Man, what a day! Seriously, I can’t even. So, I wake up in my tiny apartment in Kokura, right? The sun’s blaring through my window like it’s trying to roast me alive. I’m an accountant, not a sunbather! Anyway, I roll outta bed, chug some coffee, and head out.
First stop, the office on Tanga Street. Ugh, the traffic was a nightmare! I swear, I saw a guy on a bike almost get taken out by a bus. Like, dude, you’re not invincible! But whatever, I finally make it to work.
So, I’m crunching numbers, right? Just another boring day. But then, BOOM! My boss, Mr. Tanaka, bursts in. He’s all like, “We need to talk about the quarterly report!” I’m thinking, “Great, just what I need.” I mean, who doesn’t love a surprise meeting?
Then, outta nowhere, my phone buzzes. It’s my buddy Kenji. He’s like, “Yo, let’s hit up the riverwalk after work!” I’m like, “Sure, why not?” I could use a break from spreadsheets and all that jazz.
Fast forward to 5 PM. I’m outta there like a rocket! I meet Kenji at the riverwalk, and it’s beautiful! The Murasaki River is glistening, and the cherry blossoms are in full bloom. I’m feeling all zen and stuff. But then, I see this street performer. He’s playing the shamisen, and honestly, he’s terrible. Like, I could do better, and I can’t even play the kazoo!
But hey, I’m not here to judge. I toss him a few yen and keep walking. We hit up a little izakaya on Konyamachi Street. The food? Amazing! I’m talking yakitori that’s so good, it makes you wanna cry. I’m stuffing my face, and Kenji’s cracking jokes. Life is good, right?
Then, outta nowhere, my phone buzzes again. It’s my mom. She’s like, “Did you pay the electric bill?” I’m like, “Mom, chill! I got it covered!” But inside, I’m freaking out. Did I pay it? I can’t remember!
So, I’m trying to enjoy my night, but I can’t shake that nagging feeling. I mean, who wants to sit in the dark? Not me!
After dinner, we stroll down to the Mojiko Retro area. It’s lit up, and the old buildings are so cool. I’m snapping pics like a tourist. Kenji’s making fun of me, but whatever. I’m living my best life!
But then, I see this cute little shop selling matcha ice cream. I’m like, “Dude, we gotta try that!” So we do. And OMG, it’s heavenly! I’m in ice cream paradise. But then, I drop my cone. Like, seriously? I’m standing there, staring at the ground like it just betrayed me.
Kenji’s laughing his head off. I’m like, “Shut up, man! This is a tragedy!” But I can’t help but laugh too. It’s just ice cream, right?
As we’re walking back, I’m feeling all kinds of emotions. Happy, sad, angry, you name it. I mean, Kitakyushu is wild! One minute you’re eating yakitori, the next you’re crying over spilled ice cream.
Finally, I get home, and I’m exhausted. I flop onto my bed, and I’m like, “What a day!” I can’t believe all the ups and downs. But hey, that’s life in Kitakyushu, I guess. Full of surprises, laughter, and a little bit of chaos.
And you know what? I wouldn’t trade it for anything.