Stranger 2011
I went back to Japan this Xmas and New Year. It’d been three and half years. Every time I go back, I become like a stranger as I leave a big time gap between trips. As soon as I arrive Narita Airport, I get shocked by the fact that most of people I see are mainly Japanese, then I try to get on a train to the centre of Tokyo but can’t find a way without asking people. Luckily I speak Japanese. Things over there are getting more and more convenient and smart and stylish and I no longer can catch up with it after living in London for such a long time. Don’t even talk about famous hi-tech Japanese toilets. They are crazy. I am simply happy with any toilets as long as it’s clean. I was specially impressed by supermarkets this time. The quality is so high and you almost don’t need to eat out at all. Modern buildings and architectures are great but my favorite is traditional culture. My family took me to a very old New Year festival at the end of Miura Peninsular and I saw a Lion dance – a lion comes and dance around you and eat your bad luck, a Bell ceremony – hit a giant bell one hundred eight times to get rid of karma, village people serve every one new Sake to cerebrate a New Year. There are still plenty of old fashion things are reserved over there which makes me sigh of relief. Another favorite is Onsen, a hot spa from a volcano. I’m from Shizuoka county which is famous for Onsen. I went in a hot spa as many times as I could possible manage while my short holiday and had an old school massage and ate beautiful food and totally refreshed myself. Why do I go back to England? I don’t know. I might be a masochist and like to be tortured in a massive inconvenience. I just love London.
