“A kilogram of beef in one piece? I’m very sorry. I don’t know where you’d find that. Let me check with the other staff.” She exchanged giggles, hidden politely behind hands, with the other staff and returned. “I’m sorry. You might try the shoutengai.” These shopping streets traditionally have a roof spanning between the buildings on either side, and every shop specialises. It’s not simply that you’ll find a butcher, a bakery and a grocery store next to each other as you would in Australia. Here, I had a poultry shop, a beef shop, a pork shop, and one each for fruit, vegetables, bread, tofu, rice, and each type of noodle. Interspersed with them were shops selling furniture, cakes, souvenirs, TVs, and even a bathhouse for people living in older apartments that didn’t have baths. I walked along this street every morning to go to the station, and every evening, I’d come home the same way, always fascinated by the sight.