The Least Useful Guide to Fukuoka

The State of Emergency (SoE) was cleared this evening in most areas in Japan, including Fukuoka. Although we still have to stay alert, I feel myself beginning to look on the bright side because of not only the clearance of SoE, but also what I saw this morning.

Yes, this morning there were much fewer walkers and joggers than there used to be just after the SoE was declared in early April.

I  enjoyed a peaceful walk for the first time in weeks. Maybe people have already tired of walking.

Along with the walking, I visited a local AEON, also for the first time in weeks, to get a pack of toilet rolls (now plenty of them are available, which is also uplifting).

 At 9 AM, AEON felt much safer and much less hellish than it was just after the SoE.

As most of its tenant shops were closed until 10, very few shoppers were there and nearly all of them came alone and kept a comfortable distance with each other. No one got closer to me at the packing table.

I didn’t see anyone complaining to (benting their frustrations on) the cashiers. So the cashiers looked more confident and healthy. They were also looked much better protected with vinyl curtains, rubber gloves and of course masks. 

There even seem to be a new job created: wiping returned baskets and trolleys with sanitizer. The “basket cleaners” also didn’t look stressed.

It was a bit disappointing not to be able to drop in at Mr Donuts, which was scheduled to open at 10 AM, by them, I would leave the mall, but the overall experience today felt safe, comfortable and that we were heading to a brighter direction. Everything was remarkably improved to the extent of being almost unrecognizable.

During the self-isolation period, I rode buses more often than I usually do. Busses ran with nearly no passenger, so looked much safer than pedestrian paths crowded with joggers and teenagers who don’t know where to go. Also, I thought using buses would help Nishitetsu, the local bus operator. However small my help might be, it should be better than nothing.   

Bus ride in thid particular time gave me chances to occupy a priority seat. A big adventure!

Even though I have lived over a half century and probably wouldn’t be blamed for taking a seat originally designated for elder and/or handicapped people, or pregnant women, I  don’t think they are for a 50++ years old person who can ride 10km on a Mama Chari like me. I usually take a back seat or stand on the isle.

However, when there are only a couple of passengers on a bus and everyone had settled in their seat, it seemed OK to venture on one of the priority seats. 

Sitting on it for the first time in my life, I found it quite comfortable, least shaky and giving a cocoon-like feeling. Meanwhile, because of its relatively low position, if someone standing beside you sneezed, fatal droplet might be sprayed on you. In this sense, this seat is not always the safest in the bus. You may need a good protection against the attack from the above. Also, some of the priority seats do not have openable window. Be careful when choosing your seat in hotter seasons. 

The view from this seat was quite different. From a lower angle, buildings and trees looked magnificent and world looked bigger.