Japan Diaries 4: Weekend 75

Weekend 75: April 8 – 9, 2023

Weekend 75: April 8 – 9, 2023

Day 523: April 8, 2023

Saturday – Rumoi

Rumoi High School 4.8.23
Rumoi High School 4.8.23

It's a rainy Saturday morning here in Rumoi City. We don't have any travel plans today, but I'm required to report for work. It's the start of a new school year, and I'm excited to be back in Rumoi High School for the Opening Ceremony (始業式, shigyōshiki) and the first faculty morning meeting (朝礼, chōrei).

Opening Ceremony (始業式, shigyōshiki)
Rumoi High School Opening Ceremony

Rumoi High School Graduation Ceremony
Rumoi High School Graduation Ceremony


During the Opening Ceremony, we welcomed the new teachers and staff and introduced them to the 2nd and 3rd-year students. It's always a great feeling to see familiar faces and to welcome new members to our school community. Later in the day, we had the Entrance Ceremony for the incoming 1st-year students. It's always heartwarming to see the excitement and enthusiasm of the new students as they embark on a new journey in their academic lives.

Faraaz, 2022
Movie night: Faraaz

After work, I was looking forward to spending some quality time with my family. We decided to watch a Bollywood movie, Faraaz, which was released in 2022. Although it was a good film, it reminded me of the film Hotel Mumbai, which I enjoyed more. The movie was centered more on the terrorists than Faraaz, and my wife fell asleep halfway through the film.

Overall, it was a productive and enjoyable day. I'm looking forward to spending more time with my family and exploring more of what Rumoi City has to offer.


Day 524: April 9, 2023

Sunday – Walking Around Rumoi

Today was a beautiful day here in Rumoi City. According to the weather forecast, it was supposed to be sunny until 1 PM, so my family and I took the opportunity to go for a walk. 

Walking along the Rumoi River

Walking along the Rumoi River

Walking along the Rumoi River

Walking along the Rumoi River

We walked along the Rumoi River and then crossed Route 233 to Shimamura, where my wife bought several pieces of clothing for pregnant women. It was a nice stroll, and we enjoyed the fresh air and scenery.

Shimamura Rumoi Branch
Shimamura Rumoi Branch

Shopping for clothes at Shimamura
Shopping for clothes at Shimamura

Next, we headed to Asbee to buy Ella a new pair of indoor shoes. We also visited the Sanshodo Book Store beside Asbee. I was surprised to see a wide selection of Japanese books, including a book dedicated to the Rumoi Line, which closed last March 31. It was my first time visiting this bookstore, and I found it really interesting.

Sanshodo Book Store
Sanshodo Book Store

MaxValu
Last stop for the day: MaxValu

Our last stop for the day was MaxValu, where we bought some groceries. We got home before it started raining. We had planned to go to the Rumoi City Library after lunch, but it started raining before we could even prepare our meal, so we decided to cancel our plans and just relax at home instead. That evening, my daughter and I binge-watched several episodes of the 6th season of My Hero Academia. It was a great way to end the day.

Overall, we didn’t visit any new cities, towns, or villages this weekend, as my wife's international driver’s license had already expired. Nevertheless, we still managed to have a relaxing time and get some rest. I am looking forward to another beautiful week ahead. Until next time, diary!
Location: Rumoi, Hokkaido, Japan

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