Kakegawa, Shizuoka

Kakegawa Station Southside

July 24, 2006

I now find myself in Kakegawa, Shizuoka, where I will be living for my year’s contract with PKC. As I arrived by Shinkansen, I was surprised to find a fairly large town with a thriving looking downtown. Well, that is a bit of an exaggeration. The tall buildings with billboards give it that big town feeling, but it is pretty much a one large main street kind of town. The first day was very busy, as I had to apply for my alien card and open up a bank account. I tried to get a cell phone, but there were some hitches and so that will have to wait until early August.

LeoPad

As I was taken to my apartment at Leo Palace21, I found myself in rural like scenery. Farm like patches and cows painted the picturesque aspect. I am in my fab Leopad, as I have christened it. The building is fairly new and much lager than I expected. The bedroom area is a loft and this helps to create a larger space. I love it. I expected a closet like space, but this is far and beyond my expectation. I think I really lucked out. All the appliances are new and include stove, microwave, fridge, and washer. The basic furniture included are: table, TV, vacuum, and desk. The former teacher left two futons behind, so I am set up for guests. The space is quite small and so it is a challenge to cook and clean. I have not figured out how to dry dishes, as there is no rack. No drawers, but I guess I will figure it all out soon enough. It even comes with pots, plates, bowls, dishes, cups, glasses, utensils and cutting board. It is so wonderful to have a home. It feels like forever since I have had a home and I can’t wait to really settle in, which might be a while since work is pretty intense right now. I have not had time to properly unpack and my guitar is still all tied up. If I can get a bike, things will be really rolling. Everyone has one (or a car) so that walking around as I do really sets you apart as a foreigner.

Walk from Leopad to train station. Rooster = Rural

Free internet with Leo-net and I think that I have a free digital phone, but I am not sure how the Leo-phone works. This is Leo-love. I absolutely love my Leo air conditioner. When I turn it on, bits and pieces start to move to help circulate the air. This is the lifesaver, although I am trying not to run it all the time. Without the air con – I would probably die, as it feels like Mexico every day. The sun beats down under blue skies and it is oh so humid. I am surprised that I haven’t lost all my bodily fluids because rivers of sweat flow off me. I kid you not. I go through 3 sets of clothing a day. But my health has been quite good - knock on wood.

I am told that there is a foreigner’s bar run by an American, Mal, who appears to have an interesting background (hosted Japan’s CNN and friends to Jazz greats such as Miles Davis and Stevie Wonder, and living in Japan for 30 years) and runs a jazz club here in Kakegawa. I also found out that Hamamastu (close by) has the largest population of Brazilians in Japan. I can’t wait to check out the Brazilian-Japanese folks. Make a bet they are very lively, from what I recall of my Brazilian friends.
When I left Nagoya, everyone told me how cool (temperature wise) Shizuoka is compared to the armpit of Japan, Nagoya. But it is hot here. Everyday has been blue skies and beating sun. As I walk to the train station, which I seem to have to do to get to my schools, I drip in sweat. I try to walk slowly so as to minimize the sweating. I have even tried carrying an umbrella for protection from the sun, but still the sweat pours off of me. It really is beautiful and it is nice to catch the rural side of Japan. The little windy roads with rice paddies on either side. The sounds of giant insects. My PS, performance supervisor – i.e. boss, Andrew from Toronto, warned me of poisonous spiders (with giant bodies), poisonous caterpillars and poisonous snakes. I am also bracing myself for giant cockroaches that fly, giant cicadas, giant bees, etc…How can a small island country have so many giant insects? No wonder the Japanese fabricated Godzilla. Yes, I still expect to see Godzilla come stomping through the country/city side. I can’t erase those old Japanese films from my imagination. What I should really be concerned of is earthquakes. The Tokai earthquake has been calculated to occur every 150 years here in Shizuoka – and it is well over due. Such is my fate. Wherever I choose to live (i.e. San Fran, Vancouver, and now here in Shizuoka), there seems to be an imminent earthquake due.

Giant Ciccadas (?) - 3-4 inches long!

they perform wonderful orchestral music!