiy9Go8LybQ9MMtPesKMjwNF3ljG4C5V6y3UYg9nB2PrEtYJXtEd4G4UBgVeQCg0xDeLRuICUc1sU2-TjndUzpL95oL9SPoTKEphKqRnONkDo6MuafN51d78KeVJ_nNvAqHSIx2_OS63zmCzgKN5769mW48aYmz/s4032/69F8F393-06DA-4367-A47C-5AE3C2946393.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8FENB2JZ8vnUtxjCRrye7eyubea60xgiy9Go8LybQ9MMtPesKMjwNF3ljG4C5V6y3UYg9nB2PrEtYJXtEd4G4UBgVeQCg0xDeLRuICUc1sU2-TjndUzpL95oL9SPoTKEphKqRnONkDo6MuafN51d78KeVJ_nNvAqHSIx2_OS63zmCzgKN5769mW48aYmz/s320/69F8F393-06DA-4367-A47C-5AE3C2946393.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">It's a struggle with unfamiliar humidity and temperature, and the battle against mold.</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Living in an old traditional house is a daily learning experience.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5yqq4iXjF5pqAU902ix0hGrEiPLpmVnLUMn6yu502qnnUkz0evB7mT3ichgLUFW5POSxrrZGdEAbLd8u7lYpumUZk3hBH6aK8oWl0C1nCmKTEQmCZh2OKDaOGezxMkzOjyW5Ogtnc7dv4u2bVXbKdNd7wpEPd0-Ng4c-dM8hRyQbReUYinkRGdy5RtktO/s4032/A9848DDF-0629-450F-84C9-715A99C58C6B_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5yqq4iXjF5pqAU902ix0hGrEiPLpmVnLUMn6yu502qnnUkz0evB7mT3ichgLUFW5POSxrrZGdEAbLd8u7lYpumUZk3hBH6aK8oWl0C1nCmKTEQmCZh2OKDaOGezxMkzOjyW5Ogtnc7dv4u2bVXbKdNd7wpEPd0-Ng4c-dM8hRyQbReUYinkRGdy5RtktO/s320/A9848DDF-0629-450F-84C9-715A99C58C6B_1_201_a.jpeg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ3GIbGmRsoLxhIACi6rDS2khoBu6c16MzZ1loUMPFGCkErJ14ov-qX-rRLI3ONHr3oYOssazNyYvSS-st9DeRF5VHmy4ZKX5Mrdp6y9gTiCMWUwyvMgWFvbJTMK0DNoFc68FRPiRjKURhQS8QY-sfzAZ57UUIjG-8sE6lX0GA-UvAy3yFrzps_30G03oZ/s4032/F898CA02-13C5-4B8E-9565-8D95B8B12D65_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ3GIbGmRsoLxhIACi6rDS2khoBu6c16MzZ1loUMPFGCkErJ14ov-qX-rRLI3ONHr3oYOssazNyYvSS-st9DeRF5VHmy4ZKX5Mrdp6y9gTiCMWUwyvMgWFvbJTMK0DNoFc68FRPiRjKURhQS8QY-sfzAZ57UUIjG-8sE6lX0GA-UvAy3yFrzps_30G03oZ/s320/F898CA02-13C5-4B8E-9565-8D95B8B12D65_1_201_a.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I realized this house is filled with so many dishes and things.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"> It must have been a house where people gathered. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">It reminds me of the house I grew up in on Kamishima, Nagasaki. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">It would be fun to make it a place where people gather again <span class="x3nfvp2 x1j61x8r x1fcty0u xdj266r xhhsvwb xat24cr xgzva0m xxymvpz xlup9mm x1kky2od" style="display: inline-flex; font-family: inherit; height: 16px; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle; width: 16px;"><img alt="🙂" height="16" referrerpolicy="origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/teb/2/16/1f642.png" style="border: 0px;" width="16" /></span> </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I am truly grateful for the connection to this house.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8G-_rWsuhH0iu7DEMQarleNPYDsWLW_imPp7DTVyNWYbnHX5lkxphnMESxzCsLrp1oewAdOvkqFSubG1kHkPb648Xu1e-Sb9JzNQMVqs5dOCDnM5aU3KGhzzOh-zPNU4rG7ydYa5JyT1x2-sjN5BxFswIeJGYp1Y-PmTLrJQSGLkeFSFt8rt2jLRqav4e/s4032/EB8677F3-3EED-4DA5-B211-85A5B21F605E.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8G-_rWsuhH0iu7DEMQarleNPYDsWLW_imPp7DTVyNWYbnHX5lkxphnMESxzCsLrp1oewAdOvkqFSubG1kHkPb648Xu1e-Sb9JzNQMVqs5dOCDnM5aU3KGhzzOh-zPNU4rG7ydYa5JyT1x2-sjN5BxFswIeJGYp1Y-PmTLrJQSGLkeFSFt8rt2jLRqav4e/s320/EB8677F3-3EED-4DA5-B211-85A5B21F605E.jpeg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCY7tvOF_siQckN7EXYdiqOdOrW_hVxm3RzpOy_4K3l-Le6wMFFsZoH6-6XLm4Ged2thwzXBGhQ3CfxpZx3YqTrmIrpExK9p5bztyhSx1rOU87OIEe5Lp-xrz6vdS68jPbmioZoPuvgys4Jt4ElGbwpi0zsFWoz59hnVRjYTuraofgZFyb7SW7Z49U7Kb-/s4032/8BB85F3D-949B-422B-8187-F1F719F83CE8.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCY7tvOF_siQckN7EXYdiqOdOrW_hVxm3RzpOy_4K3l-Le6wMFFsZoH6-6XLm4Ged2thwzXBGhQ3CfxpZx3YqTrmIrpExK9p5bztyhSx1rOU87OIEe5Lp-xrz6vdS68jPbmioZoPuvgys4Jt4ElGbwpi0zsFWoz59hnVRjYTuraofgZFyb7SW7Z49U7Kb-/s320/8BB85F3D-949B-422B-8187-F1F719F83CE8.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Little by little, it's becoming my space, gradually getting comfortable. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">When I wake up in the morning, I see the wide-open tatami room right in front of me, and it feels so Japanese. When I wake up alone in the morning apart from my husband, I feel like showing this tatami room to him. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhleaH1-IEI-ijoKx0qqDiA-iwWZcWdSpEA4c-6jQy9BDVl3T_ykgRXfEiK-um9IeMgRemK5_pAqEVuHUaLbZe49Y2yfESKYVR1bl_F-dHEk5umCM5lN2UjP_wTX0M-AWcH1rx1nQpfKtQ5Yuzn6Ulkw96QV5lZT4Wboo4496Q4PXxDDkLD217b3hFC2Q_6/s4032/55CAFEE0-48CC-4534-B413-FDE45424D96B.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhleaH1-IEI-ijoKx0qqDiA-iwWZcWdSpEA4c-6jQy9BDVl3T_ykgRXfEiK-um9IeMgRemK5_pAqEVuHUaLbZe49Y2yfESKYVR1bl_F-dHEk5umCM5lN2UjP_wTX0M-AWcH1rx1nQpfKtQ5Yuzn6Ulkw96QV5lZT4Wboo4496Q4PXxDDkLD217b3hFC2Q_6/s320/55CAFEE0-48CC-4534-B413-FDE45424D96B.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I gaze the room for a while, I get up whenever I want, go for a morning run, and work on cultivating the backyard garden a little bit every day.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxH26de7EQFZlD-kYp-qb0oleBiaOff3Zr-7hhFzbweZ82ZIQ-_J473A7E1w09_cmYt_428ZEbmxNOAHqS-vCAHB18dIOXajoCs6JvJdxL7lBW8bO55tosy1WnskEbRKt3CAySKuI9mQGF1mm8Dctl9pkIVnsf6QBbmW954CKb_Uu_5yV68opeZ0-c3qSE/s4032/0BE62855-B329-476C-B0CB-B09C579EF6D6.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxH26de7EQFZlD-kYp-qb0oleBiaOff3Zr-7hhFzbweZ82ZIQ-_J473A7E1w09_cmYt_428ZEbmxNOAHqS-vCAHB18dIOXajoCs6JvJdxL7lBW8bO55tosy1WnskEbRKt3CAySKuI9mQGF1mm8Dctl9pkIVnsf6QBbmW954CKb_Uu_5yV68opeZ0-c3qSE/s320/0BE62855-B329-476C-B0CB-B09C579EF6D6.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Create a life that I want for myself - I might have never done that before. Such a huge change. It seems the human brain perceives change as pain, so feeling anxious is natural as I realize now that this change is quite significant.</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">However, I still feel that I was born as a Reiki practitioner whever I go! To be able to assist anyone at any time, I've set up a room dedicated to giving treatments!</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivnrLJPbPa3SLNBpl5iyhRqBTe_TvvlIUGJLUzP6AXefQmC6rFeg1F3pcT0iwJtp3tcg5Z4CscK4uWPG6hW9UM3_ReYmevso3eYsQAug6cO_PRDxWE6kFy_vWzJ2JNi59Hm1C1x-o4A77giXs8otCq_5mBuycFDFhe99xcYZlHSxxHoRH8sUJLOjHiRAtl/s4032/73E1C6F2-4981-4B2A-8CBD-D6A13C6898D3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivnrLJPbPa3SLNBpl5iyhRqBTe_TvvlIUGJLUzP6AXefQmC6rFeg1F3pcT0iwJtp3tcg5Z4CscK4uWPG6hW9UM3_ReYmevso3eYsQAug6cO_PRDxWE6kFy_vWzJ2JNi59Hm1C1x-o4A77giXs8otCq_5mBuycFDFhe99xcYZlHSxxHoRH8sUJLOjHiRAtl/s320/73E1C6F2-4981-4B2A-8CBD-D6A13C6898D3.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">If any of the neighbors around here have back pain or shoulder stiffness, chronic illness, I can help them feel better! </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I wonder how I should let them know about it.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">That's all for today <span class="x3nfvp2 x1j61x8r x1fcty0u xdj266r xhhsvwb xat24cr xgzva0m xxymvpz xlup9mm x1kky2od" style="display: inline-flex; font-family: inherit; height: 16px; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle; width: 16px;"><img alt="🙂" height="16" referrerpolicy="origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/teb/2/16/1f642.png" style="border: 0px;" width="16" /></span></div></div>Mari Okazakihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14459766098610986608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950046381161214201.post-22104986866758818842023-07-25T05:15:00.004-07:002023-07-25T05:15:25.849-07:00Everywhere We Go<p>Facebook post on July 13, 2023</p><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">In ancient times in Japan, the only medicine for humans was great nature.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">People would quietly sit in places where they believed pure nature energy flowed, seeking to balance their well-being. They were taught to mark these sacred places with shimenawa, ropes, to show respect for nature.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrwFcAI-Sj1WVKEalI3fkHs2pU3z8lyWq6izYS6VWAfn7yvK_MEzueDchXQabMoNl3AvWIUgQw3U2U6wFEUDmug2xfDQq-UJFUvWZHEUuONB_Y4od7nJx2VpFJqc6N4G2Sz51M2JnOLzRdca8yDNjDYI8LJHvcX9-_c8cfZazmX0o8PigtPrcDr0csGOv2/s4032/D36ED65C-4C72-46EF-A037-61F980031500.