I love Japan and now we’ve left, I miss it very much.
As a 20-something who first came to Tokyo in the mid 90s, I approached Japan with rather a different mindset. I lived in Setagaya-ku for 2 years and by the end of my tenure was ready to leave. I didn’t explore much (sure, I went to Kyoto, Nagano, Nagoya and a few other places) but given my limited finances (it’s pretty expensive for a teacher out there) and 20-something partying lifestyle I missed many opportunities to see this wonderful country.
Sushi for lunch at Sky Tree
An older, an hopefully more seasoned, me now appreciates this country for what it is. I don’t find myself constantly comparing Japan to back home, or labeling the Japanese for being this or that. I guess, it’s Barefoot in practise. When we’re focusing less on the importance of our own story we appreciate the world around us a lot better. As a youth, I was very much into fashion, buying the latest designer Paul Smith suits and Patrick Cox shoes. Now, I’m pretty much relaxed about these things and am happy to slouch out of the hotel wearing a pair of jogging pants (something I vowed to a friend I would never do when I hit the dreaded forties). They’re tailored pants, mind you, shaped not straight-downs. But, being more relaxed about how you appear means you can also be more relaxed about the world around you, and start enjoying it rather than judging it.
Despite the 1000s of visits in my life to Japanese convenience stores (konbeni’s) this last trip was the first time, I confess, that I found myself really enjoying the experience. And when I mean “really” I’m not prone to hyperbole – I *really* enjoyed it. So much so, in fact, I relished running out of Pocari Sweat (a sports drink) or feeling the pang of hunger. That meant I had an excuse to go and peruse the strange foods on offer down at 7-11. To say “strange” is itself strange given my years of living in Japan and being married to a Japanese girl but I’d never really paid attention to the foods on offer before. In the past, I’d go to the 7-11 and rather than spend time absorbing the sights and sounds, worry about looking stupid or out of place. I’d pick a familiar looking sandwich and a drink then leave. This time, however, I found myself rooting through the seaweed selections.
The picture below is rather tame from last week’s haul but of note, I’ve added edamame beans. Throughout my time as a resident in Japan I never ate these treats until I moved back to London. Same, pretty much for tofu and seaweed.What a crime.
Japanese lunch selection from 7-11
{ 0 comments }
