F-0051 It is at the gap in the hedge
- Circa
- Said to be centered on issues and intake logs from the spring of 1993 through the autumn of the following year, including one sheet older than that
- Condition
- intact
- Attribution
- Said to be clippings from the readers' page of a regional information magazine, bound together with copies of the reader-submission intake log used by the same magazine's editorial office. The part bearing the magazine's name has been cut away. The order in which they are bound does not follow the dates. The wording of the letters given in the log was summarized by the person in charge, and the originals are not bound in.
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April 1993 issue Readers’ Page “Post”
■ About the cherry trees
The cherry trees on the embankment bloomed again this year. I photograph them here every year, but this year the lower branches had been cut, and I could not take the same picture as last year. When I asked at the city office, I was told they had been taken down because they were hanging over the road. It cannot be helped. Next year I will step back a little further. I take the film to the photo shop in front of the station every year.
(Minamimachi, homemaker, 58)
■ The bus timetable
The bus timetable changed this month. The morning service leaving the station front is five minutes earlier. I was not paying attention and missed it twice. Those of you who use the same service, please take care.
(Higashidai 2-chome, company employee, 47)
▽ From the editors Thank you as always for the many letters. What we cannot fit for reasons of space, we carry over to the next issue.
June 1993 issue Readers’ Page “Post”
■ A lost umbrella
Last month I left my umbrella at the bus stop in front of the station. When I went the next day, it was standing in the same place. I think someone must have set it aside for me. I would like to thank them, but I do not know who it was. I am borrowing this column to do so.
(Higashidai 1-chome, retired, 71)
■ A question about my way home
I am sorry to ask about something so trivial, but I could not think of anywhere else to write, so I am writing here.
On my way home from work I walk about fifteen minutes from the station, always by the same route. It has been nine years now.
It is in Wakabacho 3-chome. I walk home past the side of Minami Park, and between the second crossroads after the park and the third, there is a stretch where a hedge runs on for some length on the left. Since around February of this year, there have been times when that hedge is broken partway along, and a narrow road is there.
I say there have been times because there are more evenings when it is not. I pass by on one evening and it is there, and the next evening it is not, and after a while it is there again. I have not counted, but I think it is two or three times a month.
I did wonder whether someone’s private lane had been opened up, but for that, the entrance looks the same every time. I have never gone in. It is someone else’s road, and it has never occurred to me to go in.
What made me start to mind was when it came to me that it was there and not there.
If anyone else walks that way, I would like to ask. It is at the gap in the hedge.
(Wakabacho 3-chome, company employee, 41)
■ I pickled the plums
I pickled the plums from the garden again this year. About ten kilos came off, so if anyone would like some, I can share. I use eighteen percent salt. If you use less, a white film can come up, so for a first attempt a little more is better. Last year I cut it down and spoiled a batch.
(Honmachi, homemaker, 55)
▽ From the editors Thank you for the letter about the plums. We will pass the offer along at the editorial office.
The story about the way home is a curious one. If any reader knows the same road, or has any idea about it, please do send us a letter.
Reader submissions — intake log June–July 1993
6/9 Honmachi, T (52)
Re the road in the June issue. Asks whether it might be new development. Has enclosed the number for the city planning section.
Decline. Forward to the June contributor.
6/11 Higashidai 2-chome, M (34)
Same, re the road. Says there are many private lanes around there. Since the owners put chains across them, from a distance the roads can look as though they appear and disappear. Gives three examples from near where they live.
Decline. Forward to the writer. This seems a good answer.
6/16 Wakabacho 3-chome, N (29)
Walks the same road as the June contributor. Says that now it is mentioned, it does seem to be there.
Decline. Forward to the writer.
6/22 Honmachi, H
Says a relative used the road some time ago. Reportedly said, “it is only there on rainy evenings.” Reportedly also said, “it is not something to tell people about.”
Decline. Touches on family matters, so hold back the forwarding as well. Tried to send a note of thanks, but there is no street number and no age given. Only the town and the name.