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrwFcAI-Sj1WVKEalI3fkHs2pU3z8lyWq6izYS6VWAfn7yvK_MEzueDchXQabMoNl3AvWIUgQw3U2U6wFEUDmug2xfDQq-UJFUvWZHEUuONB_Y4od7nJx2VpFJqc6N4G2Sz51M2JnOLzRdca8yDNjDYI8LJHvcX9-_c8cfZazmX0o8PigtPrcDr0csGOv2/s320/D36ED65C-4C72-46EF-A037-61F980031500.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7WKz5_YH-u6GEtss4gSYOuYHIUheGtXYoMLCz083ZkxAQADSqosv3HqQ3G-kERP-_wXKyMzDQ8_3kV1fnpNEyU8w3mNoxG5DxRETD6AzN0en45JumOdI94BRROjmdqgpdseNPIWJyxhJnifc3wotjHpFPa-3A5X_lRrE5i_q_J8UWdzG_zqaSRl1e0C2D/s4032/B684A55F-A321-4C04-BCF4-C87AFBBE0505.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7WKz5_YH-u6GEtss4gSYOuYHIUheGtXYoMLCz083ZkxAQADSqosv3HqQ3G-kERP-_wXKyMzDQ8_3kV1fnpNEyU8w3mNoxG5DxRETD6AzN0en45JumOdI94BRROjmdqgpdseNPIWJyxhJnifc3wotjHpFPa-3A5X_lRrE5i_q_J8UWdzG_zqaSRl1e0C2D/s320/B684A55F-A321-4C04-BCF4-C87AFBBE0505.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">The Torii gate serves as a marker when entering these pure realms.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIi5TT3XZYVmN5FKL-N_uB8wAHNTY8SV_d1k5Pzs_PWCbTuJoM1UZMql3YPPtcvbCVpnm0o3P_oB1y7d9xeQLzSlELsX41RhRwUKZj1gxZAXEd_PXp2kazz9T0NeGQPnKWVMVksRP4HEuY4gnzmnfg6DX392M55-P0hNHW5jZ2ttmsfbfqNDfe7mH4i4YD/s4032/E72691B2-2FE0-4686-BB12-109BEA2B3219.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIi5TT3XZYVmN5FKL-N_uB8wAHNTY8SV_d1k5Pzs_PWCbTuJoM1UZMql3YPPtcvbCVpnm0o3P_oB1y7d9xeQLzSlELsX41RhRwUKZj1gxZAXEd_PXp2kazz9T0NeGQPnKWVMVksRP4HEuY4gnzmnfg6DX392M55-P0hNHW5jZ2ttmsfbfqNDfe7mH4i4YD/s320/E72691B2-2FE0-4686-BB12-109BEA2B3219.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizkVfzCIyu84oE-k9Rkw-BpPSnGj9xZzAJMcysOsdvWZLcJ9VPajQEJ6hmsRMGgopJXJTfr0bK_h7ujLUInG9h6uiBh6eiF-cpvU78zITtN59TUjsEQxNfya70BPTVmS37vetuinE2zyi-p9sKwDC-3OdlUH8oMA2iACFdcv0tpLxi3GwJR4-7vw2lz6i3/s4032/60E1DCD3-7A6D-46F0-9789-F6EC8E8C4EC2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizkVfzCIyu84oE-k9Rkw-BpPSnGj9xZzAJMcysOsdvWZLcJ9VPajQEJ6hmsRMGgopJXJTfr0bK_h7ujLUInG9h6uiBh6eiF-cpvU78zITtN59TUjsEQxNfya70BPTVmS37vetuinE2zyi-p9sKwDC-3OdlUH8oMA2iACFdcv0tpLxi3GwJR4-7vw2lz6i3/s320/60E1DCD3-7A6D-46F0-9789-F6EC8E8C4EC2.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTXRUzEGHn1u0edROnyjOHF01aHxdWg228hBOZdDpyw0d8MhEIY8fVWysjEatoug2mgGEoJc8O8W8427AgnSspZfn6PP3yq6x0U1BMXEFOzLgkg05Hj8won04GbgP0844MNRgOLFj35S7QMdJoNvBaGQjrPTLTjgAdjFOns1IbYWzHuqywfSfSl7gPFMWK/s4032/53947844-67E4-43C3-A3D0-112297B84C6B.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTXRUzEGHn1u0edROnyjOHF01aHxdWg228hBOZdDpyw0d8MhEIY8fVWysjEatoug2mgGEoJc8O8W8427AgnSspZfn6PP3yq6x0U1BMXEFOzLgkg05Hj8won04GbgP0844MNRgOLFj35S7QMdJoNvBaGQjrPTLTjgAdjFOns1IbYWzHuqywfSfSl7gPFMWK/s320/53947844-67E4-43C3-A3D0-112297B84C6B.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">While the sight of torii gates in Japan seemed all too ordinary, I grew up in a society where such profound and beautiful teachings were never properly taught. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">It wasn't until I left Japan 23 years ago and discovered Jikiden Reiki, a Japanese old healing practice dating back to the Taisho era, in Canada, that I was able to learn about the beauty and depth of Japanese culture. It was through this experience that I realized how special Japan's culture truly is and I came to take pride in being Japanese.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">However, something feels off while living here.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">The strange notion in Japan nowadays says, </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">"If you're feeling unwell, don't come to the hospital." The reality of child suicide reaching an all-time high in today's Japan. The fact that suicide has become the second leading cause of death among young Japanese.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">What is pushing people to such extremes?</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I urge you to research the term "Wa-byo" </div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Excessive compassion and a sense of justice can cross the threshold into the realm of mental illness. If adults don't recognize it, how can children realize it themselves?</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">By engaging with nature, we gain the ability to step back and observe what is right and what is wrong, allowing us to act accordingly. I hope the Japanese will never forget this power. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">that's all for today's message.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div>Mari Okazakihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14459766098610986608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950046381161214201.post-87987453476431075822023-07-25T05:10:00.004-07:002023-07-25T16:04:38.710-07:00The 23rd day in Goto<p><br /></p><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Facebook post on July 4th, 2023</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Through a fortunate encounter, there was someone who expressed a strong desire to learn Jikiden Reiki, and today was the first day of the Jikiden Reiki class.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJWfuQb_-JtVXm8v7OXDBtBHh-EdcNFxQv3lP5lpGqxhoetv5t7zJvwEu8SkoQ2udD2-ZK5WElpClBEoeIlT5JYK5UsfwuDv5II77EQ5LLoqG7e64g5PpEhk_iRvVlFfeDjU5DdV835jgneBtPNv6bH0qGNLK4BfwXqmDEXOOvYIw8aGkZzy9ELEevcbpX/s1440/EF08A381-0EBA-47FB-9970-A64A63B05968.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJWfuQb_-JtVXm8v7OXDBtBHh-EdcNFxQv3lP5lpGqxhoetv5t7zJvwEu8SkoQ2udD2-ZK5WElpClBEoeIlT5JYK5UsfwuDv5II77EQ5LLoqG7e64g5PpEhk_iRvVlFfeDjU5DdV835jgneBtPNv6bH0qGNLK4BfwXqmDEXOOvYIw8aGkZzy9ELEevcbpX/s320/EF08A381-0EBA-47FB-9970-A64A63B05968.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-QsYkUv7v2aoBxHFIyXDtMMk1RMRtDTVP-nfzwhS_ff3okm2eLEalm-Wt8FIXbXLaoVqVSeMc7yqTmYBO72ie8w9prJuhrR6_ncxIEMnUwMS2LMiwArhuc3A-3n_UxDWfU0v7_uN7xqfZ1POq_BizSvHc29EoWXcBn8beu-7Xm1lgQSYwft3PYbBDzJND/s1440/521EB79F-5BC4-415C-AB3B-D67B71ADD92B.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-QsYkUv7v2aoBxHFIyXDtMMk1RMRtDTVP-nfzwhS_ff3okm2eLEalm-Wt8FIXbXLaoVqVSeMc7yqTmYBO72ie8w9prJuhrR6_ncxIEMnUwMS2LMiwArhuc3A-3n_UxDWfU0v7_uN7xqfZ1POq_BizSvHc29EoWXcBn8beu-7Xm1lgQSYwft3PYbBDzJND/s320/521EB79F-5BC4-415C-AB3B-D67B71ADD92B.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">When I left Canada, I thought I might be away from Reiki for a while. Amidst the chaos of relocating, the conversation flowed smoothly, and today, on <b>July 4th, the 47th anniversary of my father's passing due to a medical mistake</b>, I was able to hold the first class here in Goto Island. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">It's truly a deeply moving experience. I'm grateful to the dog that connected us.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>"Western medicine is certainly important, but it's also important not to rely solely on it.
Keep spreading what can be done at home"</b>.
It felt like my father was cheering me on from the other side, saying those words.
</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">When things can be unavailable or sold out, Reiki therapy is always available, useful, wouldn't sell out, anytime, anywhere.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzl6ckZsRFQB3N_D0-U_cxZAF2GvaeuCZ9lNiDbGqhi6DbB0zAw23iVIckFwXZDtCYHfuK9tPES4Kw22iHz2sE9zde8OiKoQqb3UW4wNAFVjA9D6qa3xSabiRD_COhXVRgNDjs0GXTUHh_GWDi6t0JlLnN5v4B3jXPeTMPjZm-HzjZzuSbu_nFWMOhzpkl/s1440/5BA9A94D-D673-4066-88B6-2BB77E0D6378.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1439" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzl6ckZsRFQB3N_D0-U_cxZAF2GvaeuCZ9lNiDbGqhi6DbB0zAw23iVIckFwXZDtCYHfuK9tPES4Kw22iHz2sE9zde8OiKoQqb3UW4wNAFVjA9D6qa3xSabiRD_COhXVRgNDjs0GXTUHh_GWDi6t0JlLnN5v4B3jXPeTMPjZm-HzjZzuSbu_nFWMOhzpkl/s320/5BA9A94D-D673-4066-88B6-2BB77E0D6378.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">During the Edo period in Japan, traditional medicine mainly revolved </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">around herbal medicine and medicinal plants. It was common for doctors </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">to make house calls, and the concept of hospitals did not exist. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Taking care of patients at home until the end was the norm back then. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">It may have been difficult, but I think it embodies humanity.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Jikiden Reiki is an old family therapy passed down since the Taisho period. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">It is one of the things that can be done at home.