My last week in Japan was bittersweet to say the least. Finally having time off from school made me realize that for most of the semester I had been worried about building my community, completing schoolwork, and checking off each item on my Japan bucket list. I had been so focused on these that I largely neglected spending relaxed, undedicated time with those I care about. At least I had a week to make up for it.
On Saturday, we finally went to a baseball game, a sport which the Japanese value highly. It was between the Swallows and Giants, the two Tokyo teams. The Giants were the visiting team and we sat in the visitor section, which was fun because they ended up winning. The fans have a different chant for each hitter, and even brought their own band. They twirled their towels around each time a point was scored, and were lively throughout. On Sunday I visited various doctors about my ongoing sickness, who basically said I was fighting an infection, but would be alright. The trip also made me end up in Shinjuku and Kabukicho during the daytime, which I realized hadn't actually happened before. It was a sunny day and the city was quite nice to walk around. I wondered why I hadn't been there during the daytime before, and felt sad to say goodbye. At nighttime I went to a more fancy Onsen with Ian which I hoped would help my throat. It was a 30 min walk away which was nice, and the tubs, sauna, and outdoor seating were relaxing. On Monday, I went to a PC cafe with Ian, which I had been curious about all semester. I also wanted to spend time with Ian, because it will most likely be many years before I can see him again. At PC cafes, you pay hourly or in chunks to use high quality PCs, amongst others doing the same in a big room. They also have food and drinks that you can buy. On Wednesday, Rachel and I ate lunch at the restaurant where the final fight scene in "Kill Bill" was filmed, which was very cool to see. They had pictures on the walls of many famous people who had visited. We also went to a coffee shop, rooftop restaurant and then stayed at a hotel with a KING bed for the night to get out of our small rooms. On Thursday, I began packing :( and then went to a tasty soup dumpling restaurant with Rachel. On Friday, I packed some more, and then went to a Jazz club in Shinjuku with Rachel for my final night. Featured that night were a pianist, bassist, drummer, and two saxophone players. My favorite was the pianist, who was Fumio Itabashi. He was so into it that he often stood up, banging and swinging his head around. He had to change shirts halfway through because he was sweating so much. We also went to a retro gaming cafe afterwards which had a bunch of old video games you could play. The owners and workers busted out some guitars and started singing some... interesting tunes to pass the time as we were the only customers left there. We ended up watching two performances that night! Saturday was the time for final packing and teary eyed goodbyes. After Hawaii I'm a little used to the feeling- the knowledge that this group of people in this setting will never exist again, and the incredible fun and growth that was had will only exist as a memory after this day. Such is the nature of life, and one can only be happy that it happened! I got sushi one more time before taking a taxi to the airport, soaking in one more view of the endless skyline.
I learned about something of a dark side to Japan's modernism in my Sustainable Environments class. Before I wrote about how their quest for the future made for a suffocating digital landscape. However, the modern mindset has been pushed physically as well. Almost constant construction can be observed everywhere in the city, always making the most up-to-date structures. This need for new buildings is quickly destroying all of the important historic sites in the city, sites of the likes which have given European cities much of their fame and beauty. Tokyo is on the path to becoming a bland, albeit well-oiled machine of glass and metal cubes with little to no intrigue. Further, the literal majority of the Japanese public have begun seeing trees as dirty, and want them removed, or trimmed completely so that they have no leaves. It is recognized that trees all over the city are being quickly lost, because the Japanese vision of the future is one without greenery, apparently. What's so high-tech about nature, anyway? At first the city looked super cool, and I enjoyed seeing all the Japanese writing, probably because I couldn't read it, and it looked more like graphical art. After spending 3 months in it, the city began to look a bit more on the ugly side actually, and I realized that there is unnecessary signage everywhere which would be less romantic if it was written in English.
What I like about cities: always interesting, always things happening, and always stuff to see- endless exploration opportunity
What I don't like: lots of loud noises, feels like there is no escape, no natural scenery
After a lifetime of falling in love with Japan from afar, my in person stay cemented my passion, while also making me fall out of love a bit. In other words, I feel I achieved some closure on my wonder about Japan. My time was amazing and I'd like to visit again, but I am also ready to explore the rest of the world as well.
As my plane descended upon LA, I immediately recognized it by the thick layer of smog above the city, and highways positively teaming with cars (not the cool kinds). As we passed the Hollywood sign, I prepared for the comfort of home, along with the rowdiness and disorder that is America. When I landed in LAX, the first thing I noticed was the difference in people's tone. All of the workers in the airport seemed downright disrespectful to me, and compared to the workers in Japan, indeed they were. After observing Japanese people for the past few months, it also struck me how disheveled and... wrinkly? everyone looked in the American airport. I was additionally confronted with very different smells, particularly a distinct lack of fish smell, and a new general ~grime~ scent.
In an effort to stay awake for my next two flights to try to change my time zone efficiently, I decided to grab a coffee. I had been looking forward to coffee in America, as it never lived up to my hopes in Japan. It was always too sweet, too weak, too milky, or too small. Well, after purchasing my literal eight dollar coffee ($0.50-$3 in Japan), I soon realized I needed to chug it because I had to go through security again before catching my next flight. While looking out the window at the busy car lanes and trying not to burn my tongue, I realized that life isn't all about coffee.
To put it more bluntly, it's not about pleasure. The greatest experiences come when you are uncomfortable.
And so, I've made it to the other side. I could not have expected anything that happened on my trip, and I wouldn't change any of it.
The lack of bidet at home makes me feel like I've traveled back to the 1800s. At night, the town sounds dead silent compared to the constant highway noise in Tokyo. While in Tokyo, I was ready to leave. Back at home, I'm ready to go back. Again, such is life.
Ja ne, Tokyo.