I'm a Japanese housewife living in Japan. I'm in my 60's. I want to know daily lives in the world, so at first I'll tell my daily. What is your daily life?
It’s raining now. However, two men are coming to our house today.
One is a professional cleaner who specializes in taking washing machines apart and cleaning them thoroughly. The other is an electrician who is going to replace the fluorescent lights in our ceiling with LED lights.
Apparently, fluorescent light bulbs will no longer be manufactured in Japan after this fiscal year, so the switch to LED lighting is well underway.
We used to replace the ceiling lights ourselves, but we can’t manage it anymore, so we asked a local electrician to do it for us.
The cleaner also lives nearby. And, amazingly, the two men went to the same elementary and junior high schools and were classmates!
The rental fee is ¥1,400 a month, and there’s no cancellation fee if I keep it for at least three months.
So, let’s see if this can solve the problem of how to clean our windows this year!
My husband can’t handle anything that requires reaching high places, and I’ve been having problems with my neck and shoulders, so I thought this might be a good idea.
We’ve decided that we’ll just give up on the areas that this robot can’t clean.
We chose not to pursue any further treatment, so Yuki passed on the last round of chemotherapy covered by his insurance. Yesterday was his first follow-up visit to the hospital since then.
As expected, the cancer has progressed a little. But he is fine. He is enjoying his music activities.
The numbness won’t improve, but the doctor prescribed medication to help prevent it from getting worse.
For now, we’ll go to the hospital about once a month.
After discussing it with his doctor, we’ve also decided to start home-visit nursing care. I guess a nurse who visits us will check on his condition about once a month. Knowing that we can contact them 24 hours a day is very reassuring.
we had arranged for Yuki to be assessed for long-term care early on, and he was certified as needing Level 1 care, so that I feel like things are moving forward in a timely way.
At the same time, it’s a strange feeling, because all of this is based on the assumption that his condition will get worse. It’s hard to know how to feel about that.
I’m filled with anxiety about how his condition will change from now on and what lies ahead.
But perhaps that’s exactly why I’m so grateful for the support we can get from people outside our family.
◆In what ways can opposition be helpful to a person?
That’s a difficult question, so I can only give a general answer.
When you are discussing something and trying to decide what to do, it’s important to hear opposing opinions because they help you look at the issue from different angles.
If I think about it more specifically,
Opposition can make you think more carefully.
It can help you find weaknesses in your ideas.
It can help you improve your ideas.
It can help you understand other people's perspectives.
It can prevent you from making a bad decision.
◆Are you a very competitive person? What things do you like to compete in?
Do I seem like a competitive person to you?
I used to be competitive. Anyway, I hated losing. It’s not that I didn’t care about winning. I did want to win, but I hated losing even more. So I tended not to take on things when I already knew I was likely to lose. Even now, I don’t like games where there has to be a winner and a loser.
◆How do you usually react if people disagree with an idea or thought that you have?
When you say “usually,” let me answer as a woman in her 60s.
As we get older and gain more experience, the way we respond changes.
When someone disagrees with me, I first think about how important my opinion is in the discussion. If I need to stick to my opinion or I have to take action myself, I try to think more carefully about what they are saying. But if it’s not that important, I’ll just back down and move on.
◆Do you ever have to compete against others at school or at work?
Now I’m retired, and there are only two of us here—my husband and me. So I seldom have to compete against others. But I used to compete at school, at work, and even at home.
by Yuki
◆When was the last time you had an argument? What happened?
Though my mother has already passed away, the last serious argument I had was when she was sick. I had to discuss her care with my brothers. It wasn’t a very friendly discussion. At that time, my brother was the main person taking care of my mother, so I decided to step back and let him have his way.
◆Have you ever ended a friendship with a person because you had opposing ideas?
Unfortunately, yes. It’s happened several times, and I still remember every one of them clearly. What’s more, when I think about it, the pattern is always the same. I become closer to someone and start to believe that this person really understands me and understands the way I think I get too confident about that, and eventually, the friendship falls apart. You’d think I would have learned by now!
Last night, the owner of Café KARAKU called me to let me know that some items had been sold. All the clothes were sold, and Yuki’s fishing gear was sold, too.
Unfortunately, though, the books, which are the main reason we’re doing this, are still there.
Monday has started. In the morning, we’re going to the clinic as usual. Then, in the evening, we’re going to KARAKU Cafe with the things we want to let go of.