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnqvLCx7MGB88gdQTlLpr1_wuzr4lIfW6IuAL_Pm5ypjfEA9ocss4DzoBx8VzpQ1AXTK8d_YbWZLYt4Kw8YFGtwotJFylHVJhnS56m58IWT4mXPTIKMSny4uabjPWBmIcU8LgtODWfib13itKWVRF2ap9aNJJMlk8vBBpwAaRNAh60Ljp2BmMOLTK4BDNr/s1440/D01561A9-CC36-4DE3-9BB2-770F082E9315.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1439" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnqvLCx7MGB88gdQTlLpr1_wuzr4lIfW6IuAL_Pm5ypjfEA9ocss4DzoBx8VzpQ1AXTK8d_YbWZLYt4Kw8YFGtwotJFylHVJhnS56m58IWT4mXPTIKMSny4uabjPWBmIcU8LgtODWfib13itKWVRF2ap9aNJJMlk8vBBpwAaRNAh60Ljp2BmMOLTK4BDNr/s320/D01561A9-CC36-4DE3-9BB2-770F082E9315.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">It's truly gentle just by placing hands. Touching, being touched, </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">looking into each other's eyes, reading expressions—these are </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">important things that we must not lose as human beings.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">That's all for today.</div></div>Mari Okazakihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14459766098610986608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950046381161214201.post-24867233643623198652023-07-25T05:06:00.000-07:002023-07-25T05:06:03.670-07:00A Change of Pace: Sightseeing and Intense Humidity<p>Facebook post on July 3rd, 2023 </p><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Before I knew it, a whole month had already passed since I arrived in Japan. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I arrived on June 12th in Goto, and since then, I've been busy with paperwork and organizing my new/old house.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"> I want to settle down, but considering that my youngest son is only staying for a month, I want to make sure he has a good time. It would be boring if all we did was cleaning and shopping. So, I'll put aside the thoughts of "relocating to Goto" and switch to a tourist mindset.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjgyv8C8FgK0JOuVxSABfERKga2gfaexTcVMX5aKPVJ6w71DL0YBmhb0g56HmJeHEhMGhP8BiKpYmVbpAkFWgAGhsXWAtF9S5OH-sCH-mx1V78GRmyM6Xw6y-K9QAhGxkqC4XDD-_iVQsRApYrM18LjsSasbGD8phPU4g3XFN3mYqsOuxM8kMTefYYDSwc/s4032/42F4744A-00F9-40F5-98B0-B2AFF29C88DA_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjgyv8C8FgK0JOuVxSABfERKga2gfaexTcVMX5aKPVJ6w71DL0YBmhb0g56HmJeHEhMGhP8BiKpYmVbpAkFWgAGhsXWAtF9S5OH-sCH-mx1V78GRmyM6Xw6y-K9QAhGxkqC4XDD-_iVQsRApYrM18LjsSasbGD8phPU4g3XFN3mYqsOuxM8kMTefYYDSwc/s320/42F4744A-00F9-40F5-98B0-B2AFF29C88DA_1_201_a.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUu6wfSUOqpUGSHhuBsMKmfodtMDF7qv0L6gNg2URNHEY_ftHh8_HBV_a8wuIby2iZVasm7u9aP7PLX7LCZZCakAogExonFzqm07jCWUGMZY9JJgsjzeaeWmYB-EsUZoPzc1icsbX4AX958dR78Q6Tr9dQcExlPEvRv3m7YBqN-Y2ctCKfYrI8DSVuQfdG/s4032/8FAEBA5F-A0CB-4E8F-8F4E-05B0617C4495.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUu6wfSUOqpUGSHhuBsMKmfodtMDF7qv0L6gNg2URNHEY_ftHh8_HBV_a8wuIby2iZVasm7u9aP7PLX7LCZZCakAogExonFzqm07jCWUGMZY9JJgsjzeaeWmYB-EsUZoPzc1icsbX4AX958dR78Q6Tr9dQcExlPEvRv3m7YBqN-Y2ctCKfYrI8DSVuQfdG/s320/8FAEBA5F-A0CB-4E8F-8F4E-05B0617C4495.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguW_KNtxfEG4ou0TpyZJ9xtRic-eU-NJRmwQ23pzpqiQ9sM08tq3s7Tq5NU9DQTZxiBGo31SbmQZB0Tj5Wz0iNBU3sWtw2tz1aHkpFmaYf5an17z3uUIGq74bWZg4QuimNKsplt1dleHJPfPhDyq96dE8v44dfVn5frM0EcL0xQTzSGm_F4nDdkIW_wNZ-/s4032/607F6F9C-0C54-403E-B471-DF58B217F746.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguW_KNtxfEG4ou0TpyZJ9xtRic-eU-NJRmwQ23pzpqiQ9sM08tq3s7Tq5NU9DQTZxiBGo31SbmQZB0Tj5Wz0iNBU3sWtw2tz1aHkpFmaYf5an17z3uUIGq74bWZg4QuimNKsplt1dleHJPfPhDyq96dE8v44dfVn5frM0EcL0xQTzSGm_F4nDdkIW_wNZ-/s320/607F6F9C-0C54-403E-B471-DF58B217F746.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">There are plenty of workshops and experiences to enjoy, such as glassblowing, glass crafts, knife-making, and paper-knife crafting. Disneyland might also be fun, but I would rather spend money on these kinds of activities. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSSXsk2bIN1Ac3V7odgPdtkydoJTg9WmB65qgKzT4oAO0HTs1VDCxQKNFbr4m4t4MAAiY1tkZRgGxaIHQOXbTYYUyFU3Kk2VNxgIlCUkkBMiwNVQKf_gH99xtS4npLXCaOa7oOHwpgWC3RpwT6xqr9ZdJiqInVdLaUDO9mg1diuLhCj9EiEhI01wnDQVkU/s4032/6527C392-8F91-4B91-AF85-1B04809EA9F7.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSSXsk2bIN1Ac3V7odgPdtkydoJTg9WmB65qgKzT4oAO0HTs1VDCxQKNFbr4m4t4MAAiY1tkZRgGxaIHQOXbTYYUyFU3Kk2VNxgIlCUkkBMiwNVQKf_gH99xtS4npLXCaOa7oOHwpgWC3RpwT6xqr9ZdJiqInVdLaUDO9mg1diuLhCj9EiEhI01wnDQVkU/s320/6527C392-8F91-4B91-AF85-1B04809EA9F7.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKBPbMCTt2vKFGwigDc5Kaf02xWsqoZKboa2CYNiOZR97Zamc2VTOdOEoTddbShyDwaICoXV86CZuQ-ajf_AHaw3WdTGFooSEaUqaIvLfJMcaQ5AR7DIRTPXfF2id9ZgUamLuqe-nWSGFeVDM1Lxa3lKrmb-sbz2-A7PrTYLyL83PX9qj1KBBqMhpsSErH/s4032/3D86FC45-F44D-4444-A7DF-F2DEA5D31337.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKBPbMCTt2vKFGwigDc5Kaf02xWsqoZKboa2CYNiOZR97Zamc2VTOdOEoTddbShyDwaICoXV86CZuQ-ajf_AHaw3WdTGFooSEaUqaIvLfJMcaQ5AR7DIRTPXfF2id9ZgUamLuqe-nWSGFeVDM1Lxa3lKrmb-sbz2-A7PrTYLyL83PX9qj1KBBqMhpsSErH/s320/3D86FC45-F44D-4444-A7DF-F2DEA5D31337.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV_fQ2DEjUK2091RmZNTW0BCnmrleyZoMUI7NVQeZIe0MlbGCbig1K5b4x6tSUgrFpiLJGNHajg8lT1jnHHk5nMo0tOP5uQxNg3EA-hZwqvlqQK45I1IscA8hAfMHrzQUCao9uMn18VED9YyHW-8aZF_NE3pngxPY62yMrfw4L3WNwnbgJaXoThUfX8xjF/s4032/95B9D8A3-BF59-4089-AB3A-AD091815E3CA.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV_fQ2DEjUK2091RmZNTW0BCnmrleyZoMUI7NVQeZIe0MlbGCbig1K5b4x6tSUgrFpiLJGNHajg8lT1jnHHk5nMo0tOP5uQxNg3EA-hZwqvlqQK45I1IscA8hAfMHrzQUCao9uMn18VED9YyHW-8aZF_NE3pngxPY62yMrfw4L3WNwnbgJaXoThUfX8xjF/s320/95B9D8A3-BF59-4089-AB3A-AD091815E3CA.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">However, the humidity is intense! </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Was Japan always this humid? Even 23 years ago when I used to live here, was it like this? </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I came in June to acclimate to the weather before it gets hot, but I didn't consider the rainy season. Rain, rain, and more rain. And it's not just the misty rain like in the Chilliwack area; it pours down heavily. The thunderstorms are intense too. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I wonder what will happen if a typhoon comes...</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyiOzMFnIVyz8dNdVdyyg94dYdFwVP0fQ_zfXjKrGJhVB42sqa6R3ZSuPuLZv8YghdzEA6qJbmXcBKDOkA72rWXTJijqImZ7ALjmlLo_ATSLncf2bnChSL0DMFEbYcW6DOenkpPwdaPupRgCn-4KgbwFrUlgZemOrfRL1scljyZnSjqrItJKpNxA31Ecn0/s4032/8C1BD585-F89D-4542-A4CC-0005797EA900.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyiOzMFnIVyz8dNdVdyyg94dYdFwVP0fQ_zfXjKrGJhVB42sqa6R3ZSuPuLZv8YghdzEA6qJbmXcBKDOkA72rWXTJijqImZ7ALjmlLo_ATSLncf2bnChSL0DMFEbYcW6DOenkpPwdaPupRgCn-4KgbwFrUlgZemOrfRL1scljyZnSjqrItJKpNxA31Ecn0/s320/8C1BD585-F89D-4542-A4CC-0005797EA900.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Cellphone lens fogs up with humidity.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">The humidity is at 98%, it's so damp that it feels like it's just 2% away from turning into water! </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I want to let fresh air in, but as soon as I open the window, nearby papers start curling up. When I pick them up, they bend over like wet paper. Even the dishes I wash don't dry over night when I leave them out! </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I can't figure out the right time to do laundry. Even when I hang it out, it doesn't dry. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">How does everyone manage? </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I can't remember what I used to do in the past.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">In Canada, even if it's raining outside, if I air dry them indoors, they become crisp overnight. But the way laundry dries here is not quite the same. I'm not sure if it's dry or not just by touching it.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I forgot about the Japanese rainy season.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Indeed, thanks to the humidity, my skin feels smooth and moist..</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div>Mari Okazakihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14459766098610986608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950046381161214201.post-82321119001785265252023-07-20T06:02:00.011-07:002023-07-20T06:02:54.956-07:00Restless Days<div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Facebook post on June 28, 2023<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I say,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">"I'm going back to Japan!" </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">"I've returned to Japan!", only to realize every day that Japan has become a foreign place for me. In fact, I find myself delighted over something as ordinary as "being able to speak Japanese!" </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVcV1b2RQq9mT3Xl5iQ5R8XLawq7ydyq5cMLQJcNC6wK8yGgGRLEJ4Q4S-iUufSlDy2yoEmYFRBbCCu_405P4I_cfHsEn1JRYt34Sw5-BrXtIHw2FwLkGrdFv6PbLNFZvSiGKuaIQW0H5phqmqP7MVdJcAHWuJDzSSJCP6ISF2BbK6d2kbgdl-itobCkfz/s1792/1773266C-8572-4924-A2DC-AC4CA0F0FA87.