The spring when I entered primary school, my aunt gave me a bunch of pre-stamped postcards. “So that you can write to your friends.” That’s what she told me as she handed me the gift. The postcards came in three packages. Each with five cards, all different designs. Suddenly, I had many postcards in my […]
In this memory, I’m about four. At my grandmother’s house, I stand in front of my elder cousin’s room. The sun is already high up in the sky and I want to play with her, but she is still deep asleep. Her room is as dark as night, and she doesn’t respond even when I
I want you to knowHow delightful it wasWhen I came in andYou’d already made my coffeeBefore I even ordered it I want you to knowHow nice it wasWhen I saw you in the kitchenSpeaking to your friendWith so much kindness I want you to knowHow comforted I wasWhen I opened the doorTo find you walking
I want you to know Read More »
One autumn weekend, when I was about eight, my father took me to a park in the neighbourhood next to ours. I don’t remember how we got there – we might have biked or walked, or my mother might have dropped us on her way to shopping – but it was already late afternoon, and
Slipping and Disappearing Read More »
In this memory, I’m four years old. I’m staying at my grandmother’s house for a month away from my family. Some mornings, after breakfast, I go out in the front garden to explore. On one corner of the garden, close to a bush of flowers and hedges, is a small triangle-shaped rock sticking out from
When I was about five, all my friends and I started watching Ghibli movies at home. The first one everybody watched was “My Neighbor Totoro,” and one of my best friends’ little sister got plush dolls of all three Totoros that appeared in the story: a small one, a bigger one, and a huge one.
A mistake was madeNow you must correct itWhat would’ve been a simple processIs now a long ordealWhat a bummer!You wish the error hadn’t occurredBut here we areIn the middle of a troubleSo how about you stay calmAnd focus on the matter at handRoll up your sleevesCorrect that mistake
Correcting a Mistake Read More »
The first year I lived in Tokyo by myself, there was one restaurant that I’d go to when I felt lonely or needed a little pickup: a small French restaurant in the quiet corner of a noble neighbourhood. I’d go there for my weekend lunch. The place was usually quiet when I got there. I
A French Restaurant Read More »
When I was about nine, I visited a small town at the foot of Mt. Fuji to attend a ceremony that honoured the spirit of my grandfather who’d passed away many years ago. The family and relatives gathered at one of the many Buddhist temples in town and waited in the sitting area for the
The most inspiring spot Read More »
When I was a university student in Tokyo, one day after classes, I suddenly got inspired to eat ramen. There was a ramen restaurant near the campus that I’d always been curious about. I decided to go there for my late lunch. The restaurant was very dark, unlike typical ramen places. It was the odd
Introduction to Cilantro Read More »
