I find lists easier to maintain than a recount, they’re pointed and eclectic and allow me to be lazy without risk of exposure. So here goes. Enjoy.
1. Clouds swarm down Mt. Fuji. What was a fair summer’s day, redolent with crisp beams of light that warmed the hikers on their way down from a cold summit. The clouds were more like fog, and suddenly enshrouded everyone on the slope in white moisture.
2. Sometimes they’d play songs I knew over the airwaves. Some songs were: Concierto di Aranjuez — Miles Davis (Sketches of Spain), First cut is the deepest — Sheryl Crow, Hey Jude — The Beatles (Orchestral), Beethoven’s Ninth,.
3. A chinese man, who I shared a hostel with, studying japanese late into the night.
4. The homeless men who never beg. Enjoying the summer weather in the park, out on the streets. They used cardboard between their bodies and the rough streets.
5. The band at Asakusa dressed to the nines, composed of Double bass, Accordion, Classical Guitar, Harmonica and lead vocals. The singer was a pale lanky fellow. They all wore top hats and suspenders as per the meiji style and sang music from the same era. The singer had a tough time raising his voice, and always faced the bassist, somehow I felt the sadness in his soul, though it was rather patently marked on his thin face.
6. Chinese tourists. In awe of the Japanese economy. Yet still proud. Who will always speculate on the purpose of a towel left on a wicker tray in a self-service restaurant. Is it to wipe one’s face with? Or one’s hands? It’s to wipe the table with.
7. The beautiful powdered women with orange hair who roam the streets. Those with the aspect of wolves especially. Where are they going? What can they be looking for? Happiness, pleasure, tomorrow? I Cannot tell.
8. The endless torrent of signs in Japanese and english. I had sign fatigue.
9. Getting tired of shibuya. I don’t really want to go back, not like this anyways.
10. The check out girl who laughed at me. It’s rare for them to even smile.
11. Finding a copy of Robert Grave’s autobiography — ‘Goodbye to all that’ at the hostel. And taking it home, after I finished the book I brought with me ‘An end to suffering ~ the buddha in the world’.
12. The korean girls who passed through our room in the 7 days. They spoke only korean. Were very fastidious and punctual. And brought home confectionary and makeup.