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1792" data-original-width="828" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVcV1b2RQq9mT3Xl5iQ5R8XLawq7ydyq5cMLQJcNC6wK8yGgGRLEJ4Q4S-iUufSlDy2yoEmYFRBbCCu_405P4I_cfHsEn1JRYt34Sw5-BrXtIHw2FwLkGrdFv6PbLNFZvSiGKuaIQW0H5phqmqP7MVdJcAHWuJDzSSJCP6ISF2BbK6d2kbgdl-itobCkfz/s320/1773266C-8572-4924-A2DC-AC4CA0F0FA87.png" width="148" /></a></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Even so, little by little, I'm starting to feel somewhat accustomed. There are moments like, </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">"I managed to go to that supermarket without using Google Maps!" or </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">"I made a automatic payment without any fuss!" or </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">"I called a local electrician/plumber, and they came to fix the water leak!" </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4u3sUKxHQRMv74gVMWauSlvL-hQLxqQSyOPy06B4ina9Nv0_mCLVBiKyqRnvR3IQQlYbBAtGB_OuPS_4lwaqcCFHiWlpRKEGfq3ltxuHTxfKk_dnQZ8RTpUIzcFcohfYsErcX1i8Tvt-kSC096f3b1rLyW619P8crfwVpG8CVBApfGk6LkkqNSeuViNz0/s4032/CC320CDC-5330-45A9-A49D-DE73B535E22B.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4u3sUKxHQRMv74gVMWauSlvL-hQLxqQSyOPy06B4ina9Nv0_mCLVBiKyqRnvR3IQQlYbBAtGB_OuPS_4lwaqcCFHiWlpRKEGfq3ltxuHTxfKk_dnQZ8RTpUIzcFcohfYsErcX1i8Tvt-kSC096f3b1rLyW619P8crfwVpG8CVBApfGk6LkkqNSeuViNz0/s320/CC320CDC-5330-45A9-A49D-DE73B535E22B.heic" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I found myself surprised that a real human answers a phone at the first pick. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">It's these kinds of things that make me rejoice at every little step. Such a tiny joy.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Last year, I came to the Goto Islands for a preliminary visit. I said,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">"I won't know until I see it for myself."</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">This year, I came to live on the Goto Islands. I said, </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">"I won't know until I live here myself."</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaa10PfOZDzoVB1TIlsxqo7pxSO0zWhSfv3bAbFZtWoRluemIv88_4ar8b7bGBwelWyZxLD51rZgHowhYNkJeOj_8XH6Af8sRSM_Mlu50MIPq24gbcGzQnCzFRcSbVOpnedGAP_Eduh5CbTAnFmfiJtpdVosaYmkYWWRAedSGvC1JiBFA687BGvybD9KZh/s4032/9D8C065A-2278-486E-9210-0F2628DD9791.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaa10PfOZDzoVB1TIlsxqo7pxSO0zWhSfv3bAbFZtWoRluemIv88_4ar8b7bGBwelWyZxLD51rZgHowhYNkJeOj_8XH6Af8sRSM_Mlu50MIPq24gbcGzQnCzFRcSbVOpnedGAP_Eduh5CbTAnFmfiJtpdVosaYmkYWWRAedSGvC1JiBFA687BGvybD9KZh/s320/9D8C065A-2278-486E-9210-0F2628DD9791.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I met some people when I came for the visit last year, and I was able to meet them again. I'm truly grateful for how kind they are, really, really grateful.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaK6O8vAfACJeyW5NQTBbab5OdXRpxnxp8aOEPfOPhSZH2HPFSYGTAEzWq5FDhwAncMOllFlA3A4Z9ImJYVI7COaMImmIq1z8k8idXY6VAhK5IvGpVa-5dvSCuLZcyBd4qgCcNmLTYMsVcvIDLSPUyIo9MwMmpZJZZ-52BH0VN1GADFfV9yDiHEbBETYsZ/s4032/A6504E41-E5A1-4599-9189-5EE0BEEFE040.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaK6O8vAfACJeyW5NQTBbab5OdXRpxnxp8aOEPfOPhSZH2HPFSYGTAEzWq5FDhwAncMOllFlA3A4Z9ImJYVI7COaMImmIq1z8k8idXY6VAhK5IvGpVa-5dvSCuLZcyBd4qgCcNmLTYMsVcvIDLSPUyIo9MwMmpZJZZ-52BH0VN1GADFfV9yDiHEbBETYsZ/s320/A6504E41-E5A1-4599-9189-5EE0BEEFE040.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">They even brought me a used electric kettle, saying, </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">"Can you make use of this? Oh, by the way, I thinned out some carrots and made tempura with the carrot leaves to share with you. Please take the plate as well." </div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I think it's cool; the world of giving ”leaf tempura with thinned carrots.”</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO4iSyB_riLzIU4Jt8m-ZtfkD0FMOqzjcjBpqx15nN5Qe_5Yd6Zr5Okw3K0Tb5rqVDXdW9uPa2pMcEOUAI2M_mrp9MItVZy-0FfZ8uPkFqc7vzBE0_0LHZw9exeUi5pMkOlrr0XbhWMx1zkNXaC0brxAjqD9cX-EoYwAeLRmEcQrnM2V24lKn0lCHRQOh4/s4032/C256EBCF-2075-4947-9024-52CFDF113C4A.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO4iSyB_riLzIU4Jt8m-ZtfkD0FMOqzjcjBpqx15nN5Qe_5Yd6Zr5Okw3K0Tb5rqVDXdW9uPa2pMcEOUAI2M_mrp9MItVZy-0FfZ8uPkFqc7vzBE0_0LHZw9exeUi5pMkOlrr0XbhWMx1zkNXaC0brxAjqD9cX-EoYwAeLRmEcQrnM2V24lKn0lCHRQOh4/s320/C256EBCF-2075-4947-9024-52CFDF113C4A.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">In the middle of these unsettled days, I find such kindness touching.</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">When I practiced Reiki, the time for Reiki was a calming meditation-like time. But now, without anyone to practice Reiki with, I'm rediscovering just how much I loved Reiki.</div></div><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Is anyone who would like to have a reiki?</span> </p>Mari Okazakihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14459766098610986608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950046381161214201.post-50284980816728653812023-07-20T05:58:00.001-07:002023-07-20T05:58:21.968-07:00The Importance of Greetings and the Scent of Home<p> Facebook posted on June 21, 2023</p><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I moved to an unfamiliar land, an unfamiliar town, and an unfamiliar house. I'm so lucky to speak Japanese, otherwise, it feels like I moved to a foreign country. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkpmDR326Z7sO7KRsqXo61l4KHUprzTbTjl7wwzZtmNSvSCB0eMkBNn_Agh1HphRn0Xrd_xsSxV8Tdg984X7iZuvUTBeWvbtLKeNiy6Vw9yW1mcFUSnFxFjEDSEzY4ZPW3vcLLsynl-p6LEyBhhDXQzhGCDJMUEEFqiQYfATvOEjC0tpzaCgeh6hAP7Bic/s4032/E22EDD6D-8489-4105-BC10-256AA3FBAA10.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkpmDR326Z7sO7KRsqXo61l4KHUprzTbTjl7wwzZtmNSvSCB0eMkBNn_Agh1HphRn0Xrd_xsSxV8Tdg984X7iZuvUTBeWvbtLKeNiy6Vw9yW1mcFUSnFxFjEDSEzY4ZPW3vcLLsynl-p6LEyBhhDXQzhGCDJMUEEFqiQYfATvOEjC0tpzaCgeh6hAP7Bic/s320/E22EDD6D-8489-4105-BC10-256AA3FBAA10.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Despite having a place that required my initial greetings, I was occupied with paperwork such as residency registration and setting up utilities. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Amidst this chaos, we visited a local Shinto shrine.
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJz-0aDWMSiTPR7_13nZ-Ph3FrEI7DIjZ_iNEuVwQXNef93kt9dOHK7aZJTfSGasCH56TlPUsK1GFOQIJIMcsV53keh529NFhsRq3_qq5G2xMzMWwHplQja_sovllQyNVdnlV34FH7wJI7qWbwmgunxiHZDYT6qPadhHmbeOOoWyq7gy9cOHAo7YetgSDP/s4032/41302BE8-43AF-4602-A55D-8DDB33226A35.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJz-0aDWMSiTPR7_13nZ-Ph3FrEI7DIjZ_iNEuVwQXNef93kt9dOHK7aZJTfSGasCH56TlPUsK1GFOQIJIMcsV53keh529NFhsRq3_qq5G2xMzMWwHplQja_sovllQyNVdnlV34FH7wJI7qWbwmgunxiHZDYT6qPadhHmbeOOoWyq7gy9cOHAo7YetgSDP/s320/41302BE8-43AF-4602-A55D-8DDB33226A35.jpeg" width="240" /></a>
