journal features

New Year's activities

the journal of Michael Werneburg

twenty-seven years and one million words

Nichinan, Miyazaki, 2022.01.03

Today we went to a shrine first thing, leaving at 08:00 to beat the rush. We went to Udo Shrine up the coast not far from Nichinan, where we can dispose of last year's good luck charms (we finally got rid of one we've had for ten+ years) and pick up new ones. We can also buy five clay pellets for ¥100 and try to throw them so that they land within a rope ring atop a large upright part of the rocky shoreline.

After that we turned around and went south of Nichinan to a spot where a castle once stood. It's got great views of the Odotsu seaside town that makes up part of Nichinan. The sea was quite flat and the sun was shining. The kids horsed around on a swing that hangs at the lip of the cliff. From there we went to a nice seafood restaurant we know only to find it closed for the holidays. So we went to a small hole-in-the-wall that we hadn't previously visited and personally I preferred it.

Then on the way back we noticed a large solar power installation on a slope next to a substantial sports complex Mari knows. We detoured to explore that.

I'll have photos of the whole day when I get back to my image management workflow.

rand()m quote

Naturally the common people don't want war: Neither in Russia, nor in England, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the peacemakers for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.

—Hermann Goering