Hand-biting in the Public Toilet

This is another strange crime case. 

Police in Gifu City arrested 37 year old city employee, Yusuke Tsutsumi, on suspicion of assault for biting the left hand of a 46 year old man inside the public toilet in Meitetsu Gifu train station around 11 pm last Saturday. Mr. Tsutsumi denied the allegation, saying “I have no recollection of it”. Police said the two men do not know each other and Mr. Tsutsumi was not intoxicated.  

Does this sound weird or what?

Mabase Shrine and Yakushido Temple

Mabase Shrine is an interesting site high on a hill. Isn’t that always the way?

To the right is a rough set of old steps. I chose to climb the newer, straighter steps.

At the top is a small shrine building. There are two lion creatures, which is normal. The interesting thing is that one has a ball and the other has a baby.

Looking through the building, I saw another big set of steps behind this building.

Looking down is the old rough steps.

I walked around the shrine building and up the steps.

According to google maps, the site at the top is Yakushido Temple.

This building is even smaller than the shrine below.

From the top, there was a nice view of Mt. Fuji.

I went down the stairs and on my way.

Work In Progress Wednesday

The Tale of Genji progress

 The Knot Garden progress

You Never Know Who You Will Meet

I met an adorable woman on a crowded train. We were both standing, and I was very disappointed that no one offered her their seat. Finally, some people got off the train, and we were able to sit together. We talked, and asked each other things like where do you live, can you see Mt. Fuji where you live, do you like sweets, etc. Just simple things. She told me she is 92 years old! Our time together was short, and then we went our separate ways. She made my day!

Monday Morning Star Count

I made more individual hexagons, then two more hexagons flowers. Now I have 45 finished flowers and quite a few individual hexagons.

Climbers Rescued from Mt. Fuji

 

Last Monday, two people fell while climbing Mt. Fuji, which is still closed to the public, and had to be rescued by Shizuoka Prefectural Police Mountain Rescue Team. Police were called by a friend of one of the climbers around 3 pm and were rescued about 10:40 pm, according to TV Asahi. Police said the climbers were three foreigners, two of whom fell. The injuries of the two who fell are unknown. 

The mountain is open to climbers from July 10th to September 10th. This is March! There are reasons why the mountain is closed in March. Why do people break the rules and risk their lives and the lives of the rescuers like this?

JR East Fare Increases

On Thursday, I read on the Japan Today website that JR East would be increasing its fares across its entire service area by an average of 7.1% on Friday, the next day. This was the first I had heard of this increase, just one day before the increase was implemented, and I was quite surprised. I often travel by train, and even though I live in the JR Central area, JR East area begins in Atami, which is not far from me.

Regular fares increased 7.8%, commuter passes 12.0%, and student passes by 4.9%. The largest increases will be in the Tokyo Metropolitan area. JR claims the increase is needed to cover rising costs of maintenance inspections and railway improvements.

The costs of so many things seem to be rising. Do you feel that way too?

Friday Finish - Wild Garden Box Top

This piece was started as a stitch group project and has been hanging around, unfinished, for too long. I finally filled in some of the empty spaces and finished it as a box top.  These simple boxes are available in different sizes at Daiso for 100 yen each.

Seiganji

When I’m out walking, I often come across shrines and temples. This one is on a hill. I’m sure I was here before, but I don’t remember exactly when.

There was no one else around, which is pretty normal when I visit shrines and temples. It was calm and quiet. If I find myself in this area, I could visit again.

Work In Progress Wednesday

The Tale of Genji progress - I still have cross stitch in the middle, and a lot of back stitching left to do, but it is coming along nicely.

Knot Garden progress

Zipper Pouch progress - five rows