Pat's Blog

To get a better overview of the Sunport area in Takamatsu, I went down with camera and took some shots on a typical summer’s evening recently. Twilight time is the best. People are enjoying the breeze cooled by the sea, kids play in the water fountains and in the distance there is usually music floating through the air.






The atmosphere at these times is very relaxed, casual and people do whatever they’re interested in, which is usually exercise. Photography is also popular and the shutterbugs are out in force at dusk. Joggers, skaters, musicians and just people out for a stroll create a cool atmosphere and take in a whiff of tangy sea air with a walk on the promenade. Ah … summertime.













This is a place where kids play, people stretch and exercise, Frisbees fly. Or some just sit quietly and undisturbed. I often see people sleeping out here on the benches and understand it as it’s so inviting with the cool breeze after a typical dog day in Japan’s summer. Speaking of dogs, they’re out there too and people often let the dogs get introduced first, then start up a conversation with each other usually for the first time. This is an interesting new form of social intercourse with the dogs taking the initiatives.



My own preference on these occasions is to relax with a cold beer and preferably one with ice shards floating in it. That’s my idea of Sunport summer evening. There are plenty of others doing the same. Looking out at the Inland Sea this evening, I thought; drop everything, buy a boat and sail off into the sunset.





There are even a few rugged individuals playing touch rugby and they invited me to play. One must think about the heart at times like these even though the spirit is willing.

Keep all those cards n’ letters coming in! Any positive comments are of course welcome in either English or Japanese and I’ll be back soon with another report on interesting things to do in this beautiful city, Takamatsu. Until then …
  

What used to be an old truck & freight depot and hangout for stray dogs and whilst safe, was a place to be a bit leery of at night. More because of the stray dogs than anything else, has been transformed into the Sunport area of Takamatsu. Now so beautiful with its port, promenade, outside restaurants, new station, conference centers, large underground parking, fun fountains for kids to run around in, public auditoriums indoors and outdoors, modern bus terminal etc., etc.,

This is a big modern jewel in Takamatsu’s historical crown and as every modern port does, has now added a truly international flavor to the city with the port and concourse from there all the way to the JR Takamatsu Station. For years I’ve wondered why after almost ten years the port area hasn’t attracted international traffic apart from one or two smaller vessels each year? Apart from the lights of the big ferries plying back and forth which is a beautiful sight, especially in the evenings, it’s been a pretty dull old port, which is ironic, as it’s at the same time a new and very beautiful one.

Things are about to change people, so here’s the scoop on the latest developments at the Takamatsu Port. For the last few months, there’s been a lot of reconstruction activity in the port area with the addition of an extended berth and winching system to cater for larger (hopefully international) vessels.
On my morning jogs I noticed much larger bollards (I had to look that one up) were built this month and a couple out further from the docking area.

I think my Japanese is not too shabby but I had trouble understanding how this thing is going to work? But given the level of Japanese engineering, of course it will and I’m going to report more about it once it’s finished and operating.
This bodes well for Takamatsu’s commercial development given the huge cash influx spending tourists always bring. Is Takamatsu as a city prepared for this? I cannot comment but hope there is sufficient preparation given the huge numbers that turned up for the Seto Art Festival last year. A runway success with triple the number of expected guests.

Sydney alone generates over $260 million from overseas tourist vessels per year; this has to be a winner for Takamatsu as well. If … the Kagawa Government can get their act together, which they can, it will be a bonanza for the prefecture and one I’ve long felt was way overdue.
Keep all those cards n’ letters coming in! The spell check just suggested lattes for ‘letters’ so you can keep lattes coming in too if you want. Cathy and I are happy to be back and blogging for Ashita Sanuki again. Please do write a comment or suggestion in either English or Japanese anytime)