Canon's Diary

The cherry blossoms along the Onda River in Tokyo were nearly in full bloom last weekend, so I was surprised to see that the cherry blossoms from the window of the JR Kyoto Line were only about 50% in bloom. Although it is already April, the mornings in Osaka are still quite chilly, and just wearing a suit with a scarf feels a bit cold. Since the Osaka headquarters starts work at 8 AM, I booked a hotel one station away. However, my departure time is not much different from when I worked at the Tokyo branch, which starts at 9 AM.

I spoke to a colleague who joined the company in January, saying, “Hotel prices have gone up a lot.” He replied, “Yeah, it seems that due to the Osaka Expo, hotel prices have doubled compared to usual.” The Osaka Expo will be held from April 13 to October 13 on Yumeshima in Osaka Bay. Since I am staying here, I may have a chance to visit. On my first day at work on April 1, there were presentations on the new department structure and each section manager’s policies. While handling the administrative procedures for my transfer, I also spent time exchanging opinions with my supervisor about future plans. The actual work has not fully started yet, and we are beginning with coordination with relevant departments and establishing rules.

Finding a reasonably priced hotel was a bit challenging, but for the first night, I managed to book the hotel near Takatsuki Station that I always use. The days are getting longer, and even at 5 PM when I finished work, it was still bright outside. Since I had some time after checking into the hotel, I took a walk through the shopping district and bought a slim-fit suit. On my way back, I stopped by a public bath to relax and then went to sleep.

My supervisor has asked me to stay in Osaka for the first two weeks of the fiscal year. I can feel that the new life I had been thinking about is finally starting. I still feel a mix of excitement and anxiety, but I think those feelings are gradually fading day by day.