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 Adventure
Begins
September 2014 - The beginning of our island
adventures.
Picture - Us getting ready
to work in the upper farm.
We arrived at Tanegashima a little before 10 pm on August 31, 2014. We were
exhausted from the trip to the island thanks to traveling in our little kei car
with two dogs, a cat, and much of what we own stuffed into every crevice and
piled high on the roof of our ride. That said, we were still very excited to be
in our new home.
This month basically consisted of setting up the house and getting Akiko working
again in her new room at the ryokan, most of which was not posted....boring
stuff. We did manage to find plenty of time for fun though, especially at our
favorite white sand beach.
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 Busy
Day
September 1, 2014 - This was a very busy day on
the island. We began with a trip into town. Then we did a bit of work on the
property and then headed off to play at the beach.
Picture - Us hanging
out together at Maenohama beach.
Picture - Home - Our stuff in the closet.
Picture - Home - A huge spider outside.
Picture - Minamitane Town - We went to the
Daiwa onsen.
Picture - Jinanbou Restaurant - A picture of
the menu 1.
Picture - Jinanbou Restaurant - A picture of
the menu 2.
Picture - Jinanbou Restaurant - All of us
together.
Picture - Jinanbou Restaurant - Shai is
drinking juice.
Picture - Jinanbou Restaurant - A picture of
a menu set 1.
Picture - Jinanbou Restaurant - A picture of
a menu set 2.
Picture - Somes Building Supply - We went to
the building supply store 1.
Picture - Somes Building Supply - We went to
the building supply store 2.
Picture - Home - Shai working on the trees
in the front of the farm 1.
Picture - Home - Shai working on the trees
in the front of the farm 1.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - We went to the
beach with the dogs and played in the river 1.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - We went to the
beach with the dogs and played in the river 2.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - We went to the
beach with the dogs and played in the river 3.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - We went to the
beach with the dogs and played in the river 4.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - We went to the
beach with the dogs and played in the river 5.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - We went to the
beach with the dogs and played in the river 6.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - We went to the
beach with the dogs and played in the river 7.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - We went to the
beach with the dogs and played in the river 8. |
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 Stuff Came
September 2, 2014 -
Today the stuff we sent from Nara arrived at our island house. A bit later in
the day a repairman came to reinstall the utility line which blew off and into a
tree.
Picture - Utility line
hanging.
Picture - Home - Our stuff was packed in
these containers and then sent via ferry to the island and then to the house.
Picture - Home - More and more continued to
be unloaded from the truck.
Picture - Home - How many ________ (fill in
the blank) does it take to unload a trunk? In Tanegashima the answer is
four....people. lol.
Picture - Home - A utility line blew into
the trees this week because of the wind.
Picture - Home - Putting the line up again
proved to be a bit of a hassle as it was also hanging in the adjacent yard. |
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 Piled
Up
September 3, 2014 - Now our stuff was all piled
up in the space next to the entry. We also began working on getting rid of the
tree in the farm next to the driveway.
Picture - Our stuff
piled up.
Picture - Home - Our stuff piled up 1.
Picture - Home - Our stuff piled up 2.
Picture - Home - Began working on the tree 1.
Picture - Home - Began working on the tree 2.
Picture - Home - Began working on the tree 3.
Picture - Home - Began working on the tree 4. |
 Beautiful Sunset
September 4, 2014 -
We watched a beautiful sunset from fishing pier number 6 in the Nishino district
of Minamitane town.
Picture - Us with the
sun setting behind Yakushima.
Picture - Home - A nice bunch of bananas.
Picture - Minamitane West Coast Pier #6 - Us
with watching a beautiful sunset behind Yakushima.
Picture - Minamitane West Coast Pier #6 - Shai
making a funny face in front of the sunset.
Picture - Minamitane West Coast Pier #6 -
Another beautiful sunset picture 1.
Picture - Minamitane West Coast Pier #6 -
Another beautiful sunset picture 2.
Picture - Minamitane West Coast Pier #6 -
Another beautiful sunset picture 3.
Picture - Minamitane West Coast Pier #6 - A
picture of the moon taken with an iphone. lol. |
Shopping and Playing at the Beach
September 5, 2014 -
We headed up to the city today for some things you can only find up north in
Nishinoomote. Then we spent the afternoon and Maenohama beach again with the
doggies.
