update 04_THE INAKA REFUGE

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Entry posted by RipRap · February 18, 2019

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Find the light in the dark.

Thanks for the likes and comments, everyone! I hope to keep these up and running from time to time. Research and story making takes time and I can’t just make commitments like that. Without further ado…

@TowerDude – Thanks! These are based on experiences that I had in Japan and I had to say that I got a unique perspective from my friends and people that I met while on the street. Japan is a complex nation full of secrets, hidden layers and conflicts that no one can completely understand even for Japanophiles.

@Takingyouthere – It’s been a while! Thanks for commenting. I’ve chosen images that can fully interpret what happens on the ground. I had it in my mind during last year’s trip to Japan; focusing on the everyday as an observer.

@Tokyu – It’s been a while as well! I like how we feed on each other’s interpretation of something that we both are interested into. I’d always look at Saitama for inspiration when I have not travelled to Japan yet, but I’d like to explore some things that are overlooked from all of us journalists. Hope I can inspire you into bringing back Saitama soon.

@SimCoug – Welcome back! Thanks for the comment. I hope you bring back New Sorgun, we need more activity in this section.

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04_THE INAKA REFUGE

So, road trip… Have you ever been this far?

“Man, this looks very different from the streets of Hashima. Where exactly are you taking us?” I asked while looking at an actual jungle. No, not the Concrete Jungle, an actual jungle. I didn’t know that we’d be going this deep in the inaka.

“A place no one knows. Once we get there, we’ll cut your throat, Yu, and then let you bleed to death in the woods,” Gon-chan answered while bursting into laughter. Ban-chan and a friend of mine, Ryo, joined in the laughter. I’d join in the fun too.

“Just kidding, we’re taking you guys to Ichijoudani to relax at the hot springs. I’d rather have you guys stay out of Emi and detox for a little bit,” he added, opening the window at the toll plaza to pay for the toll. “I’d need to exit here at Munegawa. [xxxxxxx] Ichijoudani is under construction.”

“めっちゃ[xxxxxxx] indeed,” I blurted, pushing my head against the window of the Daihatsu Altis.

“I’d say let’s stop at the river first before we continue to the city,” Ban-chan suggested.

We followed the creek towards the bigger river – called Munegawa. Not necessarily a long river but its valley defined inaka for many years now. People are probably grandfathers here nowadays. Their sons left for the big cities and things slowly wind down of course. Probably half of these houses are empty, and the government’s been trying to sell these lands for a bargain. I don’t think I’d be able to live here though, I’m fine being roughed up back at the Concrete Jungle.

I must say, it wouldn’t be bad living here though. There is civilization and people here are friendlier, unlike Emi the floozie conqueror of the rap world. I could look at the clouds all day… Izumi Makura anyone? Nah.

“I didn’t know this river’s current is… Quite fast,” Ban-chan commented while placing his left foot in the water. “Oh, and it’s cold”

“Of course, [xxxxxxx],” Ryo answered. “It’s raining and cold today. Why are we stopping at the river anyway? Shouldn’t we be checking in at our hotel in Ichijoudani?”

“Not yet. It says around 7:30pm. It’s only 12pm so we still have around 7 and half hours to go around,” Gon-chan replied. Ryo smirked and started lighting his cigarette. He sat down on a river rock while paying a close eye at Ban-chan, who had travelled halfway through the shallow river and into a rocky island.

“Give me one,” I asked Ryo, who handed me his cigarette and his lighter. “You know Ryo, I haven’t had enough time with these idiots when Gon and Ban-chan left to pursue what they liked.

“Haha, idiots indeed,” He laughed lowly. “Speaking of which, don’t you want to move up and move at Gon-chan’s place in Okami?” He looked at me with a curiosity. He stood up and extinguished his cigarette while I looked straight at him.

“I don’t think I belong in Okami. Hashima is my home and I couldn’t just leave the scene to pursue some big-time [xxxx]. Maybe I’ll pay a visit someday,” I explained further to him my intentions on staying at Hashima’s hip-hop scene.

Right across the river from where we stopped is a rail line linking Hirosaki with Ichijoudani. I’d ask myself: “Why didn’t we just take the train to Ichijoudani?”
Though my mind had been playing weird tricks these days. I haven’t been getting enough sleep, but I’m not practicing freestyle as I should have been. Maybe Ban-chan’s right about settling down in the river for a few hours. Maybe I can let go of my mind tricks in the river.

“You have a lot going on in your mind, aren’t you?” Gon-chan approached me from the back while I was sitting at the rock, staring at the river waters. “I know that your beef with Emi is not going to end anytime soon and you haven’t been practicing freestyle for a while now,” he added, putting his right hand in my left shoulder.

“Yeah,” I replied.

“Let’s drive around, shall we?” He called Ban-chan and Ryo back in the car and we left the riverbank.

“So, who wants to jump here?,” Ban-chan asked, while stopping his car in the middle of a bridge. Below, the wild currents of the Munegawa River crash through the rocks.

“You [xxxxxxx] insane? I’m not gonna jump that!” I answered.

“Haha, I’m just kidding. Looks nice though. I never know the river becomes this deep,” he replied back while staring at the currents below. “Alright, let’s go.”

We continued travelling along the country road and I just stared out of the left window of the car. Ryo and Ban-chan had fallen asleep while Gon-chan’s concentrated on driving. The rain outside picked up a little bit and the surroundings are much fuzzier, kind of how I become estranged with Emi. He’d always tell me his story of how he became a good rapper, but I’d pretty much pass it through my ears while pretending that I listen.

“I gotta pee” Gon-chan said, stopping the vehicle in a road between rice fields. Ban-chan woke up and slowly opened his eyes.

“Where are we?” He asked, turning his head towards me.

“I don’t know really. He said he just wanted to pee,” I answered.

“Should we have just stopped at the convenience store maybe?” Ryo answered while his eyes were closed, looking a little smug.

After Gon-chan had returned to the vehicle, Ryo and Ban-chan went back to sleep while I continued looking out of the window. I saw one of the river’s main waterfalls, though the rain made it look like it was another wild current. I continued to wonder about what I should do after I arrive at Ichijoudani; though it never came to my mind that I should really practice rapping. The waterfall gave me an idea to work on a freestyle about it sometime. I’d save it for later.

One more road to go before we arrive in Ichijoudani.

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Fictional characters. Not based on a true story. All photos ©2018 Carl Sotomil. SimCity 4 Photos ©2019 Carl Sotomil. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction of this update or its contents are strictly prohibited.

Concrete Jungle. BoSS RuN DeM

俺は田舎が好きけど、でも何仕事をやるのか？