Japan
I have never been anywhere like Japan
I never stop thinking about it.
Nov 2010
One of the most BeautifuL times I could ever experience.
I went for 5 days as a favor of a friend to deliver film reels for their cinemas in Tokyo. i had no idea what to expect as no one does really when they have never been somewhere or experienced something or even met someone.
From what I imagined of Japan.
It was nowhere near to what I expected.
IT WAS BETTER.
I stayed in a place called Shibuya in a good looking hotel with a balcony.
I walked into my room.
I felt the air on my skin.
It wasn't the same to home. Home. It felt ambitious, different like when you feel that very moment would be perfect for a film. When you walk to the door and open it to look outside and see that the light in the sky is so perfect it could make you cry. That is what happened. I walked to the door of that balcony and opened it to colours that I couldnt imagine smudging into each other in the sun set sky.
I had one outfit on me and hardly any money. I have never been so happy. No restrictions just me and my Japan. I walked for miles that evening not caring where I was going, just to be there my feet actually touching the ground that millions of polite, kind hearted Japanese people would walk upon every minute.
Bliss.
I became curious of everything that they did in Japan. I wanted to know, see, eat, speak, i wanted to be like them. Words that form art in the air. When I closed my eyes and listened to the words they made stories in my head of years ago. I couldn't understand. I needed guidance. I went to the first book shop I could find and got my phrasebook. All I wanted to do was to understand their language and reply to there questions or thank them for answers. I remember going to every god damn bank to try and get some money out because I had recently transferred money for when I arrived. But yer typical my card was blocked not thinking to tell my bank that I was going to Tokyo so not to worry. So as you do you see a couple of people who are obviously not Japanese and go over to ask if they know where I could possibly go to get some money.
They turn out to be English teachers. One from Canada, London and the other...Get this from Hull!! Of all places Hull. Near where I am from. It was mad to meet someone on the other side of the world who literally lives half hour away from where I am from in Huddersfield. I tell you it was awesome to hear a northern accent in Tokyo. We all got talking about stuff and they invited me out for dinner the next night. I thought why not I am in Japan alone and want to see more and know more.
That night i would walk around the walkways above all the traffic being glissened by the bright lights.
I went to the most amazing magazine shop just round the corner from where I was staying in Shibuya and I was captivated by the covers of BeautY. Just endless shelves of manga, fashion, architecture and art. I spent most of my money in that shop and did not feel bad one bit.
I walked as slowly as I could back to hotel that night trying to take in every image I captured through my eyes and wanted to store them in my mind for eternity. I wish I could some how do that. Keep my memories in images for everything I ever looked at.
I hope when I pass at old age and I reach my heaven there will be a cinema a cinema to watch my life back.
Just to remember.
Remember.
I flicked through the pages of gold dust just trying my hardest to understand what I was reading.
That night I fell asleep with my Vogue.
I woke up to peace. I was in the busiest city ever and I couldn't hear a thing. I sat outside on my balcony watching the people getting on with there daily routine as I had a cuppa (has to be a cuppa being from west Yorkshire and all) and a Marlboro Iceblast. The name doesn't do it any justice but I will let you know what one of these are just in case you don't already know what this is. There are averages cigarettes but in the filter there is a little ball. If you crush the ball it turns into a menthal, or mental filters as I like to call them. Basically your getting 2.4.1. I personally bought them for the packet.
So I got dressed and headed to the train station or underground which ever you like to call it. I didn't have a destination in mind I just waited for them to announce a place I liked the sound of. I didn't go far but it was Shinjuku.
The fashion is wild in Shinjuku. I was hungry for more. I found a dance school which I was very keen to See if I could attend a dance class to see how they teach and what the standards are like over there but as you might have guessed it took a while for me to ask them and understand the situation. I was so determined just to watch a class or anything. Unfortunately it didn't happen.
As planned I got ready and set off to meet the guys I had met earlier the day before for dinner. I had the address on me and the money to get there but it took longer than I expected. I had to get 4 different trains, my mobile didn't work so everytime i got to a station I had to ring them from a pay phone to let them know where I was.
I made it. I got to the restaurant and it was so small but really comforting. I felt as though I lived there. In Japan. I miss you.
Anyway after a while I got back to the hotel, laid on my bed looking at the blank canvas for a ceiling that my ideas were spilling out onto as though I was dreaming of these colours that I could see. !!BOOMBOOMBOOMBOOMBOOMBOOMBOOMBOOMBOOM!!
My heart was shaking. I knew I had to find out where these vibrations were coming from the only way in doing that was to follow my heart to the beginning of my conquest to..
The Night Club Next Door.
I found it without realising. I saw some guys sat on a bench outside the club and I could tell they were going there. I thought what have I got to lose by going in? Nothing except my enthusiasm otherwise this boredom I carry would take over my body slowly until I went insane in my hotel room. Well what happened next? I didn't expect this to happen.
I got in for free as one of the guys worked there. There were 5 floors in this nightclub it was out of this world. Each floor had different music, one room had skate boards, merchandise for skating and bmx! How fricking cool is that. I actually bought a magazine for one of my best guy friends who loves biking. I can't remember when it started but Jake and I would always buy each other a magazine on surfing or rock climbing or biking that sort of thing when we went on holiday. That makes me smile. Anyway I was hooked. To Tokyo. My Tokyo love amplified so much I was sure I was never going to leave.
I met a girl there who was going out with the guy I met outside the club.
Her name is
Yuka Hatanaka
One of the best nights of my life. She could speak Engilsh quite well so we got to know each other a little and she introduced me to some of her friends. The most I could say to he in Japanese was hello, thankyou, yes, 1-10 and slippers. So she found me quite amusing as I would if that was all she could say to me. I think at one point she kept telling me to shout something which I had no idea what I was saying.
かわいい - KAWAII - CUTE
Don't you just love that word. Even if you didn't know what it meant it would still make you smile.
I spent all night with Yuka and her friends and it was more than words can say.
When we left we exchanged facebook and to this day we still speak.
(Not as well as I hoped on my part)
But fear not I am going to be taking Japanese classes this year.
The dream was reality.
Thank you Yuka for an awesome night.
I am going back to Japan I know that for sure. Not sure when in the next couple of years but when I do I know I will be staying there for as long as possible.
Yuka your KAWAII
I was so hungry and luckily the hotel was.....
Next door. Smily face.
So your in Japan what do you eat for breakfast? Sushi?
YES PLEASE.
It was so good.
10am and only just heading back to my room. Means a good night. The doors opened on the elevator and there was a guy around my age sat on the floor crying. I was a bit indecisive on what to do. I walked into my room and knew I had to go back.
He was called
DAIKI
He was locked out of his room.
He was fine and we hung out for a couple of hours then he went to sort out getting a key to pack his things as he was leaving. He was a cool guy. He sang in a band and loved to travel.
Yep. I fell asleep until the next day. My leaving day.
I actually cried because I didn't want to come back to London and that is saying something I love London.
But I am in love with Tokyo.
x