Another Trip to the 'Fresh Market'

Another typhoon is coming, and we're getting ready. Unlike the last one where we caught only outer fringes, this one is supposed to make a direct hit on southern Japan - that's us. We have spoken of being in the mountains but just learned that our elevation here is less than 500'. The mountains afford some protection, but apparently this one is such a monster that people here are taking it very seriously. In preparation, we went to the market to get last-minute groceries, and we were not the only ones! There were scores of quick moving people packed into the tiny market, so we mostly watched from the edges. Micah shopped and Aza did her 9 year old thing choosing treats - most of which Papa nixed And we got some new pics.

Here's the ice cream case again that we posted a few days ago now with new flavors: Japanese plum in addition to the pickled plum, chocolate and chocolate chips, sudachi and yuzu miilk. Yuzu is a citrus used mostly for flavoring. Unfortunately, it was morning so summoned our inner adult and resisted.

Huge chestnuts!

When we were here previously, we had not looked into this corner and seen this desk. There must be a story because it has to be worth a fortune! Why is it sitting in the corner of this tiny market being used for occasional package mailing? It is all carved out one piece of wood - perhaps a cross-section of several trees that had grown together? And the tree must have been hundreds of years old when it was cut. In the top pic, notice the chairs. All of these are also carved out of one piece - perhaps of same tree? The bottom pic is dark, but you may be able to see what was probably bark. There's also part that looks as if it may have been petrified, but surely it's not that old!

We also had not previously looked up at this gorgeous, intricate ceiling! We are told that the use of triangles makes it extra strong. Kamiama has been known for centuries for its high quality, beautiful sugi (cedar). We see it everywhere.