This Tuesday report will present some insights into life for a westerner (me) who’s working for an prolonged interval at Kyoto College in Japan.
Life is settling down right here once more – it all the time takes per week or so to place my Japanese sneakers on so to talk and get used to the totally different sounds from nature and folks.
However out right here within the suburbs it is extremely quiet and so long as one retains away from the vacationer areas, Kyoto is a magic place to be.
We all know the native shopkeepers and different personalities across the locality and really feel very a lot at house.
Listed here are few issues to report from this week.
Cleansing up the panorama after Summer season
All alongside the Kamogawa and Takano rivers – the latter working into the previous close to the place I dwell (the Y junction close to the Kamo Ōhashi Bridge which is the place Imadegawa dori crosses the Kamo), there may be numerous work occurring chopping the grass down after the Summer season development.
Council staff do that all over the place (within the World) however I’ve by no means seen the employees who maintain the protection screens in wherever however Japan.
They protect the runners (and walkers) alongside the river paths from the employees who whipper snipper the grass.
Typically, the work crews even have whistles and when somebody is approaching they blow the whistle and the work stops.
They place a precedence on security.
This photograph was taken above the river alongside Kawabata Dori – a predominant highway heading North-South down the east aspect of the Kamo river.
Black kites attacking runners
At the moment of the 12 months, when I’ve been in Australia, I’m continually looking out for swooping magpies when I’m out working within the mornings.
In Kyoto, it’s the Black Kite that swoops.
The Japanese a part of the signal says ‘To All Guests’ then ‘Be careful for Kites’ and eventually ‘They could dive down from the sky and goal you’.
Okay.
This signal was within the Imperial Palace Gardens which has certainly one of my favorite working routes.
I hold my eyes peeled that’s for certain.
The Kites are enormous and make the magpies seem like angels.
The Kites fly overhead across the river too, which is simply close to the Imperial Palace and their wing span is one thing to behold.
Yodogawa kasenkoen Hirakata chiku Parkrun
Parkrun is catching on in Japan, which is an effective factor.
There usually are not many alternatives but within the Kyoto space however the choices are increasing.
Final Saturday, I left my home early (6:20) caught a prepare down south to Hirakatashi Station (about half-hour from Demachiyanagi station which is close to the place I dwell) and walked throughout the Yodogawa River Park by means of the Wildflower Subject within the Ikaga Wildflower District (イカガン野生花エリア) and got here to the – Yodogawa kasenkoen Hirakata chiku – Parkrun.
That is down close to Osaka and runs alongside the Yodogawa River by means of the massive park.
I used to be stunned that the contributors have been principally native – so the Westerners haven’t caught on to it but – and the organisers have been actually welcoming.
The run director got here throughout particularly to elucidate the course to me, which I believed was nice.
It’s a good course, a bit rise in the best way out and a giant loop to complete.
It was nice climate and everyone exuded well being and happiness.
I caught the prepare again and felt that it was an awesome day.
Right here is the group photograph – I’m the man with the fluoro yellow cap and blue prime.
I like Parkrun as a result of it brings collectively all ages in a non-corporate surroundings.
Subsequent week, I’m off to the Sunshine Seaside Parkrun, which is down on the shores of Lake Biwa.
That’s sufficient for right this moment!
(c) Copyright 2024 William Mitchell. All Rights Reserved.
