Idyllic grass-covered path along Ise-ji, row of tiny stones along edge, bowing foliage, tunnel of green, sea just off frame to left, and then, huh, blamo: WOODEN BENCH, dropped on its side, middle of path — wild typhoon? furious high schoolers? — two concrete blocks for feet (yakuza tomfoolery?), handsomely crafted of (seemingly?) fine wood, small divot for buttocks, bit of plastic trash caught underneath, looking closer and closer still: earth torn from path edge falling down to beach, perhaps erosion made bench unsafe where it once stood, now temporarily placed by kindly construction folk in middle of path, for just a few hours, maybe a day or two, worker presently eating ramen, salted, fat chashu, side of gyoza down the road in Owase, at a shop I helped move and rename on Google Maps once, many years ago.

Idyllic grass-covered path along Ise-ji, row of tiny stones along edge, bowing foliage, tunnel of green, sea just off frame to left, and then, huh, blamo: WOODEN BENCH, dropped on its side, middle of path — wild typhoon? furious high schoolers? — two concrete blocks for feet (yakuza tomfoolery?), handsomely crafted of (seemingly?) fine wood, small divot for buttocks, bit of plastic trash caught underneath, looking closer and closer still: earth torn from path edge falling down to beach, perhaps erosion made bench unsafe where it once stood, now temporarily placed by kindly construction folk in middle of path, for just a few hours, maybe a day or two, worker presently eating ramen, salted, fat chashu, side of gyoza down the road in Owase, at a shop I helped move and rename on Google Maps once, many years ago.



huh, Season 01 – Issue 07

 
 

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