Picture - Nishinoomote -
We went to the Yamada electronics store in Nishinoomote to purchase a router for
Internet access in the house.
Picture - Nishinoomote - The closest thing you
will find to an American strip mall on the island, located in Nishinoomote.
Picture - Nishinoomote - A hyakin or 100 yen
shop stocked with many of the products you would expect to find at this kind of
store.
Picture - Nishinoomote - This is what a 100
yen store looks like. Basically tons of stuff for the equivalent of a U.S. buck.
Picture - Jinanbou Restaurant - Another visit
to our favorite restaurant, Jinanbou, in Minamitane town.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - An absolutely
gorgeous picture of our dogs playing at the beach.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - A huge sandbar
formed on this beautiful beach. Again nobody except for us.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - A beautiful
picture of the beach 1.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - A beautiful
picture of the beach 2.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - A beautiful
picture of the beach 3.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - A beautiful
picture of the beach 4. |
 Tanegashima
Parking Rules
September 6, 2014 -
This is our car parked on the sidewalk in "downtown" Minamitane while visiting,
the now closed, and formerly our favorite fishing store.
Picture - Car parked
on the sidewalk of "downtown" Minamitane.
Tanegashima has very strict parking rules. Basically you are required to park,
um....pretty much anywhere you want.
The locals basically park anywhere including the middle of the main roads to use
the phone and occasionally park on both roads and talk.
They park on the sidewalks and at strange angles and occasionally actually use
the designated parking spots. lol.
Picture - Home - A lot of mold in the
closet.
Picture - Home - The laundry room floor all
messed up.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - A nice view of
the beach.
Picture - Minamitane Town - Parking on the
sidewalk.
Picture - Minamitane Town - The building
where a community meeting was held today.
Picture - Minamitane Town - Us hanging out
together at the community meeting.
Picture - Minamitane Town - A group of the
neighbors at the community meeting 1.
Picture - Minamitane Town - A group of the
neighbors at the community meeting 2.
Picture - Minamitane Town - A group of the
neighbors at the community meeting 3. |
 Fishing at Shimama Port
September 7, 2014 -
This was actually our first time to go fishing since we moved to Tanegashima.
We decided to go to Minamitane west coast fishing pier number 1, which is also
Shimama port.
Today was kind of cloudy and a bit rainy but warm.
Picture - Shai showing
off his fish.
Picture - Minamitane West Coast Pier #1 - Us
fishing at the port.
Picture - Minamitane West Coast Pier #1 - Us
fishing at the port.
Picture - Minamitane West Coast Pier #1 - Shai
was really happy to catch the first fish. An Indo-Pacific Sergeant fish.
Picture - Minamitane West Coast Pier #1 -
Another view of the same fish.
Picture - Minamitane West Coast Pier #1 - We
kept taking pictures to make sure.
Picture - Minamitane West Coast Pier #1 - This
is probably the best picture of Shai and showing the stripes of the fish.
Picture - Minamitane West Coast Pier #1 -
Another picture of the port 1.
Picture - Minamitane West Coast Pier #1 -
Another picture of the port 2.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - A nice picture of
the beach 1.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - A nice picture of
the beach 2.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - The full moon music
festival directions to the beach.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - The full moon music
festival a poster for the festival 1.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - The full moon music
festival a poster for the festival 2.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - The full moon music
festival us hanging out together 1.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - The full moon music
festival us hanging out together 2.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - The full moon music
festival the venue.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - The full moon music
festival a group of girls performing.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - The full moon music
festival Shai hanging out.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - The full moon music
festival us hanging out together.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - The full moon music
festival Shai playing in the playground.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - The full moon music
festival Tahitian performance.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - The full moon music
festival a group of girls performing 1.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - The full moon music
festival a group of girls performing 2.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - The full moon music
festival another performance.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - The full moon music
festival Shai playing in the playground.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - The full moon music
festival another performance 1.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - The full moon music
festival another performance 2.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - The full moon music
festival Shai playing in the playground 1.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - The full moon music
festival Shai playing in the playground 2.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - The full moon music
festival the full moon tonight.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - The full moon music
festival Shai playing in the playground.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - The full moon music
festival the full moon tonight.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - The full moon music
festival Shai playing on the slide 1.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - The full moon music
festival Shai playing on the slide 2.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - The full moon music
festival the nighttime crowd 1.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - The full moon music
festival the nighttime crowd 2. |
Return to Work, Fun at the Beach, and Fishing
September 8, 2014 -
Akiko returned to work but this time in her new room at Kiku Ryokan in
Minamitane town. Me and Shai went to Maenohama beach with the doggies. Then in
the afternoon we went fishing at the pier close to the house. The same evening a
beautiful full moon was high up in the sky.
