In Japan, July 17th is known as Marine Day, a national holiday. As a result, we had a three-day weekend this week. My mother, who lives in my hometown, had been saying for about a month that she wanted to go somewhere. So, I brought my mother to the city where I live. She is 73 years old and still healthy, but she has been losing confidence in her driving skills as she gets older. Living in the countryside, she didn’t feel confident about driving to my relatively urban city. On Saturday morning, I rode my motorcycle for an hour and a half to my hometown and then drove my mother in her car to my city. From around that day, it became full-fledged summer in Japan. The cicadas started singing all at once, and the sunlight became incredibly intense, making the whole world appear much brighter. The temperature was around 33 degrees Celsius (91 degrees Fahrenheit), but with a humidity level of around 60%, it was relatively comfortable. However, many Japanese people struggle with the summer heat. They have become accustomed to air conditioning, and on TV and radio news, there are constant announcements warning about the dangerous heat and urging people to beware of heatstroke. Personally, I love summer and feel happy in this heat. At the same time, I am not a fan of air conditioning. Being in an air-conditioned room makes me feel drained of energy. I can tolerate mild air conditioning, but excessive cooling is not my preference.
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I spent some time with my dog, Lulu, at my hometown.
Anyway, I left for my hometown around 9 a.m. and arrived back in the city where I live with my mother around 12:30 p.m. We went to a nearby café, and I ordered curry while my mother opted for a sandwich. As she enjoyed her hot sandwich, she expressed her satisfaction, saying, “I made the right choice ordering this. It’s delicious.” The café was small, and the interior was nearly full. The staff told us, “We will seat you as soon as there’s an available table inside.” However, both my mother and I preferred the outdoor terrace seating. It was a windy day, and there were shaded areas, making it very pleasant. The café was located a little downhill from my home, but it still offered a nice view.
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I invited my mother to come to my home and asked her to help me build a shelf. I wanted to create a shelf next to the washing machine. However, upon closer planning, I realized that the water faucet and the drip tray under the washing machine would obstruct the shelf, making it impossible to install. Then, I asked my mother for her opinion on the ring I had just made, but since she has no interest in jewelry, she didn’t have any particular comments. Instead, she said, “You always try to do these complicated things. You’re a peculiar person.” Afterward, my mother mentioned that she wanted to go to IKEA. Although she didn’t have anything specific she wanted to buy, she thought it would be nice to visit since it was nearby.
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Even though my mother initially said, “I won’t be buying anything today,” once we entered IKEA, she ended up enjoying shopping and bought various items such as ziplock bags, pots, small storage containers, and a cooler bag. As a homemaker, she gravitated towards items that support the household. The store was filled with many families with young children. My mother commented, “Parents with young kids have it tough. They’re all doing their best. You, on the other hand, have it easy.”
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My mother and I walked throughout the store, exploring various products. She seemed to be enjoying herself, looking at different items. Afterward, we left the store and took a leisurely stroll around some tourist spots. As it was a long weekend at the beginning of summer, there were a great number of tourists. Small events were taking place here and there. My mother and I entered an event space near the seaside where a sandpit had been created. Of course, we didn’t go into the sandpit ourselves but instead bought ice cream and enjoyed it. We casually speculated about the store’s employees, commenting on their beauty, and imagined the family dynamics of others around us.
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At this point, it was already past 6 p.m. Being impromptu, I managed to find a hotel for my mother. It took a bit of time due to the long weekend, but I was able to make a reservation for her. After parking the car at a nearby coin parking lot close to my mother’s hotel, we took a train to a restaurant. The owner of that restaurant is from the same hometown as me. He attended the same high school as me, although he is four years older. While we didn’t attend high school at the same time, he was actually classmates with my cousin’s older sister. A friend of mine introduced me to this restaurant about five years ago. It’s a French-style meat bar that serves incredibly delicious meat dishes. The refreshing sauces they use might be the real highlight. The flavors are so enticing that I never get tired of eating, and even when I eat a lot, it doesn’t leave me feeling too full.
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We enjoyed a variety of dishes, but unfortunately, we forgot to take photos. My mother had one beer and about three cocktails. As for me, I had two beers, one glass of sake, and finished a whole bottle of wine. We were both satisfied and full, so we left the restaurant. My mother appeared to be having a great time throughout the evening, which made me happy as well. For reference, the total bill came to around $110. The wine cost $32 for the bottle, and each beer was around $4.60.
This restaurant receives very few foreign tourists. Although it’s just a 6-minute train ride from the bustling downtown area, most tourists prefer to dine in the city center where there are many great restaurants. Personally, I consider this restaurant to be among the top choices. Friends and acquaintances I’ve recommended it to still enjoy dining there. Due to the need to travel by train from tourist destinations or the downtown area, not many tourists end up coming here. However, with just a 6-minute train ride and a 5-minute walk from the station, I hope that more people will have the opportunity to discover this place. While the owner may not be fluent in English, they are very kind and welcoming to all customers. If you have the chance to visit Japan, I highly recommend giving it a try. Whether it’s fish, meat, sake, wine, beer, or cocktails, they offer a unique selection that is sure to satisfy. Although the following websites are in Japanese, they can provide a sense of the atmosphere: https://choinomi.jp/kobe/25354/ and https://www.instagram.com/takami_coeur/?hl=ja.
After leaving the restaurant, my mother and I headed towards her hotel. Once I guided her to the hotel, I walked back home on foot. At this point, the alcohol started to affect me, and I became extremely sleepy. It’s about a 20-minute walk to my home. However, the second half of the route is like climbing a steep mountain. Before the slope began, I took a break at a park. I rested on a bench while listening to the babbling of the nearby river. I dozed off for a bit and woke up as I almost rolled off the bench. Feeling the despair of being intoxicated and tired, I sluggishly made my way up the hill and finally managed to reach my home. I learned that during late nights on a long weekend, taxis are scarce.
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There was only one pink taxi running. I believe this pink Toyota Crown made its debut over 10 years ago, and at that time, it was such a rare car that seeing this pink Crown was said to bring good luck. Even now, it may still be considered a rarity.
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The next morning, I went to my mother’s hotel at 9 a.m. and met her there. We retrieved the car and went to a coffee shop. We each ordered sandwiches for breakfast. Afterward, we took my IKEA purchases in the car to my home. We took a short break and then went to the supermarket. As a homemaker, my mother bought ingredients for tonight’s dinner. As it approached noon, my mother and I drove to my hometown. I felt a strong drowsiness while driving, but I managed to arrive at my parents’ house safely. Since I didn’t have the confidence to ride my motorcycle back home, I took a short nap. It was around 3:30 p.m. and I decided to sleep until 5 p.m. However, our dog Lulu kept insisting, “Play with me!” She constantly played with my outstretched right hand. Despite Lulu’s interference, I managed to take a nap. During that time, my mother made three hamburgers, froze them, and gave them to me to take home. We left my parents’ house around 5:30 p.m. and arrived home a little after 7 p.m. Just before 8 p.m., I heard the sound of fireworks, so I rode my motorcycle to what seemed like the fireworks venue. However, when I arrived, the fireworks were already over. The tourist spot I visited yesterday was bustling with many tourists again. It seemed like everyone was enjoying this long weekend. Thanks to my mother, I was able to have a delightful holiday. I had been deeply immersed in making necklaces and metalworking for the past few months, even forgetting to eat and sleep, so this break was a refreshing change of pace.
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