Bent like a rice stalk in the wind...

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I read somewhere that the perfect Japanese bow is one where you emulate a ‘rice stalk, bending in the wind’

I took a detour on the way home the other day, and managed to get a few pictures of my surroundings. You will see rice fields - plenty of those in the area - and also some of the hazards associated with driving in Japan.

I am talking about the one way- oops I meant 2 way streets, the impromptu train crossings you have to remember exist, and the ‘this is a sharp corner so we’ll just put a mirror up shall we?’ safety measures.

As much as I grumble it is fun to drive here. The maximum speed in my area is 50km per hour, people nod and let you go first, or do a little bow when you let them go first, they dim their lights if their car is pointing at you when they’re trying to park, or they’ll reverse up a street a bit so you can fit your car past them on one side and the 2 metre ditch on the other…..

Driving in Japan has increased my awareness of the cars around me, the pedestrians, cyclists, dogs, birds, old ladies on little buggy bike things, and I suppose the unicycles I’m told exist for masses of elementary students but that I haven’t seen with my own eyes.

I feel safe driving, and I like that I’m in the country and have a bit of nature nearby. It doesn’t beat the ocean for a bit of serenity, but at night, if I listen carefully……I can hear the frogs croaking.

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