Picture - Kiku Ryokan - This was actually the
first day for Akiko to work in her new room at Kiku ryokan in Minamitane town.
Picture - Kiku Ryokan - Akiko is now really
busy at work again.
Picture - Home - The laundry room floor all
messed up 1.
Picture - Home - The laundry room floor all
messed up 2.
Picture - Kiku Ryokan - We wanted to give
Akiko a little support on her first day back to work and decided to eat lunch
together.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - Really nice
picture of me and Shai at the beach 1.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - Really nice
picture of me and Shai at the beach 2.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - Shai was pretty
much running around half naked and going crazy with the dogs.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - Shai certainly
likes to pose for pictures.
Picture - Minamitane West Coast Pier #6 - A
couple of really cool dudes getting ready to spend a few hours fishing.
Picture - Minamitane West Coast Pier #6 - Yup Shai caught a couple of
fish at the same time on a sabiki.
Picture - Minamitane West Coast Pier #6 - Shai caught a couple of Bigeye
Trevally which are like Aji and really good to eat.
Picture - Minamitane West Coast Pier #6 - This
is a nice picture of me and Shai fishing.
Picture - Minamitane West Coast Pier #6 - Shai
likes to go fishing.
Picture - Home - The full moon was high up in
the sky above our Nishino house in Minamitane town.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - A nice picture of
the beach 1.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - A nice picture of
the beach 2.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - A nice picture of
the beach 3. |
Moon Above Minamitane
September 9, 2014 -
Another night with a beautiful full moon on the island.
Picture - Minamitane Town - Beautiful sunset
over Yakushima.
Picture - Minamitane Town - The moon was
almost full as it ascended above "downtown" Minamitane. |
Dogs Eating Fishing Bait
September 10, 2014 -
Yup our dogs found an open package of Kibinago, small bait fish, on the beach at Maenohama
Seaside Park. A lot of the locals fish from the coast and often use this kind of
bait.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - These guys
knocked much of entire package and then one of them threw up all over the back
of the car.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - They finished
pretty much everything. |
Nodogoshi and Mamushi
September 12, 2014 -
Actually nodogoshi, which usually goes for about 714 yen on this island (very
expensive) was on sale for 580 yen. Really loaded up without realizing this sale
comes up every week.
Picture - Home - The only farm tools needed
for farming 1.
Picture - Home - The only farm tools needed
for farming 2.
Picture - Home - The only farm tools needed
for farming 3.
Picture - Home - Whoa certainly looks like the
refrigerator of a bunch of college students at a dormitory. lol.
Picture - Home - This is a very poisonous
pit viper in Japan and was found in the upper farm today. |
Okonomiyaki Restaurant
September 13, 2014 -
We went out to eat at Yasu Bei, an okonomiyaki restaurant.
The food is really good at Yasu Bei and about the same as prices you would
expect to find on the Japanese mainland.
The beer is usually 500 yen but get there before 7:00 pm and pay only 200 yen
for your first glass..
Picture - Home - The kitchen wall all messed
up.
Picture - Yasu Bei Restaurant - This is
another of our favorite restaurants in Minamitane town.
Picture - Yasu Bei Restaurant - Shai really
likes the food at this place.
Picture - Yasu Bei Restaurant - This woman is
the owner of the restaurant and is making okonomiyaki and also owns a hair
cutting place.
Picture - Yasu Bei Restaurant - Yup this is an okonomiyaki
pancake made to look like anpan man, a famous cartoon character in Japan.
Picture - Yasu Bei Restaurant - The okonomiyaki
pancakes really look as good as they taste.
Picture - Yasu Bei Restaurant - This is a
picture of the front of the menu.
