The Beat Goes On

So here I am, more than halfway into my time in Japan, and unsurprisingly, it’s flying by. It’s difficult to get a grip on things and time when I’m trying to complete a project while also enjoying the culture and going on mini reunions with old friends. That being said, I’ll try to stick by the old mantra “No Excuses, Play Like a Champion” with the little time I have left. Alright then, back to the shenanigans




Last time we left off, I was explaining my beginnings in the country and becoming acclimated to the culture and what not. All that pretty much rings true, the only difference is that I’ve had a weekend of fun in between. Over the weekend my coworker and I went out to grab some drinks at the local establishments, it turned out to be a lot of fun. Naturally Japanese people see us and immediately want to start practicing their English, which I found to be comforting since that has not changed in 5 years. Saturday was spent meandering through the city. My coworker and I were able to get to the Skytree, which was the world’s largest tower up until 2011 or so (defeated by Dubai I think). We got a really good opportunity to see the entirety of Tokyo and wow, it’s made up entirely of buildings. Skyscrapers, apartments, department stores, there is very little nature left. It reminds me of just how much Tokyo is similar to New York City. Sunday was spent going to Hakone, which is about 2 hours from Tokyo proper and much more rural compared to Tokyo. Our intention was to see Mt. Fuji; however, due to cloud coverage we were only able to see glimpses of it. Still, I was able to purchase Strawberry Kit-Kats in a Mt. Fuji shaped box, so not a total loss. Finally, we hit up a hot spring to relax after, and while interesting, is something I don’t think I need to go to again. Let’s just say there were significant cultural differences.



Since the weekend, we’ve been hard at work on the project. We only have about 1 week left working in Japan so our hope is to crush as much as possible before we head back. That being said, between now and next Friday morning I plan to do the following: Go to the Ninja Restaurant (Google it, it looks awesome), meet up with my amazing old speaking partner Ayuna, hit the Club, go to the Kit-Kat store, go to Kappa Sushi, go to Kamakura for sightseeing, go to the Suntory Hall for some classical music, meet up with the wonderful Yu Furukawa who visited Walpole a few years back, crush some okonomiyake, go to Tsukiji market, go to Harajuku, and possibly more. I know that seems like a lot, but I’m going to try my best.



One thing to leave you all with (and I apologize for the lack of pictures, I’ll do better next time), is that I have been constantly comparing this experience to my one in Osaka. Unfortunately, I’ve come to terms with the fact that it isn’t fair to compare the two (except when it comes to food, edge – Osaka by far). 5 years ago I was a college kid trying to figure it all out by learning and experiencing as much as possible. While I may still be trying to figure it all out, this trip is purely business. I know I’m able to take advantage of my time here to the best of my abilities, but I’m left to question how I will feel about Japan when I return home. As it stands now, I think it is quickly becoming another place where I conduct business. Yes, I do have the added benefit of language and past experiences in here, but the experience I loved so much as a student was made up of a different combination of factors. This time however, I have 3 weeks to complete a significant amount of work, and whatever experience I find on the side is an added bonus. The scary thing about realizing this is that now that I fully, truly understand it, I am quite content with the experience as well. It would have been immature to come here and expect an experience similar to that of five years ago; realizing that this is very different experience (but still good mind you, just different) is a part of growing up.



No matter what I may feel or contemplate, I do know one thing: I am lucky to have this opportunity, and I look forward to what lies ahead.