Akikawa

(Click here to see the panoramic picture)

Tokyo green. Take the Chuo-sen, the central JR line, and go West. One hour and a few more minutes away, it is still Tokyo, that is administratively, but Tokyo in the countryside. The Akikawa river is dotted by a few vegetables fields and rice paddies. Not far from there, growing vegetables is an intensive activity. For family reasons, we often get there and spend week-ends to resource in greensight. Just about a month ago, the landscape was a desultory yellowish thing with dried out bushes and shabby trees. This is all over. Thanks to Spring and welcome to Summer.


K.'s junior school is still located here in the middle of the fields, just like 30 years ago. On Sundays, boys, as in many Japanese schools, gather to play baseball. Baseball seems to be more of a voice than a muscle activity. The kids encourage each other in not much enthusiastic ritualistic way. It is the coach's voice scolding and shaming that is stands a head and shoulder above the chorus. My sports coach disgust knows no limit. (Click here to walk around in the picture.)



At this time of the year, irrigation channels are gushing with water swarming the paddies. It adorns our usual walk path with refreshing googling notes. Rice shots are brought from elsewhere and plucked in the mud one by one, by hand. Akikawa rice has no brand image and the paddies are small. The growers may be eating it all.

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