They’ve kindly offered us a corner of the cafe where we can display the things we no longer need, and customers can take whatever they need.
We have to arrange everything ourselves, so the key is whether we can set things up in a stylish and attractive way.
Yesterday, two young friends came to my house. I handed over all the props I had used for my picture-book activities.
They were originally props for my English picture-book activities, but of course, they can also be used for reading Japanese picture books. They can still be useful at this point.
The props themselves gradually wear out, and new picture books keep coming out, so eventually the props may no longer work for the books being used.
I finally decided that it was time to let them go while there are still people who want to use them. It took me a long time to make up my mind, but I’m glad I finally did.
What a pain! My right neck and shoulder have been hurting since yesterday morning, though my right shoulder has been hurting since this winter. So I put on a pain-relief patch and carried on with my day. But the pain got worse, so I went to an orthopedic clinic.
They gave me an IV painkiller and told me that wearing a neck brace might make things a little more comfortable. They gave me a simple neck brace to wear.
I don’t know why the pain got worse. I guess the shoulder pain has now spread to my neck. The pain is much better this morning, but it still hurts when I move my neck up and down. My left shoulder has started to hurt a little, too.
Oh, well. I guess I just have to learn to live with it and manage it as best I can.
You still have to wear a mask at hospitals in Japan.
I’d like to start the week on a refreshing note, but it’s so humid. It’s unusual for it to be this humid so early in the morning.
Today is my health checkup day. I’m not having breakfast, and I’ll leave home in about an hour. I’m also having a gynecological checkup this afternoon, so it’s going to be quite a busy day. It’s a health checkup organized by the city, so I guess that’s what you get.
I wonder where we should eat—an early lunch or a late breakfast?
This week, our care manager is coming, and our bodywork therapist is coming, too. Thanks to long-term care insurance, it’s nice to have people coming and going .
Yesterday afternoon, Yuki was at a jazz café for a jam session. Coincidentally, one of my gym friends came over to my house, so we spent the afternoon just chatting and taking it easy. She has made some of my kimonos into clothes and bags for me.
We spent a really relaxed afternoon, chatting aimlessly and saying to each other, “We’re really just lazing around, aren’t we?” It was nice to spend such a leisurely afternoon together.
Today, Yuki and I are going to a nearby temple where I have been attending a sutra-copying group. We don’t belong to a particular religion, but we follow Buddhist customs for traditional ceremonies, so we are going there to talk about what we should do in the future. We are not planning to build a family grave.
I happened to learn about the sutra-copying group when I was out walking, and although I am not a member of the temple, they kindly let me join. I have been going ever since. Perhaps this, too, is some kind of fate.
The Obon holidays are over, and our daily routine has returned to normal.
It’s Wednesday today. This morning, we are going to the bank and the clinic. In the afternoon, Yuki is going to get a massage. Do you know “ashitsubo massage”? It’s a kind of foot massage, but it’s a little different. It focuses on the acupressure points on the soles of the feet, which are pressed firmly with the thumb.
I hope it will help improve his numbness, even just a little, although it seems difficult. Of course, it isn’t covered by public health insurance, but it seems to be a nice change of pace for him, so I think it’s worth it. He usually gets a one-hour treatment. Today, though, he is getting an extra 30 minutes, and I’m going to take advantage of that and get the extra 30 minutes myself!
We are also going through our documents and paperwork again and reviewing everything. As part of that process, we are going to the bank today to organize our bank accounts.
Today is the anniversary of the end of World War II in Japan. In August, the media is filled with stories and programs related to the war. This morning, I heard an interesting program on the radio.
In Germany, it seems that January 27, rather than the anniversary of the end of the war, is considered a more important day of remembrance. It is the day the Auschwitz extermination camp was liberated by the Allied forces.January 30 is also an important day in Germany. It marks the day Hitler came to power.
The idea is, apparently, to make sure that Germany never forgets its role as the aggressor.
On Wednesday, we went to the hospital to apply for genomic testing. Surprisingly, the blood sample will be sent all the way to the United States. We should get the results by the end of next month. In Yuki’s case, we were told that the chances of finding an actionable genetic abnormality are “very low,” but we’re going to do whatever we can. We’re also grateful that this test is covered by our health insurance.