Picture - Yasu Bei Restaurant - This is what
can be ordered at this restaurant. |
Farming, Beach, and Fishing
September 14, 2014 -
After a couple of weeks on Tanegashima, we were finally ready to do some
farming. We once again went to Maenohama beach in the afternoon. We began
collecting a lot of driftwood for decorative use in the house and around the
yard. We spent much of the afternoon playing around in the sand. This particular day was really
interesting as the tides and storm surge piled up a huge sand mountain.
Picture - Shai getting
ready to slide on a sand mountain.
Picture - Home - The kitchen all washed up
1.
Picture - Home - The kitchen all washed up
2.
Picture - Home - This is us standing in the
upper farm in front of our house.
Picture - Home - Same scene different
picture.
Picture - Home - This is a small joke
mimicking a corn flakes package from many years ago with a miserable looking old
couple on the front.
Picture - Home - Same scene different
picture.
Picture - Home - With all of the essential
tools in hand, now we are finally ready to work in the farm.
Picture - Home - Same scene different
picture.
Picture - Home - We are finally busy working
in the farm making farm beds.
Picture - Home - Same scene different
picture.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - This interesting
piece of driftwood was found at the beach 1.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - This interesting
piece of driftwood was found at the beach 2.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - This piece was a
bit blackened and resembled a face 1.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - This piece was a
bit blackened and resembled a face 2.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - Shai likes to
throw around these floats, which look a lot like orbiting satellites 1.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - Shai likes to
throw around these floats, which look a lot like orbiting satellites 2.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - Hanging out
together.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - I decided to post
this picture too since Shai looks really cute. Nice smile little dude.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - Shai getting
ready to slide on a huge sand mountain.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - A little bit of
mental preparation.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - And a successful
slide.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - Made it all the
way and was still standing.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - Who is da man.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - Nice pose.
Picture - Minamitane West Coast Pier #6 - This
was a really nice day for fishing but there was not much biting.
Shai caught a trevally. |
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New Chair and Dog Meeting
September 15, 2014 -
Akiko at work showing off her new chair. The doggie made a lot of new friends at
the beach.
Picture - Kiku Ryokan - Akiko posed for a
moment showing off her new office chair.
Picture - Kiku Ryokan - Akiko back to work
again. Whoa this chair really does work.
Picture - Home - A new toilet seat was
installed today 1.
Picture - Home - A new toilet seat was
installed today 2.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - Today some guy
showed up with four dogs. Was nice to see Einstein and Copernicus making new
friends.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - Then we went
home and the dogs did a few more sniffs of each other and said see you again. |
 Putting
Seeds
September 17, 2014 -
Shai putting seeds in the upper farm.
This is a fantastic activity for kids. They get to spend time outside and learn
the importance of growing your own food.
Shai is also learning that farming is not always easy. He really does not like
to pull weeds. lol.
He is also learning the meaning of hard work and the benefits you receive after
a job well done.
Picture - Home - Shai putting in a few seeds. |
First Sabbath
September 19, 2014 -
This was actually our first Jewish Sabbath on Tanegashima. Kind of guessing this
might also be the first time Sabbath candles were lit on this island. lol.
Picture - Home - These Sabbath candle
holders were actually made at the old house back in Nara. |
Entry Room
September 20, 2014 - The entry room was all
washed up and ready to use now.
Picture - Home - The entry room all washed
up. |
Sports Festival
September 21, 2014 - Today was the annual
Minamitane Town Sports Festival.
Picture - Minamitane Town - Annual
neighborhood sports festival poster 1.
Picture - Minamitane Town - Annual
neighborhood sports festival poster 2.
Picture - Minamitane Town - Annual
neighborhood sports festival poster 3.
Picture - Minamitane Town - Annual
neighborhood sports festival venue 1.
Picture - Minamitane Town - Annual
neighborhood sports festival venue 2.
Picture - Minamitane Town - Annual
neighborhood sports festival us hanging out together.
Picture - Minamitane Town - Annual neighborhood
sports festival Shai hanging out.
Picture - Minamitane Town - Annual
neighborhood sports festival us hanging out together.
Picture - Minamitane Town - Annual neighborhood
sports festival Shai hanging out with a friend.
Picture - Minamitane Town - Annual
neighborhood sports festival venue 1.
