Touch down in Japan listening to “Lovers in Japan- Coldplay”- of course, and I remember seeing the mountains poking through the clouds and thinking that, even from the sky, everything looks different. This mystical place where even the clouds looked like they had been painted by Hokusai himself!
Meeting Manami at the arrivals gate was a memory I’ll never forget- it’s been two years since we’ve seen each other, but it felt like we’d never been apart =) We are so relaxed and comfortable around each other =) The first new word I learnt upon my arrival,atsui(hot), and I will never forget that one!
EVERYTHING is different and feels different, not like when you visit Europe and the countryside is similar and you don’t feel so far from home. In Japan, the land is so flat and suddenly explodes into mountains, all covered in trees so they almost look fuzzy.
Manami’s house is lovely and everyone is so welcoming, I love learning their ways; everybody has their ownsurippa(slippers) as shoes must be taken off at the door, thanking everyone for the meal before eating,itadakimasu, and sitting around the table on the floor instead of on chairs.
Of course, karaoke had to be done, but I also got to meet Manami’s boyfriend, Senpai, which was something special as I have known her from before she met him, to her telling me that she liked him and now, I got to meet the boy she’s been telling me about for almost three years =)
I must give a special mention to the food which is INCREDIBLE! The breakfast was so beautifully set out by Manami’s o-kasan (mother), amazingly thick sweet bread, omlette, blueberries and doughnuts- oishii!!!(yum ^^) Manami’s family taught me how to make takoyakiwhich is little balls of batter with octopus inside which was surprisingly very delicious! TONS of sushi, Japanese dessert which I could only describe as being like a trifle… Cake, ice cream, berries, cream all crammed into one bowl- heaven! But the favourite had to be tempuraand temizu, which consisted of fried shrimp in rice, wrapped in seaweed-oishiiiiiii!
Kyoto- Manami and Senpai took me to the Kyoto film studios where we saw a ninja show in true Japanese tradition. They were incredible, jumping from high places and tumbling through the air. Amazing! We visited the temple at the top of Kyoto just before sun set, you have never seen anything more stunning, the never ending city surrounded by magestic mountains.
Nagoya- We visited Nagoya just the right time for thematsurei(festival) of dance. The dancers moved down the streets as they performed, following the trucks that were blasting out music. The costumes were beautiful and everyone looked like they were having such a good time creating such an awesome atmosphere. Manami had to meet a friend so I wondered around Nagoya on my own. It was a strange feeling, walking around the place I could have gone to university, a place I would have considered more if my 16 year old self hadn’t given up on the idea because everyone laughed at her when she told them. Nagoya is a beautiful city and a place I felt settled and at ease. Sat looking across the city at sunset, I really wish I had considered it more…
Leaving Manami and her family was awful. Not knowing the next time I’ll see one of my best friends or when I’d next be in this place that I feel such a strong connection with, this family that I have a special bond with. I can’t explain it, but I felt so at home in Japan and in their home with a family who doesn’t speak English, I felt more comfortable there than I did in my own home in Leeds…
Sayonara Nihon, ai shiteru! 8 months ago