7/25 Wakabacho 3-chome, K (41)
The June contributor. Thanks for the letters we sent on, and says it happened twice in July as well. Short.
Hold.
July 1993 issue Readers’ Page “Post”
■ Radio exercises for the summer holidays
The summer radio exercises will begin again this year in the open ground at Minami Park. From half past six in the morning. We take turns at stamping the cards, but we are short of people. If you can help, please contact the neighborhood association. Last year there was a great deal of rain, and there were mornings when only five children came.
(Minamimachi, retired, 66)
■ About the mosquitoes
There seem to be more mosquitoes this year. We replaced the mesh in our screen doors. If you buy just the mesh at the hardware shop and fit it yourself, it comes to about eight hundred yen a door. The old rubber beading can be reused. Ours is rubber from ten years ago, and it was still fine.
(Higashidai 2-chome, homemaker, 52)
▽ From the editors We received a great many responses to the letter about the way home in the June issue. Thank you. We have sent on the ones we received to the contributor.
December 1993 issue Readers’ Page “Post”
■ What became of the way home
I am the one who asked in June. Thank you for the letters at that time. The editorial office sent them on to me and I read them all.
After hearing about the chains, I watched carefully for a while. There are no chains. The place where the hedge is broken is simply a road, and the width of the gap is the same. I had the city show me the city planning drawings, but there is nothing going in around there.
From July to November I marked the evenings when it was there. Twice in July, once in August, none in September, four times in October, once in November. The days of the week are all over the place. I wondered whether it was more on rainy evenings and looked into it, but two of the four in October were clear. The time I pass is always the same, so that does not vary.
Some were kind enough to suggest I go and look. I have not gone yet. In August I had a lot to carry, in October I did not have an umbrella, and in November there was no particular reason. I expect I will go sometime.
(Wakabacho 3-chome, company employee, 41)
▽ From the editors Marking them down and counting is a good idea. We look forward to hearing more.
Reader submissions — intake log January 1994
1/8 Honmachi, H
Says the story about that road should not be printed. That is all. No reason given.
Decline. The person who wrote once in June. The one about the relative.
1/14 Minamimachi, Y (45)
Re the road in the December issue. A letter asking whether we might not stop now. Says it is unpleasant.
Decline. Noted as an opinion.
1/20 Wakabacho 3-chome, K (41)
Says it happened once in December as well. Short.
Run. Mention it in the editors’ column of the February issue.
Reader submissions — intake log February 1994
2/1 Higashidai 1-chome, U (71)
Re the road in the December issue. Says they remember a similar letter being printed a long time ago. Cannot recall how many years back.
Decline. Only an inquiry, so answer it in the editors’ column of the February issue.
Went back through the old issues. From 1985 to 1992 there is no letter about a road. Anything earlier than that is in the storeroom, so not checked.
2/9 Honmachi, H
Same wording. Third time.
Decline.
February 1994 issue Readers’ Page “Post”
■ The dondo-yaki bonfire
This year’s dondo-yaki was held in the grounds of Minami Elementary School, since the riverbed could not be used. It was a windy day, and the fire went up faster than expected. I brought my New Year’s calligraphy, but it burned before it could rise very high. I hope the riverbed can be used next year.
(Minamimachi, homemaker, 36)
▽ From the editors We received an inquiry about an old issue. We went back through them here as well, but could not find the letter in question. If any reader has any idea, please let us know.
We should also say that the contributor of the letters about the way home has written to tell us it happened once in December as well.
Reader submissions — intake log March–April 1994
3/19 Higashidai 2-chome, W (38)
Re the road. Says that as someone from around here, it is a nuisance.
Decline.
4/4 Honmachi, H
Same wording. Fourth time. Neither the wording nor the handwriting differs from last time.
Decline. Showed it to the editor-in-chief. Told to note it as an opinion.
4/11 Minamimachi, G (50)
Re the road. Says children read this magazine. The same postcard also has something about the prizes in the shopping street raffle. That to be handled separately.
