3 in 30 - 2001.12.09 Sunday
The neighbor's house is now about 1/2 demolished and a front view allows for a closer inspecton of the interior. The house, although looking big from the outside, was actually quite small. About 1 meter narrower than ours, the ground level had an entry way, with a solid wood steep and narrow stairs to the left (ours is to the right when you enter). A living room to the right and a kitchen behind the living room. The toilet was under the stairs (just like our house) and the bath area in the back far left corner (just like our ground level, only reversed. However, we have an extra room downstairs). The upstairs had three small bedrooms, with "oversized" closets which hold mainly futons during the day. Each room likely 2 meters by 3 meters (if that). We have two bedrooms upstairs and a toilet. But the overall area about the same as ours.
The stairs is now fully visible. Note also, that the apartment building just to the left of the house was only about 1 meter away. Our neighbors just south of us, have wooden stairs, at about a distance of 2 meters from our living room and sometimes we can hear them going up and down them. Neighbors in Japan are often very close in proximity although not in familiarity. (Japanese tend by culture to be very private people.)
Off to the left you can view the truck that filled up with used lumber (re: Paul's message earlier). The outside patio has come down, the metal shutters are still standing, although the windows are gone. The man on the truck asked me what I was doing, and I tried to explain I was taking pictures. I understood enough of what he said to me to hear the word "bad", and did not know if my taking pictures was bad, or the house was bad. In Japan, instead of remodeling, people usually tear down and rebuild. Unfortunately, we understand from conversations today that instead of a new house, we'll have new apartment in our neighborhood.