It’s right in the middle of the Obon holiday now, but unfortunately, it’s been raining. Well, even if it were hot, I would probably be saying, “It’s just too hot,” and staying quietly at home anyway. Actually, perhaps because I’m worn out from the heat, I’ve been spending a lot of time lying down and sleeping.
Oh, on Tuesday, I played at Karaku Cafe.
Meanwhile, Yuki continues to go to the Jazz Cafe regularly, even during the Obon holiday, and plays whenever he feels like it. I’m glad that he can still enjoy his music in his own way.
This Sunday, we’re going to make a few changes to our mobile phone plans. Little by little, we’ve started to think about the future and what life might be like for me on my own someday. We’ve also started reviewing our respective ending notes.
Unfortunately, they were not able to get enough tissue from the biopsy this time. Next Wednesday, we will meet with the oncologist to discuss having another test done using a blood sample.
Yesterday, Yuki officially “declared” that he would receive no further treatment. We have entered a new phase.
Our doctor also told us, “From now on, you will have to choose between being hospitalized and receiving medical care at home, so you should talk about it together.”
The possibility of Yuki leaving this world, and of caring for him until the end, has become more real to both of us.
To be honest, we are both feeling pretty down right now. But we know that it is important to keep our everyday life going. For now, the washing machine is doing its job, washing our sheets for us.
This week, our daughters will be visiting us on different days. We'll take each of them to a different restaurant that we love, so it will be a slightly luxurious week.
The main reason our older daughter is coming is that a gallery in Utsunomiya has invited her to its reception party. She was invited as an artist, so it's partly a business trip. This is the first time she has been invited by a gallery in her hometown. We hope this will lead to her having her own exhibition here someday.
We'll also take our younger daughter and our granddaughter to a French restaurant that we love and have been visiting for many years. As a rule, children under the age of 12 are not allowed there. However, as a special summer event, the owner kindly agreed to let us bring our granddaughter, so we're really looking forward to it.
Yuki had his biopsy and was discharged from the hospital as scheduled. I'm relieved that he didn't develop a collapsed lung. The risk is usually low, but since it has happened to him twice before, I couldn't help worrying a little.
Now I'm just hoping he won't develop pneumonia. That also happened after a previous biopsy, so it's still in the back of my mind. But today he's going to join a jam session at a jazz café. I think he'll probably enjoy spending time there more than staying at home.
It's been very humid since early this morning.
As for me...
There are several things I'd like to get organized, but somehow I haven't made much progress.
Every summer I update our family photo album, but this year's is still untouched.
It feels like the world has changed. There was another major earthquake in Kumamoto, even though it has been only ten years since the last devastating one. On top of that, they're also dealing with intense heat.
Sometimes it all makes me feel sad. The weather seems different, and the world itself feels different somehow. But then I remind myself that my mother's generation lived through the war in Japan. Every era has had its own hardships.
Yesterday, I joined an online support group for families of people with cancer. I had hoped it would be encouraging, but instead I found myself listening to people who were struggling even more than I am. By the end of the meeting, I felt even more discouraged. I guess I'm just not ready for that kind of support group right now.
Today, though, there's some good news. Yuki is actually going to the barber. The effects of the chemotherapy he had before his current treatment have finally worn off, and his hair has started growing back. It's now long enough to comb, so he's going to have the back of his hair trimmed.
As for me, I'm going to visit a friend's hair salon and get my hair done, too.
We've finished talking with the two doctors at the hospital and the care manager, and we've let our children know about the situation. This morning, we're taking a moment to remind ourselves that we have no doubts about the choices we've made.
Today, we'll go to our local clinic as usual. We might have lunch out, and we'll go to the gym in the evening.
Oh, and since it's the end of the month, I need to update our bank passbook. We still manage our household finances the old-fashioned way—by keeping our bank passbook up to date.
This is my update from yesterday's hospital visit.
Next week, Yuki will be admitted to the hospital for one night and two days to undergo another biopsy. It has been three years since his first biopsy. The chances are very small, but there is still a possibility that the characteristics of his cancer have changed. If that has happened, it may open up new treatment options.
If not, the doctor suggested one last chemotherapy drug. However, it is unclear how effective it would be in slowing the cancer, and I didn't get the impression that it was being recommended with much confidence. Since we don't want to lower his quality of life any further, we're taking some time to think carefully about what to do.
If he decides not to have the chemotherapy, the plan will be careful monitoring rather than active treatment. The good news is that the cancer is not progressing aggressively at the moment, so the doctor did not talk about life expectancy.
