JulieHarms.

The town celebrates O-Kunchi. From my balcony I watch mothers all dressed-up  walking towards the elementary school and children waiting for the dragon to  come and dance for them, followed by the heavy portable shrine shaped like a  boat that will soon roll by.

I usually walked through the shopping arcade to go to work when it rained or simply to avoid the scorching sun…Two streets cross the arcade. A lonely tree stands at the far end of one of them.

From café Foglio, just a minute away from my apartment… A large window overlooks the river…Through the green foliage, the glimpse of an eye belonging to the famous Spectacle Bridge. Orange lanterns hang, reminding me of the festival to come…Soon, it will be dark and hundreds of lanterns will light up.

The town disappears below the bridge. Children play, take pictures…The town is above their heads…

At the bottom of the hill is Ume Saito, the big mall. If I turn left I’ll end up walking along the China Sea. Another lantern festival…The weather is cool, the street buzzes with engines running…or waiting for the lights to turn green… I’m probably going to turn left, to stroll at Mesubenomori park overlooking the sea…My favorite place.

Almost every day, on the other side of the Spectacle bridge, the Ice cream lady waits for tourists. Most often, young students in uniform eager to cross the oldest bridge of the country…

Walking down the streets to the shopping arcade, a piece of France reminding me of my country. I never walked up the stairs that led to M.Ito’s, nor could I read the complicated menu. M.Ito, I believe, would stand on the street in front of his restaurant, late at night. It seems he was always waiting for someone.

My second O-Kunchi…Same street, same balcony. A boat crosses the street. The sun is bright. The boat disappears…The sound of drums.

In one of the many streets leading to Spectacle Bridge, modern buildings and older ones pile up. On the roof of the house on the left, a tree stands. Often gardens grow above the electric lines.

Late for her meeting…Most probably back from her tea ceremony class…Her friend waits patiently at the famous café down town. Another is looking for a place to sit. Mostly women come during the day.

It was so easy to find inspiration in Japan. All I had to do was sit and watch. Which is the story behind this painting. A police car stops at a red light. I take a picture. I sip my coffee. I forget about the picture. A couple months later, I find it among the hundreds I took. I remember the day I was sipping my drink and looking out the window. That’s when I really start looking at its. I find it pretty. I think it looks like a super-hero.