A break in the monotony comes when I go to clean the factory toilets. This consists of scrubbing the washbasins, windowsills, urinals and toilets proper with the same steel wool scrubbing brush which looks like it has performed the same task for a decade (that old Japanese obsession with hygiene again), then mopping the floor in the cubicles (in the process gaining further evidence for my hypothesis that asian men have difficulties with aiming), then flushing the toilets for the guys who "forgot", then hosing the whole place down.
Afterwards I catch a train (1 hour, 1200Y) and bus (1 hour, 1200Y) back to Youkaichi to go back to work for a few hours.
Work in the morning, then three AIESECers (why three?) come for the final evaluation of my traineeship. We go to the Technical Centre where the hall is set out with two panels of desks, each 8 metres long and 10 metres apart. The AIESECers sit at 2 metre intervals along one, 5 Kanaflex representatives along the other, and I, (apparently "the accused" in this courtroom) am relegated to a side desk. No one pays me any attention at all for the whole of the proceedings, except the OL who (rapture!) brings me green tea instead of the standard cheap, nasty instant coffee with a single serve sugar sachet and a single serve milk-substitute cup. Actually, two of the Kanaflex reps don't even say anything during the whole event - this is apparently just a 2-hour ciggy break for them. With great care to put each phrase delicately so as not to cause any of the parties present to lose face, Nishi opens the case for the defence (I think, or maybe he was for the prosecution?). I have difficulty staying awake during the negotiation (although the nicotine-laced air does help a bit), but I also notice that the other two AIESECers who have accompanied Nishi do not say anything either. Anyway, it's all over soon enough, and I go back to work, giving Nishi and Sakata the keys to my dormitory to "nominicate" the time away until I come back. I suggest that we stay at the dorm overnight and go back to Kobe tomorrow morning (these guys don't have a car), but Nishi looks a bit perplexed at this and says "Muri desu" with the crossed forearm gesture - Can't be done. No more explanation than that, so I don't work this one out until later.
Oe takes me around the factory grounds (about 4 square kilometres) to say "Thank you so much, I am ever indebted to you" to every single person in the entire plant. About 90% of these people I have never seen before, and only about 5 of the remaining have ever said a word to me. Amazingly, many say they hope I had a good experience here, and wish me well for the future. Frankly I would have rathered they showed this interest in me before the day I was due to leave, but I know that endings are very important to the Japanese (see Tales of a Token Foreigner).