March 9, 2022

I went to the hospital at Yokosuka Navy Base today. My regular doctor is away so I saw a different doctor. When I last saw my regular doctor, a week after the surgery, he said that when the stitches are removed, I could take a shower without covering my foot with a plastic bag and that I could wear shoes. When I asked the doctor today, he wasn’t sure if I could get it wet, so he recommended that I wait until next week to see my regular doctor again. At least I know that it is healing well and will be like new soon.

An ancient demon spirit may be loose in Japan!

A volcanic rock known as the "killing stone" that legend says contained a demonic spirit and killed anyone who touched it was found split in two in Japan on Monday. (Since the rock split in half, the demon spirit is “on the loose,” or “escaped” and is traveling around Japan now.)

The Sessho-seki, or killing stone, is said to have contained "the ghost of Tamamo-no-Mae, a beautiful woman." Legends say she was actually a kyūbi no kitsune or nine-tailed fox spirit — who participated in a secret plot (A “plot” basically means “a plan.”) to kill Emperor Toba, who reigned from 1107-1123.

After her true form was revealed, the stories say, she was "hunted down by the famous archers Miura no Suke and Zazusa no Suke" and, after being mortally wounded by their arrows, hid her spirit in the rock.

Local media said cracks had appeared in the rock several years ago, possibly allowing rainwater to seep inside and weaken its structure.