That's my update. I tried to write it as calmly as I could. Thank you for reading.
It’s been extremely hot day after day. It’s 6:30 a.m. now, and we’ve already finished breakfast. Yuki will leave for the hospital in about 30 minutes.
He has the first appointment of the day, so he’ll have blood tests and a chest X-ray before seeing the doctor. I’ll leave home just before 8:00 a.m.
The doctor is expected to explain the CT scan results and discuss what lies ahead. We know we have to accept whatever comes, but it’s still hard to face.
I also updated my YouTube channel earlier today. It’s about our garden. The garden is a bit overgrown with weeds, but a gardener is coming next week to take care of it.
It suddenly became very hot and humid. I've been suffering from the summer heat, so I often spend my afternoons sleeping. Yuki has been dozing off in front of his computer, too. I guess we're both in the same boat.
As usual, during the third week of his treatment cycle, Yuki's white blood cell count dropped, so he wasn't able to receive chemotherapy this week.
Next week is finally the CT scan. We'll discuss the results with his doctor and decide how to move forward with his treatment. The doctor has already told us that there are almost no treatment options left.
Since Yuki couldn't have chemotherapy yesterday, we finished at the hospital much earlier than usual and treated ourselves to a wonderful lunch. Thankfully, both of us have been getting our appetites back, so we're doing all right.
Even though the future is uncertain, we're grateful for the small, ordinary moments we can still enjoy together.
Yuki seems to be doing all right on the surface. He was able to have another round of chemotherapy this week. Based on the pattern so far, I don’t think he’ll have chemotherapy next week.
Today, he’s been asked to play the bass in a band, so he’s going to perform. I’m really glad he was able to go.
However, we also learned this time that the chemotherapy he’s currently receiving is becoming less effective. The shadows on his lungs have become more pronounced again. He’ll have a CT scan at the end of this month, and I suppose everything depends on the results. His doctor has even said that this may be the last chemotherapy option available to him, so all we can do is wait and see what happens.
People often describe chemotherapy as a form of life-prolonging treatment. Our hope is simply that he can continue it without suffering severe side effects, so that he can live with the tumor as part of his daily life.
This afternoon, I’ll be joining an online meeting aboutshūkatsu, which is a Japanese term that has become very common in recent years. It refers to preparing for the final stage of one’s life—not only making arrangements for end-of-life care and funerals, but also organizing finances, legal documents, personal belongings, and thinking about how you want to live the rest of your life. I’m not sure whether there’s a single word for this concept in English.
When my mother was nearing the end of her life, I went through many experiences. Because of that, I earned a private certification as aShūkatsu Advisor. It doesn’t mean I can do anything special, but it has connected me with people who share the same interest. That’s why I’m joining today’s meeting, to discuss what I might be able to do in the future. I’m not sure how much of my personal situation I’ll be able to discuss.
It’s already July, and we’re still in the middle of Japan’s rainy season. Thankfully, we haven’t had any heavy rain here yet, although it has been drizzling quite often.
As usual, my thoughts tend to be on the negative side; this weather is making me feel even more down than usual.
Still, a few good things happened last week. Yuki was able to receive his treatment. The side effects have already started again, but we’re genuinely grateful that he could have the treatment, that the medication is still working, and that it has given him more time. I just hope the side effects won’t become too severe this time.
Last week, Yuki’s younger brother came to visit us from Tokyo. They had promised each other, “Let’s meet again once the inheritance issues are settled,” and at last he was able to come. It was a quiet visit, though—there is no contact with his eldest brother.
Yesterday, a computer technician came to repair my PC. I think it’s working again... at least I hope so.
Now a new week has begun. I hope I’ll be able to keep up with my usual routine.
The photo shows rhubarb from our garden, preserved with sugar.
It is raining today, and it looks like it will continue through the weekend. I just hope it doesn't get too heavy.
We usually go to the hospital on Fridays, but not today because we're waiting for Yuki's white blood cell count to recover.
I'm usually rushing around on Friday mornings, but today I can take it easy.
Yuki, on the other hand, is already sitting in front of the TV, waiting for the Japanese national soccer team's match to begin. He's so happy that he can watch it live.
After the game, we'll go to our usual clinic. In the evening, I have a dentist's appointment. I just hope the rain isn't too heavy by then.
