Day 3: six hours

today was a travel day.
left all of what is happening in the Tohoku region to visit my sister (soon to be a mother!) and her lovely husband in Ishikawa.

when spending time with someone 24/7, you're bound to find faults within your partner, and sometimes the smallest things start to annoy you.  no matter what though, i decided to constantly take pictures of my travel partner, dad.
there's something about the action of taking pictures that refreshes your mindset.  for me, i try to find things that i don't usually see, try to look for deeper meaning in things, and simply try to take what is beautiful.

today, i was able to see two wonderful things within my dad.
1. he's always been good with kids and babies.  they just somehow gravitate towards him (sorta like how i draw in the ladies...j/k)  it's so lovely to see him interact with them.
2. we went into a dirty, cute little bar with tons of dvds and anime figures. the owner seemed a bit cold...and weird.  other than my dad, we were all probably worried about the outcome of the night.  but soon after my dad found a limited edition Pink Floyd album sitting on the corner of the counter, he wouldn't stop bragging about all of their concerts that he was able to attend.  the owner then quietly pulls out a dvd from his shelf and turns on a Pink Floyd live concert on his big flat-screen tv, full blast.  from then on, the album and drinks kept coming and coming...
although probably rare, i was able to catch the owner smirk two times while we were there.  i'm pretty sure he was smiling a huge smile within his heart.
without dad, i don't think any of this would have happened.

so, within 24 hours, i'm at a bar, in a city full of lights, homes, tall buildings, with tons of food and drinks.  six hours of a train ride and the situation is flipped.  i feel bad for leaving the volunteers behind to do so much grunt work in a seemingly hopeless setting, but life goes on for everyone else.  we have to worry about our own family, food, and happiness.  i'm sure there will be more of such times to come.  the experiences felt in the Tohoku region were real, there's no doubt about it, and i have pictures to prove it.  tomorrow, i'll leave Ishikawa behind to see Tetsu in Kyoto.  we'll probably chat over drinks again, and talk about his new grandchild and mother whom he's currently visiting.  i feel a bit sad but life goes on for me too, and hopefully sometime in the future, some of my experiences will be revisited, reflected upon, and it will serve some sort of meaning.  until that day comes, good bye Tohoku...

last photo with the volunteers in Tohoku

dad in search of a soba restaurant

train window

dad and kid

dad, julia, katsuji, and hot anime figure

bar

Pink Floyd friends

Day 2: although i don't believe in fate

fate has it that the small volunteer organization staffed with 3 members, is invited to a taiko event on 3/11.
the group produced by the same folks that taiko conference donated money towards...

so after taking a bath at the local bathhouse as a "volunteer," we set out to witness this event at the exact time of the earthquake, 1 year ago.

smack in the center of the o-daiko is my taiko sensei's signature "田中誠一" and i am forced to believe that there's something fateful controlling our every action.

i know that i can't expect anything being here in the Tohoku region.  but today i realized "useless" doesn't equal "hopeless."  dad, keisuke and i cooked dinner for the staff and members.  within all of the sadness, there was a ray of warmth that shined through.

a boy who lost his life loved blue "koinobori." his older brother made a call out and gathered all of these from across japan. he now performs taiko under these "koinobori" in remembrance of his younger brother.

taiko performance

signed by Tanaka Seiichi

volunteer group leader and a local

dad

the wind still blows

Kato family cooks dinner for the volunteer staff

Day 1: useless

in a place called Yamoto in the Miyage prefecture (where they had the biggest damage from the tsunami on March 11, 2011).

the first day was spent with dad and keisuke, not really with any purpose, but to just drive around and see what comes our way.

the feeling here is still quite complicated.
my dad came here to volunteer for a week in November of 2011.  the volunteer group-leader, caught in between the locals and us tourists, is reluctant to give us anything to do, and has asked us not to roam around too much.
we tried entering a small local restaurant last night and got turned away although it wasn't crowded inside.

still need time to digest what i've seen so far...but today i felt useless.
and it seems like we're not gonna feel useful in anyway for the time that we are here.

so for tonight, we decided to clean up this really dirty volunteer facility and cook dinner for the volunteer staff who've been living off of cup-o-noodles and conbini riceballs.

here are some pics from day 1:

bus ride up to Miyagi

clock stopped at the time of tsunami (school gym)

school gym where many families got caught in a whirlpool.

keisuke

garage

homes that survived

dump

crows at the dump

Day 0: mixed feelings

within the next 10 hours, my father, i, and now my brother (only for the weekend) will be departing from Tokyo to head to Sendai.

2 nights during a sort of mixed time for the locals there...3/11 will mark one whole year after the disastrous earthquake and tsunami that hit the region.

our stay is really not worth the locals for any volunteer work.
but at the same time, just being touristy and taking pictures doesn't seem quite right.

my dad called the local organizers there, and although welcoming, they told us not to roam around too much, don't take pictures, and stay low key.  very understandable.

i feel bad going.  at the same time, i still want to go.  there's nothing to be excited about, that's rude.  but there's something within me that wants to witness the aftermath in person.

my existence there may serve no purpose for the world.
but i'm going to check it out.  i'm going to fill in the distance between the real thing VS news coverage and moving documentaries.  even if it's just for myself.

Day -4: Toshi arrives

dad is here in Tokyo.  we've both got things to take care of, so until our new departure date (March 10), we're pretty much on our own.

we met for a bit to discuss our current plans and to find solutions for some sudden setbacks.
the meeting was in Shinjuku, where dad was born.  since it's such a huge train hub, i've been here many times to just eat and drink with friends.
it's really nice to see him lead the way, talk about how the place has changed, and what still remains from when he was a kid.

three more days 'til departure.

Toshi in Shinjuku

Day -7: tokyo

tokyo is so much fun.
i've lived here for a total of 3 years, and every time i come, it feels as though i left just yesterday.
i miss tokyo life.

unlike hachijo or maui, there's not much green here.
cement jungle has it's own appeal though, and when mixed with a great amount of nostalgia, the scenery can even appear beautiful.
compared to other cities that i've lived in, the appeal of tokyo lies ultimately in it's safety.
there's a sort of freedom that you have, knowing that somehow you'll be safe.
small police stations are well within walking distance, cops are sweet and they take care of you.
customer service is of highest quality, and no one is out there to steal your money.
hotels and internet cafes can be found anywhere, bars open til the first train (5am), no need for a car, no need to for a dd, and 24-hour conbinis supply everything that you'll ever need (even underwear).

being in tokyo is like having a smartphone.  i know, weird analogy...
i'm still a new owner, but the iphone has allowed me so much freedom.
no longer do i have to memorize directions, print out google maps, answer urgent e-mails before taking off, and make sure everything is packed before every departure.
with an iphone, i can think to myself "somehow it'll be ok.  i possess the power to figure it out."
i leave my home with confidence.
tokyo to me, is like an iphone built into the whole city.
here the facilities, transportation, stores, and people work together to empower me.
every time i step out of my brother's apartment in shimokitazawa, my heart is filled with excitement just thinking of all the things i can possibly do.

tokyo, family, friends

of course it has its faults (and so does owning a smartphone), but i'll save that for later and enjoy being here with my old friends.

Day -13