</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">To my surprise, reaching the shrine involved driving under a torii gate—a practice I had never done before. My mind was filled with confusion. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Do I bow my head while passing under the Torii gate? </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Isn't the center under the Torii gate where the Kami walks? </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Is it appropriate to drive through it? </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">With these thoughts, I parked my car at the gravel square next to the Torii gate. However, upon realizing that the shrine was quite far to walk from there, and considering the asphalt road and passing cars beyond the torii gate, I wondered how people managed to enter through it.</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Thus, I approached an older gentleman who was gardening nearby and asked, </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">"Excuse me! I want to visit that shrine over there. Where should I park my car? I placed it next to the torii gate."</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">"Ah, I wonder whose land it was next to the torii gate. It's better to park your car beneath the shrine," he replied.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">"But is it okay to drive under the Torii gate?"</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">"Well, everyone living around here drives under the Torii gate."</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">"Not next to it, but under it? Under?"</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">"Yes, Under."</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I drove under the Torii gate and I proceeded to introduce myself at the local shrine. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">"I recently moved here from Canada. My name is Mari Okazaki. Thank you for watching over me and my family. I have specialized in Reiki therapy for many years in Canada, but from now on, I would like to learn new things in this place, so I made the bold decision to move here. Thank you in advance for your support."</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Feels good. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc8FSjnR8uyTqB2umvxEBpvrvtdotE9QV4UigM0TzeyaSBOSqsY9-oUFTYgERb1PovYNrzC49mK6_HoKNJ9DuhDYHwpSvjhXDoVghJ5ndvTPe8BnemP6gnuXIO-Hyc9R6qewrBsOkhhhiGIrhywwQ7qvfeRk25hfmIbEjbgrXJjpT_ZA4FQGlfpdl_zeR7/s4032/2A10EBBB-2646-424A-902C-7D4BD518A1D7.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc8FSjnR8uyTqB2umvxEBpvrvtdotE9QV4UigM0TzeyaSBOSqsY9-oUFTYgERb1PovYNrzC49mK6_HoKNJ9DuhDYHwpSvjhXDoVghJ5ndvTPe8BnemP6gnuXIO-Hyc9R6qewrBsOkhhhiGIrhywwQ7qvfeRk25hfmIbEjbgrXJjpT_ZA4FQGlfpdl_zeR7/s320/2A10EBBB-2646-424A-902C-7D4BD518A1D7.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">And then, there was the house.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">A home is the foundation of our lives, and we want it to be as comfortable as possible. So, I began by peeling off any washable materials and washing them. Just doing that already transformed the scent of the house completely. Whether it was the old house's unique smell or the previous occupant's lingering scent, my senses became hyperactive. On the first day, I felt as if someone was constantly watching me, unable to get any sleep. I could almost hear whispers saying, </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">"There's a new person. Will they fit in here? Will they stay?"</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbDjc6qNp4G1xs7aDtBvM8mkO4xX5fOVz0pmNqKGDEbe1thV5GfxEbeZqDWtKguTnhI2FCUqAsou0-81kGbLvDhAFvmhKMsbRb0G35wUAwoWr3clrnEdt95qAFVCktX4YjiICCcdD_KNb__XFVJHgmxKTgFmHP_x_ItElO92FKsHAoSbSXKoKWPgbDN5PJ/s4032/843CD9CD-FA30-482D-BD6B-E68FD159B6B4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbDjc6qNp4G1xs7aDtBvM8mkO4xX5fOVz0pmNqKGDEbe1thV5GfxEbeZqDWtKguTnhI2FCUqAsou0-81kGbLvDhAFvmhKMsbRb0G35wUAwoWr3clrnEdt95qAFVCktX4YjiICCcdD_KNb__XFVJHgmxKTgFmHP_x_ItElO92FKsHAoSbSXKoKWPgbDN5PJ/s320/843CD9CD-FA30-482D-BD6B-E68FD159B6B4.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Ah, that's right—I hadn't properly greeted the house either. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">"My name is Mari Okazaki. I have moved here from Canada. I will be living in this house from now on, so thank you for having me."</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtR-teDpdH37CJLqcWx-F37HUEaktpq27c1YWZ4WOxrvwWggiOqdszBQTmbObYXousY8e88K3Xb2f8ZpOXVvEeoXEFAzDTPIStzSaSFyJdarZAV6uvVkQage3reqKBWnQ8XLQLI_n4QyM5esgfSgaimtmDdUmt_MAKRcVKOlcwHmV80n_EIOnlxXSBXPHZ/s4032/6394A312-448F-489A-91EC-5D57DCD5D07C.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtR-teDpdH37CJLqcWx-F37HUEaktpq27c1YWZ4WOxrvwWggiOqdszBQTmbObYXousY8e88K3Xb2f8ZpOXVvEeoXEFAzDTPIStzSaSFyJdarZAV6uvVkQage3reqKBWnQ8XLQLI_n4QyM5esgfSgaimtmDdUmt_MAKRcVKOlcwHmV80n_EIOnlxXSBXPHZ/s320/6394A312-448F-489A-91EC-5D57DCD5D07C.jpeg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZjfPr8T2s9zgsB5zMYUHJd1Fs0UH7F-NtCPPVm7ucDWB5pk2_EL8_5letMrLjIIrIpFcfQ_otor-EaurHt4RduCqUyAkVStzJr5kWBHHkkeA0MtsE5HByIeXlFwe4E1QlBl7pm10aEOS0tp8e7Bpco_MQ-7PT7pSfDiRzlGSa_JBt2HNntZIZp22ytHIB/s4032/14EFE917-5D6B-4256-9551-3FF7D175680C.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZjfPr8T2s9zgsB5zMYUHJd1Fs0UH7F-NtCPPVm7ucDWB5pk2_EL8_5letMrLjIIrIpFcfQ_otor-EaurHt4RduCqUyAkVStzJr5kWBHHkkeA0MtsE5HByIeXlFwe4E1QlBl7pm10aEOS0tp8e7Bpco_MQ-7PT7pSfDiRzlGSa_JBt2HNntZIZp22ytHIB/s320/14EFE917-5D6B-4256-9551-3FF7D175680C.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Then, I rearranged the Miroku Buddha, Daikokuten & Ebisu combo statues that had been randomly placed—into their proper positions. Just doing that made the house feel much calmer, and the scent no longer bothered me. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglcaez9ioZOLsg7Vnr-JdQttInoCv-GRmkdKW12WJfJK6nM2vGRMIK95yXLlRMRm8NY2cRoMiKIZCLL-78H7zJZ28sGKHWZXv9DaeOfmKvitXyO5AF99E_u1W_8LptoczMtHQhqMBOEVn8TnI_W1MXVxBC6Zw0jGh-p7_M_xOAK8KMqGXZDd4sLf2ESP2S/s4224/1C03D6EB-EDAC-4924-9E80-0DD545626DDA.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4224" data-original-width="2376" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglcaez9ioZOLsg7Vnr-JdQttInoCv-GRmkdKW12WJfJK6nM2vGRMIK95yXLlRMRm8NY2cRoMiKIZCLL-78H7zJZ28sGKHWZXv9DaeOfmKvitXyO5AF99E_u1W_8LptoczMtHQhqMBOEVn8TnI_W1MXVxBC6Zw0jGh-p7_M_xOAK8KMqGXZDd4sLf2ESP2S/s320/1C03D6EB-EDAC-4924-9E80-0DD545626DDA.jpeg" width="180" /></a></div><br /><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Slowly, but surely, the place became more comfortable.</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I also planted the baby basil I received as a gift and did a little bit of weeding (with a scythe, a very analog way of doing it). I was covered in sweat, but it felt refreshing.</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">And that's my story today.</div></div>Mari Okazakihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14459766098610986608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950046381161214201.post-21741214983402738902023-07-20T05:51:00.000-07:002023-07-20T05:51:09.178-07:00 The Modern Life's Foundation: Wi-Fi<p>Faebook posted on June 21, 2023</p><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Well, it has been a week since I arrived on Goto Islands. It's been a whirlwind of days, going to the city hall multiple times to obtain my residency certificate, and multiple visits to an office to arrange my mobile phone contract, only to be sent back multiple times, then trying to sign up online and getting rejected. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Things just don't seem to be going smoothly. However, amidst all this, there are some positive things happening.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">When I was preparing to move into my new residence, I thought to myself that if I couldn't get a mobile phone contract, I should at least secure Wi-Fi. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">So, I contacted the local "Goto Television" in advance and requested, </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">"I'm moving on XX date, could you please arrange Wi-Fi connection on that day?" </div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Unfortunately, I didn't receive a response, and the moving day arrived. Until then, I had been able to use the Wi-Fi at my temporary accommodation, so I managed to stay in touch. But for the new place, all I knew was that the electricity and water services were already set up with the basic fees, and it seemed that gas could be connected right away. I had no idea whether Wi-Fi would be available in that area.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Why am I so anxious about Wi-Fi? I'm clearly suffering from a modern ailment. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">It feels like cutting off the umbilical cord that connects me to the world, severing my lifeline. </div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">What should I do? What should I do? </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Renting a Wi-Fi router would take time because it's an isolated island. If I were at my old home in Chilliwack, I would have friends there, and if anything happened, I could walk to the neighbors and manage somehow. But now, right after moving, I don't even know who lives next door. </div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Well, it's natural to feel anxious, but still, I'm anxious!</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">With such worries weighing on my mind, I arrived at my new home, opened the windows, and made a shopping list to gather the essentials. