As i walked my dogs along the usual route this evening-starting off past the love hotels, venturing up amongst the local houses and their surrounding small fields, crossing between bigger rice fields and then finally to the long stretch of beach that backs onto a quaint oyster-rich river-I was thinking about how I never dreamed in a thousand years I would ever live in such a place. Sure, I had magical images of living in Japan, and yes rice fields came hand in hand with that image, but I never imagined I would be amongst such a real visual of Japanese culture at work.
Isumi is a magical place. Being only an hour and a half drive from the hustle and bustle of Japan's international Concrete Jungle Tokyo, Isumi is tucked away on the Pacific ocean side of Japan, and in particular, my area is somewhat secluded from the rest of reality.
From my garden I can see the light house peering at me from the top of the lush green dense cape, and to my right at night the neon glow of the love hotels next to me sting my eyes. If I am really unlucky, on a Friday night the local farmer's will be over the road at the Snack 'Sakura' Bar, where they seem somewhat compelled to frolic with a dangerous mix of sake and karaoke....
At the moment, the rains of spring have filled the vacant rice paddies with developing frogs, who sing their tune during the night in an attempt to drown out their farmer friends croaking away at the snack bar. I like the frogs.
Spring is indeed here, if not a little late this year, as we are still huddling in the lounge around the kerosene heaters, and wearing 5mm wet suits when we surf. But this week is looking like a warmer one, and already I have been out there in the garden fighting the weeds that have threatened quite effectively to take over my modest vegie patch. I'm sure my little old lady neighbor friend has been terrified lately noticing my lack of interest to my now-sprouting organic delights. I promise to take more care from here on in!
5 minutes drive back towards the road to Tokyo, you can find yourself smack-bang in the middle of what I consider to be the coolest surf town in Japan-yes yes I know there are many more beautiful places with perhaps better breaks, but what I'm claiming is the whole picture-consistent swell, local surf shops, cafes and restaurants providing every kind of fare imaginable (well, for Japan's standards anyway), and of course, the local pro surfers and their families. The kids really make me smile-their passion for surfing is compelling, yet growing up in a Japanese family where dad is a pro surfer you gotta wonder if they really know how lucky they are. Perhaps one day they will.
Golden Week-the country's most beloved week where hard work dissipates to several national holidays all filled with energy and play (and for the other majority of the nation, sleep) is now upon us and can be detected by the number of surfers in the water, fancy cars with Tokyo plates cramming up the town's main street, and the full sign lit up at the love hotel next door. Most Japanese escape for their once only opportunity for travel for the year, but for me, I am going to hide away in my little quiet Isumi town, walk the dogs to the lighthouse, let them free along the beach, and enjoy a BBQ in our freshly weeding garden with close friends. Sure, we may take the camping car out for a few days down south for some warmer water, but no matter where we go the waves are going to be crowded, so perhaps it's a good time to revert to introspective mode and really take in my little piece of heaven I so luckily stumbled across.
Japan sure is a incredible place, and there is still so much I have to see. At least I know I have the time. But before I get my feet moving again, I think I'm going to just sit by and take in those small wonders around me, because we all know how easy it is to take such things for granted, and how sorry we are when they are whipped from us without notice.
Life's to short I say, so live it, but take it in at the same time!
happy golden week!
