Mowing

The Japanese have interesting ways of doing things - we've been privy to their ways since we've lived here, but one of the stranger ways of doing things is the way they mow.  Yes, we're talking grass here.

Many moons ago, for those of you paying attention, I did a post about the way that the yard workers dress - a cross between nuclear fallout, Little House on the Prairie and homeless.  There is no good description - just pictures...

So in this "Lawn Ninja" gear (as Stevie calls them), the Japanese cut lawns, trees, borders, etc.

And then there are the ways they cut the median strips on roads.  I know, you wouldn't think this would be an interesting topic for a post, but stick with me.

First, let me state a fact.  This is a sub-tropical island so plants grow fast.  Weeds grow even faster.  So the Japanese solution for keeping the weeds and grasses in the median strips at bay is to raze them every month or so.  I mean take them down to nubs so you think they'd never grow again - but they always do seem to live to see another day.

But it's the process that is so interesting because it's so labor intensive.  For instance, here's a typical progression...

Driving down the road and you start seeing cones closing the lane (note the bushy grass)...

 

Approaching Workman One who is holding a large screen (on wheels! so it's movable) to stop grass from flying into traffic and Workmen 2, 3, 4 and 5 busy with their weed wackers...

Workmen 6 & 7 wacking the weeds behind a screen to keep it all neat and tidy...

Workmen 8, 9, 10 and 11 stacking up the wacked weeds...

Workmen 12, 13, 14 and 15 putting the cut weeds into a garbage truck...

Finally, Workmen 16 with a giant flag waving cars to get over (in case the bright yellow cones weren't clear enough)...

Now how's that for a process???