I got the bill for my local taxes. It was huge. These taxes used to be deducted from my salary and I never really noticed how high they were. Taxes in Japan are calculated on your previous year’s salary and last year I had a big salary. For local taxes I think that beyond a certain salary level you pay a much higher rate. I agree with this, er in principal. The well paid should pay more than the worse off. The reality comes as a bit of a jolt.

It is more than the purchase and total restoration of the Norfolk Gypsy.

I pay in cash at my bank. Why cash ? I do not know. The process was very bizarre. I was asked to withdraw the enormous sum from the ATM machine and then to  hand it over. The bank folks,  who felt my pain, were very sweet.

To re-establish my joy of Okinawa, I take Medium Blue to my local corner shop. They have the most wonderful selection of fresh fish.

Medium Blue waits patiently outside.

The fish is all locally caught and is different everyday.  It is also cheap.

Worth paying a lot of tax for.

The top pack is tonight’s meal

The Okinawans cut up their fish in a very strange way.

The best sashimi in the world!

It is also the start of amazing sunset season. This was last night.

So frankly I do not mind paying massive tax bill. The benefits are incomparable. What is more, next year I imagine I will pay little as I have no salary!