The other day I heard a saying that I really liked:
"Throw away one thing every day, try one new thing, and laugh at least once."
I think I can manage the first one!
Rainy weather tends to make me feel more negative. In Japan, we even have a term for it—weather sickness (kishōbyō). Changes in the weather often give me headaches and make me feel dizzy. That's exactly how I feel these days.
Our lavender has bloomed beautifully again this year. I picked it while the buds were still closed and made dried flowers from it. They make nice little gifts.
Unfortunately, my husband's treatment has been put on hold for two weeks in a row, this week and next week. But there is no use dwelling on it. I want to cherish these two weeks and make the most of the time when his side effects may become lighter.
I have opened a room in my house as a small library for our neighbors and friends. Unfortunately, not many people visit it.
Over the last two days, I have been reorganizing the room and reducing the size of the book corner. I also asked the owner of a secondhand bookstore I know to take away three boxes of books.
She is a real book lover and has a keen eye for both English and Japanese books. I'm sure the books will find their way into the hands of people who will truly enjoy and cherish them.
We are fine. Last week a typhoon came. It caused big drops in pressure, and I struggled with dizziness during the typhoon. It made me realize how grateful I am not to be alone at times like this.
Yesterday I took part in an online English conversation meeting . There were four members who are all Japanese.
The topics are "park".
◆How often do you go to a park? What do you usually do there?
We sometimes go to parks to see seasonal flowers such as wisteria, azaleas, roses, and so on. And when some events are held there, we also go to enjoy them.
When our children were little, and when my granddaughter used to visit often, we would often go to parks because they wanted to play outside.
◆What kinds of things are not allowed to do in parks?
At small parks, playing catch is not allowed. Fireworks are, of course, prohibited too.
Even at big parks, fireworks are prohibited, and BBQs are basically not allowed. However, it seems that they are permitted in some areas.
◆Have you ever been hiking in a National Park? How far did you hike?
I once hiked in Oze National Park. I don’t remember how far I hiked, but I walked for most of the day. It was when I was a student.
◆Have you ever been to an amusement park? What’s its name and what is inside it?
My most recent memory is of Tobu Zoo & Amusement Park. we enjoyed the rides and the goose parade. It was quite interesting. I’m not sure if they still have it now, because it was quite a long time ago.
We used to go to Tochinoki Family Land . Even now, its roller coaster seems to be popular.
◆Are parks generally clean where you live, or do they have a lot of trash and litter?
I think they are generally clean. In the small neighborhood park near my home, there is a sandbox. It is always covered to prevent cats from using it. Picking up litter and weeding are done regularly as part of our local community activities, so the park is kept clean.
Parks managed by the city, such as Hachimanyama Park, and those managed by the prefecture, such as Tochigi Wanpaku Park, are also kept clean, I think.
◆What kinds of plants and animals have you seen inside your local park?
In this season, we can see wisteria, azaleas, and roses. Soon, hydrangeas will bloom as well. There are many different kinds of flowers. The nearby Chuo Park may have the greatest variety.
As for animals, at Hachimanyama Park, we can see peacocks, cranes, and rabbits because there is a small zoo in it.
This week has started. Yuki is having some side effects, but he is doing all right. He is planning to go to a jazz café to play bass, piano, or guitar. According to him, he can’t play the instruments as well as before, but he can still enjoy playing in sessions with others. That’s a good thing.
I have a rehab appointment at the orthopedic clinic.
What troubles me most is my frozen shoulder. I can raise my arm, but I can’t move it behind my back. In Japanese, there’s a common expression “forty-shoulder,” but even at my age, the doctor didn’t really use the term “sixty-shoulder.
◆Have you ever broken a bone? What happened?
I have never completely broken a bone, but I sometimes get avulsion fractures.剥離骨折 It has nothing to do with aging; I’ve had this since I was young. At first, I sometimes thought it was just a sprain, but it turned out to be an avulsion fracture. When I go to the hospital, I’m often told it’s an avulsion fracture. I’ve learned how to tape it properly, so it usually heals on its own. I just have to wait for it to heal naturally.
◆Do you take vitamins or mineral supplements?
I used to take various supplements occasionally, including ones for knee pain prevention. However, last year I was found to have low bone density, so I now take a prescription from my internist. It’s an activated form of vitamin D3.”
◆What do you think about Chinese medicine?
