Fukuoka Japan Mission: Week 74 June 30

When we are biking to downtown Kumamoto, we always pass this very small shrine on the corner where we cross the street. They are all over.

The most common bicycle type in Japan and at rental shops are simple bicycles for everyday use, called mamachari ("mom's bicycle"). Mamachari are typically equipped with a basket and/or a child seat, a simple lock, a kickstand and just one gear. The kickstand on the first bike is very stable but very heavy, I had never seen anything like it until I came to Japan.

Here is Luetta by what I call here Tomato trees. They are growing very tall and bearing lots of cherry tomato's.

At the International Center they had put up their Tanabata tree and we found out wishes on them, here is mine.

With these views of the tree (actually just a large branch) as a whole. This first view is from the landing between the first and second floor.

And this from the first floor. We have our Japanese and English classes on the second floor.

These Tanabata trees are all over, here is one in a local store.

Friday was July 4th and it is not celebrated here in Japan. We did our regular apartment checks at the Omuta Elders and since they had a "Celestial" rating we offered to take them to lunch. We went to YakiNiku (which is grilled meat on a small BBQ at your table) along will all kinds of other foods that are all you can eat. So I got my BBQ