Decline.
4/15 Wakabacho 1-chome, R (62)
Re the road. Says it is not something to be treated as entertainment.
Decline.
4/22 Wakabacho 3-chome, K (41)
For March and April. Writes about the look of the road in detail. Long.
Run. For the May issue. Trim a little.
May 1994 issue Readers’ Page “Post”
■ A little more about that road
I am the one who has been writing since last year. I do not want to go on too long, so I will make this the last. Instead, I will set down exactly what I see.
The road is wide enough for two adults side by side. It is paved, but with older paving than the road in front of our house, and grass has come up through the joints. On the left there is an old board fence, with about three of the boards replaced with new ones. On the right is the back of the hedge.
There are two street lights, one just inside and one further along. The near one is lit and the far one has gone out. The rim of the shade on the far one is rusted.
At the end there is a wall. What is beyond the wall I do not know.
That there are evenings when it is there and evenings when it is not has not changed. Twice in March, three times in April.
I should add, just in case, that I have never gone in. I only look.
(Wakabacho 3-chome, company employee, 41)
▽ From the editors You have been watching very closely. If you do not mind our asking, we would like to know how it is around the wall at the end, if you happen to know.
Reader submissions — intake log May 1994
5/6 Honmachi, H
Same wording. Fifth time.
Decline.
5/13 (office)
Re the road in the May issue. Went round on the way home. Wakabacho 3-chome, between the second and third crossroads past Minami Park. A wall on one side and a hedge on the other, just as described. There was no break in the hedge. Only one street light near where the gap would be. It is lit.
It must have been an evening when it was not there. It was not raining.
5/27 Minamimachi, I (36)
Re the packed lunches for the sports day.
Run. For the June issue.
Reader submissions — intake log October 1980
10/6 Wakabacho 2-chome, A (33)
A letter saying there is one road more than there should be on the way home. Says there are evenings when it is there and evenings when it is not.
Run. For the November issue.
10/24 (office)
Regarding the above: a request has been received that it not be printed. Drop what had been set. Fill the space with letters on hand.
We will contact the writer ourselves.
Reader submissions — intake log July 1994
7/2 Minamimachi, Y (45)
Re the road. The person who also wrote in January. Says they really do want it stopped now.
Decline.
7/5 Higashidai 2-chome, W (38)
Re the road. The same.
Decline.
7/11 Honmachi, H
“I imagine it is too late, but the story about that road should not be printed.”
Sixth time. Only the beginning differs from before. The rest is the same.
Decline.
7/15 Honmachi, J (49)
Notice of the dates for the summer festival. At the request of the neighborhood association.
Run. For the August issue.
7/19 Wakabacho 3-chome, K (41)
No summary. Passing the original on to the editor-in-chief as it is.
August 1994 issue Readers’ Page “Post”
■ Dates for the summer festival
This year’s summer festival is on the 13th and 14th of August. It is one day shorter than last year. The children’s mikoshi leaves Honmachi Community Hall at three in the afternoon on the 13th. In case of rain it will be put off to the 14th.
(Honmachi, self-employed, 49)
▽ From the editors Thank you for the letter about the summer festival. The editorial office will be out on the day as well.
We should also say that the letters about the way home, which we have carried from time to time since the June issue of last year, will be discontinued as of this issue. This is in light of the opinions we have received from our readers. Thank you for your company over so long a time.
October 1994 issue Readers’ Page “Post”
■ The autumn sports day
The elementary school sports day has gone back to a full day this year. Apparently a good many parents asked for it. Making the packed lunches is hard work, but I do think this is better.
(Minamimachi, homemaker, 37)
■ Kerosene for the stove
It is about time to bring out the stove. Last year I used kerosene that had been sitting through the summer, and it smoked terribly. Old kerosene should not be used, apparently. The kerosene seller told me it is best to use up what you have bought before the winter is over.
(Higashidai 1-chome, retired, 72)
▽ From the editors The mornings and evenings have turned cold. Please take care not to catch cold.