Early in the morning, I was sitting in the subway train. On the bridge between a small island of Kulosaari and continental Helsinki, the rising sun was shining intensively inside. The ray of light hit my face. I closed my eyes, concentrated on Kemopetrol that the iPod was playing. I felt weird. So light, so unreal. It reminded me of Tokyo. The Tokyo I used to live still in January.

I remembered the Daikanyama, I used to walk around with my Italian sister. The cheese cake factory, small boutiques and the nice design bookshop around there. I recalled Harajuku. My best Canadian friend, dressed as a small gothic lolita. I was thinking about the palm trees in the school yard, not to mention our back yard jungle. Climbing up to the Hachijo-Fuji mountain with my hairy neighbour. Skiing in Naeba with my Belgian and Finnish soulmates. Hanging out in cafe’s with sweet and lovely Japanese girls. Sitting hours in the Chuo-Sobu line. Just to quickly visit my red haired friend.

* * *

But now, those days are living only in my memories. The day when I return, the things have changed. There is no school yard. There is not four metres of snow in the mountains. There is no excuse to ride to Makuhari-Hongo.

* * *

But someday, sooner or later, I will return. Just to see the old places and the suddenly hidden faces. Just to find again those five months, when my soul belonged to Japan.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, May 9th, 2006 at 8:36 am and is filed under Santahamina, [in English]. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.