Yet Another Cursed Place... ― 2025/12/15
First of all, I need to correct something from my previous post, and I apologize for the mistake. The stabbing did not happen inside Mark Is. It actually took place on the street near a theatre close to the shopping center.
I guess I was a bit too worked up by the news and ended up making it sound more sensational than it actually was, probably in an unconscious attempt to attract more readers to the blog. That’s on me.
The suspect has been arrested. From what I’ve read, he’s a man in his thirties and apparently someone who frequented the HKT47 theatre.
And then — unbelievably — there was yet another stabbing today. This time near Hakata Station. A woman was injured, and the police quickly caught a male suspect. Is it just an eerie coincidence that this happened so close to the spot where a woman was stabbed to death not so long ago by her ex-boyfriend, who later turned out to be stalking her? I honestly can’t help wondering.
With these things happening one after another, I can’t help thinking that walking around Fukuoka feels more dangerous than the outskirts of Sapporo, where bears are wandering around these days.
（Helped by ChatGPT）
Cursed？ ― 2025/12/14
Image retrieved from 福岡市中央区地行浜 男女2人 刃物のようなもので襲われる 逃げた男の行方捜査 殺人未遂容疑 | NHKニュース | 福岡県、事件・事故
Today, the Mark Is shopping center in Fukuoka became the scene of another horrific knife attack. A man stabbed both a woman and a man before fleeing the scene; he is currently at large.
Tragically, this is the second major violent crime to occur at this exact location. The first incident, in 2020, involved the fatal stabbing of a young woman in the restroom by a juvenile, a case that remains ongoing in the courts.
Is it just bad luck, or does this particular spot need more than just security—perhaps an exorcist? The reality is sinking in: the chance of being assaulted while shopping casually in central Fukuoka might be starting to feel more terrifying than a solo hike in the remote Hokkaido mountains. Something is deeply wrong here.
(Helped by Gemini)
Cherry Blossoms 2025 ― 2025/04/03
Maizuru Park was very crowded even though it was a weekday.
To my surprise, most of the visitors looked very young (I know at my age, basically most people are younger than me) and probably many of them seemed to be the "inbound".
So flamboyant. Like an EXPO site or something.
In fact, until recently, this park was a rather deserted place. You wouldn't have thought that this park could be so popular. There used to be a lot of "blue tents" in which homeless people sheltered. I wonder where they have gone and if they are happy where they are now.
Meanwhile, I enjoyed the flower on my way to shopping,
and, as usual, from a local Mr. Donuts.
Unexpected Hospitality ― 2025/03/23
The other day I popped into a local Macdonald's and experienced a pleasant surprise.
The coffee tasted, eh, just as you would expect from Macdonald's, but it was served very generously. Quite roughly speaking, coffee at other outlets tends to be a little over 60 percent of the cup. But this one was almost filled to the brim (by my standards). I couldn't even finish the cup.
The coffee was served by a lady in an advanced year, a bit senior to me, who was extremely cheerful and attentive. She showed no sign of weariness from her work. Or rather, she was full of joy and pride in working and making her customers happy. Her posture was upright, and her speech was clear, giving a clean and fresh impression.
I then took a closer look at the counter and noticed that the senior ladies were positioned at the front, to be in direct contact with the customers, while the younger staff mainly processed orders at the back.
As I was about to leave the space allocated to the Mac in a local supermarket, the serving lady approached me and politely and cheerfully said, "Let me clear your tray," offering her hands.
After this satisfying and awe-inspiring experience, on my way home I felt a sense of hope and optimism that getting old is not something to be punished or avoided at all costs (as recent comments have suggested), if I may exaggerate a little.
Governor Election ― 2025/03/22
There will be a governor election tomorrow.
I don't have the right to vote for this one as I'm currently a resident of Sapporo by law, but if I were to choose one of these candidates, it could be choosing the least harmful.
However, I think the current governor's "One Health" plan is a good idea, although I'm not sure it will work on such a small scale. Shouldn't it be done internationally or by the WHO?
A Great Compromise ― 2025/03/16
Image retrieved from 企画展示 | No.617 民具と生活−暮らしの中の意匠(デザイン)、暮らしのための設計(デザイン)−| 福岡市博物館
Instead of the two exhibitions I hesitated to visit, I went to another one at my local museum.
The specially curated exhibition showcases the museum's collection of everyday objects from the relatively recent past and costs just 200 yen (including admission to the permanent exhibition).
As usual on a weekday morning, I was the only visitor in the exhibition room.
And also as usual, I enjoyed the feeling of being invited to a wealthy friend's collection room (without having to (pretend to) listen to boastful talks).
Although there was no mention of the period in which the objects on display were actually used, I was sure that they no longer existed in our everyday lives, unless you are a sort of type who would never allow any plastic or metal in your house.
As I always do when I go to an exhibition, I had an imaginary wallet with about five billion yen in it, so I could imagine which pieces I would like to have at home.
Actually, some pieces stimulated my greed for possession like this bowl.
But many of the objects on display were so powerful that I was even overwhelmed by a sense of implacability they conveyed, that I thought I would be cursed or punished if I measured their value in terms of money.
A Piece of Information ― 2025/03/11
I have found that the Radio Gymnastic Exercise sessions are held in the Maizuru Park on weekday mornings.
I definitely have to join it at least once when the weather is nice.
Face Value ― 2025/03/11
Recently, I have been seeing more and more billboards featuring the face of the advertiser, despite the growing concern for privacy in general. Is it not awkward to request the sign maker to publicize your face so boldly? And do they believe their faces are worth advertising and we choose them because of their appearance, like "Oh, he looks nice, and I will trust him with my future" or "His face tells me that he must be good at dealing with broken bones"?
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