Greetings 7

On the move

Hello! I’m here!

After a far too long period of summer hibernation, today I finally braved this unbearably muggy summer and ventured out for an early morning walk along my beloved local river.

Yesterday I guided a group of 16 Italians around Tokyo, and while the nine-hour marathon left me with cramped legs and almost voiceless, it also reminded me how much I love walking. So, this morning I barely managed to finish my breakfast that my body pushed me down the stairs and out of the door.

My first encounter was with a mother duck and her seven kids swimming upriver in tight formation. I was following them, walking close to the balustrade and taking pictures when the mother, who had eyed me suspiciously all along, leapt out of the water and flew next to where I was standing, then started quacking her displeasure with my annoying behavior. At the same time, the ducklings moved to a safer spot in the middle of the stream, waiting for instructions.

After a short exchange and having heard my apologies, the duck seemed satisfied and flew back into the river where the family resumed their slow watery stroll.

In the 20 plus years I have lived here this is the first time I have witnessed such a behavior. Did this insanely hot summer get to her head? Did she think I was a pedophile? In the end, mothers will be mothers, whatever their race.

I also found it strange that the ducklings were still so small at this time of the year. And they were not the only ones. I found more families along the way.

It never ceases to amaze me how many people are already up and doing their thing at this early hour.

Here are a couple of ladies tending to their vegetable garden. I can see leeks and eggplants and,,, what are those… tomatoes?

Another lady is walking just ahead of me. How old do you think she is?

Guessing her age only by this picture can be tricky. The hip youngish fashion is likely to throw many people off. She is actually quite old - I can tell by her skin, the way she walks. Japan veterans will also recognize her hat: only older women wear that style in Japan.

The Japanese love uniforms - costume play is actually much older than otaku culture - and many older ladies are all too eager to embrace this sort of social cosplay which consists of flower-patterned blouses and coats (nothing too bald, just tiny brown, gray and purple flowers), baggy pants and comfy shoes. This particular woman, in this respect, was breaking the rules of engagements.

By the time I reached the third or fourth bridge, I was positively drenched in sweat, so I made a U-turn and started walking home on the other side of river.

This side is also slightly cooler thanks to the canopy of cherry trees that in late March attract crowds of strollers, flower aficionados and Sunday photographers.

Slightly out of breath, I reached a park. The kids who usually play there were nowhere to be seen, so I sat for a few minutes on one of the wooden benches and read a few pages of Iain Sinclair’s London Orbital - admittedly, an odd choice for that place and time of day.

When I reached the main road, the two lanes along the river were full of people out for their daily walk. This Lady in White was definitely very old, no chance to mistake her age. So is it true that old people don’t get hot even in summer?

Only after I uploaded this photo on my computer, I noticed the overfriendly Golden Retriever in the background trying to do his owner. Must be the heat.

Kawaii culture (cute things) is everywhere in Japan, and even the waste collectors have their own mascots (sorry I couldn’t find their names). I mean, even tax collectors and the police have one.

I suddenly remembered that when I left home, I had thrown away the wrong kind of garbage: plastic bottles instead of burnable trash. Defeated, my day irreparably ruined, I walked home with a hanging head, preparing myself to write a letter of apology to my neighbors.

Have a nice day.