I like traditional Chinese medicine, or kampo in Japanese, which is a slightly different system from Chinese herbal medicine. I take it under a doctor’s prescription. For example, for hay fever, Western medicine alone wasn’t quite effective enough, so my doctor added kampo to adjust the treatment. I also take kampo for chronic coldness in my body. Nowadays, many clinics include kampo under health insurance, which is very helpful.”
◆What things do you do that might damage your health?
The things that might affect my health are mental stress, fatigue, and changes in temperature.
◆How often do you eat junk food? What kinds of junk food do you eat?
I like rice burgers at Mos Burger, and I enjoy ginger cookies from Gyomu Super. I often make fried udon at home rather than fried yakisoba. I’m not sure if that counts as junk food. So I guess I eat some comfort foods, but not much typical junk food.
It’s a nice day again today. After the pollen season, I often air out my futon. YUKI does it too, no matter the season.
Airing futons is part of Japanese culture, but these days people living in newer condominiums are usually not allowed to hang them outside.
Today, I’m going to practice putting on a kimono so I can wear one when I meet my friend this Saturday. If I can manage it well enough, I might go to a department store in it today with YUKI. If not, I’ll just go in the same outfit as yesterday.
Today is my performance day with a friend at KARAKU Cafe. It’s a beautiful day. I’m going to wear white pants today, which is unusual for me. When I wear white pants, I feel a little more refined, and because I don’t want to get them dirty, I pay more attention to my movements. But this year, I’d like to wear them more often—even when we go to an Italian restaurant.
A normal week has started. Last week, YUKI couldn’t have chemotherapy, but today his condition isn’t so bad. It’s difficult to balance the treatment and its side effects.
In about 30 minutes, we will go out. Where? To the laundromat.
This morning, as soon as we got up, we took our futons and sheets there, and now the machines are running. We need to go and take them out soon. They probably won’t be completely dry yet, so we’ll hang them out to air. Fortunately, the pollen season is over, so I can finally air out my futon.
At the same time, our washing machine at home—without a dryer—is also running. Today is definitely a laundry day.
On the other hand, I organized our clothes. Decluttering Yuki’s clothes is easy, because I just threw away his M-size items—mainly business shirts and golf shirts—with his permission, of course.
In my case, it’s not so easy. So I checked what I wore this week. These days, the temperature has been different every day—one day I wore a sweater, another day a cotton long-sleeve T-shirt. I had already sorted my clothes into winter and summer, but this time I added a mid-season category. I also reviewed outfit combinations and tried to get a clear idea of what I actually have and what I really wear.
Yesterday I talked about the article “Japanese hair salons going bankrupt in record numbers” with a friend in English. She asked me about the issue, but I didn’t know much about it. Apparently, it is mainly happening in big cities like Tokyo.
However, I think a similar situation is occurring not only in big cities but especially in rural areas as well, though not going bankrupt. In rural areas, the population is decreasing, so the number of customers is also declining. Of course, large chains and big salons have not expanded much into such places. Beauticians or barbers own their shops and run them by themselves. In many cases, that is enough because there were not originally so many customers there.
Since young people often do not inherit their family farms, they tend to leave rural areas. As a result, most customers are elderly people, and many salon owners are elderly as well. Therefore, both customers and salons may gradually disappear over time.
In mid-sized cities like Utsunomiya, however, I feel that the number of salons is actually increasing. Most of them are not large salons. More than half seem to be individually run, and many are operated by husbands and wives together. Sometimes only one of them is a barber or beautician, while the other works to support their living expenses. In addition, these salons are often opened in part of their own house, so they do not have to pay shop rent.
Going back to the earlier point, expensive rent is probably one of the reasons why it is difficult for beauty salons and barbershops to survive in big cities.
In addition, more hairstylists and barbers are now visiting nursing homes or elderly people’s homes to cut hair instead of working only in salons. They are called visiting hairstylists or mobile hairstylists, and part of the cost can be covered by Japan’s long-term care insurance system.
Although the number of salons themselves may be decreasing, hairstylists and barbers will probably continue to have stable jobs because people can rely on their skills, even as AI becomes more widespread.
“All right” is always how I start this blog. And actually, we are all right today, too.
But to tell the truth, lately either of us has often been in a bad mood. This morning, it was Yuki — probably because of the heaviness and fatigue he feels in the mornings.
Still, the long holiday is over now, so our usual routine is starting again: hospital visits, shopping and sometimes lunch out, and the gym. We have things to do, so maybe from today we won’t even have time to stay in a bad mood.