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">As I was about to drive out the drive way, a car with "Goto Television" written on it came from the other direction.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">"Oh, that company! I was planning to go to the office today (since I don't have a phone, all communication must be done in person), and now they're here. I'll ask them some questions. I'll be right back!"</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I hurriedly stopped the car and called out, </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">"Excuse me! I was just about to go to Goto Television's office, but I saw your car. When I reserve Wi-Fi, does it connect immediately?"</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">The person responded, </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">"Well, we need to check the house's connection and such, so we won't know if it can be done right away or if installation is required."</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">"It's that house right there. Could you please take a look? I just moved in today."</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">"...Ah, are you Ms. Okazaki?"</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">"Huh? Yes?"</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">"We have a reservation for Okazaki-san today. I think we contacted you by email. Was today okay? If you're going out now, we'll have to reschedule."</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">"No! Yes! Please do it today, right now! I didn't receive the email, but if you can do it now, please do!"</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Phew! If I had gone shopping a little earlier, it would have been a disaster! I say "I'm lucky! I am guided after all! (And I quickly become optimistic.)</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Moving to an unfamiliar town and a new home is shaking my heart more than I imagined, but in moments like this, I feel a sense of being protected. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">That's the story for today.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">P.S. By<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsqXqwqTp-vrC0oKG4a6BDODe9oBZQ8QlFu7aTNPHnvRA_DYkblsukf9LkBid4kAi6GZIUsNQT7jj0ifRHlyDdDtBvJ5R0OPC0hrc07O98EBT4IjufC5IzWK6sh6TECudXkrtEn9XJz_e0lY7xmZ5ZJPu9VgUyyGq2aJc68UmjhTKnKqRjOuAOZ9oGA2SW/s4032/7101582B-9BAC-47EA-8D16-D98E60A6D121.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsqXqwqTp-vrC0oKG4a6BDODe9oBZQ8QlFu7aTNPHnvRA_DYkblsukf9LkBid4kAi6GZIUsNQT7jj0ifRHlyDdDtBvJ5R0OPC0hrc07O98EBT4IjufC5IzWK6sh6TECudXkrtEn9XJz_e0lY7xmZ5ZJPu9VgUyyGq2aJc68UmjhTKnKqRjOuAOZ9oGA2SW/s320/7101582B-9BAC-47EA-8D16-D98E60A6D121.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdEIwcEB3odlSRePzRGA5xPj0dRWcGeViIwIZJNgKDfVkb7kakJM_Xpo3-W6E6dSUrKXkYLhR6k2i2we_lLIZCJehpIm2RH2vu1RryydPibCE5_xdlIXaKTlQrt5QMZS4WYlvvNjGMsZBmmYH4IQ_o8NMBwprrOGcYXhte9Aab7Zs0uSyNW5jOB2MwKckw/s4224/13429BAE-3D77-464C-9F9A-68D430D585DE.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4224" data-original-width="2376" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdEIwcEB3odlSRePzRGA5xPj0dRWcGeViIwIZJNgKDfVkb7kakJM_Xpo3-W6E6dSUrKXkYLhR6k2i2we_lLIZCJehpIm2RH2vu1RryydPibCE5_xdlIXaKTlQrt5QMZS4WYlvvNjGMsZBmmYH4IQ_o8NMBwprrOGcYXhte9Aab7Zs0uSyNW5jOB2MwKckw/s320/13429BAE-3D77-464C-9F9A-68D430D585DE.jpeg" width="180" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGPYenVJ7jupwe4x5zvSElfM35W7kWi7-IHydatUICSQxuvXBRDeuRXTA3YTdqlZtJKa6askpl9HDgxEeLZBvSqFsvfSsa0VHARFUAWtrInGdD_gaAHxGDD-bemmup1zTX8DqKygS8CwfgAQMx04zV9EB20r6rgMGm0XJMbr8p1nNoMkzQHb5_IaBr2Tcu/s4032/6394A312-448F-489A-91EC-5D57DCD5D07C.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGPYenVJ7jupwe4x5zvSElfM35W7kWi7-IHydatUICSQxuvXBRDeuRXTA3YTdqlZtJKa6askpl9HDgxEeLZBvSqFsvfSsa0VHARFUAWtrInGdD_gaAHxGDD-bemmup1zTX8DqKygS8CwfgAQMx04zV9EB20r6rgMGm0XJMbr8p1nNoMkzQHb5_IaBr2Tcu/s320/6394A312-448F-489A-91EC-5D57DCD5D07C.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Jozrpw6iEaHPwSTcn0FNVtBZbNzW4jCXwdcpQ6ZP-nFPUmB_uqQvHZe6pB2BjidgMWEB7Ct-k2sK1f7Gq4VqgiwWVapWxHIH8kv6B6kAy5kgoKOG9SgUx6Sv_jAaceOHsEaN3fIpi-FzzuecOahD--st75Qjb_qa06OuF22DHWVuihhaTDFve1YQilPq/s320/61B25305-0B1D-447C-AEEB-DE0C319A9871.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixSeTSDPN7Wpef4ATaG3Nj7Pbwf_eZ1o_9B1-KN0Fc-TWWQiiMMtuSKNq_A30qZ3hgMm7nVcVeBonbDZUpHwEfumtQsXYHTBaKwtGA3YviN89z6Go_9wt1-lC47RIcn0UC-QhG5vZ9oiVllsqxxVlnbOYa2R1xr9hcBlcCtdJXDs1DHUYoHpAZj5VFvqy-/s4032/14EFE917-5D6B-4256-9551-3FF7D175680C.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixSeTSDPN7Wpef4ATaG3Nj7Pbwf_eZ1o_9B1-KN0Fc-TWWQiiMMtuSKNq_A30qZ3hgMm7nVcVeBonbDZUpHwEfumtQsXYHTBaKwtGA3YviN89z6Go_9wt1-lC47RIcn0UC-QhG5vZ9oiVllsqxxVlnbOYa2R1xr9hcBlcCtdJXDs1DHUYoHpAZj5VFvqy-/s320/14EFE917-5D6B-4256-9551-3FF7D175680C.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRQtjmQD3qYZsHAqgc5-NNamKgFXWqtHk2FJnCY4J1SFNfyc9li6JS615QgRXM61kLz-OTBMORYCSb5JD2lFAe-XojEYnaaSwDnI1wZPsVACa6YVNGAc3SI5r8jkbDHgCSLNR9kuQkAZhM9EroPX3ZF-v1R9eKJKCELaSgCs9lA82QcbaYd5jLin_FgRSQ/s4032/7A95FC4B-F5DB-4A1B-A2BA-7B1A7BAC898B.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRQtjmQD3qYZsHAqgc5-NNamKgFXWqtHk2FJnCY4J1SFNfyc9li6JS615QgRXM61kLz-OTBMORYCSb5JD2lFAe-XojEYnaaSwDnI1wZPsVACa6YVNGAc3SI5r8jkbDHgCSLNR9kuQkAZhM9EroPX3ZF-v1R9eKJKCELaSgCs9lA82QcbaYd5jLin_FgRSQ/s320/7A95FC4B-F5DB-4A1B-A2BA-7B1A7BAC898B.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> the way, I have a phone number now, yay!</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div>Mari Okazakihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14459766098610986608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950046381161214201.post-7140027864217151842023-07-20T05:46:00.001-07:002023-07-20T05:46:38.598-07:00 The Pain of Change<p><br /></p><div style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="" dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="x1iorvi4 x1pi30zi x1l90r2v x1swvt13" data-ad-comet-preview="message" data-ad-preview="message" id=":r16m:" style="font-family: inherit; padding: 4px 16px 16px;"><div class="x78zum5 xdt5ytf xz62fqu x16ldp7u" style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: -5px; margin-top: -5px;"><div class="xu06os2 x1ok221b" style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px;"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs xlh3980 xvmahel x1n0sxbx x1lliihq x1s928wv xhkezso x1gmr53x x1cpjm7i x1fgarty x1943h6x x4zkp8e x3x7a5m x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u x1yc453h" dir="auto" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: var(--primary-text); display: block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem; line-height: 1.3333; max-width: 100%; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Facebook post on June 17, 2023</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Oh boy, the reality of relocation far exceeds my imagination. If I were to compare it to childbirth, it's like being in the midst of labor pains. There's no going back, but I can't rush things either, so I find myself panting in the middle.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4zIMrMk0aQp4tExHsyZKiie3Ekb4B8rAVX7di-8Q7TZo6uSKA9Ihv2Cimulg9Nauf83l8kiIt_Dwm6dqj9bVolWv7KYQmnWLaUDb0gh0asd74rlAYlUSyMtodnbYMrYDdYWZpEsHyjHUOd2v1bQhPpkJLDdJdPqf4J_GLOg-4evyKaTjLArZJuwhFIQhs/s4032/18356136-026F-43F0-B8E7-E9087B2D2703.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4zIMrMk0aQp4tExHsyZKiie3Ekb4B8rAVX7di-8Q7TZo6uSKA9Ihv2Cimulg9Nauf83l8kiIt_Dwm6dqj9bVolWv7KYQmnWLaUDb0gh0asd74rlAYlUSyMtodnbYMrYDdYWZpEsHyjHUOd2v1bQhPpkJLDdJdPqf4J_GLOg-4evyKaTjLArZJuwhFIQhs/s320/18356136-026F-43F0-B8E7-E9087B2D2703.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">In my case, it wasn't just a regular move. Due to the inability to trace my life history, obtaining a residency registration was quite challenging (although I managed to get it now). Born in Canada, raised in Nagasaki, registered in Yokohama, and disappeared from the record by having lived in Canada for 23 years, I made a direct move from Canada to the Goto Islands where I have no personal connection. The staff at the Goto City Hall were flustered by this extraordinary situation.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">The problem is, without an address, I can't get a phone contract. Without a phone, unconventional address changes like mine become impossible. I have to borrow someone else's phone and inform them, "If you need to contact me, please call this person." And when a call comes in, the owner of that phone relays a message, saying, "Mari-san, someone called. Please come here and return the call." I drove about 6 or 7 minutes just to make a 30-second phone call, and if I have to wait for a response, I wait right there in front of the phone. It feels like a telephone game from the early Showa period.