Friday Finish - Hawaiian Table Mat

 

Numazu Castle Site

While traveling to other places, I made a stop in Numazu. About a five minute walk from the station is a park that was once the site of Numazu Castle, also known as Sanmaibashi Castle. There is nothing left of the castle, but there is some information where it once stood.

From the internet: Sanmaibashi Castle, also known as Numazu Castle, was a hirayama-style Japanese castle located in Numazu, Shizuoka Prefecture. Built in the 16th century by Takeda Shingen, it served as a strategic military base during the Sengoku period. The castle featured three concentric enclosures surrounded by moats connected to the Kano River, with Umadashi-style gates for defense. After the fall of the Takeda clan in 1582, the castle changed hands multiple times, eventually falling into ruin by 1613. In 1777, Mizuno Tadatomo constructed Numazu Castle on the same site, but it too was dismantled in 1873. Today, remnants include a small park with a monument marking the site of the donjon and fragments of stone walls from the old moats.

Work In Progress Wednesday

 The Paisley Purse Progress

New Start - printed sashiko panel. The red thread I’m using has a sparkle of gold.

JR East to Raise Prices Starting March 2026

Japan has a great public transportation system. I don’t drive here, so I often ride the trains and am very satisfied. With the cost of so many things getting more expensive, I wasn’t surprised to read that JR East will be increasing its fares beginning March 2026. This is the first price increase since it started in 1987, not including consumption tax increases by the government.

I live in an area covered by JR Central, but traveling to Tokyo or northern Honshu means JR East.

The Executive Vice President announced the company must spend effort and money on safe railway operations. The estimated annual increase of 88.1 billion yen will be used for equipment and repairs, as well as to offset rising operational costs and to raise wages for staff. 

On average, fares will rise by 7.1%. IC card holders will have slightly lower rates compared to paper ticket holders. I expect the other train companies will also be raising fares soon. 

Have you ever ridden trains in Japan? How do you feel about the price increases?

Monday Morning Star Count

The House Quilt is next. I’m getting ready to start the pin basting. The batting is Warm and Natural and the backing is made of pieced cat fabrics.

Tokyo Dog Thief

(Not actual dogs in this case)

Tokyo Police have arrested Daisuki Suzuki, a 46 year old unemployed man on suspicion of trespassing and allegedly stealing three Chihuahuas from a dog shelter cafe, between 11 pm on July 3rd and early the next morning. The dog shelter cafe in Arakawa Ward is a place where visitors can interact with rescued dogs. 

Initially Suzuki took only one dog, but after stopping at a convenience store, the dog escaped, so he went back to the cafe and stole two more. Next, Suzuki took a taxi to a snack bar, where he and the staff played with the dogs before letting the dogs loose outside. 

Police said all three dogs were found and returned to the dog shelter cafe. Police identified Suzuki using security camera footage taken outside. Police quoted Suzuki as saying, “I was drinking and don’t remember a lot, but I do remember playing with the dogs and taking a taxi.” 

This guy would be better off if he stayed away from alcohol and dogs.  I wonder what the penalty is for this crime.

Man Dragged Away by Brown Bear on Mt. Rausu in Hokkaido

 

According to local police, on Thursday, a man in his 20’s was attacked by a brown bear and remains missing on Mt. Rausu in Hokkaido. After being notified by the young man’s companion at about 11:10 am, police launched a helicopter search around Shiretoko World Natural Heritage Site. The search continued on Friday. Shortly after 9:30 am, the missing man’s wallet was found, with part of a shirt and a wristwatch found nearby. Police have called the missing man’s phone, which appears to be switched on with no answer. The phone’s GPS is being used to try to locate it and the missing man.

The other man/companion was uninjured and was moved to an observation deck with other hikers. About 70 climbers and hikers were airlifted from the observation deck.

Entry to the mountain has been closed for safety. Shiretoko Nature Foundation’s social media reports brown bears approaching hikers and following people even after bear spray was used. Last month, there was a fatal attack on a newspaper deliveryman by a brown bear in the town of Fukushima in southern Hokkaido.

Friday Finish - Several Small Finishes

Kogin Cherry Blossom Coaster  

This kogin coaster kit was a sweet little gift from a stitcher. It didn’t take long to stitch or put together.

Felt Snail Pin

Panda Folding Fan Covers

Drawstring bag for mini-sewing kit

Death on Mt. Fuji

 

This is sad news. Last Friday, a 55 year old man who was descending Mt. Fuji with his wife, lost consciousness and died. Kazuhiko Asakawa, a company executive from Tokyo, began climbing Mt. Fuji at 6 am, from the 5th station on the Yamanashi side. He and his wife reached the summit about 5 pm, then began descending. Around 6 pm, near the 8th station, he began feeling unwell, then lost consciousness. His wife contacted a nearby mountain hut, and he was transported to the 5th station by mountain crawler. He was confirmed dead later. Police reported he had no external injuries from falling rocks or slipping. There were no other details reported.  

I can’t help wondering. Was it his dream to climb Fuji san? Did he have pre-existing health issues? How is his wife/climbing partner doing? Is it any consolation that they made it to the top and were descending when he started feeling unwell?

Work In Progress Wednesday

I received this kogin coaster kit as a gift . The kit contains kogin fabric, kogin thread, backing fabric, batting, and instructions. I made nice progress in only one day. I always enjoy the even rows and repetition of kogin. I should do more of it.

The Hawaiian table cover is getting close to a finish. I still need to stitch the binding down on the back.

Japan’s Oldest Person - 114 Year Old Shigeko Kagawa

Following the death of 114 year old Miyoko Hiroyasu, Shigeko Kagawa, a 114 year old retired physician from Nara Prefecture, has become Japan’s Oldest Living Person. She graduated from medical school before WWII and served at a hospital in Osaka during the war. Later she ran her family’s clinic as an obstetrician and gynecologist, retiring at age 86. At age 109, during the Tokyo 2021 torch relay, Ms. Kagawa became one of the oldest torchbearers in Olympic history. 

According to her family, she doesn’t do anything unusual to stay healthy. She keeps a regular routine, with set wake up and bed times. She always has three proper meals a day, with small portions. 

I should pay more attention to my sleep times and portion sizes!

Monday Morning Star Count - Year 5 Temperatures Quilt Finish

Finished! All five of my temperature quilts are done!

The pieced backing is made of many cat fabrics in my stash. The pieced binding is made from smaller cuts of the backing fabrics. 

If you missed the first four finishes, you can check them out at these links:

Year Four

Year Three 

Year Two  

Year One

Nihondaira Yume Terrace, Ropeway, and Kunozan Shrine

I had a visitor who had never visited Nihondaira or Kunozan, so we decided to go there on Friday. It was a pretty day.

 

Because it was a weekday, it wasn’t crowded. It is a downhill walk from the Yume Terrace area to the ropeway to the shrine.

The cost of the round trip ropeway and admission to the shrine was 1950 yen per person.

The shrine has a lot of steps!

I live in a beautiful area!