Buildings

Last year, I watched three houses be built very quicky on a road I use coming home from school. I thought it might be a good thing to take pictures and show what happens here when they build things. But I did not do it--the houses went up so fast.

Then, this spring, a new building was built across the street. It is a dentist`s office. Should have done the same thing, taken pictures, but didn`t do it.

This summer, I noticed that they were tearing out what was sort of a garden/yard of a house I pass everyday. I know the woman that lives there, she works at the community center (kominkan) and says hello to me all the time. I was disappointed to see the trees go that were there. Then I saw the land flattened and I guessed they were going to build another house. When I came back from America in September, the house was finished. It sat very close to other house of the woman who says hi to me.

Then, her house was gone.

One Tuesday three weeks ago (I don`t go by on Mondays), I went by and saw her house was gone. Totally. The land was flat and clear next to the new house. Another week went by, with some municipal work under the street and then I figured out they were going to build another new house, this time on the plot of the old house. They poured foundations and let them dry. With the rain we had that week (Sept 25-28), they covered things with tarp. I finally figured I should take a picture. I used my phone and this is the picture I took on Thursday, October 2.

Then, Monday, October 6, I had a change of plans and had to go by the area and took this picture. No joke. They did that work over the weekend!

I heard they make pre-fab houses in boxes and import them from Canada. That is the only explanation I can give.

Mutsumi and I wonder at these houses. They have to have next to no insulation--few houses in JP do. I wonder how they do in an earthquake...