Neighborhood

Keeping a peaceful neighborhood environment (or rather, trying not to upset your neighbors) is very important in Japan. Especially in rural areas.
It has been two years since we moved into our apartment in a five story building surrounded by private houses in a small town, and I still don't know what my neighbors look like. Maybe this is a sign that all is well...

We are living close to a factory, and last summer they had to start some construction work for a couple of weeks. To apologize for the disturbance caused by the noise (which by the way I haven't heard at all) they have sent every neighboring household a letter of explanation and a small towel as a present.

In a few days the facade of the house right next to ours has to be repaired or renovated. This time we received a shopping bag, accompanied by the traditional letter. Among the various points it recommended not to leave our laundry to dry outside. It might get dusty.
Very considerate (or is it?)....



Unrelated: A nice book I bought today, "Sengai, Master Zen Painter".
We saw an interesting exhibition of paintings by Sengai, a Japanese Zen priest and master of the mid-eighteenth century who expressed his insight in ink paintings and calligraphy full of wisdom and humor.



This is one of his most famous drawings that he used as teaching material.

Hotei pointing to the moon

Dear moon,
how old are you?
Thirteen and seven