Autumn 2007

All the wonderful signs of Japanese Autumn are beginning to unfold. We went shopping yesterday afternoon and there were specials on salmon in the market. Two weeks ago other Autumnal fish began to appear, cheap and delicious. Our vegetable people, a group called Jinenjo Club has doubled our delivery schedule for the past month and our ¥1000 contribution has gotten us nearly twice as much as it did through summer. (We love buying from them because it is organic produce, they are a a home for Downs Syndrome adults, they use seed stock from the old type vegetables and raise their own seed.)

The weather has changed dramatically as well. Days are still hot but evenings are cool and nights are even a bit chilly. We have the hot water on for showers now. Sunsets are spectacular this time of year. Leaves are beginning to turn and even fall. The rice is being harvested and the crop is in around the Pink House, Mako's mother's home.

The calendar is beginning to fill up with dance events. Mako danced at the Tsukuba Museum of Art last weekend (see our Flickr and Picassa pages). She's been asked to dance at several other events before the end of the year. We'll go to Osaka next weekend to see a performance by a group of handicapped dancers, reminding me already of Can Do Co. - a group I saw a few years ago and still remember with chicken skin effects.

My brother Jay may be coming to Japan next month or in November. My old pal Jason should be arriving around the end of the month for a long visit with his wife's family.

Our neighborhood continues to change. One of the most interesting landmarks is nearly down. It was a building with a huge Red Snapper in gorgeous tile on the side of the building. It is now down to two floors and will be gone by the end of next week.

For posterity, this is what it looked like before demolition began.



Every time I see a building go down I think of Dobie and Maynard buzzing off to watch them tear down the Old Endicott Building ... This demolition was particularly interesting for me as it involved a 30 ton Cat taking the place down starting on the roof!

We had another special event earlier in the month when we were featured in a local newspaper that is drawing attention to lesser known areas of Tsukuba. Aside from being in a two page spread we had a wonderful time with a charming reporter. Tsukuba has so much to offer and "neighborhoods" are among the best of its features. This area is at the foot of Tsukuba-san and is ancient but as vibrant today as it was 200 years ago!



Happy Autumn!