js43 our car collection 2

I can't remember the exact circumstances of the Mira's demise(see previous post). Nadia told me that the new teachers could only drive automatics, so that's why a new car was required. I recall something at the time about costly repairs to worn CV's. All I know is that a perfectly serviceable vehicle went to scrap well before it would have in Australia.

So when we arrived in Japan again about 18 months later, there was a new old car waiting. A Suzuki Alto. Another K-car. It looked remarkably like the Mira and I think I did a double take when I saw it sitting in the garage. The difference was the auto gearbox, air-conditioning that worked and automatic windows. It felt like the next model up from the Mira, if you get what I mean.

We used to take a back route(#49) via Moshi sometimes that wound through the mountains, on our way to and from classes in Sasayama. It was beautiful and narrow and bounded by growing tea fields and spectacular views. Streams dashed and gurgled over rocks and around tight bends with sharp-rising banks. The pic above shows the Alto at rest very near the crest of the range in 2004. We had stopped for a break near a tea farm and to take a few photos.

js42 our car collection 1

Yes School had its first 'teacher car' in 2000, a Daihatsu Mira that Duncan (the teacher before us) had purchased from a student. Prior to that, teachers with the school either walked, rode a bike or (apparently) could borrow a step-through motor scooter. I have my doubts about the latter as we only ever saw it in pieces at Stephanie's old place in Tomagaoka.

The Mira was a 660cc four speed manual micro-car which had a surprising zip around town and only threatened to expire when loaded up with passengers on a hill climb in the countryside. The air-conditioner was clapped out and front CV joint problems emerged by 2002. But it did manage a round trip to Hiroshima and many other excursions into the Sanda surrounds. And of course, it took us to classes that weren't scheduled at home, such as those at the Sakai and Nakano homes. It bore us safely through the night on our journey back from Sasayama.

In between our first and second visits, the Mira was carted off to the wrecker, a mere 60,000 kms on the clock. The photo above was taken in 2001 and shows Nadia with the car outside our bosses old house.