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Amidst the back-and-forth about missing documents and changing laws, it took me five days to finally obtain the residency registration. I am now officially a resident of Fukue Island in the Goto Islands, Nagasaki Prefecture. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div>Once I had the residency registration, I had to go through the procedures for national health insurance and national pension. I left Japan when I was 27 years old and worked for a major trading company, so all these public matters were taken care of by the company, and I knew nothing about them. It was quite overwhelming.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">And finally, the mobile phone <span class="x3nfvp2 x1j61x8r x1fcty0u xdj266r xhhsvwb xat24cr xgzva0m xxymvpz xlup9mm x1kky2od" style="display: inline-flex; font-family: inherit; height: 16px; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle; width: 16px;"><img alt="💦" height="16" referrerpolicy="origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/t60/2/16/1f4a6.png" style="border: 0px;" width="16" /></span> I had to visit the mobile phone store three times. They told me to make an appointment and come, but I couldn't make an appointment because I didn't have a phone to call with. When I explained this, they gave me a puzzled look and said, "What do you mean?" They asked me to bring the required documents, so I brought my passport as identification, but that was also rejected. Apparently, a passport doesn't count as identification. Even though I have the world's strongest Japanese passport, it's not useful in Japan. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">And when I asked about buying a data-only SIM card, they said they've never heard of it. But wait, you can buy them at the airport. How come the mighty Docomo can't handle that?</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Everything seems to be going wrong, and I was on the verge of giving up.</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Just when I was feeling that way, a small miracle happened. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">One word: "Mari-san, you're a pioneer. Pioneers are at the forefront, experimenting and trying things out for those who come after you, so that you can teach them. You're currently undergoing training for that." </div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Pioneer, it has a nice ring to it, and it made me think, </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">"Okay, I can do this." </div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">That's how my day went today.</div></div></span></div></div></div></div></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="x168nmei x13lgxp2 x30kzoy x9jhf4c x6ikm8r x10wlt62" data-visualcompletion="ignore-dynamic" style="border-radius: 0px 0px 8px 8px; font-family: inherit; overflow: hidden;"><div style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><div style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="xq8finb x16n37ib" style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 12px; margin-right: 12px;"><div class="x9f619 x1n2onr6 x1ja2u2z x78zum5 x2lah0s x1qughib x1qjc9v5 xozqiw3 x1q0g3np x150jy0e x1e558r4 xjkvuk6 x1iorvi4 xwrv7xz x8182xy x4cne27 xifccgj" style="align-items: stretch; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-flow: row nowrap; flex-shrink: 0; font-family: inherit; justify-content: space-between; margin: -6px -2px; padding: 4px; position: relative; z-index: 0;"><div class="x9f619 x1n2onr6 x1ja2u2z x78zum5 xdt5ytf x193iq5w xeuugli x1r8uery x1iyjqo2 xs83m0k xg83lxy x1h0ha7o x10b6aqq x1yrsyyn" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex: 1 1 0px; font-family: inherit; max-width: 100%; min-width: 0px; padding: 6px 2px; position: relative; z-index: 0;"><div aria-label="Send this to friends or post it on your timeline." class="x1i10hfl x1qjc9v5 xjbqb8w xjqpnuy xa49m3k xqeqjp1 x2hbi6w x13fuv20 xu3j5b3 x1q0q8m5 x26u7qi x972fbf xcfux6l x1qhh985 xm0m39n x9f619 x1ypdohk xdl72j9 x2lah0s xe8uvvx xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x2lwn1j xeuugli xexx8yu x4uap5 x18d9i69 xkhd6sd x1n2onr6 x16tdsg8 x1hl2dhg xggy1nq x1ja2u2z x1t137rt x1o1ewxj x3x9cwd x1e5q0jg x13rtm0m x3nfvp2 x1q0g3np x87ps6o x1lku1pv x1a2a7pz" role="button" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; align-items: stretch; background-color: transparent; border-bottom-color: var(--always-dark-overlay); border-left-color: var(--always-dark-overlay); border-radius: inherit; border-right-color: var(--always-dark-overlay); border-style: solid; border-top-color: var(--always-dark-overlay); border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline-flex; flex-basis: auto; flex-direction: row; flex-shrink: 0; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; min-height: 0px; min-width: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: inherit; touch-action: manipulation; user-select: none; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><div class="x1o1ewxj x3x9cwd x1e5q0jg x13rtm0m x1ey2m1c xds687c xg01cxk x47corl x10l6tqk x17qophe x13vifvy x1ebt8du x19991ni x1dhq9h" data-visualcompletion="ignore" style="border-radius: inherit; font-family: inherit; inset: 0px; opacity: 0; pointer-events: none; position: absolute; transition-duration: var(--fds-duration-extra-extra-short-out); transition-property: opacity; transition-timing-function: var(--fds-animation-fade-out);"></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="xzueoph" style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 6px;"></div></div></div></div>Mari Okazakihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14459766098610986608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950046381161214201.post-82443075963225766132023-07-16T02:53:00.007-07:002023-07-20T05:36:56.184-07:00 Finally, Goto Islands<p>Facebook Post on June 14, 2023</p><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">The youngest child safely arrived.</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Pushing two suitcases, when he came out alone from the arrival gate,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">"Wow, well done!"</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Behind the introverted youngest child's smile, there was a sense of accomplishment in undertaking a solo international trip that even his older brothers had never done before.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">And finally, we are at the final destination; Gotō Islands.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmoalx3YQc0hvCKI8wpsHt7wTre5xhBP76VPIFh7g4u1MwZuHjq2EXERLOHElyxWnyPj8PiJjrNbDxekthFcSboTwoaC3aoCmg8CcFjp-1seiO67H8B_LxsYnMiJK5yD-0gBINnDf3nlksIq332Mp12quuy-IdlmCqXGbEi_ZEOKPU2Mp7gZR9_9HaxtZ6/s4032/11616F63-AF4B-40DE-A1D2-1D6120BCC80A.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmoalx3YQc0hvCKI8wpsHt7wTre5xhBP76VPIFh7g4u1MwZuHjq2EXERLOHElyxWnyPj8PiJjrNbDxekthFcSboTwoaC3aoCmg8CcFjp-1seiO67H8B_LxsYnMiJK5yD-0gBINnDf3nlksIq332Mp12quuy-IdlmCqXGbEi_ZEOKPU2Mp7gZR9_9HaxtZ6/s320/11616F63-AF4B-40DE-A1D2-1D6120BCC80A.jpeg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6cAR-7vOAuW5H9ZjMwtUF6P8L520LsxFHG-CnuvrTvcAP4T4jl0BaGV3Ot406CzXenYcKexyXGju_4-PPoy2vL1tvvUF30FRrkm7cErNM4ruulv4VG4Mtd59INvwem0_PCIYuZdL9k40o9eXhi9PCyrxpOfp2FHJHPjwe8kFfmJVZzFi2GIDpoT-hVXpP/s4032/486D10D7-5D9D-46B2-8F2F-138EE59E59D1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6cAR-7vOAuW5H9ZjMwtUF6P8L520LsxFHG-CnuvrTvcAP4T4jl0BaGV3Ot406CzXenYcKexyXGju_4-PPoy2vL1tvvUF30FRrkm7cErNM4ruulv4VG4Mtd59INvwem0_PCIYuZdL9k40o9eXhi9PCyrxpOfp2FHJHPjwe8kFfmJVZzFi2GIDpoT-hVXpP/s320/486D10D7-5D9D-46B2-8F2F-138EE59E59D1.