So, although it may sound a little strange, we are all right.
Yesterday, our younger daughter M and our granddaughter A came to visit. Unfortunately, YUKI wasn’t as energetic as usual, so the three of us ladies went to a supermarket and bought some delicatessen food.
Since there were five of us, we needed more food than YUKI and I usually buy.
Our elder daughter joined us via video call. Starting next weekend, her solo exhibition will be held in Tokyo for one month. YUKI and I won’t be able to go, but M, A, and another friend are planning to visit on the first day.
A new week has started. We’re in the middle of a five-day weekend, and both of us are spending it rather lazily.
Fortunately, Yuki was able to receive his chemotherapy last Friday, even though it had been scheduled to be skipped. Based on his previous treatments, he might develop a fever around this time, but so far he hasn’t.
The current chemotherapy seems to be working and holding the progression back, and the doctors are pleased. However, we have mixed feelings and can’t simply feel happy about it. It feels as if this might be the last treatment that can prolong his life, which is what the doctors seem to be implying.
Still, yesterday he participated in a jazz session at a jazz café. He’s trying to enjoy every moment. That said, depending on how he feels in the morning, we never know if he’ll be able to go out—so we’re just taking it easy.
Meanwhile, I find myself becoming increasingly anxious about living alone someday. Our children live far away, so I can’t really rely on them to come quickly in an emergency. It feels too early—both in terms of age and finances—to move into a care home. My mother-in-law decided on her own to move into one at the age of 80.
When I start thinking about these things, my anxiety swells up and sometimes leaves me unable to get out of bed. That was me yesterday.
The results of the April online haiku meeting are out. I submitted three haiku though it is a rule. this time only one was chosen. Can you guess which one?
I tried translating them into English.
Mother’s back— in open-air bath steam, all hazy
Falling cherry blossoms— a Hannya mask hidden within my heart Hannya: a traditional mask symbolizing hidden anger and sorrow
This cherry blossom— again, the two of us in a wheelchair now
It is sunny today, and we are glad. Yesterday, as I wrote, it was rainy and very cold. After we came back home from the hospital, neither of us felt well, so we lay down and rested, even though the hospital itself was warm.
We carefully looked at the images together with the radiologist. Thankfully, there is no metastasis this time, and the tumors in the brain are now almost undetectable. It seems we can continue living with the cancerfor a while longer. For now, it feels like we’ve managed to hold on.
Worrying every time like this is exhausting, but it can’t be helped.
A friend who lives in Tokyo suddenly sent me a message this morning and asked, “Are you watching TV?” Apparently, Utsunomiya has been ranked No. 1 as a place to relocate. I didn’t see the program, so I’m not sure whether that ranking was for people from big cities or from more rural areas.
Living costs may be lower than in big cities, but it is hard to live without a car, and it is cold here.
It’s rainy today. It’s the kind of weather that makes going out feel like a hassle, but since we’re going by car, it’s not a problem.
I find it interesting to observe people at the hospital. It’s a large hospital for this area, so some people come from quite far away—more than an hour and a half by car or train.
Some people are dressed very casually, as if they’ve just popped out for a quick errand, while others are fully dressed up, as if they’re going somewhere special. You don’t really see anyone wearing kimono, though. There are also many family members accompanying patients, so you see a wide variety of styles.
Since it’s raining today, I’m thinking I’ll need a spring coat—even though I’ll be in the car. Of course, I’ll end up taking it off once I’m inside the hospital.
I haven’t posted an update on this blog for a while, but we’re doing well.
First, I’d like to tell you about Yuki’s situation. Last week, he was able to receive chemotherapy. He also had a CT scan, and fortunately, his tumors have not grown. In fact, the tumors in his brain have become remarkably smaller than we or the doctors expected.
To be honest, in the first half of April, we had a lot of concerns, as he had a slight fever and his white blood cell count was unstable.
Tomorrow, we will see a radiation oncologist, and the day after tomorrow, we will see an ENT specialist. We will be busy going to the hospital, but it also means we will have a chance—or rather, we will need—to eat lunch out. It’s enjoyable, although it does make "me" worry a bit about our budget. Still, we are simply grateful that we are able to go out at all.
Today, I went to a temple in the morning to copy sutras. I need to concentrate while copying sutras. It might be a kind of mindfulness practice. I had a good time.
