It’s a sharp, cold morning down at the bay, 5 degrees and dark clouds hang low on the horizon, giving a ghostly feel to the pre-dawn. I’m pleased to see one of the sun worshippers back – we’d all been worried about him and it turns out he had indeed been in a...
The train is fast and efficient. This is the bullet train (Shinkansen), they built the first one back in 1964 and have continued to develop it over the years, the pride of the island. Leg room for days and seats that can spin around if you want to face the person...
The guy seated next to me on the train has two phones. One he’s using to read manga, the other he’s flicking through a video game. Headphones in his ears, mask on – he’s in his own world behind the glass screens. A young girl opposite has fallen asleep with her...
The pavements are damp as I walk towards the bay, it’s warm and I probably didn’t need this coat. As I approach ‘our spot’ I notice the band leader has brought his own cleaning cloths and is wiping down the banister. My fellow Sun worshippers greet me with...
It’s Saturday night, and I’ve arranged to meet a friend from language school in a bar in Ebisu for a drink. Happy Hour at the Hub ends at 7pm, and he texts to say he’ll be late – there’s a body on the line. Trains are so rarely late here. They are sleek,...
