My Notes June 2026 Week 3

Nagoro Village in the Iya Valley on Shikoku has the largest number of scarecrows.

Tsukimi Ayano returned home to care for her 85-year-old father and felt lonely.

The village population used to be around 300 but now is about 30.

Her first scarecrow was a likeness of her father working in the garden.

Many of the 350 dolls she made look like people that she knew.

The dolls are of a person fishing, men repairing a road, people waiting at a bus stop, students in a classroom etc.

June 15 is National Flip Flop Day.

Ancient Egyptian murals show that sandals were worn around 4000 BC.

The oldest pair of sandals found in Europe were made of leaves 1,500 years ago.

Americans brought Japanese zori back to the US and they became popular.

The zori design was modified and made of rubber.

Flip-flop is the sound made while walking.

“Put down roots” means “to establish a permanent home in one location.”

In 1989 I put down roots in Japan.

“To show someone the ropes” means “to teach someone.”

I found a new job, but I must show my replacement the ropes before I quit.