In the afternoon, Yuki went to the gym to ride a stationary bike. He also used some other machines. He can’t walk smoothly, but riding a bike and using some machines are fine for him.
According to the newspaper, TOTO announced on the 13th that it has suspended orders for unit bathrooms for homes. This is due to a shortage of solvents made from naphtha, a petroleum-derived material. The impact of the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz caused by military conflict involving Iran is spreading.
On the same day, TOTO notified wholesalers and other partners of the suspension. The timing for resuming orders has not yet been decided.
TOTO is a very popular company, and the materials used in our renovated bathroom are from TOTO. We feel lucky.
Do you collect reward points, like Amazon points or supermarket loyalty cards? I do, but these days I’ve simplified my system. I used to have more than five supermarket loyalty cards, and they were all prepaid cards, but now I only have one.
I still go to other supermarkets, but there I mainly use my credit card and collect reward points. I’ve given up collecting points from individual stores, and instead I mainly use my credit card to earn reward points, which I then use for other purposes.
My main credit card is issued by a telecommunications company, and I usually use the points I earn to pay my cellphone bill.
On the other hand, I’m a member of Amazon Prime, and here in Japan members can enjoy many services, such as free shipping, so the membership fee is definitely worth it.
I can also listen to Amazon Music and watch Amazon Prime Video. However, although these services are very convenient.
I once had a credit card used fraudulently—not by skimming, but in some other way—and fortunately the card company noticed it and stopped the transactions. Still, I had to get a new card and update all my payment information, which was quite a hassle.
I’ve also heard that Amazon accounts can sometimes be used without permission.
Because of this, although convenience has improved a lot, dealing with security has become stressful, and recently I’ve started to wonder whether I’ll be able to handle things properly if something like that happens again in the future.
Yesterday, I joined an online meeting. The topic is "corn".
I'll introduce my opinion.
corn
◆Do you like to eat corn or corn products? When was the last time that you ate corn?
Yes, I do. The last time I ate corn was last month—more precisely, on March 28. I had coleslaw with corn at KFC, and I took it home. Of course we got a KFC box. It has a reason. The 28th is called “Niwa no Hi.” “Niwa” means chicken, so KFC offers a box at a discounted price on that day.
◆What is your favorite meal that has corn as one of the ingredients? Can you cook it?
Actually, I like steamed corn on the cob. But for meals that include corn as an ingredient, I like coleslaw or rice with corn.
◆Have you ever made popcorn? Do you prefer your popcorn to taste sweet or salty?
Yes, of course. When my daughters were in elementary school, I was in charge of making popcorn at their school summer festival. So I still keep a big pot for it. When I make it, I like to make it salty, but when I buy it, I prefer caramel-flavored popcorn.
◆What spices or sauces do you like to put on corn? Have you ever eaten raw corn?
As I mentioned, I like caramel-flavored corn. I have also eaten raw corn. Recently, corn that can be eaten raw has become more common in Japan.
◆Besides being a food that we eat, how else is corn useful to the human race?
I think some companies, like Starbucks, use compostable cups made from corn.
◆What do you think it would be like to be a corn farmer in your country?
Here in Utsunomiya, I know that some rice farmers and vegetable farmers grow corn as a side crop. Anyway, the occupation of a farmer would be quite hard work, but also rewarding.
It’s cloudy and looks like it’s going to rain any minute. This weekend is the best time for cherry blossom viewing around here, so it’s kind of a shame.
We still got to see some cherry blossoms though—one at a temple and another along a popular street. We couldn’t see them from the hill, unfortunately. Yuki couldn’t make it up because of the numbness he’s been having. He said it feels like he’s wearing iron clogs, but I’ve never worn anything like that, so I can’t really imagine it.
Anyway, we were still able to enjoy the cherry blossoms this year, so that was nice.
Lately, one of his hobbies has been watching TV. He’s finally gotten into TV shopping and even bought a foot massage gadget. We’ll pay cash when it arrives, which is probably the safest way. We don’t have to sign up for anything, and even though we have to give our address, we don’t need to use a credit card.
I just hope we don’t start buying more stuff from TV shopping. I’m always tempted by supplements and beauty products, though…
My husband Yuki and I live in a regional city. Our retirement life has state since 2020. Though Something good, exciting, worried or bad often happens, we try to focus the current situation and spend enjoyable days while living offf our savings little by little carefully.