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Already deeply moved by the kindness of the locals. <span class="x3nfvp2 x1j61x8r x1fcty0u xdj266r xhhsvwb xat24cr xgzva0m xxymvpz xlup9mm x1kky2od" style="display: inline-flex; font-family: inherit; height: 16px; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle; width: 16px;"><img alt="🥹" height="16" referrerpolicy="origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/t12/2/16/1f979.png" style="border: 0px;" width="16" /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="x3nfvp2 x1j61x8r x1fcty0u xdj266r xhhsvwb xat24cr xgzva0m xxymvpz xlup9mm x1kky2od" style="display: inline-flex; font-family: inherit; height: 16px; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle; width: 16px;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="x3nfvp2 x1j61x8r x1fcty0u xdj266r xhhsvwb xat24cr xgzva0m xxymvpz xlup9mm x1kky2od" style="display: inline-flex; font-family: inherit; height: 16px; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle; width: 16px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin6YEkklt9Kc9GmmDXCeXU7aKdrgPbnUsx0UX1Dtps-N-vRqFJzoE4Vw6cRcviQJEpqPOyvWL7e9YQ2-75xK5pfZbNVPKn6eJjquFAgJ6P2fMkYqXCElXkl39dnFfA3MuoAb9mR3c6my8Qlvy7IuCIfqH0tVcfkgpig-eCqxLhnAUDBcBRQrEqP14Ep6kn/s4032/582A8EEC-30DF-437F-8701-E1D9E8AD14E2.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin6YEkklt9Kc9GmmDXCeXU7aKdrgPbnUsx0UX1Dtps-N-vRqFJzoE4Vw6cRcviQJEpqPOyvWL7e9YQ2-75xK5pfZbNVPKn6eJjquFAgJ6P2fMkYqXCElXkl39dnFfA3MuoAb9mR3c6my8Qlvy7IuCIfqH0tVcfkgpig-eCqxLhnAUDBcBRQrEqP14Ep6kn/s320/582A8EEC-30DF-437F-8701-E1D9E8AD14E2.jpeg" width="320" /></a></span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="x3nfvp2 x1j61x8r x1fcty0u xdj266r xhhsvwb xat24cr xgzva0m xxymvpz xlup9mm x1kky2od" style="display: inline-flex; font-family: inherit; height: 16px; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle; width: 16px;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="x3nfvp2 x1j61x8r x1fcty0u xdj266r xhhsvwb xat24cr xgzva0m xxymvpz xlup9mm x1kky2od" style="display: inline-flex; font-family: inherit; height: 16px; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle; width: 16px;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="x3nfvp2 x1j61x8r x1fcty0u xdj266r xhhsvwb xat24cr xgzva0m xxymvpz xlup9mm x1kky2od" style="display: inline-flex; font-family: inherit; height: 16px; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle; width: 16px;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="x3nfvp2 x1j61x8r x1fcty0u xdj266r xhhsvwb xat24cr xgzva0m xxymvpz xlup9mm x1kky2od" style="display: inline-flex; font-family: inherit; height: 16px; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle; width: 16px;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">The young English assistant language teachers from the local area whom I had met once last year, were holding a sign at the arrival gate to welcome us. So sweet of them! </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHFQH3AlhP_UUs5o-J5H5naQ49LCbnyB5JCYJVRGBO_S-D32vYO9tcweZdV3xI8SI-EtkYLr76ofztCJuxwcJYNMMuGkrL1YECyWFV4HcQ08F_mM5nJ4dNzK4ATyhXlmsVzlRiUDp5uXJ1Xf5_wtOBTxfLRpYhKxkvS-EHIWGVHacjd4H8VdGWqJO7yxSG/s4032/58C0F975-83C1-4F66-9F81-0B324A075CF7.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHFQH3AlhP_UUs5o-J5H5naQ49LCbnyB5JCYJVRGBO_S-D32vYO9tcweZdV3xI8SI-EtkYLr76ofztCJuxwcJYNMMuGkrL1YECyWFV4HcQ08F_mM5nJ4dNzK4ATyhXlmsVzlRiUDp5uXJ1Xf5_wtOBTxfLRpYhKxkvS-EHIWGVHacjd4H8VdGWqJO7yxSG/s320/58C0F975-83C1-4F66-9F81-0B324A075CF7.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">A fellow from a car dealership, neither a taxi driver nor a representative from a travel agency, came to pick us up at the airport and we got a cool standard-drive Honda minivan.</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">His mother at the car dealership was surprised, </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">"You immigrated from Canada?!" and quickly gathered necessary items, such as toilet paper, saran wrap, local-specific garbage bags, and towels.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd1eD2kYJhsd0BiR1LQUllqdsTkHHpjiFxc51yhmlT7oEIlFjitRUGAtWoC56uxzPeX9vyzk20piL5G2BAcLVmDwf6hNtTxudSjELQ1R_ZoMJfhmOzuyXd86Ze_ZQPJMToXv45AiwUTQevWFiyGHUXd9ZhiwKikeWnZumCryitT-Gto5HfB6WPtWNSjXTu/s4032/B4BE3301-1F2A-4A85-8859-76E7F4E3BF98.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd1eD2kYJhsd0BiR1LQUllqdsTkHHpjiFxc51yhmlT7oEIlFjitRUGAtWoC56uxzPeX9vyzk20piL5G2BAcLVmDwf6hNtTxudSjELQ1R_ZoMJfhmOzuyXd86Ze_ZQPJMToXv45AiwUTQevWFiyGHUXd9ZhiwKikeWnZumCryitT-Gto5HfB6WPtWNSjXTu/s320/B4BE3301-1F2A-4A85-8859-76E7F4E3BF98.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Indeed, experienced housewives know what makes other housewives happy. <span class="x3nfvp2 x1j61x8r x1fcty0u xdj266r xhhsvwb xat24cr xgzva0m xxymvpz xlup9mm x1kky2od" style="display: inline-flex; font-family: inherit; height: 16px; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle; width: 16px;"><img alt="🤭" height="16" referrerpolicy="origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/ta2/2/16/1f92d.png" style="border: 0px;" width="16" /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="x3nfvp2 x1j61x8r x1fcty0u xdj266r xhhsvwb xat24cr xgzva0m xxymvpz xlup9mm x1kky2od" style="display: inline-flex; font-family: inherit; height: 16px; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle; width: 16px;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">When we arrived at our accommodation, the owner's family brought a super cute welcome gift consisting of one cucumber, one zucchini, and four small potatoes to our room. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">It was a shower of kindness.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0bzxASDrLv7GGlZOVKrqUh_swxVewnLzzYegevp3SnPUDI415__YzLOprAS_Za7ShWysQIF1G2I-u9IJxJdVyoliZgNXtk1moFG8J2c1F6qD-A8gCz1xAigjEWzDgCTYgpMUVmGPa4KavQE123amLOv-yEfWSdVYtOCQO43UB_6f5bREioyfddn0AGDgi/s4032/4BF61526-01E2-4BCB-8076-BEAD27200982.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0bzxASDrLv7GGlZOVKrqUh_swxVewnLzzYegevp3SnPUDI415__YzLOprAS_Za7ShWysQIF1G2I-u9IJxJdVyoliZgNXtk1moFG8J2c1F6qD-A8gCz1xAigjEWzDgCTYgpMUVmGPa4KavQE123amLOv-yEfWSdVYtOCQO43UB_6f5bREioyfddn0AGDgi/s320/4BF61526-01E2-4BCB-8076-BEAD27200982.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">However, there's a problem. I haven't been able to update my resident registration. Having lived overseas for 23 years has become a tough hurdle than I expected. Not being able to transfer my resident registration means, I am homeless right now.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">And that means I can't get a cell phone or an internet contract. Without a bank account, I can't sign up for a cell phone contract. And to open a bank account, I need a phone number. My Canadian credit cards are often rejected due to fraud prevention. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">To get a phone number, I need a resident registration. To get a resident registration, I need an address and a phone number. What can I do?</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Right from the beginning, I've encountered problems that are making me feel discouraged... Of course, there are worries that come with this kind of big move, but it's truly reassuring to know that I have support, even with things like one cucumber and a tiny little heart-shaped beach stone. <span class="x3nfvp2 x1j61x8r x1fcty0u xdj266r xhhsvwb xat24cr xgzva0m xxymvpz xlup9mm x1kky2od" style="display: inline-flex; font-family: inherit; height: 16px; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle; width: 16px;"><img alt="🥹" height="16" referrerpolicy="origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/t12/2/16/1f979.png" style="border: 0px;" width="16" /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="x3nfvp2 x1j61x8r x1fcty0u xdj266r xhhsvwb xat24cr xgzva0m xxymvpz xlup9mm x1kky2od" style="display: inline-flex; font-family: inherit; height: 16px; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle; width: 16px;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="x3nfvp2 x1j61x8r x1fcty0u xdj266r xhhsvwb xat24cr xgzva0m xxymvpz xlup9mm x1kky2od" style="display: inline-flex; font-family: inherit; height: 16px; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle; width: 16px;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHIJg-xjkeFV4ErymuGhjF-6CPExNM-wB1jsqNfnJcQfasSEGKCWOWc7vG3hkbdINWO5AGjkrga0-zcooZcGpShjcoib45R0zxEtQ42Qr0PyyJg5Nvz8eH4ttnDLMFL7C5WPNwrMXEx5oFOGdSAR6i66jMrIklEDTFuCUTyNmknTYtR-L91Pk7sh0pD3Zh/s4032/296271B6-0CBA-422D-BB75-39FC12B54692.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHIJg-xjkeFV4ErymuGhjF-6CPExNM-wB1jsqNfnJcQfasSEGKCWOWc7vG3hkbdINWO5AGjkrga0-zcooZcGpShjcoib45R0zxEtQ42Qr0PyyJg5Nvz8eH4ttnDLMFL7C5WPNwrMXEx5oFOGdSAR6i66jMrIklEDTFuCUTyNmknTYtR-L91Pk7sh0pD3Zh/s320/296271B6-0CBA-422D-BB75-39FC12B54692.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span class="x3nfvp2 x1j61x8r x1fcty0u xdj266r xhhsvwb xat24cr xgzva0m xxymvpz xlup9mm x1kky2od" style="display: inline-flex; font-family: inherit; height: 16px; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle; width: 16px;"><br /></span></div></div>Mari Okazakihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14459766098610986608noreply@blogger.com0