It's getting to be a sultry summer season in Tokyo. These days, my secret pleasure is taking a cold shower for a few minutes each morning to help prevent brain fog. This refreshing, albeit harsh, morning ritual feels like a baptism that awakens my life force. While it was shocking at first, I've grown accustomed to it, and now it's pure bliss. By the way, I heard that the Tokyo Metropolitan Government has decided to make the basic water charge for general households free for four months this summer, so I plan on indulging in as many refreshing icy cold showers as I can take in.
Water bills seem to be calculated based on a basic fee plus a metered charge that varies with usage. However, for several years, my bill stayed the same, almost as if it were a flat-rate subscription. I had assumed this was an estimated price, thinking the labor cost of sending someone to read meters at individual homes would be higher. But then, last month's bill was a bit higher. Now I can't help but wonder if this campaign is a precursor to a price increase.
