Coat, hat and gloves on, I scoop up his school bag / randoseru (?????) by the leather shoulder straps and heave it onto his back. He pushes the door open to leave for school he turns to me, sighs and says: “Another long day at school for me.” It can be hard to get the...
Two men in their 70s do Tai Chi at the park. Wearing matching sleeveless bomber jackets, warm jumpers and khaki cargo pants – their bicycles discarded by a nearby tree. As if lead by a conductor, they move effortlessly and gracefully in sync. I imagine a...
Writing – whether it’s songs poems or diary entries – is my reset. It’s my cleansing routine, it’s my “Excuse me I just have to go and freshen up”. Writing is my therapy and my friend. Writing allows me to escape but doesn’t punish me for the privilege...
I’m sat on the opposite side of the glass this morning, as the coffee shop’s closed for New Year’s Day. Japan closes down for the first 3 days of January; pretty much the only time of year you’ll witness such a universal shut down of business. Last night was busy!...
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...
