Hello! from Rick Cogley

Jun 26, 2024 ↓

Plant Plunderage

Encountered a plant thief the other day while out jogging, which left me standing shaking my head. 🤦🏼‍♂️

We heard about this phenomenon on a variety show at some point, and had heard someone in the neighborhood say their plants had been stolen, but this was my first real brush with arboreal brigandry.

I was out jogging, plodding along as usual on a hot morning, and could hear a faster runner come up behind me. She and I turned a corner at the same time, and she kind of bumped into me, saying 'sumimasen'. For unknown reasons I blurted 'konnichiwa' to this woman, who said 'konnichiwa' back, then she ripped a rosemary branch from a bush along the road. Right in front of my eyes.

I thought, she must live there, but no, as she sprinted off stuffing her botanic booty in her pocket, I could see other stolen sprigs swaying, sticking out from her pockets.

She was covered head to toe in that UV protection clothing you see women wear here in Japan from time to time, but maybe it was meant to be a dorobo’s disguise.

Hope the rosemary chicken was worth it!