Sayonara to the Manor

In a country where recycling is serious business and the market for secondhand goods is limited, unloading used furniture is a challenge. Does it surprise you that  Japan is the largest exporter of used cars? Neighbors at the Manor kindly adopted plants, while the Filippina housekeeper was pleased to have Wanda's TV along with the answering machine that spoke nihongo. Bank folks snapped up tables and chairs, which were priced for quick sale. "Please accept my grandmother's fukuro obi," said one shopper in bidding for the flat screen TV. She made an excuse for no longer needing the hand-embroidered sash with built in bag, wrapped in a furoshiki (cloth wrap) and ordered the takubin (delivery service) to carry off the TV.

Double checking how Manor residents bag refuse is the Sanitation Specialist who sorts through the bin bags. Upon first noticing empty cat food tins thanks to Suki-chan, he pulled out his keitai (cell phone): "This is my family." He flicked through photos of three stray cats who adopted him and his wife. A former salaryman, he switched jobs in order to look after his elderly mother. Over time he posted photos of his feline family around the gomi (garbage) room and for three years we exchanged remarks typical of cat people. How gratifying that he accepted the chair with a round seat, perfect for a curled up cat. He promised to email photos of the chair with its new users, we bowed to each other, and exchanged an emotional sayonara.

Resident grandfather, the building manager Okutsu-san, retrieved a camera and nvited us to step outside for a group shot. "Please come back soon," he said, adding that the young man who visits musume (daughter) each week is polite and nice looking. When asked about culture shock in Japan I have observed that it has been an  adjustment to live among people who are polite, pretty and punctual. Promising to return a second emotional bow exchanged, time to pack up neko-chan and musume for the move to pet friendly Four Seasons Marunouchi as  we contemplate surrendering our gaijin cards. Mata ne (later).