It's that time of year again, when the financial year in Japan nears it's end and the local government decides to do something to use up the budget they get from the National Government (It's kind of a use it or lose it situation). The usual way in Nagaokakyo to use up the budget, is to go and do more road works. Last year that meant we got new drainage in our street, even though existing drains worked fine, just they were a bit old fashioned. It meant a few months of jack hammering and other interruptions. This year we got a new surface for our road, more interruptions, but at least this time they finished in a couple of weeks. I wonder what the road works gravy train will bring us next year?

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