Ship Welders
The welders are out in force again. This must mean that the sandblasting / polisher guys will be working soon, followed by the primers and painters. This is yet another ship in the Murakami Shipyard being built near Kinoura Port on my island. This one is rather small. Last winter they built several grand scale cargo ships in the cove-like area that they have created amidst the craggy outcroppings. They were so large that the hulls sometimes protruded over the protective barriers and loomed over the roadway. That was cool, unless I was bicycling home and they were welding above my head…ha ha. I enjoy watching these guys work. Anyway, it just goes to show that Imabari City’s slogan “City of Towels and Shipbuilding” is accurate.
Here are two still shots from the same evening. The first is our sad little port sign. I kind of like it, because it strikes me as very rural or countrified. You can imagine the lights winking on and off or making buzzing sounds as they struggle to remain lit. Aaah, Hakata. 
The second one is a closeup of captain welding guy. He was really into it. He looked a bit baffled, though, when he peered up and took off his mask and saw some random white guy taking pictures of him from the road. I admit, I can see why that would be strange. It’s a cool picture, nonetheless. In the video, you can see splashes of color that randomly erupt during the welding process. I took a series of these, and some are purple or pink or blue. This one was my favorite.
