My Basket

Since we've been here, we've collected about ten times more plastic grocery bags than we need to line our trash cans. Recently, however, our grocery store solved that problem for us as they started to charge 5 yen (about 5 cents) per plastic bag in order to be more environmentally friendly. So we decided to do our part and buy a "My Basket" from the store.

With a "My Basket" you go to the store and do your shopping in a regular cart or basket, storing your "My Basket" underneath. When you get to the cash register, you hand the cashier your basket and they then load all your groceries into the basket, rather than into bags. When everything is in the basket, the cashier tapes a paper over the top to indicate the groceries inside have been paid for and you're on your way.

The biggest problem with the basket so far is that even though everything fits inside, it is too heavy for me to carry. So I usually end up taking a backpack or tote bags in addition to distribute the weight. I also can't help wondering how many plastic bags went into making my pink plastic basket.

The Narrow Road to the Deep North

Matsuo Basho (1644-1694)

Matsuo Basho continues to be recognized internationally for his brief and clear poetry depicting the seasons as well as his circumstances as he traveled throughout Japan. One such journey, recorded in his travel narrative titled "The Narrow Road to the Deep North" ended here in Ogaki. Here are a few highlights from his travels taken from this book and accompanied by photos from the area in Ogaki where he completed this journey.

Days and months are travelers of eternity. So are the years that pass by . . . I myself have been tempted for a long time by the cloud-moving wind - filled with a strong desire to wander (97).

Sumiyoshi Lighthouse

It was with awe
That I beheld
Fresh leaves, green leaves,
Bright in the sun (100).

Biten by fleas and lice,
I slept in a bed,

A horse urinating all the time
Close to my pillow (120).

Boat from Ogaki's years as a port town.

I am awe-struck
To hear a cricket singing
Underneath the dark cavity
Of an old helmet (134).

As firmly cemented clam-shells
Fall apart in autumn,
So I must take to the road again,
Farewell, my friends (142).

Point Cards

It may be that I've forgotten a lot about everyday life in America, but I'm pretty sure we don't use these like the Japanese do. What we have here are point cards, or cards that you have stamped when purchasing goods or services from various establishments hoping to collect enough points to get some sort of discount or free item. Now, I know that these are used to some extent in the States because I'm fairly certain I can remember getting a stamp on a card for something somewhere at some point. The major difference, however, in my opinion, is how rampant their use is here. You can't shop anywhere without collecting a point card. In fact, I'm pretty sure I've collected more point cards than points. The above picture is a sampling of some of our cards which include haircuts, the cleaners, the movie theater, the grocery store, donuts, ice cream . . . I won't show you how many points we've collected on some of those. In some cases, instead of collecting points on a card, the establishment will keep track for you. For example, Pizza-La, our delivery pizza place will tell us every so often that we have (once again) earned free chicken nuggets or orange juice. Making use of the Japanese service industry is such a rewarding experience.