Intentionally？ ― 2023/12/03
Another preventable accident has occurred today at a famous sporting event.
During the Fukuoka International Marathon, a celebrated marathon race whose history can be traced back to 1947, a runner was hit by an event car and left with a fractured elbow bone.
As far as I know (or, as far as has been widely and openly reported to the public), this is the third case this year where a famous sporting or festive event has produced serious consequences: the first was the Yamagasa incident in which a man was run over by the float he was carrying, and the second was the aquathon race in July, during which a swimmer drowned. All these events were (supposed to be) supervised by experienced professionals. The participants had paid an entry fee, which is by no means cheap by my standard, assuming that the money they had paid would be spent (whether in part or in full) spent on safety measures, not knowing that they would be killed in the very event.
And again, as in the previous cases, the moment of the accident and, this time, even the name of the victim hasn't been revealed so far.
After seeing a series of such events leaving such damages, I began to wonder: Do we still need such sporting or festive events that could kill their participants?
Today's Kanten: the Last Batch ― 2023/12/04
Double peach kanten made from:
1g granulated kanten
70cc water
230cc peach juice
1 canned white peach, drained.
This is the last batch of kanten made from a box of kanten I bought in October, which contained six two-gram sachets of granulated kanten.
To celebrate the last batch, I went extravagant. I used up a can of peach juice and a can of white peach, both of which had passed their best-before date.
I had kept them as a comfort dessert in case I fell ill after getting COVID-19 vaccine. But it might be time to replace them.
The luxurious (by my standards) version tasted so good. It is worth repeating. But I have to wait for the next couple of years until the replaced cans reach the end of their shelf life before I can make this dessert again.
Muffin, Again ― 2023/12/05
The poisonous muffin, called "death muffin," incident is still being hotly discussed online and reading about it made me crave a good muffin again.
This is City Bakery's luxury (by my standards) muffin at 320yen! I was so surprised by the price that I automatically asked for an extra bag to break it in half and take the rest home.
The taste was...very unusual, to be couterous. At least not my type. The price (coffee is 420 yen), the dark lighting and the taste of the product (coffee was nice, but not piping hot)...in many ways I don't seem to be the kind of customer this bakery would expect.
No Frills, Ultrra Practical Lunch ― 2023/12/05
At the age of 50+++, I came up with an idea that Kaiten sushi restaurants could be a clean and wallet-friendly spot to have a snack.
At Genkai-Maru sushi restaurant, three plates of sushi, natto-maki, inari, egg, and shrimp set, and beef gunkan was 448 yen, enough to fuel me for an eight-kirometer bike ride home. Tea was free, of course.
In terms of hygiene, each chef (still) wore a mask and gloves. There were partitions between seats around the counter, and most of the diners (I guess most of them were locals) came alone for a quick lunch. No one was chatting excitedly or raising their voices when ordering. You can order from a tablet in front of you. Very hygienic.
I think this place is worth considering if you don't need a romantic aspect to your meal and are in a hurry.
Updates on Cursed Sites ― 2023/12/07
I seem to have talked about nothing but gloomy things in my recent posts. So I wish I could tell you something happy and cheerful, but I have to tell you that more sinister events have taken place in this city.
1. Another victim in Ohori Park.
A 61-year-old man was found floating dead in the pond near the Noh Theatre in Ohori Park yesterday morning.
The park also saw a dead man floating the pond five years ago. In the previous case, a former local celebrity banker was found floating in the pond, which was relatively quickly ruled an accident. But in this case the cause of death hasn't been determined. The authorities seem to have become more careful in recent years.
2. Same place, same accident
A runaway car crashed into the same building where an elderly couple's car crashed into three years ago. While in the first case more than ten people were killed and injured, including the driver and his wife who died on the spot, this time no one was killed but three people were injured, including a 73-year-old drive.
These two incidents have several things in common: 1) both involve an old or relatively old man, 2) in both cases similar or identical incidents occurred recently, 3) NHK's local 6 o'clock news didn't report either news (but its website did), and 4) no preventative measures were taken after the previous incidents until these very accidents happened.
If the victim had been a child or teenager, or even in their twenties or thirties, the local government would have made a big fuss and done something showy (but useless in the real world) like putting up CCTV cameras or fences around the pond in the park, or making the road uneven to confuse drivers.
Am I wrong in thinking that the authorities don't care if old people die that could have been prevented with a bit of care, maybe a handbreadth of the budget spent to attract foreign tourists or young "entrepreneurs" or Myanmar elephants to the zoo?
HIs Statements ― 2023/12/10
I wonder when lapel pins became a tool to show the wearers' social awareness. In other words, a tool to demonstrate the type of person they wants be seen as. Did it start with the White Band, or Pink Ribbon?
Sadly, for me at least, when it comes to celebrities, the more pins they wear, the less credible they look. In a way, too many pins is like a heavily Photoshopped portrait.
Take the example of our governor.
When he was elected after his predecessor died during his term, he didn't wear any pins at all, which I think made him look honest and reliable.
March 2021
Image retrieved from 【動画】服部副知事｢予算実施する責任ある｣ 出馬表明会見一問一答｜【西日本新聞me】 (nishinippon.co.jp)
Then the number of pins on his lapel began to increase...
May 2021
Imaged reclaimed from 福岡知事、経済配慮のツケ重く 独自策限界…苦渋のまん延防止要請｜【西日本新聞me】 (nishinippon.co.jp)
Recently his lapels are decorated almost like those of a punk rocker. I can no longer see what agenda he is trying to promote.
December 2022
Christmas Displays 2023 ― 2023/12/12
I think this year's Christmas displays in the shopping malls and department stores in the city centre have become more elaborate and expensive looking. Maybe our economy has finally taken off after three decades of depression, or are they just a bluff for foreign tourists?
Mark Is
Iwataya 1
Iwataya 2
This department store used to hang old DVDs on naked trees , which looked rather miserable.
Solaria Plaza
Tenjin Chika-gai. I like this the best so far this year.
Bank of Fukuoka, headquarters
Shinten-Cho shopping street
Vioro Shopping mall.
Kego Park. I remember there used to be a skating rink at this time of the year.
Today's Cat ― 2023/12/14
I wish I were you!
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