Picture - Minamitane Town - Annual
neighborhood sports festival venue 2.
Picture - Minamitane Town - Annual
neighborhood sports festival venue 3.
Picture - Minamitane Town - Annual
neighborhood sports festival venue 4.
Picture - Minamitane Town - Annual
neighborhood sports festival a competition.
Picture - Minamitane Town - Annual
neighborhood sports festival nice view.
Picture - Minamitane Town - Annual
neighborhood sports festival a competition 1.
Picture - Minamitane Town - Annual
neighborhood sports festival a competition 2.
Picture - Minamitane Town - Annual
neighborhood sports festival a competition 3.
Picture - Minamitane Town - Annual
neighborhood sports festival a competition 4.
Picture - Minamitane Town - Annual
neighborhood sports festival a competition 5.
Picture - Minamitane Town - Annual
neighborhood sports festival a competition 6.
Picture - Minamitane Town - Annual
neighborhood sports festival building.
Picture - Minamitane Town - Annual
neighborhood sports festival venue 1.
Picture - Minamitane Town - Annual
neighborhood sports festival venue 2.
Picture - Minamitane Town - Annual
neighborhood sports festival a competition 1.
Picture - Minamitane Town - Annual
neighborhood sports festival a competition 2.
Picture - Minamitane Town - Annual
neighborhood sports festival us hanging out together for lunch.
Picture - Minamitane Town - Annual
neighborhood sports festival the lunch.
Picture - Minamitane Town - Annual
neighborhood sports festival the venue.
Picture - Minamitane Town - Sports festival
after party the guys sitting together 1.
Picture - Minamitane Town - Sports festival
after party the guys sitting together 2.
Picture - Minamitane Town - Sports festival
after party the girls sitting together 1.
Picture - Minamitane Town - Sports festival
after party the girls sitting together 2.
Picture - Minamitane Town - Sports festival
after party the neighbors sitting together.
Picture - Minamitane Town - Sports festival
after party the food 1.
Picture - Minamitane Town - Sports festival
after party the food 2.
Picture - Minamitane Town - Sports festival
after party the food 3.
Picture - Minamitane Town - Us hanging out
together with the neighbors 1.
Picture - Minamitane Town - Us hanging out
together with the neighbors 2. |
Dog Gate
September 22, 2014 - Made a dog gate out of
bamboo sticks
Picture - Home - A new dog gate. |
 Rosh
Hashana Japanese Style
September 24, 2014 -
This was actually our first Rosh Hashana holiday on Tanegashima.
Certainly is interesting for me to be doing
this sitting on the floor on tatami mats. Go figure.
Shai likes all of the
holidays, of course.
Growing up with a variety of cultural and religious
influences has not only been fun for him but has really opened up his mind.
Picture - Home - A nice bunch of bananas.
Picture - Home - All together celebrating
the Rosh Hashana holiday 1.
Picture - Home - All together celebrating
the Rosh Hashana holiday 2. |
New Wall
September 25, 2014 - A new wall was being built
in the farm.
Picture - Home - A new wall being built 1.
Picture - Home - A new wall being built 2.
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Veggie Store, Jinanbou and the Rock Beach
September 27, 2014 -
We went to the local veggie store today. From there we went to our favorite
restaurant. Then we went to the beach close to the house for some fun.
Picture - Minamitane Town - This is the town
vegetable store. This really small place sells vegetables which are locally
produced.
Picture - Minamitane Town - The produce
selection is a bit limited and really depends on the time of day as well as the
season.
Picture - Jinanbou Restaurant - We went
early and there were no other customers and a good chance to take a nice picture.
Picture - Minamitane West Coast Pier #6 - Shai
spent a while turning over rocks in search of anything cool, especially crabs. |
New Friends
September
30, 2014 -
Today a couple and their son showed up at our house.
Me and Shai were busy working in the lower farm.
The couple came up and were surprised to find our house was already rented.
Apparently the house was still online and listed for rent. We talked for awhile
and then made plans to meet a couple of days later.
Picture - Home - The son in their camping
car.
Picture - Home - This is the camping car
they were using for their travels in Japan.
Picture - Home - The dude is a surfing
instructor and these are a few of his boards. His wife is a yoga instructor. |
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