night takes over the sky

Wasn’t so big in Sendai.  We had heard it would hit earlier this week, then that it had passed, and then again that it would hit tonight.  Some of Josh’s friends said that the trains would probably stop for at least a couple hours during the worst of it due to the high winds.  Matt and I went out mid-day to buy food for dinner in case we couldn’t go out later.  After we got back it stopped raining and never started again.  Ironically, Matt and I had gone out during the worst part of the storm that we had been trying to avoid all day.  It wasn’t much of a storm in Sendai though.  Instead of a typhoon that night there was a spectacular sunset.  Even though it didn’t hit our area too hard, the potential prospect of getting stranded in Kagoshima city was enough to stop us from going anywhere today.  I was a little disappointed, but happy that at least it happened on a day when my brother had classes so he was able to work from home and hang out for much of the afternoon.  A high-light of the weather was the evening’s spectacular susnset, which Matt and I viewed from the roof of Josh’s apartment. (Josh was at work, inside. Sorry Joshie, hope you like the pics!)

east view, towards train station

The three of us ended the night with a stroll down to Family Mart for some mini mochi ice-creams. As we walked along a ledge above the river we heard strange splashing noises.  It was too dark to see what was causing the disturbance.  Then Josh felt something against his leg.  He thought it was just the cat that had been following us, begging for food.  But then Matt let out a yelp and fell to the ground.  Something was trying to pull him down the bank toward the river.  Josh and I froze for an instant in shock and horror before dropping our mochi and rushing to Matt’s aid.  We each held on tight to Matt’s arm and pulled while Matt, who was under quite a bit of duress at this point, kicked as hard as he could with his strong Japanese legs.

It was still too dark to see what we were fighting against, but then the Tsubami Express Shinkensen rushed over the nearby bridge.  The train’s headlights illuminated us for only an instant, but in the quick flash of light I saw it: big eyes, skinny little green arms, and stalky legs.  The creature wasn’t dressed like they are in cartoons, but he did have a little blue shell.  It looked up at me at the same moment I saw it and snapped its beak at me.  It was a kappa.

We had been warned about them by Josh’s friends and public service signs around town.  (No thanks to the dancing kappa decorating the lampposts downtown.  Those are inaccurate portrayals; kappas aren’t that cute in real life.)  I screamed, and with one final tug Josh and I were able to pull Matt to safety as we head a splash of something going back into the river.

A lot of people have asked if Matt and I have ever felt in danger during our travels.  I can say that this one of those times…right up there with some long-distance bus rides.