October 1, 1930. Today as I was walking along, I kept thinking
to myself: when there are trains, when there are automobiles,
to walk, and moreover to walk in straw sandals—what an
outmoded, what an inefficient and burdensome way to trav-
el! As a matter of fact, on the road today there were autos
and bicycles passing from time to time, but I met almost no
one who was walking. Nevertheless, by venturing to do
something so ludicrous, I, who am not very clever, justify
my existence.
Santoka
(trad. Burton Watson)